•
Rating:
THE REVIEW
"Temple of Shadows" was released in 2004, and I decided to immerse myself in the Brazilian metal of Angra, which is appreciated by many. Well, I was very skeptical about this group, I had heard a few songs here and there, but they hadn't really thrilled me that much... Well, with this album I changed my mind: truly well done, it has everything... variety of instruments used, good melodies, metal tracks up to par, skilled musicians, rhythm changes, and naturally (as I expected) also references to Brazilian sound. A pleasant surprise, however, there are a few things I perhaps don't agree with, but they are just minor details in a sea of good music, but let's proceed in order. "Deus Le Volt" and "Spread Your Fire" open the CD wonderfully, beautiful, the first one lets you enter a magical atmosphere, and the following track introduces the typical Angra sound made up of good melodies and high rhythm with beautiful passages by drummer Aquiles Priester. It continues with "Angels And Demons", which has the same sound as the previous one, and I consider it enjoyable, but below the first two because there is more virtuosity but at the same time a lack in melody. In the following "Waiting Silence" and "Wishing Well", the rhythm breaks and one enters even more into progressive accompanied by beautiful choirs. "The Temple Of Hate" is very fast, I would consider it speed, with applause for Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt in high skill pieces; "The Shadow Hunter" is also very pleasant. From this point on, we can say that the pace slows down (with some exceptions...) and enters a calmer and more melodic part that may bore a little, it slows down too much in my opinion. The following tracks have a strong vein of progressive with the use of instruments and more "calm" tempos. It closes with "Gate XIII", which even has strong classical influences.
A CD of a thousand faces and colors, varied and pleasant. Maybe there is too much shift from power to melody, risking getting lost between crazy rhythms (Priester exaggerates sometimes) and ballads that intertwine, but this is a typical characteristic of Angra, otherwise an excellent CD for fans of the genre.
Loading comments slowly
Summary by Bot
The review praises Angra's 2004 album Temple of Shadows for its musical variety, skilled musicianship, and blend of metal styles with Brazilian influences. While noting that the shifts between fast-paced metal and melodic ballads can feel uneven, the reviewer ultimately finds it an impressive and enjoyable metal album. Highlights include dynamic rhythms and classical touches, making it a strong recommendation for genre fans.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Angra
Angra is a Brazilian metal band known for blending power metal and progressive metal with classical/orchestral elements and Brazilian influences. The group’s early era featured vocalist André Matos; later releases feature vocalist Edu Falaschi, with guitarists Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt frequently highlighted in reviews for their technique and songwriting.20 Reviews
Other reviews
By dying_sun
Temple of Shadows is sincerely promoted and deserves the purchase.
Angra has shown bravery and been rewarded, and as a result, so are we.
By emanuele
Great artists are recognized in difficult moments, during which one must prove their worth and be able to emerge from a heavy situation that has weighed on the band.
"Temple Of Shadows" is a turning point for our musicians, steering towards more power-oriented coordinates with an aggressive vocal style and complex rhythms.
By Dreamtheater
"With this album, I changed my mind: it’s really well done, there’s everything... variety of instruments, good melodies, high-level metal tracks, skilled musicians."
"A CD with a thousand faces and colors, varied and enjoyable... an excellent CD for lovers of the genre."
By ilfreddo
If the banal power with dragons and muscular heroes on the cover is a McChicken or BigMac at the fast-food, Angra are a dish at a restaurant to be savored with due calmness.
The true masterpiece of Temple of Shadows in my opinion is 'The Shadow Hunter'—a triumphant moment to be savored by simply cranking up the volume.
