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Angra | |
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![]() Angra performing in 2016 | |
Background information | |
Origin | São Paulo, Brazil |
Genres | |
Years active | 1991–present (hiatuses in 1999–2001 and 2007–2009) |
Labels | |
Members |
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Past members |
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Website | angra |
Angra is a Brazilian power metal band formed in 1991. They have released ten regular studio albums, five EPs, and three live CD/DVDs to date. Led by Rafael Bittencourt, the band has gained a degree of popularity in Japan and Europe. [1]
Angra was formed in November 1991 [2] by vocalist André Matos and guitarists Rafael Bittencourt and André Linhares, in a collaboration with music promoter and Rock Brigade magazine owner Antônio "Toninho" Pirani. The trio was joined by drummer Marco Antunes, a former bandmate of Bittencourt's, and bassist Luís Mariutti. Bittencourt and Matos were the primary songwriters in the band's early days.
Early in 1992, Linhares left the band and was replaced by André Hernandes, who quit in the same year to be replaced by Kiko Loureiro. With Loureiro in the line-up, Angra recorded their first demo tape Reaching Horizons , which was released in 1993 through the German label Limb Music. Among the tracks, "Queen of the Night", originally titled "Rainha" ("Queen"), had been previously composed for Bittencourt and Antunes' previous band; and "Evil Warning" was written during Hernandes' brief stint as bassist.
During the recording sessions for their first album Angels Cry , Marcos Antunes left the band. [3] A number of session drummers, including Alex Holzwarth were used to finish the album. Ricardo Confessori was later installed as a permanent replacement. This line-up change established a stable line-up lasted from 1993 to 2000. Angels Cry was recorded at Gamma Ray guitarist Kai Hansen's studio in Hamburg, Germany. Besides Hansen, the album included guest performances by Heavens Gate guitarist Sascha Paeth and Dirk Schlächter.
The album was released in Brazil in 1993 through Eldorado Records and contained a number of classical influences as well as a cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights". The album had some success both in Brazil as well as Japan. [4] The band were managed by Antonio Pirani, also editor of Rock Brigade magazine. [5] Due to the album's success in Japan, the Evil Warning EP was released in 1994 through Victor, which included remixed versions of songs "Evil Warning", "Angels Cry", "Carry On" and "Wuthering Heights". In the following year the album was made available in Germany through Dream Circle, and in France by CNR Music.
In 1996 Angra opened for AC/DC in Brazil and was invited to the inaugural Brazilian Monsters of Rock Festival. Following the festival, the band embarked on a Brazilian tour, with further dates in Europe in 1995. Holy Land - an ambitious project involving orchestration, choirs, and Brazilian rhythms - was released in 1996. The production was handled by Sascha Paeth and Charlie Bauerfiend. Holy Land proved successful and the Japanese Victor release, which included the bonus track "Queen of the Night", went gold. [4] The band toured Japan for the first time following the album's success, while in France the single "Make Believe" was released. That same year the EP Freedom Call was released, containing cover versions of Judas Priest´s "Painkiller". After the tour in support of the album, the band released a six-track live album Holy Live , recorded in Paris in 1996. The Holy Box was released in 1998 by Lucretia Records (Italy), which included seven acoustic tracks.
In 1998 the band released the single Lisbon, followed by the album Fireworks, produced by Chris Tsangarides. Fireworks was a departure from Angra's earlier experimental sound, focusing more on a neo-classical metal sound and lacking the Brazilian rhythms that were included in Holy Land. The album was the first for the Steamhammer label and appeared in North America through Century Media. A lengthy world tour was set up in support for the album. The band appeared at the Buenos Aires edition of Monsters of Rock, [6] while they co-headlined shows in Europe with Time Machine and Stratovarius in 1999. Bruce Dickinson made a guest appearance during the Paris show, [7] while the band also performed at the Wacken Open Air festival. [8]
During mid-2000 Angra split, parting ways with vocalist Andre Matos who took bassist Luis Mariutti and drummer Ricardo Confessori with him. [9] In March 2001, the two remaining members, Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt, announced the new line-up that included Symbols' vocalist Edu Falaschi, drummer Aquiles Priester and bassist Felipe Andreoli.
