AWKWARD DIARY

Being the one that suggested them for addition to PA I'll write the 1st the review , even if Ahoora deserve better. Akward Diary , Ahoora's 3rd release shifts from metal to a more progressive style,this being the reason why I suggested them to PA . What I liked at this album at first listening(and still like) is that to me it sounds like nothing else I know(Black Sabbath,Radiohead,Muse,Mars Volta are cited among others as influences by different reviewers) , it sounds fresh, surprising, original and the music takes unexpected turns, spanning from metal, to heavy, jazz, a lot of electronics(sometimes in the same track) and even tango. Dark, sometime creepy,maybe not an album for the average prog lover but still an intriguing release which definitely deserves a larger exposure and support(and better reviews).

What an interesting album! This one really caught me off guard. At first I glanced at the track times as they range from 2:33 to 4:49. I didn't have high hopes based on my faulty assumption that not a whole lot can happen within such a short amount of time. Boy was I wrong! In fact, there are so many twist and turns within each song and not one is an "epic" that most of us look to as the focal point of an album. The listener really does not have much time to digest certain sections before the song takes a quick twist into something new. As far as the sound, I would describe it as Gazpacho on steroids. That's about the closest thing to Ahoora I have heard but Ahoora is much more ambitious and takes more chances. Lots of heavy parts, electronic elements, jazzy sections...you really have to hear it. And to be honest at first listen I was a little annoyed by the music but for some reason I could not stop listening. Then after about the 5th listen I was hooked. This year I was really looking to find something different than the traditional heavy prog and metal I normally listened to and I found it. I ranked this in my top 10 for year 2010 and I hope more people get to hear this album. An easy 4 stars for this one for their diversity and never stagnant brand of prog. Check it out!

The latest album from this Iranian band.

I interviewed this band sometimes ago. Nice band which knows what they are doing. This critially acclaimed album very much confirms that this band both have a vision and the means to carry it out.

Style wise, this album comes across as a more lively version of Norway's very own Gazpacho. The trademark Gazpacho sound and the Radiohead vocals are also present on this album. Music wise, this album is far more varied and multi-faced, even more multi-cultural than any Gazpacho album. You get both jazz, metal, dubstep and folk music in this album and that in generous helpings. This makes this album a very interesting album.

I am though really missing one or two real killer tracks which could had elevated this album to a higher level and glued my ears to my stereo rack speakers. But Ahoora has laid down a solid groundwork with this album, their first album in their more progressive vein. I sincerely hope they continue down the same path on a hopefully new album soon. This album should be checked out.

3.5 stars