Angra is a Brazilian progressive and power metal band formed in 1991. The band has released ten studio albums, six EPs and seven live CD/DVDs. Led for much of its history by Rafael Bittencourt, it has achieved notable popularity in Japan and parts of Europe.

The band was formed in November 1991 by former Viper vocalist Andre Matos and guitarists Rafael Bittencourt and Andre Linhares, in collaboration with music promoter and Rock Brigade magazine owner Antonio "Toninho" Pirani. The initial line-up also included drummer Marco Antunes and bassist Andre Lichewitz, who was soon replaced by Luis Mariutti. Bittencourt and Matos were the main songwriters in the early period. After Linhares left, he was briefly replaced by Andre Hernandes, who was then succeeded by Kiko Loureiro. With this line-up, Angra recorded the demo "Reaching Horizons", which was released in 1993. The song "Queen of the Night", originally titled "Rainha", had been written earlier by Bittencourt and Antunes, while "Evil Warning" dated from Hernandes's time in the band.

During the recording of the debut album "Angels Cry", drummer Marcos Antunes left the band and was temporarily replaced by several session drummers, including Alex Holzwarth. Ricardo Confessori later became the permanent drummer, establishing a line-up that remained in place until 2000. "Angels Cry" was recorded in Hamburg at the studio of Kai Hansen of Gamma Ray and featured guest appearances by Sascha Paeth and Dirk Schlaechter of Heaven's Gate. Released in Brazil in 1993, the album included classical influences and a cover of Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights". Following its success in Japan, the EP "Evil Warning" was issued in 1994 with remixed versions of "Evil Warning", "Angels Cry", "Carry On" and "Wuthering Heights". The album was later released in Germany and France.

In 1996, Angra supported AC/DC in Brazil and appeared at the first Brazilian Monsters of Rock Festival. The band then released "Holy Land", an album that incorporated orchestration, choirs and Brazilian rhythms. Produced by Sascha Paeth and Charlie Bauerfeind, the album was successful, and its Japanese edition received a gold certification. Angra toured Japan for the first time after the album's release, and the single "Make Believe" was issued in France. That same year, the EP "Freedom Call" was released, including a cover of Judas Priest's "Painkiller". A live album, "Holy Live", followed in 1997, and "Holy Box", a collection containing acoustic tracks, was released in 1998.

In 1998, Angra released the single "Lisbon" and the album "Fireworks", which marked a shift away from the Brazilian rhythmic elements of "Holy Land" toward a more neo-classical metal approach. The album was produced by Chris Tsangarides and released through Steamhammer, with North American distribution by Century Media. The band toured extensively in support of the album and performed at festivals including Monsters of Rock in Buenos Aires and Wacken Open Air. Bruce Dickinson appeared as a guest during a Paris performance.

In August 2000, Angra split with Andre Matos, who left with Luis Mariutti and Ricardo Confessori. In 2001, Bittencourt and Loureiro recruited vocalist Edu Falaschi, drummer Aquiles Priester and bassist Felipe Andreoli. This line-up recorded "Rebirth", produced by Dennis Ward and released in 2001. The album was commercially successful in Brazil and internationally, and the EP "Hunters and Prey" followed in 2002. It included acoustic versions, new material, a cover of Genesis's "Mama" and the band's first song with Portuguese lyrics, "Caça e Caçador".

Angra then toured in Japan, Spain, Germany and the United States, and contributed a version of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" to the compilation "The Music Remains The Same (A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin)". In 2004, the band recorded "Temple of Shadows", a concept album produced by Dennis Ward and featuring guest appearances by Kai Hansen, Sabine Edelsbacher, Hansi Kursch and Milton Nascimento. The album centres on a character called the Shadow Hunter. The band toured extensively in Europe, Japan, Taiwan and Australia in support of the album.

In 2006, Angra released "Aurora Consurgens", another album produced by Dennis Ward. During this period, the band experienced management disputes that led to a hiatus. In 2009, Ricardo Confessori returned as drummer, replacing Aquiles Priester, and the band toured with Sepultura. Work on the album "Aqua" began in 2010, and the record was released in 2010 along with the single "Arising Thunder". Edu Falaschi left the band in 2012, after which Fabio Lione, formerly of Labyrinth and Rhapsody of Fire, became vocalist. Confessori left again in 2014 and was replaced by Bruno Valverde.

Angra announced "Secret Garden" in 2014; the album was released in Japan in December 2014 and in Brazil and Europe in January 2015. Later in 2015, Kiko Loureiro left the band to join Megadeth and was replaced on tour by Marcelo Barbosa. The band released "ØMNI" in 2018. Andre Matos died in 2019 of a heart attack. In 2021, Angra released the graphic novel "O Templo das Sombras", based on the history of "Temple of Shadows".

In November 2023, the band released its tenth studio album, "Cycles of Pain", the first on the Atomic Fire label. In September 2024, Angra announced a touring and recording hiatus after the completion of its "Temple of Shadows" anniversary tour in March 2025. The band reunited at the Bangers Open Air festival on 26 April 2026 with the return of the 2001-2008 line-up, including Kiko Loureiro, Aquiles Priester and Edu Falaschi. This performance was the band's final show with Fabio Lione, whose departure was announced on 23 November, and the first with new vocalist Alirio Netto.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angra_(band)

Studio albums Angels Cry (1993) Holy Land (1996) Fireworks (1998) Rebirth (2001) Temple of Shadows (2004) Aurora Consurgens (2006) Aqua (2010) Secret Garden (2014) ØMNI (2018) Cycles of Pain (2023)