Customer Reviews

Rebirth

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

All right. I'm a professional musician and I'm into everything from Suffocation to Shakti. I've been really frustrated with the North American metal scene for years as it seems to have been a 'music machine' pent on churning out crap time and again. In my search for something quality or something interesting, I've wandered off through most of the Euro-metal scene and I recently discovered the Brazillian band Angra.

These guys are great players and clever songwriters and I've become a maniacal fan of Angra on the basis of this album and the following one (Temple of Shadows). The songs are well written, though not insanely original, but the playing and production are fantastic. Kiko Loureiro and Raphael Bittencourt are a fantastic pair of guitarists, Aquiles Priester is a drummer who reminds me of Mike Portnoy or Virgil Donati (very creative playing), Filepe Andreoli is a super bass player and Edu Falaschi should be singing for Dream Theater. They're a great collection of fantastic parts that adds up to an awe inspiring whole.

Apparently some fans are frustrated because this new line up (new drummer, bassist and vocalist) is 'not as good' as the old one, but I strongly disagree. I'm a new fan to Angra and not committed to the original line up, and if you like any Euro Metal, you'll LOVE Angra. Also, some have criticized the musicianship and commented no recycled songs. As for that criticim, I simply laugh. There's no such thing as a song that isn't influenced by previous music, and if you think Angra has crappy musicianship, you simply are confused about what 'musicianship' means. None the less, I've been listening to them for the last 3 weeks straight and it's only getting better.

****

Update -March 23, 2009- I've been listening to Angra for several years now and I STILL listen to Rebirth regularly. "Nova Era" and "Unholy Wars" are two AMAZING metal songs. I think that "Temple of Shadows" is their best album, with this as a close second and "Aurora Consurgens" as third. I have found other bands that have somewhat close to the technical ability of Angra, but no other bands combines musicality with such amazingly diverse songwriting. Angra is astoundingly good metal!

The last time I listened to this, something funny came to mind. Rebirth has drumming similar to that on King of the Nordic Twilight. They are both rare style drumming and are hard to get used to, but once you do, it's what makes Angra Angra and Luca Turilli Luca Turilli.

Onto some of the songs. The intro is very soft. Nova Era is almost an incredible song, but it doesn't stand out as much as other openers to me. It is still very good and a decent opener, but it's no wonder, like Eagleheart or Knightrider of Doom. Millennium Sun, the first time I listened to Rebirth, almost shocked me having a second song being a ballad. But, it's not a ballad. Millennium Sun is just as good as Nova Era. I don't know this CD song by song as well as I know others, but I can tell you that "Unholy Wars" is a PERFECT song for someone getting into euro-metal. It is over 8:00 and it's just so fun of a song! My other highlight is Visions Prelude, the closing ballad. I love this song. Again, it's one of a kind.

Angra is a band that might take over as someone's favorite band within a week. Or they might just be someone who is great to listen to whenever you actually decide to put it into the CD player, like me. I do this with Vision Divine, too, which is also a great band. Actually, I would recommend them to all Angra fans. All in all, this CD just has to be in every euro metal collection - it's a classic, or diamond in the rough, if you prefer.

Also, I found that when I listen to this CD, it reminds me of Beholder's CD "Wish for Destruction". The 2 are comparable in so many ways. They are both fast, not that heavy, and quite melodic. If you own either one of these and like it, buy the other one.

When you get the chance, check out my other reviews. I don't have a lot of melodic metal reviews as we speak, but my other reviews are still good. Also, do me and other amazon shoppers a favor and say if this review helped you or not. Thanks.

And to think I was worried when I first heard that Angra "broke up" in 2000. Little did I know that the result of the split would result in not one but two great progressive power metal bands. Original vocalist Andre Matos, bassist Luis Mariutti, and drummer Ricardo Confessori left to start the excellent Shaman (Matos has since exited for a solo career), while the remaining members brought in some new blood, most notably vocalist Edu Falaschi, and re-launched Angra in 2001 with the breathtaking album Rebirth.

