Drummer Aquiles Priester became known worldwide when he joined Angra in 2000, releasing Rebirth (2001), Hunters and Prey (EP, 2002), Rebirth World Tour - Live In Sao Paulo (CD/DVD, 2003), Temple Of Shadows (2004) and Aurora Consurgens (2006).  But what many people do not know is that before that, he formed a band called Hangar, which released the albums Last Time (1999), Inside Your Soul (2001), The Reason Of Your Conviction (2007 ) and Las Time Was Just The Beginning (CD/DVD 2008).

Hangar are back with a new CD, Infallible. What could you tell us about the message behind the title?
At the end of 2008, when we were doing the last shows of The Conviction Tour, we were requested by one of our labels to record another CD. We immediately began to outline an agenda for the following January. Fabio had the idea of writing it in his farm in Tatuí, countryside of Sao Paulo, as we could be more focused and get a more satisfactory result in less time. We did the whole writing process in 2 stages and basically spent fifteen working days to write and arrange most of the songs. At that time Nando had already left the band and we were writing without having the slightest idea of how/who the new singer would be. After we finished writting the songs, I got another ten days alone practicing the material before recording my parts. All in all took some forty days, and so the album was generated very spontaneously. We are very pleased with this CD.

How was it working with the new vocalist, Humberto Sobrinho? And where did you find him?
To find a new singer we auditioned more than 150 candidates from all over Brazil and Humberto was the guy who was more prepared to join the band. We needed to make sure he would be the right person to live together in all situations as far as a band goes; from the writing process until the release of a CD. Before we confirmed him as a member of the band, we spent some time with him in Tatuí to see how he would interact with the rest of the band and it was fantastic. Working with Humberto was very easy because he assimilated right off the interpretation that each song needed

What in fact was the reason for Nando Fernandes leaving the band?
We never talked about it because he decided to leave the band through his personal blog and then sent an e-mail to the band. The last time we talked in person was at the show that we made at the Canecão in December 2008 in Rio de Janeiro with Andre Matos band. Usually we care about people who want to join the band and not those who want to leave it, so we carried on. It was a bit strange and thank God it was so fast that it didn’t affect the band

At that time, did you think about the possibility of bringing the original singer, Michael Polchowicz, back?
We are grateful to all that Mike did for the band and have great respect for him, but Mike is in another phase of his life and it would be wrong to try something again.

Many people thought that when things calmed down you’d go back to Angra. What happened to make you not want to go back?
Nothing happened. The band returned to touring and I only learned this by the press. Legally I have the contract and now our lawyers are trying to reach an agreement.

What do you think of the return of Ricardo Confessori?
I don’t have to think anything. Who should find something to say about it are the fans. If they are happy, who am I to say anything?

You still keep in touch with the other members of Angra?
No. When we contact each other is because of the band. We have never been that close to speak to each other outside the workplace, which were the shows or any other professional activity.

How did it come out the tour with Andre Matos, last year?
It was very nice and the interaction between the bands was fantastic. We haven’t had any problem, all schedules were met and the two bands worked hard for the result of the tour and it all was satisfactory. It was a unique experience. I think we could do it again in 2010, because both bands are willing to do so.

What are the next steps to be taken by Hangar?
We are preparing something really innovative for the promotional tour of Infallible. We’ll do the whole tour with a certain structure to bring the same show anywhere in Latin America. Now we have a tour bus for ourselves, which is the result of our partnership with Maverick amplifiers. I can’t wait to release Infallible and then doing these shows. This tour will last for the whole 2010 and we’ll go to every place imaginable.

Luciano Piantonni
photos: promo