| Musical Style: Progressive Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: Brazil |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 | Rating: 75% |
| Running Time: |
With its focus on lengthy compositions home to complex time signatures, extended instrumental jams and varied musical forms and genres, Brazil’s Independência is a pure seventies progressive rock style play. The brainchild of founding member and vocalist/multi instrumentalist Bruno H. S. Santos, Independência came together in 2015 when Santos joined forces with bassist Sérgio Nilo da Costa Conceição to begin work on the January of 2021 independent epic full-length debut Homem e Mulher os Criou. ‘Epic’ being the key word in that the album clocks in at close to two hours in breaking down over two CD’s, with most songs in the seven to nine minute range and one coming in at over thirty. Yes, Neal Morse would be proud, as would other Christian progressive rock contemporaries Supernal Endgame, Vertical Alignment and Kinetic Element!
Homem e Mulher os Criou can also be described as a ministry based progressive rock opera divided into three opening ‘Acts’ and a ‘Conclusion’ to end. Characters include God, on vocals, piano and organ, and a variety of male and female players, whom combine for vocals, electric and acoustic guitars. Lyrics are in Portuguese but an English translation is available: https://lyricstranslate.com/en/independencia-lyrics.html Due to the lengthy track times, Independência recommends if you need a break from the album do so between the three acts (songs three and four or six and seven).
Homem e Mulher os Criou distinguishes as by far the lengthiest album reviewed at Angelic Warlord, topping similarly lengthy releases previous put out by Neal Morse, of the well-deserved reputation as king of the ‘mega-epic’ in excess of twenty minutes, and The Neal Morse Band, with several two CD sets also to its credit. As a result, we are going to forgo one of our customary ‘track by track’ breakdowns in favor of breaking things down by individual ‘Act’ instead.
Act I
Album opens to its shortest track in the five minute “Antes da Fundação”. It is mostly instrumental. Angelic keyboards and church organ carry the first minute and half and cavalcade of hyper-intensive riffing backed by symphonic keyboards an equally lengthy second instrumental run. In between are a couple short verses to highlight Santos’ classic tenor vocals, which while not of the Lance King, Matt Smith or Steve Walsh variety are technically solid nonetheless.
Two nine-minute tracks ensue. “Imagem e Semelhança” draws upon the up-tempo with Hammond B3 and rolling piano supporting crisp rhythm guitar but does not back from the group’s instrumental proclivity with several extended instrumental jams (one making creative use of fiddle). “A Ponte Imperceptível” is heavier, denoting a darker atmosphere found in eerie keyboards and driving guitars, and more varied, revealed in moments ranging from blues driven in slowing to a crawl and others of a speed-based form.
It becomes apparent three songs in that while not metal, Independência brings a heavy enough rhythm guitar sound to approach hard rock territory, or at the very least draw the attention of metal aficionados.
Act II
Act II begins to a pair of songs in the seven to eight minute range before moving on to albums monstrous thirty-minute mega epic.
Significant portions to “Passado Insignificante” are instrumental, beginning with the lively two-minute opening jam to feature plucky bass and mid-point run with a classical flair not unlike Kansas. Sandwiched in between it projects of the pensive and intent with the slower ending moments fading into “Não Há Argumentos”. What we have is a lighter but vibrant piece with catchy rhythms, flowing vocal melodies and affable organ applying an AOR like sheen. Nice run of fluid lead guitar highlights albums clean production.
I identify with “A Batalha dos Séculos” is a load. Unlike Neal Morse’s epics, which often consist of multiple songs strung together to form a complete whole, “A Batalha dos Séculos” is a single uninterrupted thirty-minute track. Based upon my listening experience it would be accurate to describe it as labyrinthine, highly complex and full of twists and turns ad infinitum: if you suffer from musical ADHD this might not be your cup of tea. It is mine, but I am a natural progressive connoisseur, although epics of such capacity (no matter how well constructed) push the boundaries of my patience.
Act III
“O Caminho” is first of two seven-minute pieces to open Act III. It breaks down into two parts, with first deriving of symphonic metal to articulate classical keyboards and second an AOR aspect in slowing for graceful verse sections and every bit sober instrumental run. “Ao Início da Ponte” is closest any of albums material comes to ballad territory, echoing of the dreamy as keyboards and church organ paint a picture of the stately but also the deliberate as fiddle kicks in over the final minutes.
Ten minute “Homem e Mulher os Criou” ends the third act. Predominantly mid-paced, it delivers variances in the form of the medieval tinged opening half to highlight woodwinds and classical guitar and instrumental second to see the group put its skilled musicianship on display.
Conclusion
“O Jardim de Deus” closes the album at a magnanimous twelve minutes. I might suggest it is one of albums heaviest, with jagged riffs and double kick drum to at times reach for the speed based but also the unpredictable, divulging moments with a Country Western flair. Kansas comes to mind during the grand piano driven instrumental break.
If interested in a two-hour progressive rock opera with lyrics in Portuguese then Independência debut Homem e Mulher os Criou will be up your alley. Give credit Independência for doing everything exceedingly well, particularly in light of its adept musicianship, competent vocals, and songwriting to meet expectation from a progressive standpoint. Problem, however, there is simply too much here in that when factoring albums two hour length it can become somewhat of a tiresome listen, particularly upon reaching the third act. My advice to the group moving forward is to keep any album it might record in the future below 90 minutes and replace the Portuguese lyrics with those in English.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Antes da Fundação” (5:06), “Imagem e Semelhança” (9:02), “A Ponte Imperceptível” (9:21), “Passado Insignificante” (8:20), “Não Há Argumentos” (7:20), “A Batalha dos Séculos” (30:43), “O Caminho” (7:32), “Ao Início da Ponte” (7:16), “Homem e Mulher os Criou” (10:25), “O Jardim de Deus” (12:39)
Musicianship
Bruno H. S. Santos - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Sérgio Nilo da Costa Conceição - Bass