As much as I love the early Angra albums, Rebirth is the album I'm most likely to wear out from repeated listens. Rebirth comes across as a more polished, more mature version of the band's debut album Angels Cry. All of the elements that made that album a classic are present here, from the high-speed guitars to the prominent keyboards to the fantastic melodies to Angra's signature Brazilian musical elements. On top of that, the band finally has a vocalist who doesn't have to rely exclusively on high notes. Edu Falaschi is a major talent, and his powerful soaring voice is no doubt a welcome change for those who were put off by Andre Matos's high-pitched style (which to be honest I never minded).

This album is so powerful and so melodic that it took all of 30 seconds of the first song (after the obligatory instrumental intro) to have me totally sold. Very few power metal albums leave me breathless like Rebirth did, and six years later it still has every bit as much an impact. Aside from that throwaway intro track, there isn't a weak moment on the whole album. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Every single song on Rebirth is an absolute classic.

Put Rebirth right up there with Holy Land as the crown jewels of the Angra discography. Fans of great melodic power metal, from Iron Maiden and Helloween to Dragonforce and Brainstorm need to add Rebirth to their collections.

Angra had a trademark, some would claim it was Andre Matos' (former singer) voice, but I would disagree completely. Angra is all about masterful guitar playing: Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencurt are superb players and they had always lead Angra's sound towards the top level of power and melodic heavy metal.

The other musicians were very good in their supporting hole, but the real force behind Angra's great sound had always been in the hands of Kiko and Rafael. Now with the departure of former singer, bass player and drummer, Angra faced the hardest times of their life only to come back better than ever with the greatest release of their entire career.

Rebirth is a masterpiece. Ranging from the beautiful melodic tunes on Rebirth and Milenium Sun to the powerful drums on Acid Rain, every song tells a history of passion for music. Very few songs had the power to touch me the way Heroes of Sand did (I list it besides Bruce Dickinson's Dark Side of Aquarius and Omega, from his album Accident of Birth).

Don't take me wrong, I really love the past albums, and I'm a very big fan of Andre Matos singing since 1989 when he was in Viper, it only happens that after hearing Eduardo Falaschi (current singer) singing with Angra, I can only say that it was Matos' voice what had always kept Angra from attaining supremacy in the speed/power metal scene. I think Matos would better be doing some solo stuff (and I'm eager to buy his albums). Eduardo voice fits perfectly to what seems to me to be the real sound of Angra. When Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden, Eduardo Falaschi was one of the finalists selected to take over Dickinson's place. His voice is one of the most beutiful I ever heard, reminding me of Kamelot singer Roy Khan, which is considered one of the greatests voices in metal.

Aquiles Priester, the new drummer, is simply marvelous. His playing reminds me of a young and very talented drummer from the 80's you all know as Lars Ulrich (which seems to have forgotten how to play nowadays in Metallica new style). But Priester is a lot more technical and precise. Felipe Andreoli, new bass player, is unbelieveably good and technical. Both players had been touring with Paul Diano (former Iron Maiden's singer) showing his recognition for their excellence.

All I hope is that Angra keeps this line-up for years to come.

Now it's time for a new era (Nova Era). Reborn, Angra shines again!

I had never liked Angra before. I couldn't stand the wimpy, feminine vocals of former vocalist Andre Matos. And I always thought the music to be a bit weak and gimmicky. However, I was very suprised when I heard this album. Andre Matos and the drummer and singer left Angra after "Fireworks" and the band almost broke up. But Angra got a new singer in Edu Falaschi, who has a slightly lower range, and has a thicker and more powerful voice. He is a fantastic singer. Angra also got a new drummer and bassist, both are excellent musicians. The only remaining members are the two virtuoso guitarists. Angra also features a new sound. Instead of trying to progressive metal, they are now firmly a power metal band. They incorporate a lot of classical influences into their music, which is evident in their sophisticated guitar solos and riffs. They are also expert songcrafts, spinning out catchy, memorable choruses. The double bass drumming is relentless. Kudos must be given to Dennis Ward, whose production is crisp and crystalline. This album was a huge suprise for me and remains one of my favorite power metal albums.

The album opens with "In Excelsis", a gorgeous classical intro that segues into "Nova Era".