This line-up began recording instantly and the album Rebirth was released in 2001, produced by Dennis Ward. The album was both a critical and commercial success in Brazil and internationally, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide. [10] The album went gold in Brazil that same year. [11] The EP Hunters and Prey was released in 2002 which included acoustic takes of Rebirth songs, as well as other new material, a cover of "Mama" by Genesis, and their first song with lyrics in Portuguese, "Caça e Caçador" ("Hunter and Prey").
Angra would play live in Japan, appearing in Rock Machine in Spain, Wacken Open Air in Germany and ProgPower in Atlanta, Georgia, which was their first visit to the United States. Following the tour, the band submitted their version of Kashmir to the compilation The Music Remains The Same (A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin).
Temple of Shadows recording sessions started in January 2004 at Mosh Studios in São Paulo, once again produced by Dennis Ward. The album featured guest vocalists Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), Sabine Edelsbacher (Edenbridge), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) and Brazilian folk and fusion legend Milton Nascimento. Temple of Shadows was a concept album based around a character known as The Shadow Hunter, a crusader knight disputing the expansionist ideals of the Catholic Church in the eleventh century.
The band toured Brazil and Europe, headlining shows in Southern Europe throughout Spain, Italy, and France in February 2005. For the first time since its creation, the band played at a UK show at The Mean Fiddler in London, supported by DragonForce, and later joined Finnish band Nightwish for the Japanese dates in March. The band then went to Taiwan and after, for the first time, they played in Oceania, headlining shows in Australia. Angra resumed the Brazilian tour and then returned to Europe for the Lorca Roch Festival, Live in Italy and Bull Rock Festival, sharing stages with big heavy metal names like Iron Maiden.
Later in 2006, Angra worked once again with producer Dennis Ward on their new album, entitled Aurora Consurgens , focusing on a non-concept album as Rebirth was. Instead, they pursued a close relative of the idea, a theme album. Also in 2006, Fábio Laguna composed a solo progressive instrumental album called Freakeys along with drummer Aquiles Priester and bassist Felipe Andreoli. In mid-2007, the band took a break due to an unresolved situation with its manager, who was also the owner of the Angra brand. As result, other non-resolved situations between the members arose, culminating in an indefinite hiatus until a solution was reached.
In 2008, singer Edu Falaschi was originally reported as saying that Angra "has been terminated," but this was later revealed to be both a misunderstanding and a misreporting of his words. Edu later clarified what was meant by his earlier comments: "Angra is not done; we're taking a break, a pause. The band is going through some difficult management issues, and all of us are doing our best to get back on the road." [12] In 2009, the band's official site was taken down. Instead, the home page announced that the site was under construction and news would be released soon. In March 2009, the band's official site announced the return of drummer Ricardo Confessori after a 9-year hiatus to Angra, replacing Aquiles Priester, who left the band to dedicate full force to his band Hangar. The band went out on tour along with fellow Brazilian band Sepultura during 2009.
In the beginning of 2010, Angra started writing songs for their upcoming yet unnamed album due out in mid-2010. [13] The album was composed partly at the members' houses and partly at Confessori's ranch, where they rehearsed and improved the arrangements of the new songs. In February, they came into Norcal Studios in São Paulo, to start recordings. The band members made home videos from the writing/recording process and released them to the fans almost weekly.
On July 5 the band unveiled the cover and track list of the new album, named Aqua . On July 10, the first single "Arising Thunder" was released. On July, 15 a new song, called "Lease of Life", was played for the first time on Brazilian radio station Kiss FM. The radio program featured an interview with Loureiro and Falaschi, followed by a high quality play of the song. On August 11, Aqua was officially released in Japan and the Aqua Tour began with a series of pocket shows, being followed by a Brazilian tour through several venues around the country.
On May 23, 2012, Edu Falaschi issued an open letter in which he announced his departure from Angra. [14] Despite not explaining why, he said he would focus on his future projects, including Almah. [14] Management of the band approached Matos for a possible return, but he declined. [15] Fabio Lione (ex-Labyrinth, Rhapsody of Fire) became the third vocalist for the band.
