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Rating: Rebirth... album of rebirth or "simple" continuation of what the award-winning Loureiro/Bittencourt duo did in the past??? In my opinion, a bit of both. A little historical preface: after the departure of three members of the original Angra (Matos, Mariutti, and Confessori who went on to form Shaman), the two guitarists decided to keep their musical reality alive by finding replacements for their three former companions, which many thought impossible, but to which Kiko and Rafael responded by recruiting: Eduardo Falaschi on vocals, Felipe Andreoli on bass, and Aquiles Priester on drums; the greatest challenge was thus finding someone capable of upholding the Angra name, a goal that I believe was achieved 100%, since even the "irreplaceable" Matos was excellently replaced by a superb vocalist like Edu. But let's talk about the album: Rebirth is a record that encapsulates the best aspects of Angels Cry and Holy Land, but with a less progressive and more power vein, appearing more compact and aggressive compared to the previous masterpieces of the Carioca's early production. The concept of the album is based on a fantastical story about a world destroyed by natural catastrophes and wars, in which those who survived decided to rebuild a new society, just as happened with Angra, and it is precisely this hopeful sentiment that pervades the album in all its aspects. The album opens with "In Excelsis", a menacing and triumphant intro that, in the band's most perfect style, leads us to the high-speed "Nova Era", akin to "Carry On", presenting itself as a truly effective speed track that aims to show us how this "new" band moves... well, the result is fantastic, the track unfolds in a complex but not overly so structure, rich with solos, fantastic vocal lines, and varied tempo changes, which never go amiss, to be clear. The instrumental part is beautifully performed by Kiko and Rafael's guitars, accompanied by a strong bass and a carpet of double bass drum. After this phase of the song, Edu returns to delight us with his great voice, leading us to the end of this 2nd track. We then move on to "Millennium Sun", a track that develops in its first part on a delicate piano base with very heartfelt and passionate singing, but at 1 minute and 28 seconds, it explodes into a beautiful guitar riff, opening the doors to let us enjoy a splendid power/prog song so dear to the band. The final result is truly positive, with Falaschi giving his best and proving to be on the same qualitative level as Andre Matos. The chorus of the song is also beautiful, almost like a liberating cry, of rebirth, followed by one of Loureiro's best solos (in my opinion). The other band members, as usual, do excellent work. Latin choirs, on the other hand, open the beautiful "Acid Rain", the most power song on the album, which, between aggressive and fast parts, shows us a singer with a truly varied voice, hitting some very high notes as well as lower and more aggressive ones. Excellent work in this case from Andreoli and Priester, who offer a solid and powerful rhythmic base. Once again, the instrumental part is beautiful, alternating between blistering solos and parts that lean more towards Brazilian music. The 5th song brings more great emotions with "Heroes OF Sand", certainly the most melodic of the album (concerning the power tracks) which, without exaggerating with complex tempos or overly complicated solos, flows excellently into our ears thanks to a fantastic melody and also some beautiful background choirs. "Unholy Wars" is the most structurally studied track of the album, the most progressive: primarily based on tempo changes, odd times, and various acrobatics, the song turns out to be particularly enjoyable in all its aspects, precisely thanks to this variety it offers. The bass solo is beautiful, "eclipsing" all the other elements and truly showing us how talented this young bassist is (but the whole band is). Another well-hit mark is the title track, which, between classical and electric guitars, has already become an Angra classic, not at all overshadowing songs like "Carolina IV" and "Carry On". Edu's vocal lines are beautiful, leading us to a fantastic chorus after a particularly heartfelt and deep verse, introducing us to the most aggressive part of the song, which moves along coordinates similar to those composed in the first part, but presenting itself even more charged with pathos. "Judgement Day" is perhaps the least interesting track on the album, almost a filler, I think: what motivates this consideration of mine is the fact that the song wants to be prog, but this vein never emerges due to a particular melodic awkwardness. Following this, we find another beautiful composition, which is both similar to and different from "Evil Warning" (do you remember??? that beautiful piece in Angels Cry), similar in its intro and the solo that follows it, different for some of the atmospheres it creates. A song not particularly original but truly enjoyable. Another difference surely lies in the vocal lines, which in this case are lower and more aggressive. "Vision" is the album's outro, a beautiful deep ballad performed by Falaschi in a way very reminiscent of Matos. Ultimately, this album is to be considered as a meeting point between a New Era and a Previous one, capable of satisfying new and old fans of the Carioca, well-produced and packaged: I highly recommend buying it, you won't regret it.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Nova Era (04:52)
Somehow I know
The things are gonna change
New boundaries on the way
Like never were before
Find a meaning to your life
Healing whispers of the angels
Bring the sunrise again
New day shines, fallen angels will arise
Nova Era brings the ashes back to life
All over now, all the pain and awful lies
Angels will arise
Back to life!
Fresh winds of hope
Has taken us ahead
Forever is a place
You have to keep in mind
No way to limit our goals
You'll find a reason to believe
Facing Nova Era
[Chorus]
Oh! Come on! Arise!
Find a meaning to your life
No way to limit our goals
Healing whispers of the angels
Bring the sunrise again!
