Metal maniacs, rejoice! I am proud to present to you: SILENT; independently unsigned, hailing from Brazilian grounds - performing Rock/Hard Rock/AOR/Melodic Rock, on their 3rd album entitled: "Fragments" (released in May 24th, 2020).

Since formation in 1991; the quartet in question have 3 albums in their discography so far, "The Bright Side" (released in 2001), "Land Of Lightning" (released in 2015) & this here album entitled: "Fragments". 11 tracks ranging at around 51:66; SILENT arrange an intricately designed formula of some heavy-hitting Rock/Hard Rock/AOR/Melodic Rock almagamations, conceptualized originally in 1991 with the 80s pop-metal manifesto...the band had felt the need to revamp and evolve in 2010 with the post-grunge aesthetic. Having split up multiple times, marching onwards to 2014... the new foursome develop a more polished outrè of Rock/Hard Rock/AOR/Melodic Rock developments with this 2020 release.

Opening up with a background of people and children walking through some streets until a god-like voice descends beneath them, shrounding them with what sounds like total pandemonium afterward... "The Tinted Glass (I Remember)" begins the record with an ascension of riveting hooks & amplified adrenaline. Culminating an enriching amalgam of boisterously bouncy fretworks, elementing a blistering frenzy of uniquely versatile vehemence & hardened harmonies that rollick with meticulous manifestations of quintessential virtuosity while thundering with complexly dynamic detail.

Charged with this sonically seamless abstract which embellishes an experimental flamboyancy of catchy crunchiness & a barraged finesse of melodious rhythms that execute a borderline foundation of punchy grooves, and an enlightening but forged craftsmanship of hybrid firepower...dimensions that oscillate this triggering calamity in which wonder with this potently vibrant snappiness of quirky skill. Consisting of Gus Andriew on vocals/guitar; a frontman with this slick attribute demonstrating clean, high-pitched pipes with throaty substance organically sings his heart out with pleasing remedy. Revolved around an enchanting expertise of hefty guitar hooks in which revel with tight trailblazing shreds, and an atmospheric conjuring leading into an ambiently driven dose of synergetic ramifications which showcases splendid mergers of meaty rock fundamentals intertwining a weighty slab of solid yet psychedelic keyboard jazziness.

"Burning Alive" opens up with this slow but calming strum; singing with professional perseverance until portraying this salubrious pursuit of jumpy maelstroms, strumming with wildly rushing sharpness, while riffing with tearing technicalities which provides an adroit ability to swerve with tempestuous momentum & an easy-listening fabrication that transforms into a brief dissonance of creative but hymn-fused aesthetics. Alex Cavalcanti on the second guitar brings forth this progressive yet twinning attack, dextrously distributing a sulphurously venomous performance of anthemic acoustics and a raw tradition of old-school rock influences impressively modernized with this upbeat style of mesmerisingly majestic varieties - sometimes transistioning volatile distinctions between an immersively inventive instrumentation offering profusely robust vibes that rumble with reverberating yet exploratory èclat.

"One Song (Intro: The Trigger)" begins with more of those school shenanigans from the first "Intro" until establishing more radio-friendly articulation; still nailing it with chugging gnarliness, frolicking gallops and a constructively sophisticated smothering of spiffy class...also injecting an infectious bass audibility from Roberto Sousa who precedes with this sombre yet thrilling solace of optimistic yet mellifluous euphonics, distilling a chiselling contrast in which wails with thumpy pummelling...nothing of the extreme kind but a grinding efficacy flows with the timing of these patterns remarkably with the sheer surge of spellbinding sturdiness under their belt.

"What Love Can Be" begins with this hammering drum beat from Luiz "Tilly" Alexandre, a crescendo dance almost tributing the pioneering rockers AC/DC with that noticeable shell shock of skyrocketing electricity. Firing cylinders with rambunctious integrity, harnessing battering slams that pound with zestful paradigms that are systematically thrilled to the brim beyond imagination of silver-lining chants and prodegiously prestigious songwriting memorabilities. "Pinocchio" continues an intriguing aura of marvellously spectacular shines of otherworldly landscapes in this tranquil yet monolithic romp of ravenously scorching but elegantly exquisite outrè of panache, melody & trippy stability.

While "You" is a stereotypical love song which supplies more tapping speed; the quantum spectrum of avant-garde drama between one man's desires for that special someone we all hold dear, only the striking musicalities here excitingly uphold the orchestration with steely precision and a captivating embodiment - embracing one to singalong to the lyricism while dazzling feets to the tuneful tempos they represent. "The Road (Intro: Call Of The Cat)" is the second segment of this trilogy of a cat it would seem; an emotive but blissful aurora, capturing more moving but fiery beauty, gratifying eardrums with strong acoustical blends with violins & trumpet boundaries...choir-esque hums with pianist hymns implore this tone that reminds me strangely of something from OVERKILL's "The Grinding Wheel" record... while later on, a concretely gritty bombardment of diverse licks overarchs with oozing mixtures within this bag of neat tricks - one of the more progressionist of the record...even if all of the record would seem that way.

The titular track comes into play next; a fragmented unification of all aforementioned characteristics, culminating a subtle segregation of polished fludities and chunky stimulation. This motion is also found in the adventurous "Rise"; fuelled with piledriving distortion, heavy lacerations & a killer grip of epic harmonies that roar with persistently tenacious tendencies while still remaining melodically entrenching as those operatic chords investigate this racing symmetry of symphonic credentials.

The penultimate track "The Sound" fuses an electronica outburst; resulting stompy blasts, and an integral density of acerbic material that resoundingly resonates with relentlessly phonic rock and all AOR you could ever want. Overall concluding "Fragments" with the ending finale of the 3rd of the "Intro" trilogy: "This Side Of Eternity (Intro: The Way Home)"; another alluring but engaging vocal performance with some magnificently charming lyricism, and an exciting experience with some ravishingly uplifting solos that will make your body hair stand up in no time...an excellent finisher for an album of this calibre.

Bottom line; I am compelled to say that SILENT certainly outdone themselves with this one, it is indeed an immense but pleasing record that was long overdue but in the end - the wait was worth it. "Fragments" is full of musical ambition, assembled with this relishing presence of refreshing flexibility and it is definitely a discovery that's worth the time if you fancy a few listens of some AOR, Melodix Hard Rock contingencies & excellency. Do check it out if this is your thing, a bunch of replay value awaits!