Edu Falaschi , one of the most iconic names in Brazilian heavy metal, recently announced a special tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the classic album Temple of Shadows . The tour will feature performances with a symphony orchestra and special guests. Tickets are already available on Edu Falaschi's official website .
In an interview with Wikimetal , the vocalist revealed news about the tour and the unprecedented project of inviting independent singers to participate in the show. Edu Falaschi reviewed his career and talked about the new album in the trilogy, inspiration, Brazilian fans, and the possible show with Angra to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album Temple of Shadows .
Check out the full conversation:
Wikimetal: It's been 20 years since the classic Temple of Shadows , one of the most iconic albums in Brazilian metal. Looking back on that time, was it a special phase for your career? What were the biggest challenges?
Edu Falaschi : It's been 20 years since an album that marked generations. We came from Rebirth , which was a huge success launching the new lineup. We had everything going against us, because we had changed three members of Angra, and we arrived with a wonderful album, Rebirth . Everyone was happy, everyone was in that high-spirited vibe. So, we had the challenge of showing everyone that it wasn't just a fluke, a lucky break. We had the responsibility of bringing a second album with that same quality lineup as the first. So, the big challenge, I think, at the time, was finding the courage to say, 'Let's move away from the Rebirth , let's innovate with an album full of special guests and with elements of Brazilian music very pronounced, along with progressive rock, mixing it with power metal'.
We really dared a lot with that album. The biggest challenge wasn't a difficulty, but the band facing it head-on, saying, 'Let's do it because it's what we want to do.' I think it's very important for us to celebrate, and for the fans. And to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Temple of Shadows in the way I'm offering it to the fans with a concert, some shows with an orchestra. By combining all these forms of delivery and great experiences for the fans, I can deliver something special, which isn't just celebrating Kiko [ Loureiro ], Rafa [ Bittencourt ], Felipe [ Andreoli ], Fábio [ Lione ]. It's our history, and I think it deserves to be celebrated whenever we want. We have a diamond in our hands that I think should be exalted whenever possible.
WM: You'll have special guests for this celebration. Can you tell us more about the tour participants and who some of them will be? What can we expect from the show?
Edu Falaschi : We have the opening bands Auro Control , there's Noturnall , which is a great band that I love, from my friend, my little brother Thiago Bianchi Roy Khan 's show , playing songs from The Black Halo , celebrating this great Kamelot . And I'm about to confirm other special guests, both international and national. We're just waiting for some responses to be able to announce them. But I really want more people to participate in this great event and make it even more special.
WM: What was your role in the creation and production of this new show? What do you intend to convey to the audience?
Edu Falaschi : You touched on a point that's very important to me: delivery. I like to give my all to the fan in question, not just in terms of performance. And now, within my solo career, I've already proven that, I've already shown that I really enjoy delivering great experiences. And I'm going to do that again in this big show. On this stage that has a large structure with a symphony orchestra, several bands. It's almost a mini-festival. I saw a video of Madonna, of Michael Jackson taking care of the productions of their own shows… Madonna, she could, suddenly, not do anything, just show up and sing.
And I'm pretty much like that. I like to take care of all the details, to get there during the setup, to see if everything is going the way I want to deliver it to the fans. So, it's going to be a big production that I really, in fact, end up being a part of everything, the whole concept of the show, from the beginning, the creation, the design, the stage, often in the drawing, in the notebook. There's also the budget issue, because these are shows where I invest a lot to be able to deliver this to the fans. That's why I closely oversee the entire production to make every second memorable for my fans there.
WM: Roy Khan will be co-headlining your show in São Paulo. Can we expect a performance together?
Edu Falaschi : Yes, we're talking about it. Actually, he already sang with me at my other show in São Paulo. He sang "Heroes Of Sand" . And we're thinking about a different formula for us to do some kind of collaboration. So it's not the same as what we did at the other show, but since he'll be there, we'll probably do something together, yes.
WM: You're offering an unprecedented opportunity for singers to participate in the tour, and we know it's difficult to get a chance like that in the Metal scene. How did this idea come about?
Edu Falaschi : I have something inside me, something that keeps me from separating myself from the Edu of the beginning of my career. I remember very well the difficulties I had in getting contracts, shows, and opportunities. I remember that moment in my career very well. That's why, whenever I have the opportunity to help those who are in the place I was in, at the beginning, I try to do my best to lend a hand and offer help.
So, within this project that is this tour, why not extend the opportunity for someone who is starting out and wants a chance to be on big stages, to be with a professional production, a large structure? Why not offer it to those who seek that? And since I have this opportunity to bring these people into the spotlight, why not? I think it's important for us to be aware that we've already started, just like they are starting, and we've already had this difficulty in getting big opportunities. So, I'm offering this. An opportunity that I didn't have at the beginning, but if I can offer it, I'm happy to.
