The sound quality is anything but good. The guitars sound so opaque and some leads are so naive. It is impossible to hear the bass. Vocals are sometimes a little out. But you know what? “The Unpromised Land” sounds as a great album. Do you know why? Because it takes me to a long trip into the past, my past. My times of low-budged studios and instruments, but lots of heart and soul. This is what this album is all about: heart and soul.
With first blood “Brainrot,” my first reaction to “The Unpromised Land” was the sonic similarities to early Viper with Andre Matos. I say Viper because I guess Angra are not really the great influence on the band. Vocalist Janílson Quadros’s tone of voice and way of singing immediately addresses to him. The thing that really gets the fan is the recording quality that is bad. I mean the tone of most of the instruments is very opaque without that shining spark.
“The Unpromised Land” commences with the Viper inspired “Brainrot,” whose twin guitars change the game. I had the same iprssion I had when I heard Viper’s debut album 1987s “Soldiers of Sunrise“ for the first time. Killer ideias with some naiveness and a poor production and record quality. The speed and blood lust is just the same and that’s what attarcted me immediately to the album. Following track “Timeline“ goes a little farther in the future giving the idea of 1989s “Theater of Fate,” the album where Andre Mattos took the inspiration to influence Angra’s early years. By the way, the name “The Unpromised Land” is great if one makes a parallel with the album cover. I liked very much the raw intent of the guitars. They sound real to me, if you know what I mean. This rawness best thing of the album. The guitar at the initial moments of “Encounter with God,” – by the way, another great tittle – commences very well giving the heart and soul intent the album carries away. I like these positives messages once in a while not to forget hope, the last one standing.
Here is an album that made me travel to the past, not only for the music, but for the emotions they made me trigger. Besides the low wuality of the recording lies a great band with great ideas, and that’s what really matters, isn’t it?
Symphony Towers “The Unpromised Land” was released in April.
Track Listing:
1. Brainrot
2. Timeline
3. Encounter with God
4. Angels Knows
5. Smarter than the Devil
6. Holy Sins
7. This Is Not the End
8. Wind of Death
9. Her Death by My Side
10. The Unpromised Land
Watch “Timeline” official music video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!