SHAMAN

The third full-length album by Brazilian Progressive/Power Metal band.
Ricardo Confessori cleaned up the house in 2006, remaining the only active member of Shaman due to "musical differences" with former band mates André Matos, Hugo & Luis Mariutti and Fabio Ribeiro. After posting two studio releases since their previous split from Angra, could the Brazilian scene handle another split? Well, 2007 brought us the answer with a new lineup and a new fantastic album, "Immortal"!
With Léo Mancini filling in on guitars, Fernando Quesada on bass and Thiago Bianchi on vocals, the band struck gold to recreate the golden years of Brazilian Metal. Obviously oriented more Progressive than ever due to Ricardo's drumming, this "Immortal" brings furious heavy tunes and power ballads back to life!
Sure, the vocal style is very similar to André Matos but why complain? After all, that is what we would expect as Angra did the exact same thing when André left the band and replaced him by Edu Falaschi. The accentuated Progressive edge of the songs renders this album the best thing coming out of the diverse projects created from the ashes of the original Angra lineup since 1996's Holy Land. With enraged guitar work and epic compositions, this new Shaman will seduced your musical senses like never before. Songs like "Strength" and "Freedom" embody the essence of the new Shaman, fast, catchy and technical!!
It remains Power Metal by all aspect as it is clear on the opener "Inside Chains", and a handful of songs might be perceived as too cheesy. The band is younger and the new musicians all have something new to offer.
If you liked the previous Shaman albums, it's strongly recommended to check out André Matos solo project instead. On the other hand, if the thought of hearing great Prog Power appeals to you, "Immortal" is definitely for you! You are standing in front of one of 2007's best Progressive Metal albums, and surely one of the surprises of the year!! Now, we know what musical differences arose between Confessori and his former band mates.
Scarlet Records, 2007 (SC 147-2 / SPV 176152 CD). Made in Italy. Pressed in Austria. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Renovatti     2:59 
2. Inside Chains     4:23 
3. Tribal By Blood     4:17 
4. Immortal     5:53 
5. One Life     5:03 
6. In The Dark     4:17 
7. Strength     4:17 
8. Freedom     4:43 
9. Never Yield!     4:47 
10. The Yellow Brick Road     8:17
Total playing time: 48:56

The fourth full-length album by the Brazilian Progressive/Power Metal band.
Mixing the rhythms of world music with the virtuosity of Power Metal creates a potent witches' brew of sounds on Shaman's "Origins". You'll get plenty of speedy solos and soaring falsettos, that often accompanied by a sense of rhythm - sometimes bordering on outright funk - that sets this Brazilian band apart from other Power Metal acts.
Thiago Bianchi's Steve Perry-ish vocals power many of the songs, with an impressive upper range that's as at home on rockers like "Inferno Veil" as it is on the quieter, but no less potent "S.S.D. (Signed Sealed And Delivered)." He's definitely got pipes to spare — sometimes going a little too far on the falsetto ("No Mind").
A Power Metal band is often only as good as its guitarist. In Leo Mancini, Shaman has found an ax-man excelling both in the areas of shredding (the mind-blowing intro to "Lethal Awakening", for example) and melody (the acoustic intro to "Blind Messiah"). He also manages to create a near-Thrash sense of heaviness in parts of "Ego Pt. 2".
Ex-Angra drummer Ricardo Confessori has a much more Groove-oriented style than many Power Metal skin-pounders (though the double-bass setup gets a fair workout here, as well). Much of the world music influence comes through in his drumming, particularly on tracks like "Finally Home" and "Inferno Veil".
On the downside, there are a couple of tracks that feel like filler, including the piano ballad "Rising Up To Life" and the aforementioned exercise in vocal excess "No Mind".
Providing a more rhythm-oriented experience, Shaman's "Origins" serves up plenty of the soaring vocals and shredding solos that will thrill Power Metal fans. It's little wonder the band is one of the biggest in Brazil these days!
CD includes nice foldout cover.
Scarlet records, 2010 (SC 195-2). Made in Italy. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Origins (The Day I Died) 0:59
2. Lethal Awakening 3:38
3. Inferno Evil 5:20
4. Ego Pt. I 2:19
5. Ego Pt. II 4:59
6. Finally Home 5:50
7. Rising Up To Life 3:36
8. No Mind 4:10
9. Blind Messiah 5:40
10. S.S.D. (Signed Sealed And Delivered 5:50
Total playing time: 42:21