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Angra - Holy Land review



Reviewer:
8.6

439 users:
8.55
Band: Angra
Album: Holy Land
Release date: March 1996


01. Crossing
02. Nothing To Say
03. Silence And Distance
04. Carolina IV
05. Holy Land
06. The Shaman
07. Make Believe
08. Z.I.T.O.
09. Deep Blue
10. Lullaby For Lucifer
11. Queen Of The Night [Japanese & French bonus]

Nicely surprised by Angra's debut album, 1994's "Angels Cry", no one was yet prepared for what was to come with this follow-up release. Originating from Sao Paulo, Brazil the Heavy/Power Metal band that plays a savvy blend of classic Metal and progressive folk elements really set the bar very high with 1996's "Holy Land".

The term "songwriting" takes all his meaning with "Holy Land". It's still regarded as their best release, alternating killing heavy tracks and beautiful ballads. Some of their best songs ever are there: 'Nothing To Say' is a powerful hit, 'Carolina IV' is an epic journey, 'Z.I.T.O.' is their fastest composition, packed with solos and not to be forgotten the beautiful ballad 'Deep Blue'. And what about 'Make Believe' [still one of my favorite songs after so many years...]? Some releases of "Holy Land" even include the bonus track 'Queen Of The Night', another kicking ass song, which by the way, is also released on their following album "Freedom Call".

Following the saying to not change a working team, Angra recorded in Germany once again with the same team, leaded by famous producer Sascha Paeth under supervision from their label Limb Music Productions. They gave the artwork job to the same talented designer and as a result, the album has a gorgeous look. One major difference from their debut album is that their drummer, Ricardo Confessori, is actually performing the drums this time and the difference is noticeable, giving a softer feel to the drumming, which allows Andre Matos' voice to shine even more than it would have with a hard-pounding drum sound. Kiko Loureiro and Rafael Bittencourt are sharing the guitar work with such talent that it's criminal, their solos are unbelievable. Luis Maruitti is getting the job done with a terrific feel on the bass and the five of them together really transcend their music.

Almost 10 years after its release date, "Holy Land" still sounds to me like one of the best albums around, either it easily passed the test of time or I'm getting old. In the end, "Holy Land" is an indispensable album for all Power Metal fans and should appeal to anybody with tastes that go beyond your average people's music.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 9
Production: 8





Written on 26.08.2003 by Bringing you reviews of quality music and interesting questions such as:

"A picture is worth a thousand words. How many words is a song worth?"

I have only got so much patience and skills, you do the math.


Comments

Comments: 8   Visited by: 119 users
26.06.2006 - 20:38
Pianoman
Account deleted
Yeah is an indispensable for everyone that likes the good metal. It is so far from the boring power metal of this days that doesnt have any sense of creativity. This album desearves a 10 for the amazing creativity of the genius an talented singer and pianist Andre Matos.
This albums brings you to places that you never imagine. It has a lot of latinamerican folk elements (unexplored for another latin bands) that simply blows your mind. The best song of Angra of all times is here "Carolina IV" (my favourite song of all times) that is an odissey of pure latin folk/power metal, and beautyfoul ballads like the sweet Make Believe, the sad Silence and Distance, the depressive Deep Blue and the best for me: Holy Land. Also are pure metal jewel like: Nothing to Say, ZITO, The Shaman.
Every song on this album is a masterpiece and all the songs are different but also having in comun the latin folk arrangement.
I recommend it for every one who likes the melodyc metal.
Listen to it and you will agree that this is the very best of Angra and one of the best album of all the times.
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11.03.2008 - 02:27
Rating: 9
Evil Chip

Simply the best of Angra. Carolina IV is their best song ever. All of this album is amazing how it starts: i can see angels singing in a day of rain and the end in a bay watching the sea. Holy Land has this ocean trip feeling in it that is unique. All the latin elements are present in every song and thats what makes the Angra so original and powerful in this genre that is full of similar bands. Every Power Metal fan most own this album to see that this genre can be original and epic at the same time.
Highlights: Carolina IV, Nothing To Say, Make Believe, Holy Land, Silence and Distance and Deep Blue, just to name all of them.
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31.03.2008 - 09:25
Rating: 8
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
Angra is such an amazing band. This album is their best one, and one of the best of all time of all metal too!!!! Masterpiece 10000/10.
Every track is good, i cant find anything wrong. Its all there, the riffs and killer drums, the powerful vocals, the beautiful lyrics and the original theme. A Progressive/Power Metal with Folkloric indigenous themes, simply perfect. If only more brazillian and american bands have followed this fantastic exemple of music.
I have so much to thank to Angra
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member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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20.04.2008 - 23:04
Rating: 10
4look4rd
The Sasquatch
This is perhaps of one the greatest albums of all times... Its not just power metal, its a mixture of many different styles from outside the metal scene.
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09.08.2008 - 18:38
Rating: 9
Elio
Red Nightmare
Written by 4look4rd on 20.04.2008 at 23:04

This is perhaps of one the greatest albums of all times... Its not just power metal, its a mixture of many different styles from outside the metal scene.


hell yeah this is truly a MASTERPIECE.
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IntoPlighT said: "Slipknot is 15 years old how the fuck is that Nu metal?"

BEST. QUOTE. EVER.
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27.11.2008 - 15:12
Rating: 7
Powerslavex
Alexskywalker
Nice album, I like the way they mix different styles in their music, i think Angels Cry is better than this one
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12.11.2010 - 01:45
Luneth
Account deleted
Probab;y just me but I don't like it much...I think it's average/good. It's not balanced enougg on the whole ballad/fast tempo/heavy/classical sets, so at times on the album it seems like it's just too much like a prolongued balld, and with only really one up tempo track, that's NEAR THE END, it's hard to get into I feel...
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23.02.2011 - 23:36
Rating: 10
BlankFile

Carolina IV is a masterpice. The entire album is spectacular.
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