SHAMAN

The Jewel of Progressive Power Metal from Brazil:
The Historical Evolution, Musical Legacy, and Discography of SHAMAN

1. Introduction

In the global history of Progressive Power Metal, the heavy metal band SHAMAN (spelled as Shaaman for a period), formed in São Paulo, South America, played an extremely significant role.

The musical characteristics of SHAMAN lie in the sophisticated fusion of the elegance of classical music, the aggressiveness of Heavy Metal, and the polyrhythms of Brazil's unique folk music (world music). Transcending the boundaries of being a mere spin-off from their predecessor, they constructed a unique, dark, and spiritual worldview.

2. Background of Formation and Early Hardships: Independence from ANGRA (2000–2001)

2.1 The Split and the Awakening of the Project

The history of SHAMAN stems from a major split that occurred in late 2000 within ANGRA, Brazil's world-renowned metal band. Due to a serious conflict with the management at the time, vocalist/keyboardist Andre Matos, bassist Luis Mariutti, and drummer Ricardo Confessori left the band. This departure sent shockwaves through the global heavy metal scene.

Immediately after leaving, Andre Matos was deeply disillusioned with the music industry itself and seriously considered retiring from the Heavy Metal scene. According to the testimony of Paulo Baron, who would later become SHAMAN's first manager, when he stayed at Matos's house at the end of 2000, Matos's mental state was so pushed to the brink that Baron witnessed him smashing the gold disc of ANGRA's classic album *Angels Cry* himself. However, through Baron's strong persuasion and the reignition of his passion for music, the three decided to launch a new project.

2.2 Completion of the Lineup and Origin of the Band Name

Initially, because the new project lacked a dedicated guitarist, Hugo Mariutti—the younger brother of Luis Mariutti who was active in a band called HENCEFORTH—was brought in to support songwriting. The heavy and groovy playing style Hugo provided perfectly matched the dark musical direction the band was newly seeking, so he was welcomed as the official guitarist, completing the first-generation classic lineup.

The band was named SHAMAN upon the suggestion of Luis Mariutti. This was inspired by the song "The Shaman," composed by Andre Matos, which was featured on ANGRA's classic album *Holy Land*.

2.3 Steady Live Activities and Pre-Tour

Immediately after forming, they did not return to global stardom overnight. Their early shows in places like Balneário Camboriú were small-scale, with fewer than 100 people in attendance, but they continued their steady efforts. In 2001, prior to the album's release, they embarked on a pre-tour covering Europe and Latin America, holding their first domestic show in Recife on February 10, 2001, and their first overseas performance on May 31 of the same year at the NTS Records Festival in Colombes, France.

The setlist for this pre-tour consisted of unreleased original tracks, songs from their ANGRA and VIPER eras, and a diverse range of covers from bands such as METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, BLACK SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE, OZZY OSBOURNE, MOTÖRHEAD, JUDAS PRIEST, and AVANTASIA. They also actively engaged in media exposure, including an appearance on the music show *Musikaos* on the TV station TV Cultura (hosted by Gastão Moreira). During this period, Fábio Ribeiro, a former touring member of ANGRA, joined as a live keyboard support, adding depth to their sound.

3. The First Golden Era: Global Success and Social Phenomenon of *Ritual* (2002–2004)

3.1 Production of the Debut Album and Musical Achievement

In January 2002, the band traveled to Germany to begin recording their debut album, *Ritual*, under the direction of their long-time ally and renowned producer, Sascha Paeth. A notable feature of this work was that while the foundations of the metal sound and orchestration were recorded in Germany, the percussion and folk instruments were recorded in Brazil, with the two elements being masterfully mixed together.

The completed *Ritual* was released in more than 15 countries worldwide as a masterpiece that perfectly balanced the speed of Power Metal, the structural beauty of classical music, and the elements of Brazil's unique world music. It achieved international success, charting at No. 101 in France and No. 80 on the Oricon Charts in Japan.

