Almah (band)

Edu Falaschi stated that he was looking for a band name that was easy to remember and pronounce in all languages. In Portuguese and Spanish, Alma means "soul". He discovered that in Hebrew, Almah (עלמה), with an "h", means virgin and purity. He also stated that many religious people say what it means is the opposite. "I decided to talk about human feelings in a whole album - and human feelings can be good and bad – like liberty like love ore we can feel like freedom we can feel envy and greed – bad feelings. That's how I decided to write about human feelings.{{cite web|url=http://www.darkside.ru/interviews/interview.phtml?id=348&dlang=en |title=Edu Falaschi's interview for DarkSide Ezine 2007 |last=Khorina |first=Ksenia |date=2009-07-08 |publisher=DarkSide Ezine |access-date=2009-04-26}}

The band's first album, Almah, was released in the second half of 2006. Besides singing, Edu Falaschi also produced the record, composed all the songs and wrote all the lyrics. The album was recorded in Finland and Brazil with musicians such as Emppu Vuorinen (guitars – Nightwish), Lauri Porra (bass – Stratovarius) and Casey Grillo (drums – Kamelot), and special guest appearances of Mike Stone (guitars – Queensrÿche), Edu Ardanuy (guitars – Dr. Sin) and Sizão Machado (bass – Tom Jobim, Chico Buarque and others), among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.afm-records.de/en/bands/bands-Almah-bio.html|title=Almah Bio by AFM Records|last=AFM|first=Records|date=2008-10-16|publisher=AFM Records|access-date=2009-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119094441/http://www.afm-records.de/en/bands/bands-Almah-bio.html|archive-date=2008-11-19|url-status=dead}} The album received good reviews in rock magazines and websites worldwide. Falaschi was called one of the best singers by Burrn! magazine readers (Japan).{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_901/053554-angra.html |title=Edu Falaschi é destaque na revista Burrn |last=Macedo |first=Eduardo |date=2007-03-25 |publisher=Whiplash |language=pt |access-date=2009-04-26}}

In June 2007, Angra took a break for two years and Falaschi concentrated on his work with Almah. The solo project turned into a band with a stable line-up.

Falaschi: "Angra really stopped in 2007 in July. And then when I released the first album, it was the solo album, I knew that maybe in the future Almah could be a band. And when Angra really stopped, we didn't know about Angra future and we didn’t know when we would come back with Angra. I decided in December 2007 to create a new Almah album, but as a real band, as a full time band."{{cite web|url=http://www.darkside.ru/interviews/interview.phtml?id=414&dlang=en|title=Edu Falaschi's interview for DarkSide Ezine 2009|last=Khorina|first=Ksenia|date=2009-07-08|publisher=DarkSide Ezine|access-date=2009-04-26}}

Almah's second album, Fragile Equality, was released in October 2008.{{cite web|title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET - ALMAH Working On 'New Ideas'|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142525|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201130445/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142525|archive-date=2013-02-01|access-date=2012-02-16|publisher=Roadrunnerrecords.com}} Besides Falaschi, who is handling the vocals, his Angra's bandmate Felipe Andreoli on bass has participated in the band. Guitar player Marcelo Barbosa from Khallice joined the band before its first tour in August 2007. During pre-production stage of Fragile Equality, drummer Marcelo Moreira and second guitarist Paulo Schroeber joined Almah.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_889/070150-almah.html|title=Almah anuncia formação para novo álbum|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-03-08|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}} All members have contributed actively to the songwriting process of Fragile Equality, with Falaschi and Andreoli being responsible for the production as well. The album was at Norcal Studios in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_887/072351-almah.html|title= Angra: Andreoli fala sobre gravações do novo Almah| last=Macedo| first=Eduardo| date=2008-05-07| publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}} Fragile Equality's lyrical concept is about "the balance between all the elements of the universe" based on a book that Edu is the co-writer for. The book "Fragile Equality - Equinox-Book 1" (done in manga style) is to be released sometime later, with a karaoke CD of the Fragile Equality album.

In Brazil, the first pressing of the album was sold out during the first day of official sales.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_882/078345-almah.html|title=Almah: esgotada primeira prensagem de Fragile Equality|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-10-03|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}} According to the magazine Roadie Crew the album became of the best-selling albums in Brazil.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_879/082967-almah.html|title=Almah: "Fragile Equality" entre os mais vendidos no Brasil|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-01-22|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090503084340/http://whiplash.net/materias/news_879/082967-almah.html| archive-date= 3 May 2009 | url-status=live}} By the readers of Brazilian metal magazine, Roadie Crew{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_877/086057-almah.html|title=Almah: entre os melhores do ano da revista Roadie Crew|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-03-17|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090421180102/http://whiplash.net/materias/news_877/086057-almah.html| archive-date= 21 April 2009 | url-status=live}} and by the contributors of the Brazilian metal website Whiplash, and the Brazilian metal website Rock Underground{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_877/086053-almah.html|title= Almah: nos melhores do ano no Rock Underground|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-03-17|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090421181208/http://whiplash.net/materias/news_877/086053-almah.html| archive-date= 21 April 2009 | url-status=live}} Almah and Fragile Equality were recognized as the Best Brazilian Band 2008, the Best Album 2008, The Best Artwork 2008 among other nominations awarded to Almah musicians. The album was also well reviewed internationally.{{cite web|url=http://www.metal-temple.com/review.asp?id=3236 |title=Fragile Equality Review at Metal Temple (Greece) |last=Dimitris |first=K. |date=2008-10-15 |publisher=Metal Temple |access-date=2009-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019025849/http://www.metal-temple.com/review.asp?id=3236 |archive-date=October 19, 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.novometal.com/reviews/ler.php?id=2031|title=Fragile Equality Review at Novometal|last=Rocha|first=Edson|date=2008-09-21|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=12783&lang=en|title=Lords of Metal (Holland)|date=2008-10-15|publisher=Lords of Metal|access-date=2009-04-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rockeyez.com/reviews/cd/almah/rev-fragile-equality.html|title=Fragile Equality Review at Rock Eyez|last=Rademacher|first=Brian|date=2008|publisher=Rock Eyez|access-date=2009-04-26}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pavillon666.fr/chronique-metal-3316.php|title=Fragile Equality Review at Pavillon 666 (France)|date=2008|publisher=Pavillon 666|language=fr|access-date=2009-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822021231/http://www.pavillon666.fr/chronique-metal-3316.php|archive-date=2016-08-22|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/cds/079939-almah.html|title=Fragile Equality Review at Whiplash (Brazil)|last= Okabayashi|first=Letícia|date=2008-11-13|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}}

