Search - Almah :: Edu Falashi

Impressive solo debut from Angra's vocalist

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 10/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While I was initially dismayed by the breakup of the original Angra lineup a few years ago, my disappointment was short-lived, especially in light of their magnificent comeback album Rebirth. One of the best things about that album (and there are many) is the introduction of vocalist Edu Falaschi to the Angra fold. I could tell immediately that this powerful young singer would help take Angra to the next level.



Fast forward to 2007 and the debut of Falaschi's Almah project. Edu had already proven himself as a first rate metal vocalist. This was his chance to add songwriter, guitarist, and producer to the list. It doesn't hurt that he could call upon members of Nightwish, Stratovarius, Kamelot, and even Queensryche to lend a hand.



Given the players involved, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Almah is a first class metal album, nor should it surprise anyone that it sounds a bit like an Angra album. It's a much more streamlined album than some progressive metal enthusiasts might prefer (total running time: 42 minutes with the average track clocking in at less than 4 minutes), but that doesn't come at the expense of the music. The songs just get to the point a lot quicker (album opener King is a great example, thrashing away from the very first second). The musicianship is tight, there are plenty of great melodies, and of course Edu's voice is in top form. The power and emotion he is able to convey, even singing just a single word, is simply incredible, and his songwriting "voice" is just as impressive.



Almah is a must-have for all fans of later day Angra albums, and should easily appeal to fans of just about any kind of melodic metal.

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