ANGRA — Holy Land (review)

ANGRA — Holy Land album cover Album · 1996 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Kingcrimsonprog
The Brazilian Heavy Metal band Angra’s debut album Angels Cry had sounded somewhere in the area of like a mixture between early Helloween and Queensryche. Three years later the band diversified their sound, with a sort of Dream Theater flair in places, a lot less Power Metal, and the introduction of what would come to define the band in the eyes of many… lots of Brazilian indigenous folk music influences, additional percussion and classical influences in there too for good measure. Where the first album had a lot more speed, this album mixes it up. It’s a lot more rhythmic, based on interesting patterns. They upped the amount of keyboards, orchestral arrangements and percussion for sure, and there’s some sound effects here and there (boat and water sounds to fit with the theme), but the biggest difference is in how the songs flow and are structured.

Its also a concept album about their Brazilian homeland and its early history. Not your typical character-driven concept (usually about a fictional rockstar). It makes for interesting listening and adds an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.

The style has changed a little since the debut, but what hasn’t changed is the band’s talent. The vocals and lead guitar alone are phenomenal and then you have the really powerful rhythm section who shower this album full of impressive bass runs and tricky fills and manage all the tempo and time sig changes effortlessly making the complexity feel smooth and natural.

The superb production job by Power Metal producer-extraordinaire Charlie Bauerfeind (Hammerfall, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Primal Fear, Blind Guardian, Freedom Call etc.) is the icing on the cake that pulls together the spectacular songwriting and performances and makes you appreciate everything all the more.

Highlights include ‘Nothing To Say’ which is beyond catchy, ‘Carolina IV’ and perhaps my favourite of all, ‘Z.I.T.O’ which starts off in an Angel’s Cry mould and then goes off on one.

Overall, this is a really good album from a talented band. If you like your Prog Metal or your Power Metal then you need to check out Angra, and if you like Angra then Holy Land is pretty essential listening.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Living In The Static Metalcore
LIVEALIE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Fury And Ashes Hardcore Punk
UNDER NEGATIVE MIND
Buy this album from MMA partners
Bonded By Morbid Brutality Hardcore Punk
ZODIAC KILLER
Buy this album from MMA partners
All Witches Shall Burn Death Metal
PANZERCHRIST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Negative Music Hardcore Punk
HAUST
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

LIVEALIE - Smothered (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
LIVEALIE
Bosh66· 12 hours ago
LIVEALIE - Honestly, This is the Death of Me (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
LIVEALIE
Bosh66· 12 hours ago
LIVEALIE - Disciples (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
LIVEALIE
Bosh66· 12 hours ago
LIVEALIE - Casting Shadows (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
LIVEALIE
Bosh66· 12 hours ago
LIVEALIE - Forget-me-not (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)
LIVEALIE
Bosh66· 12 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed