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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
│ │
│ │
│ + Almah - Unfold + │
│ │
│ │
│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Release Date.Dec-23-2013 Encoder......L3.97 -V2 --vbr-new ║ │
│║ Genre........Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year.........2013 Khz/Bitrate..44,1/ Br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper.......anthem Songs........12 ║ │
│║ Covers.......Yes Url... www.almah.com.br ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Almah Rating : You Decide! ║ │
│║ Album : Unfold Label : Scarlet ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ What started out as aversion has slowly turned ║ │
│║ to appreciation concerning the fourth full- ║ │
│║ length from Brazilian heavy/power luminaries ║ │
│║ Almah. Whilst their previous opus Motion ║ │
│║ garnered some negative press from the ever- ║ │
│║ valiant power metal crowd, I feel that here, the ║ │
│║ band has served up a happy medium between each ║ │
│║ of their prior releases. Almah is a band that ║ │
│║ has never unleashed the same album twice, and in ║ │
│║ terms of sheer progression as a band, IÆd say ║ │
│║ theyÆre more deserving of the progressive metal ║ │
│║ moniker these days. In fact, IÆm kind of ║ │
│║ reminded of Dream TheaterÆs early-mid naughties ║ │
│║ run in terms of creativity with Unfold, and the ║ │
│║ band in general. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ What I personally feel Almah have achieved here, ║ │
│║ and something which will no doubt come to the ║ │
│║ chagrin of many û initially including myself û ║ │
│║ is that theyÆve essentially succeeded where acts ║ │
│║ like Symphorce, Athorn, and later Steel Attack ║ │
│║ failed in the past. Yeah, you heard it here ║ │
│║ first: Almah have managed to successfully blend ║ │
│║ alternative metal influence into power metal, ║ │
│║ and to my shock and horror, it doesnÆt ║ │
│║ completely suck! ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ IÆll give you a minute to reflect on the above. ║ │
│║ Go on, you deserve it. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Whilst incorporating influence from acts as ║ │
│║ diverse as Alice In Chains, Faith No More, and ║ │
│║ the oft-dreaded Pantera is hardly novel by now, ║ │
│║ Almah sew these sounds throughout Unfold with ║ │
│║ deft precision. They do it in a professional ║ │
│║ manner too, without crutching on one particular ║ │
│║ element too prominently; while at times it may ║ │
│║ be blatant, in others itÆs subtle, and despite a ║ │
│║ lot of these factors occurring musically, Edu ║ │
│║ FalaschiÆs chameleon-like vocal performance ║ │
│║ slithers and coils around each track, affording ║ │
│║ the most credible weight to an arguably ║ │
│║ questionable approach. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ In the hands of an inferior band this would of ║ │
│║ course be a recipe for disaster, and here I ║ │
│║ think it has really hammered home just how ║ │
│║ strong a songwriting unit Almah really is. ôThe ║ │
│║ Hostageö is a particularly good example of their ║ │
│║ Dr. Frankenstein approach. Despite initially ║ │
│║ drenching me in aversion with its Pantera style ║ │
│║ chugging, the track unfolds (thatÆs one) into a ║ │
│║ rather brave progressive affair. It features ║ │
│║ Alice In Chains-style vocal harmonies and a ║ │
│║ massive, modern chorus all wrapped in an ever ║ │
│║ twisting arrangement. This leads me nicely into ║ │
│║ the albumÆs strongest feature: unpredictability. ║ │
│║ You can never tell where the band is going to ║ │
│║ go, and whilst some of the change-ups donÆt ║ │
│║ quite work for my personal tastes, others do. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Those looking for more in the way of the power ║ │
│║ metal that a lot us had hoped the band would ║ │
│║ become famed for should look towards the tracks ║ │
│║ like ôI Doö, the fiery opening salvo of ôIn My ║ │
│║ Sleepö, and of course the albumÆs crowning ║ │
│║ achievement: ôTreasure Of The Godsö, which is ║ │
│║ just about the best song that Almah has ever ║ │
│║ done. It certainly recalls moments of Angra, ║ │
│║ though complete with that daring, modern spin ║ │
│║ that Almah is all about here. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Every track across the album serves up something ║ │
│║ different, unfolding (thatÆs two) in various ║ │
│║ ways, but coming together on the whole as a ║ │
│║ strong, proud effort. These songs are backed up ║ │
│║ via virtuosic performances, particularly in the ║ │
│║ guitar department, and of course EduÆs ║ │
│║ excellent, shape-shifting vocal approach. If you ║ │
│║ ever hear someone lamenting about the lack of ║ │
│║ originality in the genre, then Almah has your ║ │
│║ back. Whilst I donÆt think everything works on ║ │
│║ the whole û at least to my personal taste û ║ │
│║ thereÆs no denying the strength of this album. ║ │
│║ Give it half a chance to unfold (and thatÆs ║ │
│║ three, sorry guys, IÆm out of here) and I can ║ │
│║ guarantee youÆll keep coming back to this one. I ║ │
│║ know I have. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 01 - In My Sleep [04:17] │
│ 02 - Beware The Stroke [05:33] │
│ 03 - The Hostage [04:03] │
│ 04 - Warm Wind [04:59] │
│ 05 - Raise The Sun [05:06] │
│ 06 - Cannibals In Suits [05:00] │
│ 07 - Wings Of Revolution [04:47] │
│ 08 - Believer [05:39] │
│ 09 - I Do [05:07] │
│ 10 - You Gotta Stand [05:04] │
│ 11 - Treasure Of The Gods [09:29] │
│ 12 - Farewell [03:40] │
│ │
│ Total Length : [62:44 minn │
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│ ╔═════════════════════╗ │
│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
│ │
│ │
│ │
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