Apocalypse

Formed in 1983, the Brazilian neo-progressive rock band Apocalypse drew inspiration from Genesis, Yes, Rush, and Marillion. The lineup of Chico Casara on vocals and bass, Ruy Fritsch on guitar, Eloy Fritsch on keyboards, and Chico Fasoli on drums produces accessible material built around prominent keyboards and intricate rhythms. Their thoughtful lyrics in Portuguese set them apart more than anything else from the wider neo-prog field. During most of their initial ten years the group collected festival prizes rather than entering the studio. The debut album Apocolypse, issued in 1991, secured a European recording deal and highlighted the group’s skill at blending subdued acoustic sections with fiercer passages. Perto do Amanhecer appeared in 1995, Aurora dos Sonhos followed in 1996, and Lendas Encantadas came out in 1997.