Secret Garden

After the departure of Edu Falaschi and Ricardo Confessori, I feared for a while that Angra would throw in the towel. Instead, they have now come out with what I think is their strongest work since Temple of Shadows. This is a fabulous album that simultaneously returns to the roots of the band, yet moves it forward emphatically.From the first song, Newborn Me, we hear how well Fabio Lione (Rhapsody, Ayreon, et al) fits with the band. Honestly, I think they sound better with Lione than with either Matos or Falaschi, much as I liked those guys' work. After introducing him, they launch into the samba power metal that they do best - it just made me smile. While Bittencourt and Loureiro are two of the best guitarists in the world, we find throughout this album that they are also marvelous composers. For example, the title track starts with a few measures that hint that this is just the obligatory transitional waltz, but it quickly turns into a wonderful maze of accidentals, with a few lovely key changes, and a bridge that is ever so not 3/4. Even Rafa Bittencourt does some vocals on a couple of songs, and it turns out that he has a fine voice that contrasts very well with that of Lione.In retrospect, it is simple. Arthur C. Clarke said: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." These people have access to musical talent and voices that most of us can only dream of, and the result is... magic. Buy this, and tell all your friends.

I've been a fan of Angra since Holy Land. I usually only listen to power/prog metal in small doses. However, I always thought that Angra's combination of top notch musicianship (best guitar duo in metal?), melodic song-craft, and diversity of influences set them apart in a genre that can sometimes be very derivative.With this album they demonstrate that they retain all of those characteristics at a point in their career when many bands start to lose their fire and passion. In addition, they also show a new capability to evolve their sound with the addition of some more modern influences (both metal and jazz/fusion) and a couple brand new members.My only minor complaint is that sometimes it is a struggle to pinpoint the band's identity on this album. The production is stellar, but the ethnic percussion is often buried in the mix. Also, all the vocalist performances are excellent (especially Fabio and Rafael) but the diversity of voices can sometimes cause confusion about what is the new "Angra sound" exactly.Definitely my favorite album of theirs since Temple of Shadows.

I've been a fan of Angra since their 1st album came out and continued following them through their line-up changes. When I heard Fabio Lione would join the band and record an album I looked forward to it. After I heard his "opera voice", I really thought Angra would explore it on the album... but that hasn't really happened.This album is ok. It sounds like Angra, and Fabio sounds great. But it seems like something is missing. Maybe it isn't just heavy enough... maybe I was expecting Fabio to also use his more aggressive singing here and there...As for the new drummer. He's competent, but just doesn't play heavy enough for my taste.

Every single track is masterfully realized and, every time a song starts to sound cliched, an inspired twist surprises you. The band uses many of its signature elements developed throughout the years, and incorporates them here and there to create a diversified yet cohesive offering: the fast power metal takes, the progressive sequences, the Brazilian instruments, the symphonic accompaniment, the incredible solos. Very pleased to see one of my favorite bands getting even stronger!

Mmmm... So, so. Fabio, with heart-stricken hurt in my heart, is still not working. The music... OK, but I still expect more from this guys, and am yet again left with unfulfilled expectations.Just OK.

Good album, but i was expecting something greater

Great new singer. Strong songs. Kiko's guitar work is amazing, of course.

great

Grandissimo ritorno della band carioca a distanza di un paio di anni dal controverso Aqua, senza contare il live celebrativo per i 20 anni di Angels Cry, uscito lo scorso anno! Gli Angra tornano sul mercato oltre con un gran bel disco, anche con due importanti e sostanziali cambi di formazione; la prima, quella che rende noi metal fans italiani molto orgogliosi è l'entrata in pianta stabile dietro al microfono del più grande (insieme a Roberto Tiranti) cantante metal italiano: Fabio Lione, che dire, a mio parere la sua più grande prestazione su disco della sua carriera! La seconda novità è il cambio dietro le pelli a favore dello strabiliante e giovanissimo (25 anni) Bruno Valverde, che ci offre una prestazione con la maiuscola e che non fa per niente rimpiangere i suoi due più noti predecessori! Parlando del disco, ci troviamo di fronte a quasi un capolavoro, un disco suonato alla perfezione, dove ogni musicista da libero sfogo alla propria creatività e tecnica amalgamando il tutto in questo bellissimo disco! E' un disco diverso dai precedenti, gli Angra hanno virato verso uno stile più prog rispetto al passato, con una maggiore potenza ai suoni ed in m odo particolare alle chitarre, quindi con meno orchestre e molta melodia grazie al timbro potente e mai banale di un Lione ispiratissimo! Troviamo anche un paio di ospiti graditissimi, le bravissime Simone Simons (Epica), Doro Pesch e Maria Ilmoniemi. Unica pecca di questo bellissimo nuovo album sono alcune parti cantate da Rafael Bittencourt, che a mio parere a confronto di un cantante come Fabio Lione sono quasi imbarazzanti, quindi mi domando caro Rafel, perché non fai solo quello che ti riesce veramente bene, e cioè comporre e suonare la chitarra? Da notare anche una cover dei Police, Synchronicity, per il resto come ho già scritto sopra, un gran bel disco da avere assolutamente!

