Published: November 2014

So it happened that while reviewing a second promotional package from Canadian label “Hypnotic Dirge Records”, I found two absolute non-Metal releases. In this case, probably the weakest album from this label’s camp. I may seem cynical, but in the case of Ekove Efrits, the main factor is the project’s country of origin - Iran. Even in this much globalised world, a heavy music project from the Near East is still quite a sensation. Though after listening to the latest album “Nowhere”, one might wonder if there are any relationships with heavy music at all...

My verdict is simple - it is yet another example of a modern hipster’s creation, where the project’s leader becomes lost in his searches or wants to play everything. Ekove Efrits have tried Black Metal, Doom, Ambient and DSBM directions and now dared to delve into something close to the Darkwave genre. The project’s sole member is assisted by Australian band’s Lycanthia vocalist Megan Tassaker, who enriches the album with her wonderful voice. Alas, this is the biggest (and probably only) plus of the album. The music is lost everywhere and nowhere - between atmospheric DSBM sound, Darkwave atmosphere and maybe even Trip-Hop strokes. Slow, partly acoustic music varies with fused guitars and depressive moods. The latter, even if it adds something to the album, is far too little to make it a solid release. Melancholy is dominant in the album and it is expressed via simple Ambient/Darkwave compositions. I see it as an attempt to squeeze something interesting, however using the tools that absolutely don’t fit here. Or maybe the reason is that the author does not know how to use and play with them. It looks like Ekove Efrits will continue to make mistakes in the searches, without finding its own path and drowning in unexplored and absolute alien tides...