ANDRE MATOS

This starts off well with some throat singing building to a tribal-esque drum beat on opener 'Leading On'. Then it morphs into a typical by-the-numbers power metal tune. For a respected vocalist, Andre doesn’t really shine on this track; his vocals being predictable and, strangely at times, almost tuneless. Follow-up 'Someone Else' also starts incredibly well, with some staccato riffing and nice drum-play. Andre's vocal starts well with a radio effect added, and then it's once again for high soaring banality. I know that this is par for the course with this genre of metal, but it's disappointing that there are flashes of ingenuity throughout this album, which is cut short as if Andre hasn't quite got the courage to expand these slightly radical ideas (for fear of betraying his fans?). As it is, we have a very disjointed effort, with Andre sounding like a bored Geoff Tate. In fact, ironically for a vocalist show-case, it's the music that truly shines on this album. Each song is crafted with some amount of care, and the playing is skilful, flashy when it needs to be, and restrained in all the right places. No apparent egos. Such a shame then that Andre can't quite match this with his vocal work. Power Metal 'enthusiasts' will no doubt find plenty to rave about, whilst the average metal fan will probably run a mile from this. A shame, because there is some fine music here.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Azul Music

Album

MENTALIZE

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

55:58

RELEASE DATE:

February 2010

TRACK LISTING

1) Leading On; 2) I Will Return
3) Someone Else
4) Shift The Night Away
5) Back To You
6) Mentalize
7) The Myriad
8) When The Sun Cried Out
9) Mirror of Me
10) Violence
11) A Lapse In Time
12) Powerstream

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Brazil

"...it's disappointing that there are flashes of ingenuity throughout this album, which is cut short as if Andre hasn't quite got the courage to expand these slightly radical ideas..."