Here in Brazil, our Metal scene is fertile, filled with excellent bands (and some others that are just clones). Being honest, my people do not not care about our bands until one of them becomes a successful act in Europe or USA. I'm not being nasty or bitter, but truthful. I am truly sorry to admit this fact, because in Brazil some names can face giants of Metal easily. One of these is from THIAGO BIANCHI'S ARENA a side project of Thiago Bianchi (who sings on NOTURNALL, KARMA and others) and Tito Falaschi (brother of Edu Falaschi, from ALMAH and former singer of ANGRA) that finally releases its first album, "Thiago Bianchi's Arena".

This project was born in the 90s, with songs composed by Thiago and Tito. On the album, you find the old and good traditional Heavy Metal with the clear influence of Power Metal, but with a different insight. So be prepared to be hooked in by their very good melodies, great choruses, and heavy weight. Before I forget to mention it, the work really has a strong personality. The sound production is very good, giving a clear and heavy sound quality for the band's work. All musical instruments are in their due places, with the right tunes. But as well, it has that essential dose of aggressiveness and a touch of rawness. The artwork of the album, created by Carlos Barbosa, is wonderful, showing the beauty of our forests and nature (although our government is making efforts to destroy them).

The invited guests are stars of our musical scenario, and even some international guys: Maria Odette (Thiago's mother and a widely known singer on our country), Kiko Loureiro, Edu Ardanuy, Aquiles Priester, Fernando Quesada, Junior Carelli, Mozart Mello, Felipe Andreoli, Mike Orlando, Edu Falaschi, Michel Leme, Nando Fernandes, Tito Falaschi, Ricardo Confessori, Léo Mancini, Kadú Averbach, Marcell Cardoso, André Hernandes, Nelson Júnior, Marcelo Moreira, Gabrieu Kauê, Fabrízio Di Sarno, Léo Belling, Thiago Buslik, Chris Passos, Marcelo Pompeu, Guga Machado, André Brunnetti, Gabriel Triani, and Vandré Nascimento. All of them gave their personal contribution to make the album greater than it already was.

The best moments: the fine guitar arrangements of "The Scar is the Pay Off", the heavy and with fine bass guitar and drums technique "Trust Me" (with a dose of modern weight), the typical Power Metal songs "Nova Era" (fast and melodic) and "I Live" (with its lovely melodic lines and excellent vocals), the jazzistic and Pop flavor of the personalized version of "Woman in Chains", from TEARS FOR FEARS (and here you'll hear the fine singing of Maria Odete with Thiago, mother and son united by the same passion that is music); the heavy weight shown by guitars on "Learn to Let It Go", the soft and tender weight of the harmonies on the ethereal "Glance", the aggressiveness of "Mr. Caretaker" and "Spoiled", the elegance and excellent bass guitar parts of "To Choose", the introspective feeling of "Life is...", and the raw and bitter energy on the fast "To Choose".

The CD is wonderful, and for all those who still don't know, all the sales of "Thiago Bianchi's Arena" are passed directly to institutions that assist people (especially children) with special health conditions, especially cancer.

I hope that this album will have a follower!