Review ANGRA ‘Cycles of Pain’

Angra hail from São Paulo, Brazil and have released a highly respected debut album called ‘Angels Cry’. That was in 1993 and even if the time was not the best for metal bands, Angra managed to gain a very solid fan base with their progressive metal.

With a short hiatus between the years 2007 and 2009 Angra kept releasing strong albums and it is nowadays ‘Cycles of Pain’ which exits the safe surroundings of the studio and presents itself to the fans.

With almost an hour of playing time, the South American metallers present an output that shows the band in very good shape. Angra remain true to their musical fundamentals and refine their sound on the latest output.

Working on this album was not easy, but the circumstances also offered a lot of inspiration for a record that is fiery, but also reflects painful times and moments. Rafael Bittencourt’s father passed away and Andre Matos, the band’s first singer, also left this world far too early. In addition, the pandemic had a stranglehold on the world and you can feel this pain on the new album. At the same time, hope is always the order of the day and that with solidarity you can get through difficult times.

The tenth album of the band contains all their trademarks from A-Z. Fast tracks like ‘Generation Warriors’ are present as well as the majestic ‘Dead Man on Display’ where melody, guitar riffs and complexity join forces to form a strong headbanger. The progressive structures are also very present in ‘Tide of Changes Part II’, a track that follows a kind of intro called ‘Tide of Changes Part I’.

‘Cycles of Pain’ rightly gives its name to the album, as it is a multi-layered tune in which Angra show what they are capable of. The sound of the piano, the soulful vocals of Fabio Lione, but also the filigree guitar work of Bittencourt are cornerstones of this cinematic epic.

Another interesting nuance on ‘Cycles of Pain’ is called ‘Vida Seca’ in which the singer Lenine, well known in Brazil, delivers a guest contribution. Thus, it is also the song that best embodies the Brazilian heritage the best.

Produced by no less than Dennis Ward, ‘Cycles of Pain’ also features a powerful and nuanced sound that matches the conceptual character of the album.

‘Cycles of Pain’ is a great album that shows Angra at their strongest. Great songs and a superb production show why progressive and melodic metal is always a pleasure for the ears.