Andre Matos – Mentalize

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While this may only be Andre Matos’ second solo release, he is of course a well known veteran of the metal scene, getting his start at the age of thirteen in Viper, then obtaining worldwide success in Angra and Shaman, as well as his countless guest appearances, side projects and collaborations with many artists across the globe. There is no doubt that Matos’ is a force to be reckoned with in music today as not only a phenomenal vocalist and front-man, but also a classically trained composer and pianist. For fans of Matos, Mentalize will not disappoint, and for those unfamiliar with his past work, it will serve as a great introduction to what Andre Matos is all about. There is a lot of variety here from both ends of the spectrum including blazing power metal tracks one would expect, such as Shift The Night Away, Leading On and Powerstream to heartfelt ballads, A Lapse In Time, and Back To You. Reminiscent of Matos’ later work with Angra are the tracks Violence and The Myriad, both of which easily could have been prominent songs on Angra’s Fireworks. Without a doubt the catchiest song on the album is the upbeat I Will Return, while the title track, Mentalize, is much heavier and a bit dark, with a distinct classic Savatage sound. Possibly the only downside here are the vocal effects on the verses of Someone Else as they seem out of place making an otherwise melodic and memorable song fall a bit flat. Oddly, the main riff in Mirror of Me is nearly identical to Black Sabbath‘s The Mob Rules, yet somehow still maintains its individuality and the end result is classic Andre Matos. When The Sun Cried Out is quite epic and will no doubt be a stand out track for many. There is surely something here for everyone. Mentalize is a solid album containing all Matos’ signature elements spanning his career to date, yet still manages to sound fresh.

Written by Heather Lee
More: 2010, Albums, Power Metal, Quick.Play Reviews, Andre Matos