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Band Name: Angra
Album Name: Temple of Shadows
Rating: 4 / 5 User Rating: 4.6 / 5
Label: Steamhammer
Buy Album: Amazon.com
Rate Album: Rate
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Tracklist
Disc 1:
1. Deus Le Volt!
2. Spread Your Fire
3. Angels And Demons
4. Waiting Silence
5. Wishing Well
6. Temple Of Hate
7. Shadow Hunter
8. No Pain For The Dead
9. Winds Of Destination
10. Sprouts Of Time
11. Morning Star
12. Late Redemption
Disc: 2
1. In Excelsis
2. Nova Era
3. Acid Rain
4. Angels Cry
5. Heroes Of Sand
6. Metal Icarus
7. Millenium Sun
8. Make Believe
9. Drum Solo
10. Unholy Wars
11. Rebirth
12. Time
13. Running Alone
14. Crossing
15. Nothing To Say
16. Unfinished Allegro
17. Carry On
18. The Number Of The Beast
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2004 has seen some brilliant power metal releases from some of the top acts in the genre such as Jag Panzer, Eternal Flight and Nocturnal Rites and each of these have been exceptional releases in their own right, but none are so intensely captivating as the latest opus from Brazilian metal gods Angra, the deeply textured and overwhelmingly superior 'Temple Of Shadows'. This groundbreaking release was unleashed in Europe to rave reviews in November, US power metal fanatics take heed, this masterpiece of an album is a quintessential and extraordinary step forward in the evolution of this particular musical art form.
This well thought out album's conceptual lyrical content provides for a continuity throughout the entire record similar to the type of feeling invoked by an album of the stature of Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' of Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. Guitarist Rafael Bittencourt masterminded the album's lyrical concept revolving around the saga of The Shadow Hunter, an eleventh century Crusader soldier who questions the morals and ideals of his Catholic Church. The way in which this decision impacts upon the subject then transforms the character's life in a profound manner and stirring lyrics on songs such as 'Angels And Demons' And 'No Pain For The Dead' serve to relate these concepts and themes in a profound manner.
Angra superbly deliver everything that is great about this style of music with an extreme measure of attention to individual performance. From the skilled and soaring vocals of Edu Falaschi, to the technically articulate poly and sub-rhythms of drummer Aqualis Priester, the individual performers are skilled musicians that bring a high degree of musical aptitude to the band as a whole. The guitar team of Kiko Loureiro and Bittencourt move from light and shade symphonic passages to epic crunching tandem assaults with dexterity and tons of feeling. Priester bashes out speed metal double bass blasts on 'Winds Of Destination' that take the track to a completely different level. His hard hitting technique suits Angra quite well and his lightning quick bell hits and cymbal rides drive the music forward, allowing Falaschi's massive range an opportunity to open up. 'Spread Your Fire' is a steamroller of a track, its riffs sounding like a wicked combination of Malmsteen and Mustaine. This song simply blazes with an intensity that is filled with metal furor. One receives the impression straight off that Angra are a very well rehearsed group and the stellar production of Dennis Ward serves to reinforce their precision performance.
Featuring a cast of fantastic special guests like Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge) and Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), a spectacular album cover that really sets the tone for the album well and perhaps the most intricately composed batch of power metal symphonies ever, 'Temple Of Shadows' is mandatory without exception.
Review by: EF
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