"Nova Era" is the album's first real song and is power metal at its finest. Fast and heavy with pounding double bass drumming, this song features a rousing chorus and some of the most incredible guitar solos you will hear on a power metal album. Kiko and Rafael play off each other's solos to create an incredible sonic landscape. The mid-section of this song is the highlight.

"Millenium Sun" starts off with some gentle crooning and piano before launching into a confident verse. This song has another sky-high chorus. More beautiful guitar solos flow from the guitars of Kiko and Rafael. These guys really have an incredible skill at creating solos that are so smooth and lyrical, yet fast and technical. These are some of the most creative guitar solos I have ever heard.

"Acid Rain" starts off with immense choirs before settling into a mid-tempo groove. The chorus is speedier and once again is quite huge. "The acid rain is burning your eyes!" Edu really wails on this song. The middle of this song features some bongos and a Brazilian-flavored keyboard riff before launching into the always-entertaining guitar solos. These guitarists can really convey tension, passion, beauty and sophistication in their solos. They are incredibly technical, but still remain firmly within the context of the song, complementing the song.

"Heroes of Sand" is a simpler, gentler song that features some absolutely gorgeous vocals from Edu. The intro guitar is also exceptionally lush. This peaceful, dreamy intro gives way to a punchy verse and hooky chorus. And this may seem redundant, but I have to mention the guitar solo again, simply sublime in its restraint.

"Unholy Wars" is the epic of the album. It starts off with some tribal chanting, ethnic percussion and a laid-back hard rock riff and scat-singing that oddly enough reminds me of latter-day Aerosmith. The song quickly kicks into high-gear with superfast guitars and double bass drums. Aquiles' drumming is just all over this song! Tons of inventive tom fills and cymbal play. There's lots of instrumental twists and turns in the middle of this song to entertain even the most progressive listener.

The title track shows strong classical leanings with its orchestration and melodic structure. It has a very soft intro giving Edu a chance to provide some beautiful vocals. A distincive 3-note melodic statement is developed and reused throughout this song. This melody sounds strangely familiar, and may be inspired by a classical piece. This is a very slow, grand song with a lot of dynamics.

"Judgment Day" is a fun rocker featuring some Brazilian flavor in its melodies and use of ethnic percussion. This is a very percussive song with some great fast piano playing in the intro.

"Running Alone" is a nice speedy track with some creative and mind-boggling technical guitar soloing. The only thing wrong with this track, however, is the sugar-sweet synthesized flute sounds that pop up during the verses. These detract from the power of the song and sound really wimpy. These little keyboard sounds were included to satisfy fans of old Angra, which made liberal use of weak keyboards. Great song, however. Only a minor gripe.

The album cools down with "Visions Prelude", a ballad adapted from Op. 24 Prelude in C Minor. This is further evidence of Angra's classical pretentions. Although I was a bit wary of the idea of this track at first, I must admit that they pulled it off with grace. It's an extraordinarily beautiful performance by Edu Falaschi, who sings with restraint and passion. This is a great calm way to end this album of speedy power metal bliss.

After the dissapointment of Fireworks I was weary to listen to a new Angra cd especially since only 2 of the original members remained after the split up..... However I decided to give it a shot and i was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY! Angras new sound is better than ever Even though I still prefer the old "Brazilian Style" music this is still VERY Good Edu's vocals are magnificent and the album is VERY strong unlike the previous work "Fireworks" this album has direction, the songs have a purpose, and the arrangment of music is just breathtaking! BUY THIS CD TODAY ITS WELL WORTH IT!

I've heard just a few songs by the old Angra, but they're all blown away by this album. This CD reeks with excellence vocal and instrumental-wise, with a sound that combines the heavy side of Prog with the lighter side of Power Metal to create an intricate mix that sounds great.