A tour started in São Paulo in November 2008 and finished in April 2009 in Rio de Janeiro.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/shows/087365-almah.html|title=Circo Voador, Rio de Janeiro, 05/04/09|last=Fontes|first=Monica|date=2008-04-10|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090426093404/http://whiplash.net/materias/shows/087365-almah.html| archive-date= 26 April 2009 | url-status=live}} In July and August 2008, Almah played on the main stage of musical festivals Píaui Pop{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_889/070691-almah.html|title=Almah: confirmada presença no Piauí Pop 2008|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-03-26|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26}} and Porão Do Rock.

In January 2009, Almah launched the new video clip "Beyond Tomorrow". It was filmed in December 2008 in Brasília by Rodrigo Gianetto who works also for MTV Brazil.{{cite web|url=http://whiplash.net/materias/news_879/082463-almah.html|title=Almah: confira vídeo clipe da música "Beyond Tomorrow"|last=Macedo|first=Eduardo|date=2008-01-13|publisher=Whiplash|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090426084904/http://whiplash.net/materias/news_879/082463-almah.html| archive-date= 26 April 2009 | url-status=live}} In March 2009, the band released its first digital single, an acoustic version of "All I Am", through its Brazilian Equality Fan Club.{{cite web|url=http://www.almahfanclub.com/principal/|title=Almah Equality Fan Club News|publisher=Equality Fan Club|language=pt|access-date=2009-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508132212/http://www.almahfanclub.com/principal/|archive-date=8 May 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

Angra returned to activities in March 2009 but Almah announced the start of composing songs for the follow-up of Fragile Equality.{{cite web|url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/108766|title=It's Official - ANGRA Return!|publisher=Bravewords|access-date=2009-04-26|archive-date=2009-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315001927/http://www.bravewords.com/news/108766|url-status=dead}}

The band has since recorded and released three more albums; Motion (2011), Unfold (2013), and E.V.O (2016). They are currently on indefinite hiatus.{{cite web|url=https://whiplash.net/materias/news_715/345181-angra.html |title=Rafael Bittencourt praises Almah: "Heritage of Brazilian rock" |publisher=Whiplash.net |accessdate=2024-11-16}}

Paulo Schroeber left the band in 2012, due to health issues including an enlarged heart and accumulation of water in the lungs. He was required to use an artificial pacemaker-like device in his chest to breathe. On March 24, 2014, he died as a result of a surgery to reset the device gone wrong.{{cite web|url=https://deadrhetoric.com/news/ex-almah-guitarist-pablo-schroeber-passes-away/ |title=Ex-ALMAH Guitarist Pablo Schroeber Passes Away |publisher=Dead Rhetoric |accessdate=2024-11-16}}

Current members

• Edu Falaschi – vocals, keyboards, acoustic guitar (2006–present)
• Marcelo Barbosa – guitars (2007–present)
• Raphael Dafras – bass (2012–present)
• Diogo Mafra - guitars (2014–present)
• Pedro Tinello - drums (2015–present)

Former members

• Emppu Vuorinen – guitars (2006–2007)
• Lauri Porra – bass (2006–2007)
• Casey Grillo – drums (2006–2007)
• Felipe Andreoli – bass (2007–2012)
• Paulo Schroeber – guitars (2008–2012, died 2014)
• Gustavo Di Padua – guitars (2012–2013)
• Marcelo Moreira – drums (2008–2015)

Touring musicians

• Ian Bemolator – guitars (2011; 2013–2014)

Guest musicians

• Mike Stone – guitars
• Edu Ardanuy – guitars
• Rafael Bittencourt – guitars
• Demian Tiguez – guitars
• Tito Falaschi – bass
• Aquiles Priester – drums
• Fábio Laguna – keyboards

Timeline

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• Almah (2006, JVC/Laser/AFM) No. 165 Japanese charts
• Fragile Equality (2008, JVC/Laser/AFM) No. 188 Japanese Charts
• "You Take My Hand" (2008, Equality Fan Club) [single]
• "All I Am" (2009, Equality Fan Club) [single]
• Motion (2011)
• Unfold (2013)
• Within the Last Eleven Lines (2015) [compilation]
• E.V.O (2016)

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.almah.com.br/}}

{{Almah}}

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Category:Brazilian power metal musical groups

Category:Brazilian heavy metal musical groups

Category:Musical groups from São Paulo

Category:Musical groups established in 2006

Category:2006 establishments in Brazil

Category:Brazilian musical quintets