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New on PBR, this is the debut of label head man Scott Bebbe's personal project. Savak takes its name from the secret police of the Shah of Iran during the 70's, and is intended as an exploration of terrorism and counter-terrorism. However, it is not an endorsement of either.

Musically, the tracks on the album straddle the boundary between dark ambient and rhythmic power electronics, moving seamlessly between the two while managing to give each a certain feel that sets Savak apart from the pack. The more oppressive electronic moments carry a threatening, heavy touch, as if any moment things will explode into motion, while the beat-driven passages are underlied by a dark, morose atmosphere. All of which combines for an intense and uneasy listen.

"Claiming Responsibility" is an epic track of ever-shifting washes of caustic ambient sounds with a palpable sense of tension and rage underneath that is constantly threatening to break through and leave the song in a mutilated heap. Tracks like "Four Hundred and Forty Four Days" and "Stalemate" highlight Savak's rhythmic side, as punishing, distorted beats pound the listener over a morass of tangled sounds and noises. Yet, while the beats themselves never really vary, the tracks are NEVER boring, as there is always something new going beneath the surface, as sounds shift in and out of the mass, rising to the surface, only to fall back again as they are overwhelmed.

Quite simply, "444 Days" is an impressive and astounding debut. Fans of both rhythmic noise a'la Ant-Zen, as well as lovers of dark ambient will find a lot to love here. Hopefully, more great things are in store in the future from the mind of Scott Bebbe.