In Excelsis- Strange little sounds that lead to...
Nova Era- 10/10 Real energetic track, extremely catchy and awesome overall
Millenium Sun- 9/10 Starts out so-so with a slow piano and vocals but gets into a really good song afterwards, the lyrics are great too, and the vocals stand out.
Acid Rain- 8.5/10 Strange little chorus followed by an ominous track with powerful drumming during verses, great choruses)
Heroes of Sand- 10/10 a slower but increadibly good song with one of the best choruses ever
Unholy Wars- 8/10 This one kinda drags, not much to say.
Rebirth- 9.5/10 Really powerful song
Judgement Day- 8/10 It's a good song, just doesn't stick much to your head
Running Alone- 9/10 Great song, filled with emotion, long but good.
Visions prelude- 8.5/10 Adaptation of a classical song, it provides a good ending to the CD

I got my copy in Japan so got:
Bleeding Heart- 8/10 Boring song, pretty "poppy" but It's not really bad.

4.5 stars. Most of this album is truly inspired and enjoyable throughout. However, there are a few moments, small sections of songs, that feel strained; and the final track falls completely flat. After many great songs explode with refreshing energy and intricate arrangements, the last slow song simply cannot compete with the rest of the album. While I prefer "Temple of Shadows" over this release, Angra has shown with their last three releases that Kamelot has some serious competition as the most consistent Progressive Power Metal band around. Of course, Pagan's Mind and Lanfear might have something to say about that. But with "Rebirth", "Temple of Shadows", and their latest effort "Aurora Consurgens" Angra are holding firm in their resolve as one of the elite bands in the genre. For newcomers, the enhanced version of "Temple of Shadows" with the bonus DVD in 5.1 surround sound is the place to start; but "Rebirth" and "Aurora Consurgens" are both great additions to any Power Metal library.

Eduardo Falaschi is one of the most stunning vocalists I have ever heard. He hits the low notes and the high notes, and never has to distort his voice to do so. His voice has a great texture and power to it.

It is fitting that he should come at the time when the band would conjure its best songwriting to date. I had said in my review of "Fireworks" that the band had lost some luster in writing memorable vocal melodies. With "Rebirth" they got it back and then went farther than they have ever gone. "Heroes of Sand", "Millenium Sun", "Unholy Wars" and "Rebirth" feature some exceptional vocal choruses, performed admirably by Falaschi.

Kiko Loureiro tones done his guitarwork a bit from the previous album, but there are still some excellent solos here ("Nova Era", "Heroes of Sand", "Rebirth").

I give this album 7.6/10 or 4 stars. As I said before, it is the band's best album to date. It is also a pity that they would not continue in this direction with their next regular studio album.

Only two of the original members of Angra have remained to bring us this fantastic album. Those are the twin guitarists, Kiko and Rafael. Vocalist Andre Matos, as well as the bassist and drummer have departed, so this is a new lineup for Angra. And since Matos was arguably the driving force of Angra, this might lead you to believe that Rebirth is an inferior disc. Well, you couldn't be more wrong. Kiko, Rafael, and company take up the slack, and have put together a majestic album of symphonic power metal that should belong in every melodic metal fan's collection. Vocal-wise, Edu Falaschi is superior to Matos, as he possesses much more power and excellent range/emotion. Actually, Edu sounds like a more-powerful version of Andre. Make no mistake, I like Andre's vocals, but his thin high-pitched singing has turned off some people to Angra. Edu's one of the best vocalists in the metal scene, no question about it. Andre's brilliant keyboards are also gone (obviously), but Vanden Plas keyboardist Gunter Werno handles the ivory, and a better keyboardist would be extremely difficult to find. Gunter is simply amazing, and combined with Kiko's masterful arrangements, the keyboard section is great. The twin guitars are quite excellent, as the Brazillian boys churn out some heavy riffs and fluid solos. The solos are especially satisfying, as Kiko and Rafael are truly fiery guitar greats. The Brazillian influence is readily apparent in Angra's music, especially in the above-average percussive work of drummer Aquiles. Angra is such an incredible band because of their ability to take quality power metal, soaring symphonic keyboards, emotion and passion, their homeland's music, and flawlessly combine it. The highlight track of Rebirth is Unholy Wars, which sounds uncannily like Carolina IV from previous disc Holy Land. It's one of the most majestic songs I've ever heard. For anyone who assumes that power metal consists of uniformly quick songs and Dungeons & Dragons lyrical themes, listen to Rebirth and be ashamed for being so narrow-minded.