The third album Motion from Brazilian based band ALMAH along Angra singer Edu Falaschi is a slight surprise. It was not expected to be this eclectic and aggressive. Compared to Angra ALMAH’s sound possesses less cheesiness and pathos, though there are still soft and relaxed tones. Bullets On The Altar and Late Night In '85 for example grow to first-class half ballads due to its fine melodies. They also manage to raise the tempo in the right moments and explore their high technical skills in the solo parts. No question, all musicians know how to handle their instruments, fortunately the line-up (which include bass player Felipe Andreoli from… right, Angra) stayed together since last and second output Fragile Equality (from 2008).

As suggested Motion does not offer boring standard Power Metal, but fits together very different styles, even elements from Death and Modern Metal are integrated in the fast and heavy songs such as Zombies Dictator and Trace Of Trait (which was released before as a single with video). Accordingly the sound is very massive and dark which is evocative of Nevermore sometimes. Brainstorm is another reference which comes into mind. Some progressive ingredients (especially Daydream Lucidity) complete the mix and hold the listener’s tension until the end. Reasonable are the homogeneity and the flow of compositions as the wild chaos of influences does not affect this. My personal highlight: the impellent Living And Drifting with its cool Bruce Dickinson-like vocals.

With this release ALMAH prove creativity and a lot of courage. No clichés or expectations are fulfilled which makes Motion appealing somehow. Thus it can be highly recommended to every open-minded (Power) Metal head.