3.2 Adoption in a Telenovela and Stadium Performances

In particular, the ballad "Fairy Tale," composed by Andre Matos, was featured on the official soundtrack of *O Beijo do Vampiro*, a popular telenovela (melodrama) broadcast by Brazil's largest television network, Rede Globo. It was an unprecedented milestone for a Brazilian heavy metal band's song to be featured in a nationwide telenovela, expanding SHAMAN's recognition beyond the metal fanbase and deeply into the general public.

Their success was also clearly reflected in the scale of their live shows. They received the highest evaluation in a reader poll by the newspaper *Folha de S.Paulo*, and in 2004, they served as the opening act for IRON MAIDEN's performance in São Paulo held at Pacaembu Stadium, thrilling a massive crowd of 45,000 people.3

3.3 The Monumental Live Work *RituAlive*

In 2003, as a testament to the pinnacle of the first era, a large-scale live CD and DVD titled *RituAlive* was recorded at the Credicard Hall in São Paulo. This performance featured a stellar lineup of guest appearances, including Tobias Sammet (Edguy/Avantasia), Andi Deris (Helloween), Michael Weikath (Helloween), Sascha Paeth, and the famous Brazilian violinist Marcus Viana. This video production remains highly acclaimed today as one of the greatest masterpieces in the Progressive Power Metal scene of that time.

4. Legal Friction and Musical Shift: The Renaming Issue and the First Split (2005–2006)

4.1 The Controversy over Renaming to SHAAMAN

Although the band seemed to have smooth sailing, they faced an unexpected legal issue in 2005. Copyright concerns arose due to the existence of multiple artists with the same name (such as the Finnish folk metal band SHAMAN, which later renamed itself KORPIKLAANI, and an American Celtic music group SHAMAN trademarked in 1990). To avoid this legal risk, and also based on spiritual advice from a numerologist, the band made the decision to add an extra "A" to their name, rebranding themselves as SHAAMAN.

4.2 Stylistic Changes with the Second Album *Reason*

The second album, *Reason*, released in August 2005 after the renaming, brought a major shift in their musical direction. While they continued to employ Sascha Paeth and Philip Colodetti as producers and featured talented European musicians such as Amanda Somerville and Miro, the sound itself leaned away from the symphonic and progressive style of the previous work, turning into something darker, more direct, and heavily influenced by 1980s Gothic Rock and traditional Heavy Metal.

This change was epitomized by the inclusion of a cover of "More," a classic song by THE SISTERS OF MERCY. Furthermore, for the Japanese market, it was released by JVC Victor and ranked 200th on the Oricon Charts. However, this direct approach divided opinion among the fanbase who favored their traditional progressive sound.

4.3 Collapse of the First Era and Split of the Members

Following the world tour for *Reason*, a sudden hiatus and a major split of the band were announced in October 2006. Andre Matos, Luis Mariutti, and Hugo Mariutti officially departed from the band.

Deep down, this split was caused by a clear divergence in musical vision. While Matos's side sought a more melodic style with the freedom of a solo project, drummer Ricardo Confessori aimed for heavy metal focused on groove.12 Because Confessori held the trademark rights to the name SHAMAN, the departing members, along with keyboardist Fábio Ribeiro, formed a new band bearing his name, ANDRE MATOS, parting ways completely.

5. The Second Era: Restructuring by Confessori and a New Sound (2007–2013)

5.1 Launching the Reborn SHAMAN

Having taken over the band name alone, Ricardo Confessori assembled an entirely new lineup in 2007 and restarted the band, reverting the name back to SHAMAN since the legal issues had been resolved. He welcomed Thiago Bianchi, known for his high tones and expressive vocals, as the new vocalist; Léo Mancini, who specialized in technical shred playing, as the guitarist; and Fernando Quesada as the bassist, with Junior Carelli joining later as the keyboardist.

5.2 Aggressive Resurgence with *Immortal*

The third album, *Immortal*, released in 2007, left a strong impression as a powerful comeback for the reborn SHAMAN. Bianchi's soaring vocals reminiscent of Steve Perry, combined with Mancini's relentless guitar work, established a more straightforward, aggressive, and modern power metal sound distinct from the lyricism of the classic lineup. In the Japanese market, it was released by Avalon Marquee and received extensive promotion, including a dedicated bonus track.

