courtesy of Century Media

Armand Majdi of Sick of It All: “I think the combination of government and religion is something that can only lead to war – in any part of the planet. The so-called ‘holy lands’ are obviously the most volatile part of the world to start a country based on this idea. What can I say? If governments based on religion have to exist, I hope that the voices of moderation can eventually be the loudest. I can’t envision peace in the middle east unless people are truly willing to look past their religious differences, which is even harder than asking people to look past racial differences. That’s such a tall order, because big organized religions are based on the idea that all other belief systems are inferior and don’t deserve to exist.”

Unfortunately, the upcoming Sick of It All shows in Israel have been canceled.

You can read the preview that would have gone in the Jerusalem Post here.

You can read the entire interview with Armand Majdi here,or just click below…

Continue reading »

Despite the fact that here, Jimmy Bower of Down/Superjoint Ritual readily admits that he would love to come to Israel but that he doesn’t think the lyrical content of his band would make people too happy (though he was talking about the Arabs because of the song Personal Insult, as well as the lyric “No pity on the elitist Jews” in Stealing A Page Or Two From Armed And Radical Pagans), I definitely don’t speak for everyone in Israel, but anyonezeig heiling on stage as you can see here (who I feel from all his talking shit is also responsible at least in part for the death of Dimebag Darrell)

can keep his wondrous presence the hell out of my country as far as I’m concerned.

Luckily many of the people who would go and see him are leaving the country that day to go to Wacken…. hahaha.

Also, I wonder what Hamas would do if they knew about the “jihad is a joke” and “sand nigger” sentiments expressed by Mr. Anselmo….

UPDATE: This is what the promoter of the show, Lior Kamali, wrote to me regarding my press release to Ynet and Maariv.

You fucking beach! Mother fucker,

Do not write about my concert ever, and do not send anything about to anyone here.
I know about the Email!

Stupid girl.
Another time, I’ll come and smash your face

He also wrote…

What is your fucking problem?
Ah… when something not work for you, you trying to do tricks….and you thing that I want know about it
First, no one is care about that…
Second, now, you want have a chance in the whole life to get a job….

Another…. No one is care about your silly web.

Stupid

UPDATED:

”
And the one in hydpark? Not you as well?
Don’t lie to me- most of the journalist has past the Email to me, and I saw your Email address…

So now- Like I said earlier, go to look for a new job at MacDonald

You have 3 hours to close the publicity in hyde park, otherwise, I’ll saw you.

Don’t even bother to respond this Email”

Metal mit a yiddishe taam…

All of ’em…

Wishing Sasha Gurevitch the best of luck on the opening of his new rock bar, Scream, located at Rechov Shlomo Hamelech 22 in Jerusalem, near Shlomtzion/Kikar Safra/the Old City. The place looks pretty gothic with its purple walls, black on black flowery upholstery and beaded black crystal chandeliers but the music is going to vary from classic rock to Weird Al Yankovic to metal.

Listenable, melodic power metal in the vein of Iron Maiden & Aria with Mizrachi (Oriental) doses. A particular influence of Deep Purple is evident and differentiates the band, several of whose members also perform in Netanya’s classic rock cover band, Burn. OK, parts of the album could be a little tighter, and the intro of the second track sounds way too much like Braveheart, but the aptitude by which Afterlife paints Mizrachi layers on the basic metal foundation cannot be ignored. Vocalist Den Rizikov has a classically appropriate metal voice, hard to find in Israel, and all of the band members are quite professionally skilled which also doesn’t hurt. Some of the pieces on here could be movie soundtrack material as well, like the haunting segue of Track 4 into Track 5. This is beautiful stuff. No joke. Actually, speaking of jokes, “Closed Hell” actually made me crack up out loud. I don’t know if the melodrama was meant to be, but it was funny as um, hell. Check it out.

Pics Courtesy of Deadline Studios…

check it here.

And editor Miriam Shaviv G-d bless her added only ONE word!!!!! an AN before the open heart.

Machine Head/Betzefer Show
Tel Aviv
March 10

Quintessential metal act Machine Head focuses on technical skill, brutal groove and raw emotion. Frontman Robert Flynn writes his lyrics with an open heart and tortured soul. All this is likely why the band merited such an outstanding reception at the Theatre Club on Sderot Yerushalayim in Tel Aviv/Jaffa on March 10. Jeremy Nakache of Anthem Productions, the international booking agency that brought Machine Head here, placed the audience head count at 1000, and tickets sold out several days before the show at NIS 200 each.

Israel’s own Betzefer played the first set with their earthy brand of groove metal. Betzefer’s months-long touring stints in Europe have honed their performance to a professional caliber worthy of any international act.

Soon after, Machine Head mounted the stage, the initially red stage lights casting a Faustian effect on Robert Flynn’s bearded profile. The band tore heatedly through many of their classics, with much of the crowd screaming the words in unison. Between songs, Flynn was drinking and shouting “L’chaim!,” pronouncing it correctly, and even growled a death-metal l’chaim to the delight of the crowd.

During one particularly intense song, Flynn looked up, taken aback by the fervent response of the audience. He yelled “Tel Aviv, you’re f***n incredible!” and burst into the next refrain. Before the two last songs, fans passed an Israeli flag to drummer David McLaine, whose techs hung it over the bass drum.

If a show like this could sell out 1000 tickets in Israel (and leave many complaining fans unable to attend), it may be time that the heavy metal subculture here receive proper treatment in the mainstream.

Read it here at the Jerusalem Post website…

Anthem Festival has been postponed…click on that link for all the details known so far. SUCKS.

Dark Tranquillity, The Haunted, Opeth, Betzefer, They:Swarm, and more…. also, be warned, there will be a female-fronted Israeli act.

Upcoming exclusive interview with Peter Dolving of the Haunted… just waiting on what The Jerusalem Post wants to do with it before I put it up here in its entirety, so keep checking back for that.

while you’re here, check this out too.

Here’s the official press release from Anthem Productions…. Continue reading »