WM: This year you will begin recording the third album of your musical trilogy. Can you tell us a little about this release?
Edu Falaschi : As you said, I started building a trilogy as soon as I decided to record my first solo album. Since I'm going to do it, I want to do something I like, something epic. I've always liked epic things that have an epic and exciting soundtrack. So I'm going to write an epic album, a trilogy. I developed the story together with Fábio Caldeira , who is a great partner, the vocalist of Maestrick . And we developed it. The first part was Vera Cruz , the second part, where the story takes place more in Mexico, was Eldorado , and I'm already writing the third part of the trilogy, to be released probably in 2026.
It's actually good that you asked that, a lot of people ask me. But it's coming out now, because at the time, when I released Vera Cruz , we immediately went on tour, and then we recorded the DVD, and very soon after I released Eldorado . So there was a plan, I wanted to do this surprise, like Iron Maiden did with their last album. We had a new Iron Maiden album, so that was kind of my idea. I said, 'let's surprise the fans'. Everyone thought I was going to release some more products, some things, go into the studio, record the second album. Then, when nobody expected it, I arrived with Eldorado, with the album ready, released, songs released, single and music video.
And precisely because there are two albums in sequence, and there would be a larger gap between the second and third albums, which is the end of the trilogy, we left it for the Blu-ray release, which is coming out now, the Vera Cruz Blu-ray . To release it in that interval, so as not to create a very large hiatus and to separate the releases within this trilogy. As I've said in other interviews, everything I do is very well thought out and calculated. Sometimes fans get a little anxious, but everything has a reason. And now, as the album is going into production, I'm composing, there's still time before I release it in 2026, now is the moment, as I planned before, now is the moment to release this Blu-ray, which will also be on sale during the tour. And then, yes, produce the third album and finish the trilogy.
WM: Looking back and considering your entire career… Is there anything you would have done differently?
Edu Falaschi : Of course, we always evolve. And I made some mistakes in my career, in the past. And I made personal mistakes. And we evolve, we learn as human beings, as professionals. And now we regret some things, some paths we took. I think it's important to be aware that you also made mistakes at certain times, that you regret something today that you wouldn't do again. Now, the vast majority of the things I did, I did from the heart.
Things that I've worked on over time that have helped me become the Edu I am today. They shaped the entrepreneurial Edu, the Edu who, let's say, built a solo career from scratch, kind of alone in the beginning, because it was a difficult period after I left Angra, and for about 5 years I was floundering, trying to figure out which paths to take and learning from my mistakes until I found myself and launched my solo career in 2017, surrounded by good and important people who helped me get to where I am today. So, more or less that's it.
WM: Did you ever consider a collaboration/show with Angra to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album?
Edu Falaschi : A lot of people ask me that. Now, I'll confess to you that I miss the guys, the good times we had. Because we didn't only experience bad things. We experienced a lot of good things, and it's been a long time since I've seen most of them. Although we've started talking again, me and Felipe, Rafa too, we communicate by phone and WhatsApp, but I haven't spoken to Kiko in a while. I don't hold much resentment. We get angry, there are moments of fury, moments of sadness, but life is very short, time passes very quickly, and I have a lot of affection for them, there are many good memories, and it would be really cool if we could do something at my show, something together. I don't have anything concrete. But I'm totally up for it, I think it would be super cool for us to do this celebration together somehow.
If not with everyone, then with some of them. But I think this moment will pass. It will mature and at some point something will happen. I'm not opposed to anything. I think we built something historic and everyone ends up using it even today. We talked a lot in the past and there's something I used to say, which is that music will always be bigger than the musician. Always. The musician creates, is important, but the musician passes away, and one day dies, is forgotten or not, or is only remembered occasionally, but the music is there. There are people who know the music and don't even know who the singer is, or who the composer is, or who the band is. And you see the power of the music. So, that's what remains. So, I think that at some point the music will unite us again and it will be really cool.
WM: Can you invite Wikimetal readers to your show?
Edu Falaschi : Well, first of all, thank you to Wikimetal for your constant support, always there for me in every moment. And especially in the moments when I needed you, you were there to help me. And whatever you need from me, I'm here too. Sending a hug to all the Wikimetal and readers. Also, let me tell you about my social media on Instagram and Facebook , which are the ones I use most. I'll be there to welcome everyone, and I'll see you, Wikimetal , journalists, the team, everyone at the São Paulo show, which will take place on July 5th at Tokio Marine Hall with a symphony orchestra, Auro Control, Noturnall, Roy Khan also with a symphony orchestra, playing The Black Halo , so it will be great to have you there.