In 2008, they recorded the live DVD *Anime Alive 2008* in front of an audience of approximately 20,000 people at "Anime Friends," a massive anime event held in São Paulo. A cover of X JAPAN's "Kurenai" was also performed, serving as a notable historical record demonstrating the strong affinity between Japanese anime/pop culture and the Brazilian metal scene.

5.3 Concept Album *Origins* and the Split into Noturnall

In 2010, the second-generation lineup released *Origins*, an epic concept album themed around the mythical tale of the Siberian warrior Amagat. Bringing folk music elements back to the forefront while blending orchestration and modern heaviness, the work received high acclaim. The limited edition of the album bundled a live DVD of their collaboration with a full orchestra, *Shaman & Orchestra - Live at Masters of Rock of Prague*, recorded at a festival in the Czech Republic, showcasing their grand musical scale.

However, in 2013, during a critical juncture while recording their next album *Nocturnal*, an unexpected event occurred when Ricardo Confessori, the founder and backbone of the band, announced his departure from the project. The remaining four members—Bianchi, Mancini, Quesada, and Carelli—gave up on continuing to use the name SHAMAN, recruited former ANGRA drummer Aquiles Priester, and formed a new band, NOTURNALL. With this, the second era of SHAMAN virtually ceased to exist.

6. A Miraculous Reunion, a Tragic Death, and a Phoenix-Like Resurrection (2018–2022)

6.1 Revival of the Classic Lineup through Fan Enthusiasm

After years of silence, a hashtag campaign "#voltashaman" (Come back, SHAMAN) erupted among fans, primarily on social media, drawing tens of thousands of requests for a reunion. Driven by this enthusiasm, on May 25, 2018, a miraculous reunion of the original founding members—Andre Matos, Luis Mariutti, Hugo Mariutti, and Ricardo Confessori—was officially announced.

The reunion tour celebrating the 17th anniversary of their formation achieved massive success. Starting at the Audio Club in São Paulo, the tour traversed all of Brazil, including Brasília, Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro, and they even shared the stage with major bands like KREATOR and ARCH ENEMY. In 2019, they appeared as special guests at AVANTASIA's performance in Brazil, making it seem as though the band had achieved a complete resurgence.

6.2 The Sudden Passing of Andre Matos

Yet, fate was cruel. On June 8, 2019, with the fervor of the reunion tour still fresh, frontman Andre Matos suddenly passed away due to an acute myocardial infarction at the young age of 47. As one of the biggest icons in the Brazilian metal scene, possessed of rare talent, his death brought immeasurable grief to fans and musicians worldwide. To eternally honor his tremendous achievements, Mayor Bruno Covas of São Paulo City officially designated June 8 as "Heavy Metal Day," with Paraná State establishing a similar commemorative day.

6.3 The Addition of Alírio Netto and the Indomitable Album *Rescue*

To overcome the devastating loss of Matos, the remaining members made the decision to move the band forward after deep reflection. In September 2019, the addition of Alírio Netto as the new vocalist was announced. He was one of Brazil's finest vocalists, having served as the lead singer for QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA and proved his outstanding theatrical vocal abilities in bands like AGE OF ARTEMIS and Spain's AVALANCH.

The newly restructured band embarked on the "Nagual Fly Tour" out of respect for Matos and released the new song "Brand New Me" in 2020. Then in 2022, they welcomed back their long-time benefactor Sascha Paeth as producer, alongside violinist Marcus Viana, to release *Rescue*, their first studio album in 12 years. This album beautifully sublimated the various stages of profound grief and loss into music in a "non-negative form," and was acclaimed as an emotionally moving masterpiece embodying the band's resilience and indomitable spirit.

7. Ideological Conflict and Final Demise: Dissolution Brought by Political Division (2023)

Although SHAMAN seemed poised to enter a new golden era with the album *Rescue*, the band suddenly dissolved completely in January 2023. The cause was neither musical differences nor business troubles, but rather the "profound ideological conflict and political polarization" that deeply divides modern Brazilian society.

