ANDRE MATOS
What we have here is the third album from Andre Matos (the band) and is, I’m sure, a name that will have many a Power Metal fan sitting up in anticipation. For anyone not familiar with him, he was the original vocalist with Brazilian heavyweights Angra, Sha(a)man and the recent short lived Symfonia project as well as also recently rejoining his first band Viper and he has released a plethora of albums. He was also very high in the running to replace Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden. When I saw this in my review pile, I too was very much looking forward to hearing what ‘The Turn Of The Lights’ had to offer but I’m afraid to say that I’m a little underwhelmed. There is no doubt, of course, that the guy can sing; that is evident from the off and also not in question is the quality of musicianship, especially the drumming of Rodrigo Silveira, who creates some wonderful rhythmic brilliance during the course of the album. What I think leaves me a little cold are the songs themselves. After almost continuous listens nothing is making my heart pump faster or indeed my palms more sweaty.
Even though this is not an out and out Power Metal release, everything appears to be in place: a variety of pace, melody, a little progression and even some good orchestration. Influences are also plentiful. Thanks to a very Michael Kiske delivery if you combine Helloween, Unisonic, early Queensryche and, of course, doses of Angra, Sha(a)man and Symfonia you’ll be in the ball park. ‘Oversoul’ even adds a touch of Queen to proceedings musically and ‘Gaza’ does the same but with a little Pink Floyd, but nothing reaches the heady heights of any of the bands mentioned. It’s all a bit safe and, well, bland. To be fair, I haven’t heard Andre’s first two ‘solo’ albums so perhaps I’m being over critical, but I was expecting more from this. The ballads, in particular, left me uninspired when played next to previous songs from his back catalogue. ‘The Turn Of The Lights’ is certainly not a bad album but, as I have said before, there are so many bands in this genre that standing out from the crowd is paramount. This album, however, just doesn’t have the ‘wow factor’ that warrants the talent present. Shame.
Even though this is not an out and out Power Metal release, everything appears to be in place: a variety of pace, melody, a little progression and even some good orchestration. Influences are also plentiful. Thanks to a very Michael Kiske delivery if you combine Helloween, Unisonic, early Queensryche and, of course, doses of Angra, Sha(a)man and Symfonia you’ll be in the ball park. ‘Oversoul’ even adds a touch of Queen to proceedings musically and ‘Gaza’ does the same but with a little Pink Floyd, but nothing reaches the heady heights of any of the bands mentioned. It’s all a bit safe and, well, bland. To be fair, I haven’t heard Andre’s first two ‘solo’ albums so perhaps I’m being over critical, but I was expecting more from this. The ballads, in particular, left me uninspired when played next to previous songs from his back catalogue. ‘The Turn Of The Lights’ is certainly not a bad album but, as I have said before, there are so many bands in this genre that standing out from the crowd is paramount. This album, however, just doesn’t have the ‘wow factor’ that warrants the talent present. Shame.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
earMUSIC
Album
THE TURN OF THE LIGHTS
Review by Rick Tilley
RUNNING TIME:
57:15
RELEASE DATE:
17th Dec 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Liberty
2) Course of Life
3) The Turn of the Lights
4) Gaza
5) Stop!
6) On Your Own
7) Unreplaceable
8) Oversoul
9) White Summit
10) Light-Years
11) Sometimes
12) Fake Plastic Trees (Bonus Track)
2) Course of Life
3) The Turn of the Lights
4) Gaza
5) Stop!
6) On Your Own
7) Unreplaceable
8) Oversoul
9) White Summit
10) Light-Years
11) Sometimes
12) Fake Plastic Trees (Bonus Track)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Brazil
"...a variety of pace, melody, a little progression and even some good orchestration."
