AHVAK

In this album, Israeli band Ahvak manages to create something rarely seen in RIO or prog- rock in general. This album manages to put the emotionality of the music before its complexity. The result is an album which stimulates the mind as well as the heart. The haunting, screaming theme of the title track may intrigue you more then the polyphonic climax in the first track (Vivisection). Even though track 3 (a chaotic musical conversation between a piano and a flute) and track 7 (a mumble of growled voices backed by some creepy ambiance) are a tad... pointless, at least in my ears; this album contains very little filler. This (must have) album is a combination of prog-rocks groovy asymmetric rhythms, RIO's dark, melancholic feel, and the melodic integrity of classic music.

Do not miss the chance to hear it or buy it, even the non-RIO listener (and from my experience even some non-prog listeners) will find this album captivating - As often moving as it is interesting.