ANDRE MATOS - Time to Be Free

\r\n"Time to Be Free" is the solo project of former Angra/Shaman singer Andre Matos who at some point decided that it was time to venture into his musical solitariness seeking at last his own wishful creative freedom. The album starts with a strong ambitious attitude from its totally orchestrated intro "Menuett" that quickly transubstantiate into the power up tempo track "Letting Go" mixed with some neo classical elements, a really impressive beginning with the astonishing voice of Andre Matos demonstrating once again of how a great performer this Brazilian artist is. Next song "Rio", another power metal creation with a few thrash-like passages, some indiscernible folklore references and beautiful keys underneath granting the song with a unique depth and an engaging variation. "Remember Why" is quite reminiscent to some of his previous work with Shaman while "How Long (Unleashed Way)" is rather a mediocre and simple heavy metal composition considering the powerness and the perplexity of those previous ones. Things from now on become more slow-based climbing to an apex with the ballad "The Phase End" flooded with keyboards and some piano embracement. "Time To Be continuous Free" retrace its steps from a gentle atmosphere to heavier moments touching impertinently some more progressive boundaries with great solos, variated changes, vocals that are simply flawless and a sound that ends in a beautiful crescendo. "Rescue" is another progressive wandering while "To New Moonlight" surprises with its theme based on the melody of Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata", imposing and at the same time obscure, classical and dramatic. "Endeavour" appears next to take once again the rhythm a few notches up into a mid tempo power heavy composition but with a deep melodic elaboration and the album finishes with "Separate Ways (World Apart)" in its Japanese version. Overall, I enjoyed the crushing majority of this album and I’m sure many of you will do too. Great musical arrangements, overflowing variety and an unbelievably rich sound and above all the utmost amazing vocals of a truly charismatic musician. \r\n

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\r\nVaso Prassa \r\n

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