New day shines, fallen angels will arise
Nova Era brings the ashes back to life
All over now, sores in pain and awful lies
Angels lead you through paradise
Nova Era is a passage to your mind
And forever you may find a better time
Nova Era bring the angels back to life... Life!
03 Millennium Sun (05:11)
An eagle breaks the silence
And overflies the field
My eyes will try to follow
Till it vanishes away
Like candles in the darkness
We fight against the wind
Devotion to your idols
Soon will overthrow the king
Out of order
Taming borders
Tearing down the fences
On and on and after all
The century has gone
Racism jumble
Turbulence
My eyes believe we have gone to the end
Ordinary Earth
Sailing throught the space
Population alienation
Losing all affection
Calling on to heaven's hope
To watch for my protection
Out of luck
Potential stuck
Remote controlled
By the T.V. again
Carries human souls
Lead us the journey of our fate
So come millennium sun
Won't you show us the way
Future's begun
So words from my mouth come
Whispering for your return
Pictures a sunset on the lake
Mirrors of crystal your portrait
Walking on this field while I wait
So come millennium sun
Won't you show us the way
Future's begun
So words come from my mouth
Whispering for your return
Show us the future's began
Burning millennium sun
04 Acid Rain (06:07)
When the world had a tragic fate
We were draining the poisoned sea
Though the scenes were indeed too sad
Only prayers were taking lead
Oh! Just some of us survived
At least a discent woman and a man
Wide awake! Am I alone in this place
Someone hear me ? my only hope!
The Acid Rain is burning
Right into your eyes
Again your dreams may loose the glow
Allow the sorrow of your thougths to meet sunrise
And shall the hopefull words
Bring love inside your heart
So the world knew a tragic fate
We were draining the deadly sea
And the scenes were indeed too sad
Only prayers were taking lead
The Acid Rain is burning your eyes!
05 Heroes of Sand (04:39)
Sealing light
Nothing to see
Like a miracle life
Starts with the pain
Forever this will be
Close my eyes
Thunders won't cease
Crawling down to the edge
I break down and weep
Tears on the river deep
Oh! Back to the sea
Shout loud
Moving ahead
Ride the horses of justice
Virtues of men, yawns!
Down and out
Losing my head
Like a dream you're returning
Back from the dead-awake!
Shadows will fade some day
All the heroes go down
Shed their blood on the land
Dreaming somehow
The divine will now stand
Heroes go down
With their hearts in their hands
Building their castles on the sand
Haunted by the heavy clouds
Thunder scaring away
Howling like a mountain wolf
Warriors are leading the way
07 Rebirth (05:17)
Cooling breeze from a summer day
Hearing echoes from your heart
Learning how to recompose the words
Let time just fly
Joyfull sea-gulls roaming on the shore
Not a single note will sound
Raise my head after I dry my face
Let time just fly
Recalling
Retreating
Returning
Retreaving
A small talk
Your missing
More clever
But older now
A leader
A learner
A lawful beginner
A lodger of lunacy
So lucid in the jungle
A helper
A sinner
A scarecrow's agonizing smile
Oh! Minutes go round and round
Inside my head
Oh! My chest will now explode
Falling into pieces
Rain breaks on the ground-blood!
One minute forever
A sinner regretting
My vulgar misery ends
(And I) ride the winds of a brand new day
High where mountain's stand
Found my hope and pride again
Rebirth of a man
Time to fly...
09 Running Alone (07:14)
When the brave fought
On the land of freedom for the men
Now the bells of hope are ringing
Angels cry again
The goddess of wind was mad, oh no!
Spreading the fire
Rushing our destiny (and) from now
Dividing us all.
Visions of steady land
Cheering the sight
Orders to wait until the night
Answer me,
What happned to your life?
Answer me, what do you hide?
The storm made us angry, I don't know!
Spreading the fear
Old friends like enemys, be strong!
And hide all your tears
Revolting the high command
Don't let it drown
Captain took off before the dawn.
Answer me,
What happened to your life?
Answer me, what do you hide?
Can't you see
Salvation without fight?
Can't you see it?
That you are blind
Under the sun
In a solitary world
I am running alone
Scars on my face
Weary hands from digging dirt
I was dying all alone
Am running?
Where am I?
Where has everyone gone this time?
Left my future far behind
I am nothing but the sole survivor
Under the sun I still see this world burning
Scars on my face shows the eyes of a man running
10 Visions Prelude (04:32)
Cold wind, sad moonrise
Dark clouds in the sky
Storm ends the mouring time
Howling in the night
Vision of the land
After the horid end
We build again from the start
Holy lenient heart
A treasure of the land
Torments have brought the end
We build again from the start
Holy lenient heart
Visions come from the sea
Oceans bring to me
I reach the sand with a kiss
Treasures bristling from a bliss
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Other reviews
By Dreamtheater
'Millennium Sun' is, in my opinion, the best of the whole album, beginning very quietly with Edu Falaschi’s splendid voice in the foreground.
The album flows smoothly, never boring, with very good melodies in each track, making it one of their best works.
