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Friday release # 8. So, the sequence of yesterday's events made us forget to tell you about the special deluxe edition released of "Permanent Waves" by "Rush". on the occasion of it's 40th anniversary. This is one of the band's founding albums, the bridge between the Prog era and the electronic-synthesized one. It was just before the International break of "Moving Pictures". The release includes an updated version with a remarkably improved sound from the original album, as well as 12 bonus excerpts from the band's performances during the tour that accompanied the album's release in 1980. The live recordings are mostly from shows in the UK and one in Missouri, USA. While the album has undergone a fine remaster that allows you to hear the multiplicity of layers and tracks of the variety of instruments and vocals, the added value of this special edition are live tracks that shows the band members' tremendous talent. While the popular bands of the period relied heavily on puffy hair, ornate attire and pyrotechnic performances, "Rush" focused on the music itself and the performances in the special version prove how much musical talent each member of the band had. One of the big surprises of the live album is the performance from Manchester, England of "The Trees" from the 1978 album " Hemispheres ", which preceded "Permanent Waves". This performance features a different and special classical guitar intro by Alex Lifeson and is an absolutely amazing show of meteoric playing ability !!! From Geddy Lee 's singing, Alex Lifeson 's sharp and sleek guitar playing and Neil Peart 's masterful and energetic drumming - without a doubt one of the greatest drummers to ever hold a drum stick. This track presents "Rush" in all its glory with amazing chemistry and remarkably accurate and rare synchronization during a live performance. For Listening : Spotify , Apple Music Follow us on Facebook   or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW !!! This is how you open a review ??? Yes, this is how this review is opened, which cannot be in any other way!!!! Absolute madness, a powerful experience, unprecedented excitement, and above all love, love for music!! Before we tell you how it was, what we think about the production and what we experienced at the performances, we must point out that since the festival there is one strong feeling that does not let us go. It is very difficult for us to define it in one word, but if we try anyway, then we feel that this festival was characterized by "commitment". The commitment of the bands, the production, and even the audience to make this a successful festival. A strong desire and great hope of all involved that this special and amazing thing will succeed. That everyone will be satisfied. That the bands will express themselves and enjoy themselves on stage, that the production will manage to cover the costs of the event and even make a nice profit and of course, we, the audience, who voted with our feet and came in clans, will enjoy all this goodness called metal music. S we can feel that we have a future, that this is not a one-time event that barely survived, and that we, as an audience of a genre that does not receive budgets and resources and is on the fringes of the music industry, manage to make a festival of this magnitude succeed, because if it succeeds then we can do more wonderful and even bigger things here in the future. From our side, as an audience, this festival was a huge success!!! We say this with a whole heart and without a "BUT"!! This festival was a huge success!! The production was masterful... Huge thank you to Vladislav Mazourenko and the " Hotbox " crew for the amazing initiative and production!!! Already at the entrance, you felt that you were entering a festival and not another performance at the Gagarin club where there were different and varied booths and you could purchase a new tattoo along with a shirt and stickers of the participating bands. The children's complex was an amazing idea and proves how much the production pays attention to details and tries to give space to the diverse audience. With the exception of a single case, the bands took the stage according to the pre-published schedule and managed to keep up. The drummer of "Saffek" got stuck at the border crossing in Taba, which forced the transfer of the band's performance to the end of the lineup after the performance of "Walkways", in order to allow his arrival. We must mention the amazing work of the bands and especially of the stage crew both in the sound and in the transitions between the various performances. As soon as one band finished the performance, the disassembly of the stage workers immediately began with the band members themselves assisting the stage crew in disassembling their equipment, in order to meet the schedules. The sound was excellent throughout most of the show, with minor technical glitches here and there that did not impact the overall experience. Nevertheless, it is no less than 11 different bands, with different musical instruments, different amplifiers, and different equipment that came up one after the other. The bands were amazing... What amazing music we have in Israel!! Before the festival, we sat down and listened, once again, to all the materials of the bands in the line-up (we know most of them). You are invited to listen to the playlist created for the event on Spotify . We have to be honest, it was very difficult for us to decide at which stage of the festival to place the foray for food, for fear of losing even a few minutes of the performance of one or other band. During the almost 10 hours of the festival, there was not even one weak moment. 