Avalon
2007
1. Menuett (Intro)
2. Letting Go
3. Rio
4. Remember Why
5. How Long (Unleashed Away)
6. Looking Back
7. Face The End
8. Time To Be Free
9. Rescue
10. A New Moonlight
11. Endeavour
12. Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Most known for his work in Angra, Andre Matos has also been part of the metal scene since the the mid 80s at the young age of 14. Metal has been this man's life it would seem and now after a short stint with Shaman it seems he's ready to release a true solo offering.
The appropriately titled Time To Be Free seems to be in what is probably his most familiar form. This is light and often swift moving power metal in a style that should be sure to catch the attention of fans of his work in Angra. The songs are energetic and delivered with a good vocal performance by Andre Matos, but at times this album seems to lack a bit of the guitar power I'm used to hearing him with. Maybe I'm just missing the neoclassical guitar assault that was present in early Angra and as a result this sometimes seems like a lesser Angra to me. Still, this is a pretty good listen for fans of his voice and of this sort of power metal. It's good to hear someone doing this style of metal anyways as Angra themselves have vastly changed since the departure of Andre Matos. Really, to me, this is like a double edged sword. Angra hasn't been the same since Matos' departure and Andre Matos isn't quite the same without a couple of powerful neoclassical guitarists behind him. Can't say I don't wish the band had just stayed together, but this sounds closer to the old Angra than Angra does.
Overall, this is an enjoyable album and a pretty decent start to Andre Matos' solo career. I do however think some improvement in the leads is necessary to maintain interest. Otherwise I could see this lesser Angra style going stale pretty fast.
Highlights: How Long, Endeavour
Rating - 3.0/5
2. Letting Go
3. Rio
4. Remember Why
5. How Long (Unleashed Away)
6. Looking Back
7. Face The End
8. Time To Be Free
9. Rescue
10. A New Moonlight
11. Endeavour
12. Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Most known for his work in Angra, Andre Matos has also been part of the metal scene since the the mid 80s at the young age of 14. Metal has been this man's life it would seem and now after a short stint with Shaman it seems he's ready to release a true solo offering.
The appropriately titled Time To Be Free seems to be in what is probably his most familiar form. This is light and often swift moving power metal in a style that should be sure to catch the attention of fans of his work in Angra. The songs are energetic and delivered with a good vocal performance by Andre Matos, but at times this album seems to lack a bit of the guitar power I'm used to hearing him with. Maybe I'm just missing the neoclassical guitar assault that was present in early Angra and as a result this sometimes seems like a lesser Angra to me. Still, this is a pretty good listen for fans of his voice and of this sort of power metal. It's good to hear someone doing this style of metal anyways as Angra themselves have vastly changed since the departure of Andre Matos. Really, to me, this is like a double edged sword. Angra hasn't been the same since Matos' departure and Andre Matos isn't quite the same without a couple of powerful neoclassical guitarists behind him. Can't say I don't wish the band had just stayed together, but this sounds closer to the old Angra than Angra does.
Overall, this is an enjoyable album and a pretty decent start to Andre Matos' solo career. I do however think some improvement in the leads is necessary to maintain interest. Otherwise I could see this lesser Angra style going stale pretty fast.
Highlights: How Long, Endeavour
Rating - 3.0/5
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