7.1 The Attacks on the Congress in Brasília and Confessori's Social Media Posts

On January 8, 2023, a terroristic riot that shook the very foundation of democracy occurred in the Brazilian capital of Brasília, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress, the Presidential Palace, and the Supreme Federal Court. Immediately following this historical incident, drummer Ricardo Confessori bitterly criticized current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a "fake president" on his social media and posted far-right viewpoints that appeared to relativize and defend the attack on Congress by drawing comparisons to past leftist riot footage.

In response to this political post, many fans expressed concern and dissent in the comments section. One of them, Mateus Ferreira, a veterinarian and a long-time devoted fan since the ANGRA era, offered a logical critique, stating that "instead of supporting democracy and condemning acts of destruction, you are trying to justify the situation." Confessori became infuriated by this and reacted in an irreversible manner, replying to Ferreira with severe homophobic and transphobic slurs such as calling him a "veterinarian who failed medical school," a "faggot," and a "non-binary feminist," alongside hate speech insulting his profession.

7.2 Immediate Collapse of the Band Due to Ethical Decisions

From a humanitarian standpoint, Confessori's behavior was completely intolerable to the other members. The following day, on January 10, 2023, bassist and founder Luis Mariutti announced his immediate departure on Instagram, sternly condemning the behavior: "This episode is a serious issue that completely misaligns with modern values and the education of our families and children." A few minutes later, his brother Hugo Mariutti also declared the "end of SHAMAN's activities."

Vocalist Alírio Netto also immediately issued an official statement, strongly denouncing and rejecting "any form of homophobia, racism, sexism, hate speech, or lack of empathy" before leaving the band. Thus, the great band that had led the Brazilian metal scene for a quarter of a century met its irreparable final end, swallowed by the darkness of modern society's ideological conflict and intolerance.

8. Record of Member Transitions (Biography)

In the history of SHAMAN, the members were a vital element determining the band's musicality. Below are the detailed tenures and roles of the successive official members and important supporting members.

Name (English)	Role / Instrument	Tenure / Period	Background / Special Notes
Andre Matos	Vocals / Piano / Keyboards	2000-2006, 2018-2019	Founder. Former VIPER, ANGRA. Led the fusion of classical music and metal. Passed away suddenly in 2019.
Luis Mariutti	Bass / Backing Vocals	2000-2006, 2018-2023	Founder. Former ANGRA. Formed the foundation with heavy basslines. Led the dissolution.
Ricardo Confessori	Drums	2000-2013, 2018-2023	Founder. The only member present for all periods. Built a unique rhythm section heavily utilizing polyrhythms.
Hugo Mariutti	Guitar	2000-2006, 2018-2023	Younger brother of Luis. HENCEFORTH, VIPER. Characterized by emotional guitar playing.
Fábio Ribeiro	Keyboards / Piano	2000-2006, 2018-2022 (Live), 2022-2023 (Official)	A dedicated contributor who supported live shows from the early days and was promoted to an official member in the final phase.
Thiago Bianchi	Vocals	2007-2013	Frontman of the second era. Characterized by powerful high-register vocals. Later formed NOTURNALL.
Léo Mancini	Guitar	2007-2013	Guitarist of the second era. Led the band with technical shred playing.
Fernando Quesada	Bass	2007-2013	Bassist of the second era. Contributed greatly to songwriting along with solid playing.
Junior Carelli	Keyboards / Piano	2012-2013	Joined at the end of the second era. An excellent keyboardist who is also active as a video director.
Alírio Netto	Vocals	2019-2023	Successor to Matos. A world-class singer active in QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA and other projects.

9. Discography

SHAMAN's discography was subject to highly meticulous strategies targeting the Japanese market, which has a strong affinity for melodic metal, in addition to releases in Europe and their home country of Brazil. Each album released by Japanese record labels (King Records, Avalon Marquee, JVC Victor) featured detailed Japan-exclusive bonus tracks.

