•
Rating: In the mid-90s, Metal was already in an advanced stage of decline, and only progressive seemed to be one of the few genres still standing, thanks to the superhuman technique of bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X. During this time, 1994 to be precise, another band began to emerge, not from the United States, England, or various countries, but rather from Brazil! By now, you may have realized, or at least I hope, that I am talking about Angra, the band named after the mythological goddess of fire.
This band, as you might guess, combines technique, speed, melody, and many innovations, thanks to folk carioca influences... And it is all this that you will find in "Angels Cry," their surprising debut that encapsulates almost an hour of PURE MUSIC! (and not like that rubbish they talk about in the m2o advertisement) And it could not be otherwise given the line-up, composed of Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt on guitars, Luis Mariutti on bass, Marco Antunes on drums (present here only in the recording) then replaced by Ricardo Confessori and, of course, the golden voice of Andre Matos.
Well, let's now begin to talk about the album itself, which starts with the intro "Unfinished Allegro" by Schubert, which brings us to the song that many consider Angra's true masterpiece, namely "Carry On," which starts right away with a riff at the limits of power-speed and supported by Matos’ incredible voice, so much so that every time I listen to his interpretation in this song, I get chills. Reaching the end of this masterpiece, a guitar arpeggio leads us to the splendid calm of "Time," and after listening to other very beautiful pieces such as the Title-Track, "Stand Away," and "Never Understand," it comes the turn of a cover, a remarkable cover, that is "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush, upon which everyone will seriously think that Matos was spared at birth... Impressive!
The last three tracks we find are the catchy "Streets Of Tomorrow," "Evil Warning," another strong piece of the album highly requested in live performances, and then proceed with the final "Lasting Child," which with its calmness could not have finished this album better.
Needless to say, this album is played wonderfully by the four Brazilians, who at their recording debut managed to produce an album of impressive maturity, something that few other bands have managed to do.
Hats off to Angra then, for having produced this great masterpiece of music, in my opinion only inferior to "Holy Land," but that is a matter of taste. At least one listen, even a distracted one, seems almost mandatory, and if you are a fan of Progressive, well, what are you waiting for? Go get it!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Carry On (05:03)
Simple minded brain
For now you succumb
Nothing changes your way
This world insists to be the same
Based on our mistakes
The flowers fade along the road
Don't blindfold your eyes,
So loneliness becomes the law
Of a senseless life
Follow your steps and you will find
The unknown ways are on your mind
Need nothing else than just your pride
To get there... [Go!]
Now you have to face another day
You won't be alone
This life is forcing us to stay
- For how long?
Cold is the wind and thunder struck
On a stormy night
But can't you see, I'm by your side
We are marching on!
Follow your steps and you will find
The unknown ways are on your mind
Need nothing else than just your pride
To get there...
So, carry on,
There's a meaning to life
Which someday we may find...
Carry on, it's time to forget
The remains from the past, to carry on
Follow your steps and you will find
The unknown ways are on your mind
Need nothing else than just your pride
To get there...
So, carry on,
There's a meaning to life
Which someday we may find...
Carry on, it's time to forget
The remains from the past
So, carry on,
There's a meaning to life
Which someday we may find...
Carry on, it's time to forget
The remains from the past
Carry on, it's time to forget
The remains from the past, to carry on
The remains from the past, to carry on
The remains from the past...
03 Time (05:55)
[Matos, Bittencourt]
This time I wanna know what life means...
... to live it again
I'm looking forward, feel the light shine in my eyes
And now I know, my instincts were not wrong
And many things can be done
I don't believe now
That I'm dreaming alone
Oh, we're searching for the love
that everyone's got, but can't see
Oh, beyond the flesh and blood
there's so much hidden behind
as so much more we've gotta give...
Sanity brings up the sadness
that keeps your illusions locked in a little box
Fright comes, you find yourself lonely
in a cage of conclusions crowding your mind
You sit back bowing your head
Every answer - yes
Why don't you trust me and shed out your fears,
Running over the tears you've contained
now cover up your eyes
- Is it good for you?
I will be here when fire burns!
Welcome on board
over here is the ship of your life
So rotten that will cast away
I'll be your sweet lullaby all the night
And if you get lost you can hold my hand...
And I'll be here when fire burns
(Inside your heart)
Climb up the hills and mountains,
don't forget what you've learned!
Life makes us feel the time we cannot hold
Time makes us live a tale already told
Time makes us heal a feeling inside
a feeling that lies in our heart
that we stole away...
And I'll be here when fire burns
(Inside your heart)
Climb up the hills and mountains,
don't forget what you've learned!
Life makes us feel (life makes us feel)
The time we cannot hold
Time makes us live (time makes us live)
A tale already told
Time makes us heal (time makes us heal)
A feeling inside
a feeling that lies in our heart
that we stole away...
04 Angels Cry (06:49)
Cry in the night of angels
For that light that never shines
With their hearts so full of sorrow
Muddy waters all around
The curtain falls for helpless souls
How they suffer swept aside
And the raging streams are flowing
with so little hope inside
(It's like)
Angels crying
Can't take no more
Angels dying
Captured in the fall
Try to see this misery
your future is not what you wished it to be
So try to fly, the answer lies
in the angry darkened skies
(angry darkened skies)
You just keep on standing in these fields all your life
You sow the seeds that never grow
No harvest comes such a strain to feed the few
Still you're waiting, it's in vain...
The change must come right now!
Oh, see the sun in the sky
(From the dawn of destruction)
Free, free this chain from my heart...
