Angra recently announced an exclusive show at Bangers Open Air 2026 with the so-called New Era lineup from the album Rebirth , marking a historic reunion of Rafael Bittencourt and Felipe Andreoli with Edu Falaschi , Aquiles Priester and Kiko Loureiro .
Primarily spanning from 1999 to 2003, this phase of Angra remains one of the most turbulent chapters in the history of Brazilian metal. The period not only marked a complete reconfiguration of the band, but was also surrounded by legal disputes, creative differences, and internal tensions that, even today, shape how fans and the press analyze the group's trajectory.
Pre-'Rebirth' phase: crisis in the original lineup
The crisis within the band began to take shape at the end of 1999, when conflicts between members started to hinder the continuation of activities. At the time, original members such as Andre Matos and Luís Mariutti – along with drummer Ricardo Confessori – gave statements to the media pointing out disagreements over contracts and control of the Angra brand.
In an interview given to the Fúria MTV at the time, Andre Matos mentioned that he preferred to leave the band rather than fight in court. “I am a musician. I was born a musician and I will die a musician. And even though I'm losing money now making this decision, I'm very happy. Because, finally, I freed myself from something that is the dark side of the recording industry,” he declared.
In 2000, after years of internal friction, creative differences, and administrative conflicts, Andre Matos, Luis Mariutti, and Ricardo Confessori left Angra, definitively breaking with Rafael Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro. The separation sparked a legal dispute because both parties claimed the right to continue using the name Angra.
The impasse occurred because the band's articles of association and trademark registration were not clearly defined among the members, leading both "sides" to seek legal recognition of who held the rights to the name. At the end of the process, Rafael Bittencourt and Kiko Loureiro officially retained the trademark, allowing them to move forward with a new lineup and begin what they call the New Era.
In early 2001, Rafael Bittencourt recruited Edu Falaschi (vocals), Felipe Andreoli (bass), and Aquiles Priester (drums), in addition to continuing alongside Kiko Loureiro . Fans and critics celebrated the band's "rebirth" with the release of the album Rebirth in November 2001, which will be 25 years old in 2026.
Internal conflicts with Aquiles Priester and "unpaid" royalties.
Despite the new phase being well-received, controversies soon began to gain momentum behind the scenes during the Rebirth . The album and tour garnered critical acclaim, but also fueled resistance from part of the fanbase, who constantly compared the new sound and stage presence to the "classic" lineup led by Andre Matos. This was even more pronounced with the newly formed Shaman , where the press and fans exploited the climate of rivalry, accentuated by the fact that both groups released albums and toured simultaneously.
Nevertheless, the years between 2000 and 2003 remain one of the most discussed episodes in Angra's history. This is not only due to the internal restructuring, but also to the sum of public disputes, creative tensions, and challenges that transformed Rebirth into a landmark of reconstruction. And, at the same time, into one of the most controversial periods in the history of Brazilian metal.
Internal controversies came to light in the following years. One of the most notorious conflicts involved the departure of Aquiles Priester, who was fired in 2007. The drummer attributed his dismissal to ego clashes and jealousy from his colleagues due to the positive reception from the public , but Felipe Andreoli dismissed this narrative in an interview with Ibagens Cast conducted in 2021.
He also mentioned that Priester's dismissal could have happened much earlier, but the decision wasn't simple. "We took our time removing Aquiles from the band, given the dissatisfaction within the group regarding his behavior. It's a very difficult decision to make, imagine taking a band that did Rebirth, Temple of Shadows …" the bassist said. For the same channel, Rafael Bittencourt said that "Aquiles' departure was a great relief ," explaining that, despite his talent, he had difficulty working in a team.
