The last time I heard anything by Almah was their 2008 album “Fragile Equality”. I recall it was a very competent piece of Power Metal with a bit extra. The band is the creation of Edu Falaschi, the vocalist of Angra, and so although Almah has been going for just five years and started initially as a one man project with some helpers, there’s plenty of experience in there. Moreover since the acclaim that went with the first two albums, the project has gone further and it’s now a fully established band.
“Motion” starts off in encouragingly lively fashion with “Hypnotized”. The band’s best qualities are on show on this fluid and bouncy track. Good harmonies, a catchy chorus and dark undertones make a powerful mix. As the album progresses without a reduction in pace to “Living and Drifting”, I found it hard to get the comparison with Helloween out of my head. That’s the area we’re in. It chugs along like an express train without any self-consciousness, and it’s strong, infectious and catchy. The third track “Days of the New” seems to be striking out for a meaning and may appeal to a fan of Hammerfall but didn’t do anything for me. On the positive side, the solos, here and everywhere else, are very good and fit into the framework. Uplifting as the first two tracks are, an ominous tinge of darkness is never far away. Almah structure their songs well and know how to add interest value. The dark undercurrent continues on the thoughtful “Bullets on the Altar”. Well-constructed as usual, it’s potent and has the statutory and flamboyant guitar solo. The honours are shared however between the drummer who sets out a relentless beat and Mr Falaschi’s vocals which have power and purpose. I liked this track, while as a personal choice I prefer the sophisticated Power Metal romps Like “Hypnotized” and “Living and Drifting”. “Zombies Dictator” is more in this vein. The vocals are harsher, which normally I’d appreciate but here it seems the waste of a good voice. Almah mix it up with frenetic Power Metal energy and a darker, sinister side, resulting in an interesting and unusual track. “Trace of Trait” is something different again – I’m not sure what it was in the final outcome as it is again an unusual mix of catchy Power Metal sounds and a separate layer of darker, more sophisticated Metal aggression.
The key word to this album for me is “action”, which would have been a suitable alternative title to “Motion”. In explaining the album’s title, the band have gone on record as stating that it’s all about movement, change and evolution. It’s nice when these statements are borne out by the musical outcome. I commend Almah for their clarity of vision and ability to deliver it. Harmonies, speed, sophisticated guitar work, dark overhanging clouds – this work never stands still. The album takes another surprising turn with “Late Night in 85”, a ponderous Rock song of the night, as the title suggests. “Daydream Lucidity” takes us to the skies and it’s at this point that I thought I was listening to the vocals of Pagan’s Mind’s Nils. K. Rue. What is different is that the track takes on a sharper and heavier direction before returning to the dreamy heights – it’s another powerful and well-designed track. Just when I thought I’d avoided a Power Ballad, along came the nearest there is in the form of the Acoustic Rock track “When and Why”, the final song on “Motion”. I’d have preferred to have been left on a higher note but there’s nothing technically wrong with it, and the refusal to stand still symbolises the album as a whole. It is clear that Almah have sought and succeeded in delivering a different mood and direction with each track.
With “Motion”, Almah have proved that it’s possible to present Power Metal in a number of different ways. I wouldn’t say that Power Metal isn’t a genre particularly known for pushing the boundaries, so all credit to Almah for being so creative in their thinking. I can’t say in all honesty that I got the idea behind every track but there’s plenty here and it’s of a high technical quality. Most importantly, it’s an enjoyable listen and in line with what I’ve heard from Almah previously, it’s more than “just” Power Metal. “Motion” is indeed an appropriate title and it’s a good album.
http://www.almah.com.br
http://www.myspace.com/edufaluschi
Andrew Doherty
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