In 2014, drummer Ricardo Confessori announced he would end his second tenure with the band. He was later replaced by 23-year-old Bruno Valverde. [16]
In November 2014, the band announced their eighth studio album, Secret Garden , that was released on December 17 in Japan and on January 16, 2015 in Brazil and Europe. [17] On September 19, 2015, Angra performed at Rock in Rio with special guests Doro Pesch and Dee Snider. A third, surprise guest was also announced mid-show: lead guitarist Marcelo Barbosa, who was revealed as Loureiro's touring replacement after the latter had joined Megadeth earlier in the year. [18] The band released their ninth studio album, Ømni , on February 16, 2018 worldwide.
Former vocalist Andre Matos died on 8 June 2019. A heart attack was cited as the cause. [19]
In 2021, the band released a graphic novel based on the history of the album Temple of Shadows, called "O Templo das Sombras". [20]
The band announced that their tenth album, Cycles of Pain, would be released on November 1, 2023 in Japan and on November 3 elsewhere. It will be their first album released under Atomic Fire.
Their musical style has been described as power metal, [1] [21] progressive metal, [1] [22] and neoclassical metal. [1]
Released | Title | Label | Brazilian charts [23] | French charts [24] | Japanese charts [4] | Swiss charts [25] | Belgian Charts (Wallonia) [25] | Sales | Certifications |
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1993 | Angels Cry | Eldorado/JVC Japan/Polydor | N/A | not released | 17 | N/A | N/A | 900,000 | JP: Gold |
1996 | Holy Land | Eldorado/JVC Japan/Lucretia | N/A | not released | 17 | N/A | N/A | 800,000 | JP: Gold |
1998 | Fireworks | Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV | N/A | not released | 15 | N/A | N/A | 700,000 | JP: Gold |
2001 | Rebirth | Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV | N/A | 74 | 18 | N/A | N/A | 400,000 [26] | JP: Gold BR: Gold GR: Gold |
2004 | Temple of Shadows | Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV | 10 | 110 | 22 | N/A | N/A | 800,000 | JP: Gold BR: Gold |
2006 | Aurora Consurgens | Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV | 14 | 154 | 17 | N/A | N/A | 450,000 | BR: Gold |
2010 | Aqua | Voice Music/JVC Japan/SPV | 11 | 147 | 22 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
2014 | Secret Garden | Universal/JVC Japan/Edel | N/A | 174 | 20 | N/A | 195 | N/A | N/A |
2018 | ØMNI | Shinigami Records/JVC Japan/Edel | N/A | 166 | 42 | 88 | 133 | N/A | N/A |
2023 | Cycles of Pain | Atomic Fire Records | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Angels Cry is the debut album of Brazilian metal band Angra. It was released in 1993 and recorded in Germany at Kai Hansen's studios in Hamburg.
Shaman was a Brazilian progressive and power metal band assembled in 2000 by three musicians who left the band Angra – Andre Matos, Luis Mariutti and Ricardo Confessori. The band was completed with guitar player Hugo Mariutti.
Temple of Shadows is the fifth studio and a concept album by the power metal band Angra and was released in 2004 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil and SPV label Steamhammer in the rest of the world. SPV also released a limited edition containing a bonus DVD with the complete video material of the concert that was previously released on their album Rebirth World Tour – Live in São Paulo. The record was classified as the 21st best power metal album of all time by the metal magazine Loudwire.
Andre Coelho Matos was a Brazilian singer and musician. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra, Shaman and Symfonia. Since 2006, Matos had been dedicating his time to his solo career. In 2012, he was ranked No. 77 at the list of 100 Greatest Voices of Brazilian Music by Rolling Stone Brasil.
Viper is a Brazilian heavy metal band formed in 1985, initially influenced by Iron Maiden and the new wave of British heavy metal, later developing a very particular sound.
Ricardo Confessori is a Brazilian drummer and a former member of the Brazilian power metal band Angra.
