REBIRTH

This album features a brand new line-up. Half of the original members (including the very talented Andre Matos) left and form another progressive metal outfit, Shaman. Regarding this release, it is a huge step backwards (from the progressive point of view), this album is in the vein of the band's debut "Angel's Cry" and far away from the symphonic and Brazilian-flavored "Holy Land". The band seems to have little interest in keep making progressive metal, Andre Matos must have been the member who was more into prog music (his band Shaman has material that is far more progressive). However, this album has some nice moments: the title track and Heroes of Sand, for example. Another interesting track is Unholy Wars, although in some parts it sounds like a "second-rate Carolina IV". The highlight of the album is the beautiful album closer, Visions Prelude which is a very good adaptation of the "Prelude in C minor" by Frederick Chopin, this track is the one that might appeal to progressive listeners. The rest of the album is straight power metal. In conclusion, this is not a bad release but if you expect to hear more progressive metal like in the previous releases you will be very dissapointed.