I like mood.

Oh, sure…there’s nothing wrong with straight-ahead, in your face, pedal to the floor metal. But give me a band that knows how to mix it up…a band that can add light and shade, shifting moods, going from aggressive heaviness to moody, semi-electronic feels from song to song (or even within a song), and you’ll have me hooked from the get go. Ephrat is just that kind of band. And they are from Israel.

Unlike their country-mates Amaseffer, Ephrat’s brand of progressive metal is far moodier and perhaps a bit more diverse, exploring regions populated by electronics, some loops, and telephoned in vocals. I am certain some of this is the result of Steven Wilson, whose gentle hand mixing No One’s Words (the group’s debut release) is felt throughout. Songs rise and fall, sounds ooze out of the darkness and then submerge once again. Heavy parts sound suitably heavy, while quieter sections generate as much unease as they do a relaxation of tension. Additionally, Ephrat’s material includes elements that one could only describe as ethnic…modes and scales help add a tonal colour that is generally absent from progressive rock, or at the very least played without the emotional honesty that Ephrat brings to bear due to their personal histories and backgrounds. I think a lot of people may end up comparing Ephrat and Amaseffer simply because both groups are Israeli. It’s not really a fair comparison; both bands tread different, if somewhat related, paths. I enjoy both bands equally and for different reasons, and find No One’s Words to be an impressive debut release, exhibiting diversity, strong song writing and instrumental playing.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.