Angra rebirth jo soares biography

Brazilian power metal band

This article is about the power metal band. For other uses, spot Angra (disambiguation).

Angra is a Brazilian power metal and progressive metal band formed in They acquire released ten regular studio albums, six EPs, and seven dwell CD/DVDs to date.

Rebirth is the fourth album by the Brazilian heavy metal band Angrathe first since a major restructuring of the band's line-up. InMetal Hammer ranked it as the 15th best power metal album of all time. This article about a Brazilian album is a stub. You can support Wikipedia by expanding it.

Led by Rafael Bittencourt, the band has gained a degree of popularity in Japan and Europe.^[1]

History

Formation

Angra was formed in November ^[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 , 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 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.

Angels Cry

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 to 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 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 achievement both in Brazil as adequately as Japan.^[4] The band were managed by Antonio Pirani, also editor of Rock Brigade magazine.^[5] Due to the album's accomplishment in Japan, the Evil Warning EP was released in 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 present in Germany through Dream Circle, and in France by CNR Music.

Holy Land

In 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 Holy Land - an ambitious project involving orchestration, choirs, and Brazilian rhythms - was released in 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 day following the album's success, while in France the single "Make Believe" was released.

That identical 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 The Holy Box was released in by Lucretia Records (Italy), which included seven acoustic tracks.

Fireworks (–)

In 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 endorse 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 Bruce Dickinson made a guest appearance during the Paris show,^[7] while the band also performed at the Wacken Open Air festival.^[8]

Matos departure and Rebirth (–)

In August Angra split, parting ways with vocalist Andre Matos who took bassist Luis Mariutti and drummer Ricardo Confessori with him.^[9] In March , 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 , produced by Dennis Ward. The album was both a critical and commercial success in Brazil and internationally, selling over , copies worldwide.^[10] The album went gold in Brazil that same year.^[11] The EP Hunters and Prey was released in which included acoustic takes of Rebirth songs, as well as other modern material, a cover of "Mama" by Genesis, and their first song with lyrics in Portuguese, "Caça e Caçador" ("Hunter and Prey").

Angra would play reside in Japan, appearing in Rock Machine in Spain, Wacken Expose 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 Similar (A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin).

Temple of Shadows (–)

Temple of Shadows recording sessions started in January at Mosh Studios in São Paulo, once again produced by Dennis Ward.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this album due to the fact that I'm biased in favour of ex-singer Andre Matos, who left to form a "real band" called Shaman, taking Angra's rhythm section with him. I figured Rebirth would sound like a extension of the speedy, and ultimately boring, Fireworks album since only guitarists Loureiro and Bittencourt stay of the original line-up, and I couldn't have been more wrong. In actual fact, Rebirth is the follow-up to the classic Holy Land, the album that established Angra as a metal entity worth watching. The songs have been slowed down for the most part, and there is a marked restore to the Latin rhythms and orchestral arrangements that had been their trademark.

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 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 Protest.

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 favor Iron Maiden.

Aurora Consurgens, leadership problems, Confessori's return (–)

Later in , 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 , Fábio Laguna composed a solo steady instrumental album called Freakeys along with drummer Aquiles Priester and bassist Felipe Andreoli. In mid, the band took a interruption 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 , 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 rest, a pause. The band is going through some difficult organization issues, and all of us are doing our best to get back on the road."^[12] In , 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 , 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

Aqua and departure of Falaschi and Confessori (–)

In the beginning of , Angra started writing songs for their upcoming yet unnamed album due out in mid^[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 recent 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, entity followed by a Brazilian tour through several venues around the country.

On May 23, , Edu Falaschi issued an uncover 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] Organization 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 , drummer Ricardo Confessori announced he would end his second tenure with the band. He was later replaced by year-old Bruno Valverde.^[16]

Secret Garden, Kiko's departure, and Ømni (–)

In November , the band announced their eighth studio album, Secret Garden, that was released on December 17 in Japan and on January 16, in Brazil and Europe.^[17] On September 19, , 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, worldwide.

Former vocalist Andre Matos died on 8 June A heart charge was cited as the cause.^[19]

In , the band released a graphic novel based on the history of the album Temple of Shadows, called "O Templo das Sombras".^[20]

Cycles of Pain and third hiatus (since )

The band announced that their tenth album, Cycles of Pain, would be released on November 1, in Japan and on November 3 elsewhere.

Angra is a Brazilian power metal and progressive metal band formed in Led by Rafael Bittencourt, the band has gained a degree of popularity in Japan and Europe. Bittencourt and Matos were the first songwriters in the band's initial days. With Loureiro in the line-up, Angra recorded their first demo tape Reaching Horizonswhich was released in through the German label Limb Music.

