AQUILES PRIESTER SHOWS ALL HE’S GOT ON DVD
Workshow is sort of a made-up word – a neologism if you will. However, that doesn’t matter too much. Because such word is the perfect definition for the contents of “Live In Concert – Inside My Drums”, a DVD that’s been just released by Angra’s drummer Aquiles Priester.

The video registers one of the many workshops he did throughout Brazil in 2003. It was recorded in São Paulo on November 29th at EM&T’s Auditório Mix Music Hall. After you watch the two hour long video, it’s easy to understand why the specialized press and heavy metal fans consider Aquiles Priester to be the best drummer of his kind in Brazil these days. After all, one can find here all his abilities put together in front of the cameras, with no disguises or studio tricks.

Aquiles is accompanied by playback tracks and performs eight songs from Angra, four from his other band Hangar and, as bonuses, two cover versions: Deep Purple’s “Perfect Stranger” (arrangements courtesy of Hangar) and Journey’s classic “Ask The Lonely”, in which he counts on the very special help of his Angra mate Edu Falaschi in the backing vocals.

Also on the DVD there’s a lengthy interview with Aquiles himself, several backstage scenes, a photo gallery of around 50 pictures and Angra’s drum solo in the December 2002 Credicard Hall concert. Recorded with top performance equipment, “Live In Concert – Inside My Drums” presents Angra’s “Acid Rain” with the multi angle option. It allows the viewer to chose from which camera (angle) he prefers to watch the song.

However, for all it’s worth, the video is definitely about Aquiles’ skills. Thanks to his monstrous performance, he makes the almost unbelievable 30-piece kit in front of him look tiny. As the double bass patters are one of his main trademarks, there’s a camera capturing them the entire time. The results are impressive, since the speed and accuracy Aquiles is able to come up with seem no less than impossible.

The drummer skills are also put under heavy proof during “Ask The Lonely”. That’s a hard rock tune and therefore pretty much different – drumwise – from the melodic heavy metal Angra and Hanger are renowned to perform. But Aquiles shows he also domains the “snare-bass drum-cymbal” technique. In the end, he finds an extra dose of feeling and interprets this song in a totally unique way.

By the way, feeling is the word that best resumes Aquiles’ work with the drums. But this is not the only one, as we might add others, such as technique, approach, guts, “heaviness”, etc. Either you’re a drummer or not, “Live In Concert – Inside My Drums” is a mandatory video if you have the slight curiosity to learn how the music you love so much is made. Aquiles explains it all in details throughout

Antonio Carlos Monteiro – Rock Brigade magazine

Track List:

1. Acid Rain (Bittencourt)
2. Inside your Soul (Wortmann, Priester, Polchowicz, Mello)
3. Judgement Day (Loureiro, Falaschi, Priester, Bittencourt)
4. Running Alone (Bittencourt)
5. Legions of Fate (Wortmann, Priester, Polchowicz, Mello)
6. Millennium Sun (Loureiro, Bittencourt)
7. Hunters and Prey (Loureiro, Bittencourt, Falaschi, Priester)
8. Falling in Disgrace (Zukauskas, Priester, Martinez, Polchowicz, Mello)
9. Unholy Wars (Loureiro, Bittencourt)
10. Heroes of Sand (Falaschi, Bittencourt)
11. No Command (Martinez, Priester, Polchowicz, Mello)
12. Nova Era (Falaschi, Loureiro, Bittencourt, Andreoli)

Bonus Tracks:

Ask the Lonely (Steve Perry, Jonathan Cain)
Hangar version – Very Special Guest: Edu Falaschi

Perfect Strangers (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover)
Hangar version

Drum Solo (Priester)
Recorded at Credicard Hall, São Paulo, on December 21st, 2002

Extras:

- Brazilian Workshop Tour
- Backstage scenes
- Interview
- Multi Angle
- Bonus Tracks
- Photo Gallery


Credits:

Produced by Aquiles Priester
Recorded at EM&T Mix Music Hall, São Paulo, on November 29th, 2003
Recorded and Engineered by Ricardo Nagata
F.O.H. Engineer and Recording Assistant Tomi Terahata
Mixed by Ricardo Nagata and Aquiles Priester at Creative Sound Studios in São Paulo. Mastered by Yuri Kalil at Mosh Studios in São Paulo

Production Manager: Marcelo Moreira
Drum Tech and Stage Manager: Marcos Limone
Personal Manager: Antônio Pirani
EM&T Production: Valessa Fagundes and Célio Ramos

Concert Filmed by Upper Field
Additional Workshop Tour Footage by Marcelo Moreira
All Images Edited by Alexandre Maleh and Aquiles Priester
at Upper Field in São Paulo
Authoring by Ronaldo Martins at Mosh Studios in São Paulo

DVD Design by Alexandre Maleh at Upper Field in São Paulo
Cover Artwork and Design by Luciano Sorrentino
Aquiles Priester logo by Teo Marcus
Cover Mask Illustration by Gilvanio Pedrosa
Cover Photography by Tatyana Alves
Cover Background Photography by Fernanda Salloum
All Live Photos by Marcelo Moreira and Carina Zaratin
Aquiles Priester interview’s questions made by Antonio Carlos Monteiro
Keyboards programming on Hunters and Prey by Fábio Laguna