ANGRA Feat. MEGADETH Guitarist KIKO LOUREIRO: 'Black Hearted Soul' Video Premiere

“Black Hearted Soul”, the new video from Brazilian metallers ANGRA, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band’s latest album, “Secret Garden”, which was released on January 16 via earMUSIC. The CD, which was pre-produced by Roy Z (JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, HALFORD) and recorded and produced in Sweden by Jens Bogren (KREATOR, ARCH ENEMY, OPETH, DRAGONFORCE), was the band’s first to feature Italian vocalist Fabio Lione following the 2012 departure of Eduardo “Edu” Falaschi.

ANGRA guitarist and co-founder Rafael Bittencourt recently revealed that the band will eventually have to “find a substitute” for their guitarist Kiko Loureiro (pictured), who was recently named the new axeman in MEGADETH. He told Revolver magazine: “As a brother-in-life and friend, we’re proud of/for [Kiko]. I think he’s worked his way into something bigger from the beginning. He deserves it. He earned it with his hard work.”

He continued: “At this moment, [Kiko] is managing to finish the ‘Secret Garden’ world tour with us, coupled with the first touring with MEGADETH. Soon, that won’t be possible, so he will be taking MEGADETH as a priority, most probably as his exclusive band. So, since we won’t be able to count on having him with us very soon, the solution will be to find a substitute for him.”

“Secret Garden” “brings together everything that has established ANGRA as one of biggest bands in its style: contemporary sound combined with inspired compositions,” according to a press release. It shows the maturity of a band that, after 23 years on the road, continues with the same motivation and passion for music that drove the glorious beginning of the group. The compositions mend together elements that made the band known around the world, foregrounding the unity of seemingly distinct styles and combining in a unique way styles such as rock — in its various forms, classical music and Brazilian music.

One of the great strengths of the album is the variety of great guest musicians: Simone Simons from the Dutch band EPICA divinely interprets the song “Secret Garden” while the great metal diva Doro Pesch sings an exciting vocal duet with Rafael Bittencourt on “Crushing Room”. Actually, the various appearances of Rafael‘s lead vocals make for some of the strongest moments on this album, causing a contrast in tone and interpretation in comparison to Fabio. This also becomes evident in the cover that the band chose to record, “Synchronicity II” by THE POLICE.