Superbe album de power metal progressif que ce "Secret garden". Angra nous prouve une fois de plus qu'il sait rebondir après un énième changement de line-up! Dès le premier morceaux, on peut sentir que le groupe est toujours (très) aiguisé et la suite de l'album nous le confirme, même si, c'est là mon avis, il n'est pas exempt de défauts. En effet, le premier constat est que Fabio Lione ne chante pas sur la totalité des morceaux et c'est fort dommage puisqu'il y est phénoménal, vraiment! Le deuxième est que deux morceaux sortent un peu du propos général de l'album, "violet sky" et "secret garden", ce dernier étant chanté par Simone Simons d'Epica et lorgne un peu du côté de Nightwish. Cependant, ils sont bons chacun dans leur style. Pour le reste, rien à redire. Tous les autres morceaux sont excellent et dans la pure tradition du groupe avec quelques touches de nouveauté biens senties et des solos à couper le souffle! On pense à Dream Theater, Symphony X et même Opeth sur certains solos et claviers, mais tout ça sans dénaturer la personnalité du groupe, donc chapeau bas, Angra!

Seguo gli Angra sin dagli albori; sono sempre state una di quelle band tecnicamente e melodicamente ineccepibili!Dopo anni di assenza ecco una gemma di rara bellezza: Secret Garden.Ho ritrovato il Lione d'oro in pieno stile Athena; i pezzi sono molto belli e l'ascoltatore può tranquillamente rilassarsi e sognare nonchè caricarsi della giusta dose di energia tant'è vario questo disco.Spero solo che la dipartita di Kiko nei Megadeth non precluda alla band di sfornare altri capolavori simili.In sintesi: Uno dei dischi degli Angra più belli!

... gilt jetzt nicht unbedingt als DER Exportschlager des Amazonas-Landes. Dennoch haben es die Südamerikaner in über 20 Jahren geschafft, sich einen Namen im "Haifischbecken Powermetal" zu erspielen. Mit ihrem 8. Longplayer "Secret Garden" knüpfen sie nahtlos an erfolgreiche Alben wie "Aqua" an, einziger Unterschied ist, dass der Gesangspart mit Ex-"Rhapsody of Fire" Frontmann "Fabio Lioni" besetzt wurde. Dieser Besetzungswechsel war definitiv nicht zum Nachteil, denn der Italiener macht einen richtig guten Job und sorgt für frischen Wind. Die Songs weisen die altbekannten "Angra"-Trademarks auf, Fans von "Angra" können hier unbedacht zugreifen. Musikalisch sind "Angra" wieder ein bischen "Back to the roots" gegangen, die melodischen Speed-Metal-Songs erinnern mich doch sehr stark an ältere Veröffentlichungen der Brasilianer. Die Klasse der Herrschaften an den Instrumenten, werden auch auf "Secret garden" sehr eindrucksvoll unterstrichen, da gibt es wirklich nichts zu meckern. Das "Angra" in der Szene anerkannt ist, beweist schon die Tatsache das Größen wie "Simone Simons" und "Doro Pesch" sich zu Gastauftritten bewegen ließen. Trotz sieben überdurchschnittlichen Alben, haben "Angra" den Durchbruch noch nicht geschafft, woran es liegen könnte? Keine Ahnung! Musikalische Gründe kann es meiner Meinung nicht haben, da können die Brasilianer definitiv mit den Wölfen heulen.Mein Fazit: Wer auf melodischen Powermetal steht, der sollte hier unbedingt mal reinhören - ich finde es lohnt sich!

ottimo ritorno delka band brasiliana. tante novita' in questo nuovo lavoro ,dal battetista (che potenza)ad un super fabio lione a farla da padrone . il sound e' evidentemente cambiato per dare spazio al nuovo cantante di esprimere al massimo le proprie potenzialita'. la musica e' molto piu' tecnica e progressiva. unica pecca la copertina e i vari ospiti presenti nel cd che a mio avviso non danno quel tocco di classe all'album soprattutto quando rafael bittencourt decide di cantare alcune tracce.