| Musical Style: Symphonic Metal | Produced By: |
| Record Label: En Hakkore | Country Of Origin: Brazil |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: |
| Tracks: 10 / 11 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 44:42 / 50:27 |
We put Brazil’s Perpetual Legacy near the top of our symphonic metal list for its classically trained soprano female vocals, intermittent extreme male vocals, complex musical arrangements and lavish orchestration, keyboards and choirs. The group traces to 2014 when founding member’s bassist Matheus Maia and vocalist Michelle Rodovalho developed the vision to put together a symphonic metal project. The two proceeded to recruit guitarist Bruno Souza, keyboardist Rafael Lobo and drummer Gabriel Pedroso ahead of recording the Perpetual Legacy fall of 2015 Metal Survivor (and 80% Angelic Warlord reviewed) debut full length A New Symphony For Him. With guitarist Lucas Fernandes and drummer Renan Costa supplanting Souza and Pedroso, respectively, the group started work on the material encompassing its September of 2024 En Hakkore Records two CD conceptual sophomore release Teodrama.
Conceptual from standpoint of manner in which Teodrama ‘offers a perfect example of the combination of beauty, poetry, intensity and energy present in its 20 tracks, which is a bold immersion into the four fundamental pillars that make up the structure of the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Consummation’ (quoting the groups press material). Rodovalho offers further detail: ‘The concept is spectacular, since (over) 20 tracks we play and sing the only Narrative that involves all humanity and the only divinity in which we believe, the Triune God. The listener will notice that the songs not only contain Biblical references, but they also touch on the past, present and future. It’s a beautiful, profound and transformative theme.’
It has been my experience two CD sets in many (but not all) instances end up rounded out with filler, throwaways and second bests or at the very least represent the efforts of a band determined to record all its material regardless of quality. Such is NOT the case with Perpetual Legacy, whom in Teodrama created an amazingly consistent work encompassing 21 album worthy tracks with nary a skip button among them. In other words, the high volume of top-notch material recorded by the group more than justifies a two CD release! That being said I thought it would work best to break Teodrama down by separate disc as opposed to individual track, keeping in mind a 21-song track-by-track breakdown would be cumbersome to read, as it would be to write!
DISC ONE
First disc sets the stage for the symphonic metal derivative sounds that stand in support of the Biblical concept in question. It begins to minute long keyboard and Gregorian vocal piece “The Trinity” ensued by “Ex Nihilo”, an expeditious power metal cut in which opening medieval instrumentation gives way to a furious joining of raucous guitars and satiny keyboards that bring to mind Sweden’s Narnia. “Imago Dei” takes a similar brisk power metal form, albeit with added layers of intricacy as dramatic orchestration and recurrent placid passages intersperse throughout. I appreciate how both tracks make use of grandiose choirs.
Equally heavy but darker is “Before Creation” to see classical keyboards to start give way to implacable guitars and double kick drum driven tempo reminiscent to Symphony X and “All Have Sinned” with opening cinematic keyboards transitioning to a slower but swarthier direction in which an enchanting Theocracy like melody prevails. The skillfully done lead guitar work of Fernandes shines during either songs instrumental moments.
Perpetual Legacy is not afraid to take a ‘beauty and the beast’ approach in which extreme male vocals converge with Rodovalho’s silky croon. Consider in this regard “No Innocents Here” with a chaotic allure to border on the thrash like in which backend growling intermingles with operatic flavorings. Likewise, my favorite Disc One track “Look At The Cross” to uphold a progressive aspect its technical six and half minutes while highlighting doom like tinctures (the extreme vocals work well in this regard) and narration in Portuguese over its second half.
In a contrasting melodic direction is “In The Cool Of The Day”, a mid-tempo semi ballad home to classical keyboards, piano and hard rock guitars to touch upon an engaging AOR-ish facet, and worship metal cut “Glorious Creator”, upholding a sleek epic to orchestral slant in which Maia’s jazzy bass stands in support. Also of a melodic nature is “Grace” in taking a lush three and half-minute classical guitar driven approach. The three allow Rodovalho to shine with her expansive vocal abilities.
DISC TWO
As much as I take to the first disc, second in my opinion features some of the better Teodrama material. It begins with minute long classical keyboard driven “The Mediator” which gives way to “Above The Sun”, a strong melody driven hard rocker to accent a joining of the operatic and Gregorian choirs to speak of the medieval. In similar vein is “Redemption”, also highlighting a prodigious melody but within a darker power metal bent to see clean male vocals join with Rodovalho and church organ hold sway over the instrumental interlude. Theocracy could not do it better either way.
Also pointing to the melodic but with a worship metal slant is “Justified By Faith”, one of albums highlights with classical guitar carrying the quieter moments and others in which overflowing choirs play a lead role, noting the inspired ‘our God is an awesome God, He reigns’ refrain. The extreme male vocals to appear over the second half lend a histrionic feel.
Upholding the extreme elements are power metal cuts “Tetelestai”, innate to a forward tempo as choral keyboards, orchestration and bass guitar driven instrumental moments lead the way, and “Babylon The Great”, heavier with swarthy keyboards and galloping rhythms standing in support of Latin choirs. I sense a bit of Divinefire in the two as extreme vocals play a supporting as opposed to lead role. Also of a power metal nature but with speed elements is “Judgement & Triumph”, a shorter (three and half minute) front to back double bass driven romper intrinsic to non-stop energy and gruff narration.
Contrasting are the slower moments to “Hero Of Humanity” pointing to a AOR-ish semi ballad basis innate to eighties commercial vestiges, and Second Coming inspired “Waiting For You” with its laid back melodic hard rock form in which classical keyboard and double kick drum duel. Bonus track “Theme Of My Songs” also play up the easy going with an atmospheric disposition to feature periodic extreme traces.
Serving to tie everything together is the masterful seven-minute progressiveness to closing cut “The End Is Just The Beginning”. With epic keyboards to start, the song battles forward to layered choir vocals and hard-hitting guitars in reinforcing one of albums strong melodies. An extended instrumental run allows the group to exhibit its choice musicianship.
SUMMARY
Perpetual Legacy deserves a great deal of credit for producing such a high volume of quality material. Despite an excess of 20 songs, Teodrama presents with remarkable consistency and continuity in that each stands on its own and is essential to the track listing. Album further proves an inspired work in light of the Biblical concept. Top-notch packaging and production round things out along with the high-level musicianship and vocals one expects of the symphonic genre. That said, and I do not wish to put unfair pressure on the group, but how do you top an album remarkable as Teodrama? If a fan of symphonic metal or power/progressive metal in its various forms, then make Teodrama a priority purchase.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing (Disc One): “The Trinity” (1:06), “Ex Nihilo” (4:31), “Glorious Creator” (4:33), “Before Creation” (5:09), “Grace” (3:33), “Imago Dei” (5:10), “In The Cool Of The Day” (5:20), “All Have Sinned” (4:12), “No Innocents Here” (4:36), “Look At The Cross” (6:38)
Track Listing (Disc Two): “The Mediator” (1:09), “Above The Sun” (4:33), “Redemption” (5:17), “Justified By Faith” (6:18), “Hero Of Humanity” (5:11), “Tetelestai” (4:15), “Waiting For You” (4:20), “Babylon The Great” (4:20), “Judgement & Triumph” (3:34), “The End Is Just The Beginning” (6:46), “Theme Of My Songs” (Bonus Track) (4:42)
Musicians
Michelle Rodavalho - Lead Vocals
Matheus Maia - Bass & Vocals
Rafel Lobo - Keyboards
Lucas Fernandes - Guitars
Renan Costa - Drums
