Power Metal from Israel is not exactly something you hear every day and I think that DESERT from Beer-Sheva are the only band of this style that I know. "Prophecy Of The Madman" is kind of a longer EP with six songs, one of which is a re-recording of a track off their debut EP "The Way To Honor" and I am happy to announce that DESERT do not play your regular run-of-the-mill Power Metal!

The main reason for this is right behind the microphone and listens to the name of Alexei Raymar, whose baritone-like voice gives the songs a distinctly different character, which I personally am very grateful for. Now if you think that his name does not really sound Israeli, the other gentlemen's names are Shafranski, Shulman, Aryutkin and Balagula, so it seems as if their roots are in Russia, Ukraine etc. But enough geography...

DESERT's music is symphonic, at times a bit bombastic, but most of all good. The opening title track is fast, symphonic, with quite a few keyboards, catchiness and the slightly theatrical voice of Raymar, resulting in something that in itself is not necessarily that original, but still bears its own character, which is even furthered on "Lion And Hawk", which reduces the heaviness and speed in favour of more atmosphere and melody, but without sacrificing a certain edge in the song, nicely done! "Sacred Throne" then surprises with an almost folky rhythm, so not a single song on this release sounds like the other, but still they manage to work together, quite a feat the guys have accomplished here!

"Prophecy Of The Madman" might not be premier league material yet, but you have to keep in mind that these guys are still at the very beginning of their career, so they are just laying the foundation and with Raymar's voice they have one characterizing element already, so I am looking forward to hearing more of these Israelis!

(Online January 17, 2007)