Artist: Angra
Label: SPV Records
Release Date: 10/19/01
Rating: 4 Skulls
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Title: Rebirth Artist: Angra Label: SPV Records Release Date: 10/19/01
Rating: 4 Skulls |
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Reviewed by Equinox (4/24/02):
ANGRA. These guys are the most popular Brazilian export this side of Sepultura, yet I had never heard any of their work. I have heard the name a thousand times before, mostly from recommendations from friends. "Dude, you HAVE to get the new Angra," and so on. So now I have had the opportunity to check out their newest CD Rebirth, and I must say that this band is deserving of such recommendation.Angra are one of the better power metal bands I've heard in a long while. They play very tight, very high-quality Epic Power Metal, best described as falling somewhere between Sonata Arctica and Rhapsody, though definitely more similar to the former than the latter. OK, enough of this, let's dig in to the music!
The dramatic orchestral intro "In Excelsis" starts the affair. These intros are common in most power metal albums, and have pretty much become a prerequisite for any serious outfit. Following the intro, the opener "Nova Era" immediately grabs the attention of the listener. This song has everything the power metal fan looks for in a song: upbeat drumming with cruising double bass, catchy high-register vocal choruses and nimble, sweeping guitarwork. This is the type of sound that evokes images of Conan movies and bareback horse races through the forest.
A slow, maudlin piano-and-vocal-only segment introduces "Millennium Sun." This song is not as fast and aggressive as the opener, but it is still well-arranged and full of great power metal riffs. The song is very inspiring; if there is ever another 'Greatest American Hero' TV show, this tune would surely be a contender for its theme song. Another intro, this time a "Carmina Burana"-style choir part, and the next track "Acid Rain" kicks in. This song is cool simply for the fact that it incorporates some Latin percussion, which is rarely found on any power metal CDs these days. It is an interesting sound, and it definitely doesn't sound forced. It is good to hear a bit of Brazil in there. The rest of the song is great to boot, making this song another winner.
"Heroes of Sand" is apparently the required "ballad" here; it has that slow, waltzy time signature and those wailing guitar solos that just make you want to sway back and forth with cigarette lighter in hand. A good break from the rest of the songs, but not the best track on the CD. The title track "Rebirth" is much more like it. Creepy keyboard/violin and flute combine with slower, chuggy guitars and slightly angrier vocals to make this song one of the standouts on the album. The acoustic guitar at the end of "Rebirth" is a very beautiful contrast to the heaviness of the song as a whole. "Running Alone" is the other standout among the remaining tracks. The vocals are strong and proud, the drumming is invigorating and the guitar solos are simply blazing. This song has that hard-to-describe, epic, Nintendo role-playing game feel to it which inspires the listener and makes him want to run around the living room in a loincloth, brandishing a majestic sword (read: "broomstick"), conquering beasts constructed of couch cushions. You get the picture.
With Rebirth, Angra certainly lives up to the hype that has preceded them. If you enjoy Rhapsody, Lost Horizon or Sonata Arctica, you will most likely enjoy this one. A worthy addition to any power metal CD collection.
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