Yossi Sassi Israel

"Yossi Sassi is best known for his dayjob as guitarist and main composer in the Israeli folk metal band Orphaned Land - and that is in itself of course something to be very proud of - but with his debut solo album Melting Clocks he shows that he has more up his sleeves.

Featuring two handfuls of compact yet multifaceted tracks, this album should definitely appeal to fans of modern progressive rock. Unlike so many other solo albums by prolific metal guitarists, Yossi Sassi's debut, while of course guitar-driven, is based on songwriting and composition and does not serve as an ego-vehicle. Thus, do not expect mindless shredding, but rather melodic guitar leads (by the way, Marty Friedman make a guest appearance on the album). In stead, the listener is in for wellwritten and compelling progressive primarily instrumental tracks.

Blending instrumental rock with a bit of hard rock, a bit of jazz rock, a bit of alternative rock, a bit of funk, a bit of this and a bit of that, Melting Clocks never gets boring, and, as a bonus to lovers of world music, most of the tracks feature elements from Middle-Eastern music traditions, including not just musical patterns but also traditional instruments.

Fans of progressive rock should definitely check this one out. It's accessible yet sophisticated. I must say that the instrumental tracks on the album are considerably better than the ones that feature vocals, but all round, it's a quite enjoyable listen."