Rebirth is the fourth album by the Brazilian heavy metal band Angra, the first since a major restructuring of the band's line-up. In 2019, Metal Hammer ranked it as the 15th best power metal album of all time.
Ritual is the debut album by the Brazilian heavy metal band Shaman. It was first released in 2002, and it is a concept album about many cultures, mainly indigenous cultures and shamanism. The album has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide since its release and appears on the list Top 100 Power Metal Albums of All Time by metalstorm.com.
Holy Land is the second album by Brazilian metal band Angra. It is a concept album whose theme is centered on the Brazilian land by the time it was discovered in the 16th century, as depicted in the art surrounding the album release. Once fully opened, the cover illustration turns out to be an old 15th-century map. Title track "Holy Land" contains many indigenous and folkloric influences taken from Brazilian music, but also includes classical arrangements symbolizing Europe at the time.
Eduardo Teixeira da Fonseca Vasconcellos, known as Eduardo "Edu" Falaschi, is a Brazilian musician. He is best known as the former lead singer and songwriter of São Paulo-based heavy metal band Angra. With Angra, Falaschi recorded four albums.
Fireworks is the third studio album by the heavy metal band Angra. It was released in 1998 on Lucretia Records. It was their last album to feature Andre Matos on vocals and Luís Mariutti on bass, and the last to feature drummer Ricardo Confessori until Aqua in 2010.
Aurora Consurgens is the sixth studio album by the power metal band Angra. It was released in October 2006 by Paradoxx Music in Brazil and SPV label Steamhammer in the rest of the world. This is the last album to feature drummer Aquiles Priester.
Reaching Horizons is a demo-tape by the Brazilian power metal band Angra released in 1993 through Limb Music. The original cassette contained six songs, with some re-recorded for their debut album Angels Cry. In 1997, the record-company re-released the album, adding three bonus tracks. It is the only release by the band that features Antunes on drums before he was replaced during the sessions for their debut album.
Fábio Laguna is a keyboardist most famous for playing with Angra since 2001 and for being a member of Hangar band since 2002. In 2006 he released his last solo album called Freakeys along with members of both bands.
Almah is a Brazilian heavy metal band. Initially established in 2006 as a side project of former Angra singer Edu Falaschi, the band has released five albums and has turned from a solo-project into a band with regular activities. Almah plays internationally since 2008 and was featured in festivals such as Rock in Rio (2013) and ProgPower USA (2015), among others.
Aqua is the seventh full-length studio album by Brazilian progressive/power metal band Angra. It was released on August 11, 2010 and August 17, 2010 in Japan and Brazil, respectively. It is their last recording to feature Edu Falaschi on lead vocals, and their only studio album on which drummer Ricardo Confessori returns.
Best Reached Horizons is the first 'Best-Of' album by the Brazilian power metal band Angra, released on October 24, 2012, via SPV/Steamhammer. This compilation marks the 20th Anniversary of the band and the idea behind the name's choice is based on the first demo released by Angra in 1992, entitled Reaching Horizons.
Secret Garden is the eighth full-length studio album by Brazilian progressive/power metal band Angra, released on 17 December 2014 in Japan and with a release date of January 2015 in Brazil and Europe. It is band's first album with singer Fabio Lione and drummer Bruno Valverde, as well as the last to feature guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who left to join Megadeth. The album also features lead vocals by guitarist Rafael Bittencourt and guest performances by Simone Simons from Epica and Doro Pesch.
ØMNI is the ninth full-length studio album by Brazilian progressive/power metal band Angra and the first album by the band with guitarist Marcelo Barbosa replacing Kiko Loureiro, who left the band to join Megadeth. It was elected the 2nd best metal album of 2018 by the traditional Japanese heavy metal magazine Burrn!.
Vera Cruz is the third solo album by Brazilian heavy metal singer Edu Falaschi, the first with all-new material, released initially on May 12, 2021 in Japan via MS Metal Records, digitally to the rest of the world on May 18, 2021. The album was then released physically, first in Brazil on May 31, 2021 and then to the rest of the world on June 15, 2021.