Amaseffer - Exodus Pt. II: When the Lions Leave Their Den (2026)

Amaseffer is an Israeli progressive/folk metal band formed in Tel Aviv in June 2004. Created by drummer and percussionist Erez Yohanan, the project was envisioned as an epic, three-part musical trilogy detailing the biblical Exodus. Guitarists Yuval Kramer and Hanan Avramovich soon completed the core trio. The group derived its name from the Hebrew phrase Am Ha'Sefer "People of the Holy Book". Following the surprising and powerful 2008 debut album *Slaves For Life* and the 2016 collaborative album *Kna’an* (with Orphaned Land), the band’s sole remaining member—drummer, composer, and producer Erez Yohanan—finally continues the trilogy’s second chapter as the creative force behind the progressive metal band Amaseffer with the album *When the Lions Leave Their Den*. Across 72 minutes of distinctive prog metal, the biblical narrative picks up from the day of the Exodus and leads to Moses’ ascent of Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments.

While guitarists Yuval Kramer and Hanan Avramovich were official band members in 2008, they now—alongside Yodin Mayal—provide essential instrumental support with their heavy guitar work. To imbue the music with its epic scope and unique atmosphere, a dozen vocalists (men and women) were recruited—in addition to musicians playing the oud, Middle Eastern violins, and woodwinds—to sing or growl the biblical story, whisper spoken-word passages, or scream out pain and misery.

At its core, the music is once again exciting prog metal characterized by cinematic atmospheres and symphonic flourishes. The bombastic programming evokes images of distant deserts, and the suffering is palpable. The distinctive, expressive Middle Eastern atmosphere is beautifully conveyed by having multiple instruments play the same melody, each adding its own subtle embellishments or variations. Additionally, the music features characteristic semitones, while complex asymmetrical or cyclical percussion rhythms play on in a continuous loop. The same applies to the free rein given to solo improvisations, allowing the musician to briefly showcase their emotion and virtuosity, thereby evoking a state of deep emotional trance or ecstasy.

On this second album, I also detect greater variety—such as the effective use of crushing Rammstein-style riffs in "A Flame Unbidden" and "Lady of Slaughter" to slice right through the soundscape. The work adopts a more musical-theatre-like approach, blending elements reminiscent of Clive Nolan’s "The Mortal Light" and Ayreon’s "The Theater Equation," ensuring accessibility while keeping the music’s metallic edge intact.

In addition to collaborating on and producing studio albums in the progressive metal, symphonic metal, and art rock genres, Yohanan is a versatile audio engineer and soundtrack designer, known for his work in video games and film. It is hardly surprising, then, that we had to wait eighteen years for the second installment of the Amaseffer trilogy. And given that the Exodus itself lasted forty years, the third chapter may well be a long time coming—even though Erez has now left the lion's den.