AHVAK

Ahvak are a avant-prog rock band that first met on an internet prog rock forum in Israel, but did not get serious with making music until drummer Dave Kerman, went to Israel to join the band. To date, their self-titled album, released in 2004, is their only release, which is a shame since the album shows a lot of potential for the band.

Ahvak is a very strange twisted affair, utilizing a lot of tense, disjointed riffing, and oddly timed interplay between guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums. Occasionally it feels as if the band is trying too hard to be avant for the sake of being avant, but for the most part the music flows naturally. The music is dark and unsettling in many places, and the use of panning left and right enhances the experience. Once in a while, there are parts that seem more like a band just noodling and jamming rather than an actual composition, which, while that might work for other styles of music, does not fit well with this more precise and complex genre.

Possibly the most interesting song on the album is the eponymous title track, Ahvak (Dust), which spans 16 minutes, and a vast array of feeling. Eerie and unsettling flutes amidst a very dark and moody backdrop, furious paced drum and guitar passages, complex melodies, and grinding keyboard tones are all tied together with fantastic writing and flow. It has moments of extreme density, and moments where everything feels very loose and light. The song is a microcosm of the entire album, though the album in general is not quite as well done as this one song.

Overall, Ahvak's self titled debut album is a generally enjoyable experience if one is into the more avant-garde/rock-in-opposition (RIO) end of the prog rock spectrum. It has a few flaws, issues with composition and flow, though the musicianship is excellent. Worth a couple listens, and would definitely be a worthy addition to any obscure prog rock collection.

Score: 67