9.1 Studio Albums

Year	Album Title	Japanese Label (Catalog Number)	Global Label	Charts / Special Notes (Japan Bonus Tracks, etc.)
2002	Ritual	King Records / Victor (VICP-61893)	Universal Music / Mercury	France No. 101, Japan No. 80. Includes "Fairy Tale". Produced by Sascha Paeth¹
2005	Reason	JVC Victor	Deckdisc / AFM Records	Released under the name Shaaman. Japan Chart No. 200. Includes cover of "More".
2007	Immortal	Avalon Marquee	Thurbo Music / Scarlet	First work of the second era. Japan-exclusive bonus track: "In The Dark (Acoustic Version)".
2010	Origins	Avalon Marquee (MICP-10930)	Scarlet Records	Concept album depicting the tale of Amagat. Japanese edition includes additional limited bonus tracks.
2022	Rescue	King Records (KICP-4051)	Voice Music / Maldito	First work featuring Alírio Netto. Japanese edition includes bonus track "The Final Rescue", etc.

9.2 Live Albums & Video Works (Live Albums & DVDs)

Their overwhelming musical proficiency and the enthusiasm of the audience are vividly recorded in the following video works.

Year	Title	Format	Content / Special Notes
2001	Pré-Ritual Tour - Live in São Paulo	Video / DVD	Precious early live footage recorded prior to the release of their debut album.
2003	RituAlive	CD/DVD	Enthusiastic live performance at Credicard Hall in São Paulo. Features numerous special guests such as Tobias Sammet.
2009	Anime Alive 2008	DVD	Live performance at "Anime Friends" in 2008. Recorded in front of approximately 20,000 people. Includes a cover of "Kurenai".
2010	Shaman & Orchestra Live at Masters of Rock of Prague	DVD	Historical collaboration with a full orchestra in the Czech Republic. Bundled with the limited edition of *Origins*, etc.

9.3 Singles & EPs

Year	Title	Type / Format	Remarks / Notes
2001	Demo	Demo	Promotional demo source recorded shortly after the band's formation.
2002	Fairy Tale	Single	The hit song that became the theme for a wildly popular telenovela, elevating the band to national prominence.
2005	Innocence	Single	Released under the name Shaaman. Lead single from *Reason*.
2005	More	Single	Cover of the classic song by The Sisters of Mercy. Accentuates a gothic approach.
2020	Brand New Me	Single	The first new song released after Alírio Netto joined. Signaling the dawn of the reborn SHAMAN.
2020	Turn Away (Live)	Single	Live audio recorded at the Audio Club in São Paulo after the reunion.
2022	The "I" Inside	Single	Lead single and music video from the album *Rescue*.
2022	Thundering Heights	EP	Released for streaming platforms. Features diverse ambient elements, including "Almost Supernatural".

10. Conclusion

It clearly demonstrates that SHAMAN did not merely fit into the framework of an ANGRA spin-off, but was an independent artistic entity occupying a unique and extremely vital position in the history of South American heavy metal. By beautifully blending the majesty of classical music, the aggressive energy of heavy metal, and the complex rhythmic structures of Brazil's unique folk music, they pioneered unprecedented musical territory. From their debut album *Ritual* to their final release *Rescue*, their discography consistently proves high musical intelligence and resilience.

The band's history was by no means smooth. They faced conflicts over creative directions unique to the music industry, renaming issues stemming from legal risks (the shift to Shaaman and back), and above all, the tragedy that shook the very survival of the band: the sudden death of their absolute frontman, Andre Matos. However, each time, they continued to rise like a phoenix, replacing members and updating their musicality.

The fact that the factor ultimately causing the collapse of this great band was neither a musical barrier nor a business obstacle, but rather the "extreme political division and accompanying intolerant hate speech" facing modern society, serves as a symbolic example of how closely music is intertwined with social conditions and cannot escape their influence. The resolute rejection immediately demonstrated by Luis Mariutti, Hugo Mariutti, and Alírio Netto in response to Ricardo Confessori's unethical outbursts proved that they possessed not only outstanding musical skills but also high human ethics and social responsibility.

Although SHAMAN as a physical entity has come to an end, the innovative discography, numerous enthusiastic live performances, and historical achievements they left behind—pushing Brazilian heavy metal into the global mainstream (such as the Japanese Oricon Charts and a national telenovela)—constitute an intangible legacy that should be forever passed down and studied in the future Progressive Power Metal scene.