The Brazilian Prog Metal Band Efrata recently had changes in their line-up, however, quickly the band announces the name of his two new members : Mateus Brandão (Guitar) and Ricardo Menezes (Drums).

Mateus has worked as musician, transcriber and arranger for big names in Brazil and international music such as John Schlitt (Petra); Has arranged several pieces for orchestras and string quartets. Currently, Mateus is the guitarist of Auras. which has had its CD “New Generation” released by the Europe-based label Frontiers Records, in 2010. Works as a guitarist at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná since 2010; is responsible for the arrangements, transcriptions and orchestrations of the Games Classic Show concert, while also being a guitarist along with the Curitiba-based game music-specialized orchestra conducted by Carlos Domingues; works as arranger and conductor for the orchestra of Spalla School of Music, in Curitiba.

Ricardo is a multi-instrumentalist, having started his musical studies at 6.His studies, passed by the Curitiba Brazilian Popular Music Conservatory, but as a self-taught that really developed his percussive talent. Dream Theater, Angra, Symphony X, Rhapsody, Neal Morse, Transatlantic, Liquid Tension Experiment, Petra, Oficina G3 and Stauros are the bands that also influenced and influence his musical conception. His favorite drummers are Mike Portnoy, Mike Mangini, Aquiles Priester, Dennis Chambers, Simon Philips, Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati and Alexandre Aposan.

Ricardo uses: Gretsch Drums, Gibraltar Hardware, Tama Speed Cobra pedals, Vic Firth drumsticks, Remo drum heads and Sabian and Zildjian cymbals.

Efrata‘s debut album “Something Powerful Inside” has been released in Oct. 2014 through Conspiracy Records. Our review can be found here.

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Lyric video for ‘Take My Heart Again’