Angra – 'Rebirth'
                                                                                                 Released on Steamhammer Records in 2001
THE BAND:
Edu Falaschi – vocals
Kiko Loureiro – guitars
Rafael Bittencourt –guitars
Felipe Andereoli – bass
Aquiles Priester - drums


TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) “In Excelsis” –Instrumental
2.) “Nova Era” –This track leads in from the instrumental.  The intro of the track is very orchestrated at first, and then goes into a very heavy lead guitar pattern.  When the verse kicks in the drummer incorporates a very unique double bass drum pattern. Not that the pattern is rare it just is not used very often. This drum pattern changes during the chorus to a more standard heavy metal style pattern.  The pre-chorus and chorus are overdubbed vocally.  There is two solo’s one before the bridge and one after.  They both are very intense in a progressive Vinnie Moore way.
3.) “Millennium Sun” –This track opens with piano and a Ronnie James Dio style vocal line.  This makes for a very subtle intro, which leads into a semi-heavy song.  When the song kicks in it has a pretty standard double bass drum pattern.  The main highlight of the song itself is the vocal line and backing harmonies, which really blew me away. 
4.) “Acid Rain”- This track kicks off with a very soothing choir vocal arrangement.  As a drummer myself I really liked the drum pattern on this track and thought it was on of the main highlights.  The song has a very progressive type bridge one that would make Rush proud.  The solo is a twin guitar solo with piano and keyboard.  .
5.) “Hands of Sand” –This track kicks off with a very clean electric guitar rhythm along with a vocal pattern.  The song kicks in, in a very progressive style, and probably is the most progressive sounding song on the cd.  The vocal lines are echoed and the chorus has a few hooks within it.  The solo was is very laid back and way too short.
6.) “Unholy Wars” –The intro to this one kicks off with a percussion section.  The guitar pattern had a very Seventies feel to it with I felt it really showed the bands influences. The drum patterns are very influenced of Eighties speed metal.  The song itself has several different musical styles, which makes it very abstract.  At time the vocal lines have an African sound to them, which makes really sound great with the musical arrangement.  The bass line for the bridge was very unusual and sounded great!! The song also has an orchestrated section.
7.) “Rebirth”- This track kicks off with an acoustic guitar pattern.  The first verse really shows the vocalist singing ability.  The song has a real cool harmonizing vocal section.  The song also has a great mix of single and double bass drum work on it.  The solo was very melodic and laid back.
8.) “Judgment Day” –This track kicks off with a drum into.  There is a minor guitar solo right before the first verse.  The drum pattern on this song was the main highlight.  Even though the song is very abstract it does have a very cool bridge that I was not expecting.
9.) “Running Alone” –The song kicks off with a choir vocal line.  The opening lead scale was pretty intense.  The band changes the speed several times throughout the track with was pretty cool, other than that it was a pretty standard song.
10.) “Vision’s Prelude” –This ballad kicks off with a very laid-back piano and vocal intro.  The vocal lines have a very relaxing feel to them. There is a real cool piano solo after the first chorus.  The guitar pattern is just a very simple chord arrangement.  Even though the song is 4:41 it seemed real short
    
     For progressive style music this release is pretty mediocre.  Like a lot of progressive it is very repetitive.  Angra is a very good band musician wise, and the cd does have great drum, guitar, and vocal work at times.  Butt I felt the writing ability of the songs feel way short at times.  So only die-hard Angra fans should buy this one.