Amaseffer

Infobox musical artist
Name = Amaseffer


Img_capt = No Image Available Yet.
Img_size = 100
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Tel Aviv, Israel
Genre = Progressive Metal
Years_active = 2004–present
Label = InsideOut Music
Associated_acts = Therion, Vanden Plas
URL = [http://www.amaseffer.com www.amaseffer.com]
Current_members = Hanan Avramovich
Yuval Kramer
Erez Yohanan

Amaseffer is an Israeli progressive metal band which was formed in 2004 in city-state|Tel Aviv|Israel by drummer and percussionist Erez Yohanan, and guitarist Yuval Kramer. A year later, a second guitarist Hanan Avramovich joined and the band got its structure. This is also when the band got its name "Amaseffer" - from Hebrew "Am Ha'Sefer" (עם הספר) - People of the (holy) book; a name from the Old Testament for the Israelites and later for the Jewish Peoplecite web |url= http://www.amaseffer.com/band.html|title= Amaseffer Homepage - The Story of the Band|accessdate= 2008|publisher = Amaseffer] . The band's music genre is considered progressive metal, but it contains a mixture of rock, metal, world music and Middle Eastern touches cite web |url= http://www.insideout.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=612&osCsid=05d2aa9aade2d1684e23b042a5621c79|title= Amaseffer CD description on InsideOut Music web page|accessdate= 2008-06-06|publisher = InsideOut Music] .

History

"Slaves for Life" (2004–2007)

Amaseffer was formed with the idea of a historical trilogy in mind - to tell the old testament's story of the Exodus, from the Hebrew slavery period in ancient Egypt, through the years in the desert, and up to the entrance of the twelve tribes of Israel to the promised land of Canaan (later Israel). The first album of the trilogy, Slaves for Life, tells the story of the events starting with the Hebrews slavery, through the birth of Moses and ends with the ten plagues of Egyptcite web |url= http://www.online-literature.com/bible/Exodus/|title= The Holy Bible - Exodus|accessdate= 1476BC|publisher= God through Moses] .

In 2006, while the three band members were composing this first album in city-state|Tel Aviv|Israel, they started looking for a lead vocalist for the album. On August 2006 Andy Kuntz, lead singer of the German band Vanden Plas, joins the band to fulfill this dutycite web |url= http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=20818|title=Vanden Plas Singer Unveils New Band|accessdate= 2006-08-06|publisher= metalunderground.com] . Through Kuntz, the band got to their recording studio, Bazement Studio, in Germany. In 2007, Kuntz and the band decide to part ways. Shortly after, the band announces that the leading vocals will be performed by Mats Leven (Krux, ex-Therion, Yngwie Malmsteen)cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77220|title=Mats Leven to Guest on Amaseffer Project |accessdate= 2007-07-20|publisher= blabbermouth.net] .

In November 2007, the band completes the recording of the album, featuring additional musical artists like vocals by Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land), Yotam Avni (Prey for Nothing) and Maya Avraham; flutes by Amir Gvirtzman; tablas by Yatziv Caspi; bass guitar by Yair Yonacite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=84581|title=Amaseffer CD is done|accessdate= 2007-11-10|publisher= blabbermouth.net] . On April 2008, the band signs with InsideOut Music, and the first album is released on 2008-06-06 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and by 2008-06-24 released worldwidecite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=94525|title=Amaseffer "Slaves for life" released |accessdate= 2008-04-09|publisher= blabbermouth.net] .

"Amaseffer Soundtrack Productions" (2008)

After the production of the first album, the band was approached by an Israeli filmmaker to record and produce the full score soundtrack for the movie "Altalena" - a movie about the Altalena Affair from 1948. This leads to the forming of a legal company with the purpose to produce movie soundtracks all over the world, in addition to the Exodus trilogycite web |url= http://www.amaseffer.com/news.htm|title=Amaseffer News |accessdate= 2008-09-20|publisher= Amaseffer.com] cite web |url= http://www.jff.org.il/?CategoryID=547&ArticleID=508|title=Altalena - JFF|accessdate= 2008-07-10|publisher= Jff.Org.il] .

Discography

*2008: "Slaves for Life"
** Sorrow
** Slaves for Life
** Birth of Deliverance
** Midian
** Zipporah
** Burning Bush
** The Wooden Staff
** Return to Egypt
** Ten Plagues
** Land of the Dead

Band Members

Active Members

Hanan Avramovich - Guitars

Yuval Kramer - Guitars

Erez Yohanan - drums and percussion and narrating

Featured Musicians

laves for Life

Mats Leven - Lead and backing vocals

Angela Gossow - Growl vocals ("Midian")

Kobi Farhi - All oriental vocals

Yotam Avni - Growl vocals ("Midian")

Maya Avraham - Female vocals on "Zipporah"

Amir Gvirtzman - Flutes

Yatziv Caspi - Tablas on "Slaves for Life" and "Midian"

Yair Yona - Bass guitar on "Zipporah" and "The Burning Bush"

References

External links

* [http://www.amaseffer.com Official website]
*MySpace|amaseffer|Amaseffer