Aurora Consurgens

Angra

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2006)
• Original Release Date: October 24, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Steamhammer Us
• ASIN: B000ILZ7XQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #157,039 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Aurora Consurgens finds a new and heavier approach for Angra, currently in their fifteenth year. The trademark Brazillian percussion feel has been retained and orchestral parts added for depth to the compositions, of which each member has contributed. Contrary to the groundbreaking Temple Of Shadows album in 2005, Aurora Consurgens is not a concept album but finds Angra at their definitive best.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Angra never disappoints, April 9, 2007

By	Justin Gaines "Corporate Rocker" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

After waiting so long for Angra to release Temple of Shadows, I hardly expected the band to come back with another studio album less than 2 years later. However quickly they released it, Angra's 2006 album Aurora Consurgens certainly doesn't suffer from a lack of quality. It's not as epic and ambitious as Temple of Shadows, but it is so much easier to enjoy right from the start. Like Rebirth (the debut of the current Angra lineup), Aurora Consurgens grabs you right from the very first track and never lets go.

Aurora Consurgens has just about everything I've always expected from an Angra album. The songs are fast-paced, very melodic, intelligently written, and expertly performed. I consider Angra a power metal band, but the musicians in this band display the kind of precision and technical prowess you'd expect to find in a progressive metal band, though thankfully they never succumb to the kind of lengthy, self-indulgent instrumental wankery that often plagues prog albums. And of course there are the vocals. I'm of the opinion that Edu Falaschi is the best thing to happen to Angra, and have never been disappointed by his soaring, melodic vocal performances. The only thing this album is missing is the use of Brazilian musical elements that made previous Angra efforts so interesting.

As I noted earlier, Aurora Consurgens is not the same kind of album as Temple of Shadows. It's a simpler, more straightforward power metal album that really doesn't have the same epic scope that Temple of Shadows has. I don't think either album is better per se; they each take totally different approaches, much like Angels Cry and Holy Land did.

Unless you're expecting something epic, I can't see how any Angra fan could be disappointed by Aurora Consurgens. It's another fantastic album from a band that rarely, if ever, lets us down. If you're unfamiliar with the band and want to check them out, Aurora Consurgens is a fine album to start with, though Rebirth may be your best bet.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Angra Uninspired, November 27, 2006

By	ProgPowerAJ (Oviedo, Florida) - See all my reviews

With Rebirth, Angra firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Their next album, Temple of Shadows, was a true and utter masterpiece. With Aurora Consurgens, the members of Angra once again prove that their physical abilities are unparalleled - silvery solos and mind-bending beats convey that each player is a bona-fide master of his instrument.

HOWEVER.

The songwriting on this record is nowhere near the level of quality that was achieved throughout the entirety of Temple of Shadows. These new tracks feel like they were just slapped together, to the effect that there is not a single song on this record that is greater than the sum of its parts. Granted, there are some AMAZING parts, but they rarely flow together as well as they should. Perhaps the band's deliberate decision to divvy-up writing responsibilities is to blame for the uneven soundscape (Rafael was the primary creative force behind T.o.S). Basically, each track on T.o.S left me thinking "Wow," while each track on A.C. leaves me thinking "So what?"

Moreover, the passion, beauty, and genuine emotion that characterized T.o.S. is missing here. The melodies, while complex and masterfully executed, are often flat and uninspired. I actually FELT the songs before. Now, they hardly have a lasting impact - more surface, less substance. It's probable that constructing an album with one solid, all-encompassing concept in mind helped Angra fashion the musical monolith that was Temple of Shadows. Kamelot accomplished a similar feat when they put out their masterpiece, The Black Halo.

On the plus side, Aurora Consurgens is a very well-produced album. And as I said before, each member is firing on all cylinders. If you've never heard Angra before, there's a good chance that you will be blown away by this disc. But side-by-side, this album consistently pales in comparison to Temple of Shadows. Hopefully, Angra has merely stumbled and not fallen with Aurora Consurgens. Lord knows they have the talent and capacity for another perfect prog/power metal masterpiece.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Title. An Excellent Purchase., March 28, 2007

By	Keith M. Abolnik "Teacher/Pastor/Musician" (Apple Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This release is a worthwhile addition to your prog-metal collection. What I like about this band is the operatic (at times) vocals, orchestrations, and the balance between aggressive metal and purely straight-ahead rock. The guitar solos are superb, but not over-the-top. There is a certain distinct melodic sound in the guitar solos That sets this band apart from the ordinary metal band, yet the aggressiveness and crunch is still displayed.

I agree with other reviewers that this is not quite as good as "Temple of Shadows," but nonetheless an excellent album. ToS had more orchestration and little better level of songwriting. This album, however, has a higher level of energy and charisma, and is more aggressive.

The title "Aurora Consurgens" comes from an illuminated manuscript of the 15th century which contains an alchemical treatise. This was a spiritual and philosophical document which had been attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas, and contained 38 miniature watercolor paintings. The front cover of Angra's new album is one of those pictures. From a lyrical standpoint, the album coneys a painful outlook on life without a feeling of hope. Although this is not a concept album, the use of the term "Aurora Consurgens" may possibly propose a negative spiritual/philosophical outlook.

Bottom line, I recommend this release as a worthy addition to your music collection.