It will be their first album released under Atomic Fire.

On September 2, , the band announced that they will take a touring and recording hiatus after finishing the tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Temple of Shadows in Pride ^[21]

Musical style

Their musical style has been described as power metal,^[1][22]progressive metal,^[1][23] and neoclassical metal.^[1]

Band members

Current members

• Rafael Bittencourt – guitars, keyboards, piano, backing vocals (–present), co-lead vocals (–), occasional lead vocals (–present)
• Felipe Andreoli – bass, keyboards, piano, backing vocals (–present)
• Fabio Lione – lead vocals (–present)
• Bruno Valverde – drums (–present)
• Marcelo Barbosa – guitars (–present)

Former members

• André Linhares – guitars, backing vocals (–)
• Marco Antunes – drums (–)
• Andre Matos – lead vocals, keyboards, piano (–; died )
• Luís Mariutti – bass (–)
• André Hernandes – guitars, backing vocals ()
• Kiko Loureiro – guitars, keyboards, piano, backing vocals (–)
• Aquiles Priester – drums (–)
• Edu Falaschi – lead vocals, acoustic guitar (in Unplugged shows) (–)
• Ricardo Confessori – drums (–, –), backing vocals (During live shows) ()

Former support members

• Alex Holzwarth – drums (, studio)
• Fábio Ribeiro - keyboards ( – , Fireworks tour)
• Fábio Laguna – keyboards, backing vocals (–, touring)
• Dio Lima (Opus V) - keyboards (, Rebirth 20th Anniversary Tour)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Released	Title	Label	Brazilian charts[24]	French charts[25]	Japanese charts[4]	Swiss charts[26]	Belgian Charts (Wallonia)[26]	Sales	Certifications
	Angels Cry	Eldorado/JVC Japan/Polydor	N/A	not released	17	N/A	N/A	,	JP: Gold
	Holy Land	Eldorado/JVC Japan/Lucretia	N/A	not released	17	N/A	N/A	,	JP: Gold
	Fireworks	Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV	N/A	not released	15	N/A	N/A	,	JP: Gold
	Rebirth	Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV	N/A	74	18	N/A	N/A	,[27]	JP: Gold BR: Gold GR: Gold
	Temple of Shadows	Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV	10		22	N/A	N/A	,	JP: Gold BR: Gold
	Aurora Consurgens	Paradoxx/JVC Japan/SPV	14		17	N/A	N/A	,	BR: Gold
	Aqua	Voice Music/JVC Japan/SPV	11		22	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Secret Garden	Universal/JVC Japan/Edel	N/A		20	N/A		N/A	N/A
	ØMNI	Shinigami Records/JVC Japan/Edel	N/A		42	88		N/A	N/A
	Cycles of Pain	Atomic Fire Records	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Demos

Extended plays (EPs)

• Evil Warning ()
• Live Acoustic at FNAC ()
• Freedom Call ()
• Acoustic And more ()
• Hunters and Prey () - No.&#;85 Japanese charts
• AudioArena Originals: Angra-EP ()

Compilations

Live albums

• Holy Live, Recorded () - No.&#;87 Japanese albums charts
• Rebirth World Tour – Reside in São Paulo, Recorded (CD & DVD, ) - No.&#;78 Japanese charts (CD); No.&#; Japanese charts (DVD)
• Angels Cry 20th Anniversary Tour, Recorded (CD & DVD, ) - No.&#;80 Japanese charts (CD); No.&#; Japanese charts (DVD)
• Live at Loud Park (CD, )
• Ømni Live, Recorded (CD & DVD, )
• Sonastério Ilumina ()
• Acoustic Live at Opera de Arame (CD, LP & DVD, )

Singles

• "Carry On" ()
• "Make Believe" ()
• "Lisbon" ()
• "Rainy Nights" ()
• "Acid Rain" () (demo version)
• "Wishing Well" () - No.&#;85 Brazilian charts
• "The Course of Nature" () (free download only)
• "Arising Thunder" () (free download only)
• "Lease of Life" () (free download only)
• "Newborn Me" () (free download only)
• "Travelers of Time" ()
• "Black Widow's Web" (feat Sandy Lima and Alissa White-Gluz) ()
• "War Horns" (feat Kiko Loureiro) ()
• "Hollow (Aqua Remix)" ()
• "Ride into the Storm" ()
• "Tide of Changes Part II" (feat Vanessa Moreno) ()
• "Gods of the World" ()

References

External links