Angra - Temple of Shadows (2004) Reviews

OK, so I really tried with this one. I genuinely wanted to like it (particularly as the guitar solos are so spectacular) but I just couldn't quite get it over the line in the end & it wasn't because it's a power metal record as the reality is that it's actually not. I challenge anyone to identify more than two or three of the thirteen tracks that are genuine power metal here. The two obvious ones ("Spread Your Wings" & "The Temple of Hate") fall into that Helloween/Rhapsody space & are pretty intolerable to me though so I guess the genre has still had an impact on my overall enjoyment factor. If you examine the tracklisting closely though you'll find that most of the album is actually made up of a fairly ambitious brand of Dream Theater-inspired progressive metal which sounds good on paper but in practice ends up being too laden with cheese for my taste. It was a bit frustrating to find that I enjoy just over half of the individual tracks but that the inclusions that I can't get into are so wide of the mark that it taints the whole experience for me.

As I said, those solos try their very best to salvage things for me as they're as good as you'll hear (Better than Dream Theater though Andi? That hurts! Petrucci is my guitar idol!). Front man Edu Falaschi tries really hard to sound like James LaBrie for the majority of the album & pulls it off pretty well for the most part while the orchestration is really well done but it's the usual concept album tropes that drag things down with numerous filler tracks being included purely for the sake of a storyline that I have next to no interest in. The symphonic element is predominantly used as an accompaniment rather than a focal point which was a relief but Angra simply lose me too often to warrant me returning to "Temple of Shadows". Instead I find the record to be a good source of playlist tracks with songs like "Winds of Destination" & "Morning Star" being high quality examples of the progressive metal genre.

This Angra album was a classic for me when I was still listening to power metal. After some months passed since I've made my full move out of most of power metal, I started wondering if there are any bands of albums for me to give another chance. My Audiomachine-loving friend has even gotten into listening to a few of those bands that I used to enjoy. When Angra's Temple of Shadows became this month's Guardians featured release, I just knew the time would be right for some redemption...

Any open-minded music fan should try at least one mature concept album to explore the story that you might find in a book or a movie. All the band members have worked together to build the soundtrack to a story written by guitarist Rafael Bittencourt, proving that their teamwork really made the dream work!

The melodic intro "Deux Le Volt!" consists of classic orchestration without anything electric. It's the result of Bittencourt's music studies to be recognized by Angra fans. Then the first actual track "Spread Your Fire" kicks in the headbanging power metal action right from the drumming and powerful guitar soloing. I actually still think this song is quite epic since first listen. And there's more of the professional guitar solo dueling between Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro. Vocalist Edu Falaschi has such a unique style, though not as high-ranging as the band's earlier vocalist Andre Matos (RIP). Emphasizing the start of this journey is the background soprano vocals of Sabine Edelsbacher of Edenbridge. "Angels and Demons" has a faster beat. The lyrics let you know about the angels and demons controlling your mind, as part of the perils in this ongoing journey. This can almost be an outtake for their previous album Rebirth while still connected to this album's tale. "Waiting Silence" has some synth atmosphere with good melody and great vocals. The bridge and soloing sounds awfully close to Dream Theater at times, though that's just the band's way of exploring beyond their stylistic limits. As a result, that song is a more progressive take on power metal, hinting at their later material, and it's quite interesting for the audience. "Wishing Well" has nice acoustic melody and choir arrangement in a journey through dreamland. There's already a music video for that track! It should interest non-metal music listeners looking for something sweet. The soloing and vocal power can help maintain metalheads' attention. It can leave travelers both determined and confused. Good song for the softer listeners!

The earlier heaviness of Angels Cry returns in "Temple of Hate". The power metal devil Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray sings alongside the angelic Falaschi. Those vocals remind you of the angel-demon battles that can make the heavier melodic metalheads smile. Alongside the good speedy power metal, you can hear a bit of background violins and drum variation. The soloing by Loureiro is so impressive, probably more than Dream Theater, and the violins really level up the powerful guitar riffing. This song is definitely worth repeating! "Shadow Hunter" is a grand 8-minute epic. The Latin influence can be found in the acoustics and percussion, accompanied by nice clean vocals. The electric guitar adds to that melody without being too heavy. The harmonic vocals can lead you to the excellent soloing for atmospheric power, alongside the usual drum kicks. One of the best tracks here happens to be one of the only ballads that I ever actually consider great, "No Pain for The Dead", while adding in the guitar and orchestration that really make the track a great hit. The progressive side of the band grows in the tempo and vocal development. Sabine Edelsbacher returns for more of the spotlight, and sounds the absolute best in this album. Thumbs up! "Winds of Destination" is good, but the tempo sounds off in some parts. The songs tries to build up but falls back down. This might fit better for a different band like Freedom Call or Blind Guardian (the latter's vocalist Hansi Kürsch guest appearing in that song). Not bad, but not so necessary.

The band's Brazilian roots shine in "Sprouts of Time" with moving percussion. Falaschi sings lower here, which is a good beautiful break from the higher vocal motive of power/speed metal. The mood spreads into Loureiro's soloing to help solidify the band's regional identity. A good sound to add to their style! "Morning Star" is the best track here. After the Brazilian rhythms comes a perfect transition into something wonderful. At atmospheric jazzy bridge is around to give the guitar and bass a nice touch. The vocals by Falaschi add more sweetness to the beginning of the journey's end. The melody morphs into heavier guitar for the chorus, repeated in the second verse. Soon a heavier dose of power is added to the strength of the riffing, soloing, and drumming. The headbanging power metal carries on until a few more verses and a final chorus to end in orchestral grandeur. The story actually ends with "Late Redemption", which is beautiful, but to me, more like an afterthought. The band members perform with more emotionally with some vocals by 60s/70s Brazilian pop star Milton Nascimento. "Gate XIII" is the 5-minute orchestral reprise of all the songs in the album, almost like the end credits music for a possible movie adaptation, similar to the end of Nightwish's Imaginaerum.

I certainly remember when Temple of Shadows was a classic part of my power metal collection, and the times when I would repeat it along with other albums of the genre. I would definitely give the album a perfect 5 stars if I reviewed it 8 years ago. Still this is worth a close enough 4.5 stars as its "classic" status isn't going away anywhere!

Favorites: "Spread Your Fire", "Waiting Silence", "Temple of Hate", "The Shadow Hunter", "No Pain for The Dead", "Morning Star"