Furthermore, there is also the dispute over rights and royalties. Priester publicly demanded that Angra pay royalties that were allegedly never paid [via Whiplash ]. “We have to sit down sometime to talk about the royalties for the song 'Caça e Caçador' (which I co-wrote). And which is on the band's most recent DVD release ( Angels Cry 20th Anniversary Tour ) […] We can also talk about the royalties for the compilation Best of Reached Horizons that was released in Japan and Europe and which features my performances. We can also talk about my royalties from the approximately 250,000 copies sold worldwide of the albums Rebirth, Hunters and Prey, Live in São Paulo (CD and DVD), and Temple of Shadows. Just remember that this was the main reason for my departure, because I couldn't work for free anymore, right?”
Edu Falaschi and the copyright controversy
The departure of Edu Falaschi, vocalist for much of the Rebirth , was announced in May 2012 through an open letter. It all began in 2002 with the release of the DVD Rebirth World Tour – Live in São Paulo , which, in addition to consolidating the new phase, also brought new discussions about the vocal pressure faced by Edu Falaschi.
The demanding schedule of shows, combined with the repertoire inherited from the previous lineup, required a range that exceeded his natural vocal register. According to Edu, he left Angra to preserve his voice. “I had to think about myself and accept that Almah is what gives me the best chance to continue singing well today, because there the notes are within my reach. I don't have to sing very high-pitched songs like those from Andre's time,” he explained in an interview with Rolling Stone. Edu also said he wanted to dedicate more time to his Almah , where he could sing in registers more comfortable for him.
In 2020, in an interview on the Heavy Talk , Rafael Bittencourt stated that Edu registered songs that did not belong to him with a music publisher simultaneously, which allegedly harmed the guitarist and other musicians regarding copyright. "He registered songs that aren't his. There are songs by Andre Matos , songs by Iron Maiden , by Genesis . It must have been Edu's carelessness, but because of that, it generated duplicate registrations, and therefore, the authors haven't received royalties since 2015," he explained [transcription via Wikimetal ].
“I spent seven years tolerating the problems he had. It wasn't just his voice, which would crackle. They were behavioral problems,” Bittencourt continued. At the time, he also mentioned the existence of problems that would place Falaschi in the “criminal realm,” but preferred not to elaborate on the subject. “I haven't received royalties for at least 50 songs since 2015. Let's start with that issue. And there are many other issues, much more serious, that truly fall into the criminal area,” he commented.
Edu denied any wrongdoing, claims legitimate co-authorship of the repertoire, and assures that the project complies with copyright laws. The disagreement reignites old disputes over credits, compositions, and intellectual property from the Rebirth / Temple of Shadows .
Kiko Loureiro's departure
Regarding Kiko Loureiro, the longtime guitarist, his departure also reflected disagreements about the band's sustainability. In an interview with Rolling Stone , he stated that "it's difficult to keep a band going for very long." In addition to other commitments and his career outside of Brazil, it became complicated to balance life in Angra.
In another statement, Loureiro said that the decision to leave predates the invitation to join Megadeth , due to the band's ups and downs between 2008 and 2009. Rafael Bittencourt, in turn, commented that keeping Kiko as a touring guitarist with Angra became difficult, precisely because of his artistic level and commitments: "a guy who played in Megadeth is a musician of a caliber that is very difficult to keep in Angra" [via Whiplash ].
Angra announces the return of the 'Rebirth' era lineup.
After disagreements, Angra finally announced a historic return as headliners of Bangers Open Air 2026, on Sunday, April 26th. The performance will reunite on the same stage the lineup known as the New Era, which marked the band's rebirth.
The show is divided into three acts that celebrate different phases of the band's history, Angra announced in a statement on social media .
The first act will feature the current lineup, with Rafael Bittencourt, Felipe Andreoli, Marcelo Barbosa , Bruno Valverde and Alírio Netto , with a guest appearance by Fábio Lione Rebirth lineup will take the stage , with Kiko Loureiro, Edu Falaschi, and Aquiles Priester. Finally, in the third and final act, everyone will be together on stage in a grand celebration of the band's legacy, which will celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2026.
Bangers Open Air will take place at the Memorial da América Latina in São Paulo on April 25th and 26th. Secure your tickets at Clube do Ingresso .
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