Album Review - André Matos - Time to Be Free

Produced by both Roy Z and Sascha Paeth (could you possibly get a more killer one-two punch than that duo of producers on your disc?) Andre Matos' first solo album is groomed to be a killer album from the get-go. Andre is best known as Angra's crooner during their salad days, and his voice was then, absolutely remarkable. The crazy high pitched cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" from 1993 "Angel's Cry" solidified him as a vocalist to be reckoned with, Angra as an up and coming speed/power metal juggernaut and Brazil a hotspot for the genre. Unfortunately, Matos left Angra, the whole Brazil connection never well, connected and while Angra has trooped on with other vocalists, Matos has taken a lower profile approach with Shaman.

Which of course, they parted ways in 2006, leaving Andre without a band and a few idle musicians under his wing. So he stole them away and set them to work on a solo album that still has that cohesive band-like feel. With the Mariutti brothers working the guitar (Hugo) and bass (Luis) respectively from Shaman, Angra's first guitarist Andres Hernandes giving dizzying lightning struck flourish, Fabio Ribeiro on keys and Eloy Casagrande on drums (who was 16 when he first joined), this is indeed a formidable band. They have both experience and a youthful flavor at their drive and that freshness and competence makes for an enjoyable album.

But "Time to Be Free" is a self explanatory disc, and sees Matos stepping out and doing what he does best - singing along with some catchy power influenced music that flourishes with thick melodies. Comparisons start flying - to Helloween, Stratovarius, and on other songs, Symphony X and Dream Theater. He flips between the speedy power tracks and the proggy thick metallic pieces with a natural ease. Being most at home on the lightning quick offerings, these come across as fast expressions of the highest quality.

"Letting Go" is furious and speedy, taking in account for the vocals and a fast, but sing-a-long addictive chorus. "Rio" spreads the keyboards thick and high flying guitar licks and riffs that completely electrify. "How Long (Unleashed Away)" is a flurry of fury musically, fast up tempo and just jangling with the joy of the genre. You can feel the love for the music in the chorus, the soaring vocals and well placed guitars. It's wrapped up so tightly in the melody that the two are bound together as one. If the album never reaches the amazing mark, this falls right under that line, being a killer of a song and given a nice gloss and catchy glaze beneath the instrumental pyrotechnics.

"Seperate Ways (Worlds Apart)" is a rare treat, even moreso given that its a Japanese only bonus track. This is a snapping, crackling cover version of the popular Journey song, giving a popping makeover treatment, yet keeping the heart of the song beating strongly. The classical influence is also apparent with the wispy "A New Moonlight", borrowing heavily from "Moonlight Sonata". It's breezy and beautiful as moonlight playing its iridescent games across the waters of midnight. Yet full of warmth and chill, like the watery sun peeking its warm beams through grey masses of cloudcover on a frosty winter's day. Andre's voice is relaxed, natural, and guiding the track with a honed sense of sonic perfection, and an outpouring of true emotion. One of the gems from this release, sitting right alongside "How Long".

However, one of the major deterrents for this album also has a dual life as one of its main strengths. The term "nothing new under the sun" could have been coined specifically for this release, for as power/progressive type metal is concerned, it does absolutely nothing to further any goal of originality. However, what is here is finely polished, if fairly uneventful and lacking the "amazing" factor. But if old Angra and Stratovarius still heat your blood to a boiling point, then Matos' "Time to Be Free" will be right at home in your stereo, and as far as excellent products in the genre is tallied, this is right up there with the best to come out in awhile. Serving up a quality product in the power/prog subgenre is its main goal, and Matos' solo disc is a triumph in that respect. Not to mention, that its always a pleasure hearing Andre's voice in the genre that suits him best - power metal with a not-so delicate sprinkling of progressive.

Written by Alanna
Saturday, April 12, 2008
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Ratings

Alanna: 7.5/10

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