Text by Patricia C. Figueiredo
Considered one of the biggest bands in Brazilian metal, Angra returned to Porto Alegre for the second time this year last Sunday, the 19th, with the tour promoting their new album Cycles of Pain , released earlier this month. The band had already played in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul in March of this year at Angra Fest, a festival that also featured the bands Viper and Matanza Ritual .
Early Sunday afternoon, the Opinião concert venue announced on its Instagram account a change in the show's schedule. Due to unforeseen circumstances during the trip from Joinville (SC) to Porto Alegre, the show, which was scheduled to begin at 8 PM, was moved to 10:40 PM. Some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the late start time for a Sunday evening, considering they would arrive home very late and have to work early the next day. In addition to the show's postponement, the audience also dealt with further delays in the schedule throughout the evening.
The event opened with Luiz Toffoli , a very positive surprise of the night, delivering high-quality progressive metal that exuded virtuosity. Vocalist Leo Leal commanded the show with precision, showcasing his powerful and melodic voice, and, completing the lineup with Pedro Tinello on drums and Douglas Máximo on bass, the band thrilled the audience with original songs and an excellent cover of Dream Theater . Highlights also included the songs "I'm Alive", "Frenetic Freak", and the ballad "The Place I Want to Be (With You)". Luiz Toffoli even gave away CDs to some fans, which he threw from the stage.
Angra finally took the stage at 11:40 PM, exactly one hour after the rescheduled time, and despite the long wait, the audience reacted with ecstasy when each of the band members appeared. It was expected that the show would begin with "Ride Into the Storm," the opening track from the new album, which is usually played only after the halfway point of the show, but the band opted to keep "Nothing To Say" as the main attraction of the setlist, guaranteeing a very high level of fan participation.
It was with “Tide of Changes” parts I and II that the audience got a taste of the new compositions from the album Cycles of Pain . The beautiful tracks featured vocal support from the fans from beginning to end and were very well received in the setlist. Followed by “Angels Cry,” a great classic from Angra's first album, the audience's enthusiasm was guaranteed and the band's energy was contagious and remained so, even with Rafael Bittencourt commenting that the members had started their journey to Porto Alegre at 8 am. There was no sign of fatigue on the part of the musicians.
Another track from the new album, “Vida Seca,” was also very well received and appreciated by the audience. The song features Lenine singing a verse in Portuguese, which in the show is performed by both Rafael Bittencourt and vocalist Fabio Lione . Further showcasing new songs live, we were able to hear “Dead Man On Display,” “Here In The Now,” and the title track “Cycles of Pain.”
As usual, Angra seemed very comfortable on stage. Lead singer Fabio Lione addressed the audience several times, interacting with them through vocalizations and even surprising a fan with a direct conversation when he asked her to sing any song into the microphone, even launching into the beginning of "Carrie" by Europe . Perhaps due to being in shock, she didn't actually sing. Not missing the opportunity, while Fabio was still talking and singing only with the audience, he even looked for the fan again, asking "Giovana, did you sing?", guaranteeing some comical moments.
The Italian vocalist also provided a somewhat random moment, with an a cappella excerpt sung in his native language from the song "Miss Sarajevo" by U2 . Soon after, the band resumed the show with the moving "Lullaby For Lucifer," with only Rafael Bittencourt on vocals and guitar. The dedication to Andre Matos was not forgotten. The musician is always remembered during the shows since his passing in 2019. Fabio then returned to the stage for "Gentle Change," also acoustic.
To end the night, the anthem "Carry On" followed by "Nova Era" couldn't be missing. It was almost 2 am and the fans didn't stop jumping, singing and cheering for the band, even though the tiredness of some was noticeable. Amid smiles and thanks, the members distributed guitar picks, setlists and drumsticks, making the night a little more special for some fans.
Despite the long delays that tested the patience of some, Angra delivered an exciting show and proved their ability to captivate the audience, spanning all eras of their career and adding a considerable number of well-chosen new songs to be performed live. The band has the right recipe to please fans regardless of setbacks and once again provided a unique experience for the audience in Rio Grande do Sul.
