The wonderful Brazilian singer ANDRE MATOS has one decidedly un-wonderful quality — he gets in his own way. He left VIPER, ANGRA, SHAMAN, participated in a number of other projects — Andre could never manage to get along anywhere for long. Now a solution has finally been found: the key is for ANDRE MATOS to get along with ANDRE MATOS. A task, it must be said, that's far from easy, since both the first and the second have rather difficult personalities; both are highly creative individuals, constantly searching and experimenting — let's hope conflicts don't arise between them on those grounds. So, the first solo album from the celebrated power metal vocalist is titled "Time To Be Free." We hear some very solid material, in many ways reminiscent of his past work — ANGRA comes to mind first and foremost. Matos' vocals are still top-notch, though he now operates far less frequently in the second octave he practically lived in during the '90s. On the instrumental side, there are naturally a lot of keyboards, which generally fit the music quite organically. String intros, slow passages, beautiful solos, interesting verses, memorable choruses — for fans of melodic heavy rock, this album will definitely be of interest. Among the final tracks is a fantasy on the theme of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, attempt number two, 18 years later (the first was in VIPER) — honestly, it sounds a bit funny, but the quality is undeniable.
Track Listing
- Menuett 00:48
- Letting Go 06:04
- Rio 06:00
- Remember Why 05:55
- How Long (Unleashed Away) 04:50
- Looking Back 04:56
- Face The End 05:12
- Time To Be Free 08:33
- Rescue 05:58
- A New Moonlight 08:57
- Endeavour 07:02