SECRET GARDEN

Secret Garden is an interesting album for Angra. They've got a new singer--Fabio Lione, who's probably sung for more power/prog metal bands than anyone else. A cover of The Police classic Synchronicity II appears in the middle of the album. Epica's lead singer, Simone Simons, sings lead vocals on the title track, which is written by Maria Ilmoniemi, the wife of Angra's guitarist Kiko Loureiro. Germany metal singer Doro Pesch also appears.

Secret Garden is all over the place. It's at its best when it stays true to the traditional sound of Angra, like it does on the first four tracks. Despite the new vocalist, these first four would have been right at home on any of Angra's first five albums. Then the quality drops a bit, and most of the rest of the album isn't exactly filler, but it's a more generic prog/power sound that will likely disappoint most Angra fans. Synchronicity II is a fun cover of an amazing song, but it doesn't come close to matching the original and it should have been placed at the end of the album as a bonus track instead of as the fifth song. Secret Garden is okay, but I'm surprised they named the album after it. It doesn't sound at all like Angra. The album ends on a nice note, the soft and beautiful Silent Call.

Do I like this album? Absolutely. Is it as good as their first five? Half of it is pretty close. It really does sound like two different EPs squished together--classic Angra in the first, generic power/prog with some odd bits and pieces in the second. Those listening to Angra for the first time shouldn't start here, but Angra fans will still find a lot to like. 3.5 stars.