(chain, chain, chain)
Hear the cry of angels
from that life you cannot hide
The change may come tomorrow
for the solemn weeping eyes
(Like)
Angels crying
Can't take no more
Angels dying
Captured in the fall
Try to see this misery
your future is not what you wished it to be
So try to fly, the answer lies
in the angry darkened skies
(angry darkened skies)
You just keep on standing in these fields all your life
You sow the seeds that never grow
No harvest comes such a strain to feed the few
Still you're waiting, it's in vain...
The change must come right now!
Angels are crying and dying
There must be some way
endless you stray, still you pray for a better life
Nobody sees when a glimpse
of your target lies behind you,
Like steps of the pilgrims unshined!
SOLO: Kiko
05 Stand Away (04:55)
Stand away the dreaded burning life
Will leave its mark for those with no desire
Stand in front of the whole creation
Face the people starved like worms
Still I'm begging for comprehension
From the ones who rule us all
Is this field the dying embers soul
All around we mourn
Oh, here they come again
(Now they're coming more agressive tearing down our only chances)
The stars can't find the purple sky
(Loneliness will find its reason treasured seeds for every season)
Long for the day be back someday
And the church
(Church is selling consolation, killing Jesus for salvation)
Don't let us die
(Taking all in desperation, leave me now to rest in peace)
Let me rest in peace
Away, a while
Our smile taken from
The hearts of brokens souls
Stand away from the fire
Destined by the fate
Let those sinners pay how they steel
For on the judgement day
How they yield
Stand in front of the whole creation
Face the people starved like worms
Still I'm begging for comprehension
From the ones who rule us all
Is this field the dying embers soul
All around we mourn
Oh, here they come again
(Now they're coming more agressive tearing down our only chances)
The stars can't find the purple sky
(Loneliness will find its reason treasured seeds for every season)
Long for the day be back someday
And the church
(Church is selling consolation, killing Jesus for salvation)
Don't let us die
(Taking all in desperation, leave me now to rest in peace)
Let me rest in peace...
06 Never Understand (07:49)
Never Understand
[Matos, Bittencourt]
White gold, a morning came
Sunny cold, reflecting light
Unknown songs Fresh water gush licks the lime
Sprinkling crowns of silence
The face wet from the moistened dew Wind takes the sight
Around the meadow
Playing kindly Silver dropped wine
That flows inside
a sleeping hand... Desperation fills the air
(In your heart lies the dust of the anger)
Madness knocking on my back
(Chiming bells have announced the new day) My courage lies someplace
where time forgot to send me
(now where are you going?)
(now where are you going now?)
Someday they'll mark your sins
like torture on your back
I wonder why
My mind is tight
Like stormy weather
And so it seems
That little steps
would take forever Oh, never understand...
We're like mad horses
heading for the bend
This place I'm standing here
Made it on my own
Moored my life to never let it go... I wonder why
My mind is tight
Like stormy weather
And so it seems
That little steps
would take forever Never understand...
We're like mad horses
heading for the bend
This place I'm standing here
Made it on my own
Moored my life to never let it go... All my life I'll be the way
I won't forget
All my life is never understand
07 Wuthering Heights (04:40)
[Originally performed by Kate Bush]
Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green
You had a temper, like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me?
When I needed to possess you
I hated you, I loved you too
Bad dreams in the night
They told me I was going to lose the fight
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff, it's me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window
Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine alot, I find the lot
Falls through without you
I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff
My only one dream, my only master
Too long I roam in the night
I'm coming back to his side to put it right
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
You know it's me, Cathy
08 Streets of Tomorrow (05:03)
(Matos)
Days of pounding emptiness
Just do far away, no regret
to live beside the danger
Running out of carelessness
Still unliked the tips of a bridge
That gets no one to nowhere
Let me run away
Free from lies, I won't forget
Escaping from these chains
I'll meet my love
Once again flying
Cloud from heaven
So, now?
Tell me how
To walk the streets of tomorrow
Someday, somehow, then we'll know
How things went wrong
And how?
Show me now
To live in peace no forever
The moment remains
And flows... don't let it go!
How do you stay
Down and pray
Let me know
The things you've done on your own...
(tell me right now, baby...)
How do you stay
Down and pray
Let me know
The things you've done on your own...
Let me run away
Free from lies, I won't forget
Escaping from these chains
I'll meet my love
Once again flying
Cloud from heaven
So, now?
Tell me how
To walk the streets of tomorrow
Someday, somehow, then we'll know
How things went wrong
And how?
Show me now
To live in peace no forever
The moment remains
And flows... don't let it go!
SOLO: Kiko
09 Evil Warning (06:41)
Evil Warning
[Matos, Bittencourt]
[INTRO]
Miles away
You're heading for the unknown
and there's no way to get back
Time to complain
Nobody is telling the truth
To live in the crowd
sick of my own vanity
Dead scattered petals around
Hymns of betrayal
calling you back for attack
Evil warning
Grown fast, too high
so sorry
Ends up the time
To cry and feel the pain
In the morning
start up the fight
so lonely...
with no fore-sight
until another day!
Run, don't wait the sun,
ride down the hill
Don't look behind
the evil crimes are chained
Until the end!
[SOLO]
[INTRO]
Evil warning
Grow fast, too high,
so sorry
ends up the time
to cry and feel the pain
Run, don't wait for the sun,
ride down the hill
Don't look behind
the evil crimes are chained
Until the end!
Don't let your pride
make your blood flow in vain
Until the end...
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By emanuele
'Angels Cry' is all this—a masterpiece destined to change music forever.
Andre Matos delivers one of the most beautiful and crystalline voices that heavy metal has ever known.
