| CD REVIEW Andre Matos |
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Band : Andre Matos Brazilian band Andre Matos released their first CD Time To Be Free on home soil in August 2007, but European distribution of the album would only start in late February 2008…occasion for which yours truly made a review, which got posted on the 24th of that same month. As that review included a comprehensive history, I hope you’ll check it out for your fact-finding needs. The relatively successful international release of TTBF (besides getting good album chart notations in both Brazil and Europe, it got to #4 in Russia, and to #2 in Japan) was followed by a 50-date worldwide tour. First, the band was invited to join Scorpions and Edguy (with the latter the band members have a friendship that goes back to the days when Edguy were invited to support Angra on their Fireworks Tour) on a tour through Europe, Brazil, and Japan, with performances on several festivals (Loud Park, Live And Louder, Finnish Metal Expo). Matos was also supposed to be a headliner at the ProgPower USA festival, but their gig was cancelled due to passport problems! Towards the end of the tour Matos got together with fellow brazilian band Hangar (which has former Angra drummer Aquiles Priester in the line-up) for an exclusive Brazilian tour under the Metal Christmas Project banner (should give you a time frame, that). Following that, the band retreated in the studio to record their new album, which was again released earlier in Brazil (through Azul records) and Japan, in September 2009…and already had some live promo on home soil. Produced by Matos and Sascha Paeth (who mixed the album), the unwarned listener might be surprised with how heavy this album is. Only for the calmer When the Sun Cried Out and “A Lapse In Time” (the latter a piano-only track)do some of the band’s typical Classical and Atmospheric elements come to the fore, and in the rest of the album you’ll have trouble trying to discern the keyboards wiithin the massive guitar onslaught! In spite of the heaviness, Mentalize still sounds like a Matos album, thanks to the lead singer’s versatile but typical voice! With no less than 4 tracks (including “When The Sun Cried Out”) at myspace.com/andrematossolo, that’s something you’ll be able to convince yourself of quite easily! By the way, singer Andre Matos has added more notches to his curriculum by collaborating with Clairvoyants on their 2008 album Word To The Wise, with HDK on their 2009 System Overload album, and with Corciolli on their 2009 Lightwalk album. Also, in 2010 you might find the singer on tour with Avantasia. 90/100 Tony. |