Viper - Soldiers Of Sunrise
Rock Brigade
Traditional Heavy / Power Metal
9 songs (34'38)
Release year: 1987
Reviewed by Ben
Archive review

I will be the first to admit, how I got into Brazil's Viper was because I heard that ex (at the time current) Angra singer Andre Matos came from this group. Since one of ways I discover bands is to delve into member's past, I unearthed some jewels with Viper. The second album, Theatre Of Fate is a brilliant fusion of classical music and heavy metal. The way the solos flourish and the arrangements are put together scream Tchaikovsky. But before the conductor's baton came into bassist and main composer Pit Passarell's hand he and his gettar east broseph Yves went about crafting some fine, traditional heavy metal from down below the equator.

Maybe Theatre Of Fate is easier to get a hold of because it took me six years to track down Soldiers Of Sunrise. After living with Theatre for that long the differing styles on these two albums is kind of shocking. Soldiers Of Sunrise is completely raw, unpolished, unabashed youthful enthusiasm for heavy metal. If Bruce Dickinson walked into Viper's rehearsal room and gave an approving head nod, I think they could consider their goals attained. As mentioned earlier, themes from classical music run rampant all over long player number two. The sound here is much more identifiable as straight up Iron Maiden and Helloween worship. But it's done right. The main focal point of attention is going to be on Andre Matos and how exactly does a seventeen year old Andre sound? He sounds like a great singer if a bit unsure in places. You can definitely hear his talent and uniqueness but he still is a teenager and there is a slight boyish intonation to be heard. Take a look at the "woah oh" section of Nightmares. However, don't let that dissaude you from air guitaring to that solo. Lyrically the guys fall into most metal topics such as the occult, fantasy, heroism, and even a song about the ass kickery of metal itself. For the most part, the songs run under the four minute mark excepting the monster title track. Here is the albums brightly shining highlight. Right out the gate we have a break neck riff and Andre comes soaring into the picture with intensity and melody. Several pieces are packed in here, there's dual guitar leads, melodious breakdowns, and then a fast fingered tapping section that makes me proud for metal.

Youthful enthusiasm will take you far but it doesn't equate to perfection on your first time in the studio. Some of the vocal melodies in the verses tend to be similar in a few songs. And well, compared to something like Prelude To Oblivion that Viper would eventually release, this is primitive. Complexity is eschewed for raw emotion and attitude. Not in terms of the musician's skills, you can blow me if you think Yves' and Felipe Machado's guitar solos are anything but sweet. What I mean is that the structures of the songs limit each phrase, each musical section to a brief spot before moving on. One of the reasons the title track rules so much is because it has ample breathing room.

Unless you're from Brazil then Andre Matos' involvement will most likely be the reason you will check out Viper. But remember this, without the tremendous skill of the Passarell brothers Pit and Yves, Felipe's riffs and leads, and drummer Cassio Audi's back beat, Andre Matos would not have had his tremendous talent fully recognized and that name would mean as much as Bobby Buttercock. I have a theory that Pit Passarelli is very responsible for Angra's classical sound. Theatre Of Fate was written almost completely by him. I believe that this classical infusion mixed with Matos' blood in a way that made metal magic. I have no doubt Andre was a connoisseur of classical music before Viper, but I think Pit's songwriting influenced him greatly. Andre went on to get his degree in music composing following his departure from Viper and he took those songs and sound with him to Angra. Something to think about.

Killing Songs :
Signs Of The Night, The Whipper, Soldiers Of Sunrise, Killera (Princess Of Hell)
Ben quoted 75 / 100
Other albums by Viper that we have reviewed:
Viper - Theatre of Fate reviewed by Ben and quoted 91 / 100
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