From the land of the biggest Metalheads in the world, Brazil, we have the band SPEKTRA that are releasing their second full length album named Hypnotized. The band has ex members of traditional Brazilian metal bands like SHAMAN and even international artists like JEFF SCOTT SOTO. Brazil is a fertile ground for good rock bands with competent musicians and international reach like SEPULTURA and ANGRA. It is a shame however how our brothers from Brazil have all sorts of obstacles to get a decent album out. From expensive imported gear to an affordable studio. So, just for the effort, they have my respect. We start the album with “Free Fall” that also has a video on the tubes. The sound is a softer kind of Metal with good melodies. The production is also very good and they sing in English. We follow with “Taste Of Heaven” , which is another good track that has a nice melodic arrangement.

ANGRA comes to mind as a source of inspiration. Great song structure and nice use of keyboards. The band has an amazing guitar player in Leo Mancini with great riffs and piercing solos VAN HALEN style. And the good songs keep coming like “Search For More” showing this is one of those bands that every song could do well commercially. Nice arrangements and chorus that will glue to your ears. The band has keyboards in every song despite no credit on the album for the player. It should, as there is a nice arrangement on “My Voice For You”. The band also has a competent drummer in Edu Cominato that takes care of the job without issues and have played withJEFF SCOTT SOTO. I am surprised with the high quality production on this release. The album is well recorded and produced. Every song has a nice chorus showing experienced composers in the band. Especially on “Against The Wind” that is a highlight in my opinion.

Another good tune that has all the ingredients of the romantic BON JOVIstic kind of rock. Nice bass arrangement on “Our Time Now” from bass player Henrique Canale that does his best to escape from the guitar riff  cutting better the bass sound in the mix. We reach the album title “Hypnotized” and you also notice that the band drank from many international hard rock sources as well. DEF LEPPARD and some KISS without makeup comes to mind. All songs are semi romantic in their approach. The melodies are nice and there is enough to please the rock soul of the boy and the romantic soul of the girl as you can hear in “Tonight” and “A Time Around Us” , which is another tune with a nice bass arrangement and with a chorus that will make you sing. Regarding the singing, a special paragraph for the singer BJ. The guy has pipes and a beautiful voice. A perfect match for the genre with the addition of great backing vocals that can be heard on “Running Out Of Time II” . The last tune is the inevitable ballad “Different Me Outside” and I have to confess that it is a nice one. Beautiful melody and singing over acoustic guitars in an ethereal arrangement. Good work from SPEKTRA . A solid album to be only the second in their history. If you like your melodic hard rock, this should be in your radar.