Band:	Angra
Album:	Secret Garden
Style:	Progressive power metal
Release date:	December 17, 2014
A review by:	R'Vannith

01. Newborn Me
02. Black Hearted Soul
03. Final Light
04. Storm Of Emotions
05. Synchronicity II [Police cover] [bonus]
06. Violet Sky
07. Secret Garden
08. Upper Levels
09. Crushing Room
10. Perfect Symmetry
11. Silent Call

The Japanese were the first to witness this surprising stabilisation of a band that seemed beyond saving. In late 2014 an all new Angra first flourished, and the turn over to a new year demonstrated to the rest of the world an earnest progressive growth in the repertoire of Brazil's leading light in power metal. The secret they revealed in their latest record is that Angra aren't finished just yet.

From an instrumental standpoint Angra have managed to thoroughly rejuvenate their sound in Secret Garden. They've proven adaptable when it came to changes of lead vocalist once before; the aptly named Rebirth representing the successful transition from Andre Matos to Edu Falaschi. Enter none other than Fabio Lione as the new voice of Angra and there's definite improvement over Aqua.

Sharp song writing and lush leads demonstrate the band's rhythm section at their most direct and coherently formative in years, leaving the messy mix in Aqua well behind them. Kit control is down to Bruno Valverde, and as a new member he manages to centralise a consistency of Angra characteristic percussive flair as the guitars find focus and purpose despite the absence of their prior front man. Lione is not alone in providing voice to this ample instrumental basis, as Secret Garden features guest arrangements from notable names in Epica's Simone Simons and Doro Pesch. Though all contribute their vocal talents to an expected high calibre, the arrangements are clearly made in a collaborative manner, the lead voice of Lione not quite instilling the same face and presence in the music as Falaschi or Matos before him once established in Angra's sound.

Lione's efforts are certainly admirable, and suitably in the track "Perfect Symmetry" he merges his recognisable style most efficiently with the excellence of Angra's up-tempo instrumental delivery. Such a cut offers the album at its more power oriented nature, otherwise the track-list is noticeably of a more successful progressive vein than the rather limp attempts in Aqua, this influence in the music offering more complex metal with a strong neoclassical likeness that would likely bring the likes of Symphony X to the listener's recollection and associations.

Secret Garden bears all the markings of a strong return to form, but not quite managing a coalescence between its instrumental prowess and somewhat detached vocal arrangements, as well performed as each are singularly. It can't, by any means, be described as an unsuccessful affair, yet there is clear room for further integration of the vocals with a remarkably powerful rhythm section. Essentially, a void was left with Falaschi's departure which is here only partially filled.

Not only is the album ambitious in its instrumental structure, but, most importantly, its coherency. Its emphasis on more progressive song writing works wonders in terms of its clarity, allowing for Angra to punch out power metal tracks built with the imperative for change as well as reaffirmation of sound in mind. It's with Secret Garden that Angra have yet again adapted to the circumstances that befell them in significant losses in line-up, and displayed their continued resourcefulness in a bounce-back record.