Angra band

Two years later, in 1995, Angra recorded their second album, entitled Holy Land. While maintaining the same core sound as Angels Cry, Angra showed subtle Brazilian influences much more on Holy Land in the rhythms and backing vocals. Two EPs, Holy Live and Freedom Call, appeared between 1996 and 1997. The next album, Fireworks, released in 1998, is a more straight forward hard rock album. The classical influences from Angels Cry and the Brazilian influences from Holy Land are both gone, being replaced by straight forward metal. In 2001 longtime vocalist Andre Matos left the group and was replaced by Edu Falaschi. The resulting album, the prog/neo-classical metal Rebirth, was a return to form for the group. They followed that record's success with Temple of Shadows in 2005.

Despite modern production, Angra seem to live in the cheesy, up-beat corner of the power metal universe as opposed to the big, bombastic epic metal crossroads which has been dominating the sphere of late. In other words, they're more Rhapsody of Fire, less Mercenary. But that's ok; they still bring plenty of delicious guitar harmonies, soaring vocals, a scorching solo, a big, climactic chorus, and presumably silly lyrics%u2026 ya know, the reasons we listen to this music in the first place. And of course it's all well done; you don't exactly get to be in an epic metal band if you're a slouch.

In the end even if they are sophisticated, they are still enjoyable.