11 great bands came to make this festival a pure pleasure. The amount of talent that was on one stage, in a relatively short period of time, was unimaginable. It is evident that each of the bands, without exception, gave their all and simply burned the stage, even in cases where the performance was shortened due to constraints such as in the case of "Saffek" and "Her Last Sight". The crowd was unbelievable ... Since the festival started at 15:20 and was supposed to end at midnight, there was, of course, an expectation that in the first hours the number of people would be sparse, after all, it was Saturday noon. Add to that the fact that nothing in Israel starts on time, so the quite reasonable expectation was that the first shows would have very small attendance. But the reality defeated the expectation and the number of people that filled the club already with the rise of the first band "Violate Inner Amends" was amazing. The Gagarin club was almost full and everyone who came to the festival made sure to pay respect to the bands that played, right until the end. It was very moving!! True, the audience is the customer, he paid for a ticket and he expects to receive a SHOW. But it seems that this time the audience didn't just come to enjoy and get value for the money they paid. It was evident that this time the audience also came to support! To support the bands and musicians he likes, to support the festival organizers and the various service providers, and in general to support the metal scene. We must point out that for us this event was exciting on a very powerful level!! We had the pleasure of seeing such a large amount of people addicted to this "bacterium" that we love so much, meeting friends, followers of our page and website, and musicians of bands that we love so much and sharing with them the pleasure and the impression of the unique event. It will sound funny or material but we really hope that the production managed to bring in enough money to cover the costs and make a profit, just to have the appetite and ability to create more such successful events in the future. Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Editor's Choice... Feel like getting a little aggressive, exploding, or just strengthening your jaw and limb muscles? So here's something you will like and even if not, it was worth putting out this post just for the cover !! On the 16th of August 2019 the American metal band "Killswitch Engage" released their eighth album. For those who are unfamiliar with KsE, it is a very important band in the metal genre, and among other things, it is one of the bands that brought American metal back to the headlines after the decline of Nu Metal. It has a great influence on the formation of metal into what it is today and it also makes sure to evolve and grow. (Photo: Travis Shinn) One of the beautiful things about their music is the dynamics, they have a unique variety in the songs themselves and also in the albums. The album isn't just 40-50 minutes of relentless screams and distortions, there are melodies, dramatic moments, complex solos, and even harmonies. In this album the theme is especially noticeable, it is a more diverse album than the band's previous albums, both in terms of musical style and lyrics. So true, the cover does suggest what you will find inside. A dragon monster, huge, scary, and unstoppable. But it does not just come to chew and devour you, it will do so with sophistication, patience, and great interest. So do not be afraid because your end is known in advance !! Just enjoy it... on: Spotify , Apple Music Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Asking Alexandria's third album "From Death to Destiny" was released on August 6, 2013, so here are some interesting facts about the album: 1. The album was recorded in six different studios in the US and England. 2. One of them was a studio that the band set up on their tour bus. They said that songwriting is often done during touring and they always dreamed of having a studio with them during the tour where they could record. 3. Singer Danny Worsnop suffered a tear in his vocal cords during the recording of the album and needed a long period of recovery, which extended the creation of the album. (Photo: Jeremy Saffer) 4. During the recordings there was a lot of friction and confrontation between Danny and the rest of the band, guitarist Ben Bruce said they had to make a lot of compromises because Danny just refused to sing when he objected to the processing or writing of a song (maybe that was for the better). 5. About two years after the album's release the clashes intensified, Danny's addiction to alcohol also intensified and he left the band claiming he wanted to focus on a different style of music with his second band "We Are Harlot". But about a year and a half later they resolved all the conflicts and he returned to the band !! (And a good thing, he's one of the most talented vocalists) 6. This album is considered the band's adolescence stage, their sound goes from electronic combinations to more concentrated hard rock and their lyrics move from topics like drugs and girls to more personal and complex topics like death, loneliness, relationships, and more. 7. The transition from a heavy metal-core style saturated with electronics and productions to a more basic hard rock style with a combination of melody and "growling", made this album more accessible and opened the band to a new audience of fans. 8. The band has released three music videos for the album: "The Death Of Me", "Moving On" and "Killing You" Danny says that in the "Moving On" clip they share many intimate moments and expose themselves to their fans. 9. The song "Until The End" features singer Howard Jones who was, among other things, the singer of Killswitch Engage Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Friday Release for # 137 A new song was released under the "Pink Floyd" brand, featuring a collaboration between David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Ukrainian musician Andriy Khlyvnyuk from the band "Boombox". The two former "Pink Floyd" members were joined by bassist Guy Pratt, married to the daughter of keyboardist Richard Wright, who died in 2008, and British keyboardist and producer Nitin Sawhney. This is the band's first material in 8 years, since the release of "The Endless River", an album that mostly included tracks recorded in 1994 during the sessions for the album "The Division Bell", but also new recordings from 2013-2014. The track is based on a Ukrainian folk song, sung by Ukrainian musician Andriy Khlyvnyuk, after leaving his tour of the United States to return home and fight for Ukraine. He recorded a video in which he sang the Ukrainian song and thus inspired the members of "Pink Floyd". The track was recorded last Wednesday (March 30), and uses the singing of Andriy Khlyvnyuk taken from his Instagram post, singing in Sofiskaya Square in Kyiv. The song itself, titled "The Red Viburnum In The Meadow" (translated English), is a Ukrainian protest song written during World War I, which recently became popular again following protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The title of the track is taken from the last line of the song which is translated as "Hey Hey Rise up and rejoice". It is interesting to note, that Gilmour has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law and grandchildren and he noted that the new song was written in support of the Ukrainian people, following the outrage and frustration of the vile act in which an independent and peaceful democratic state fell victim to one of the world’s major powers. F: o know Andriy Khlyvnyuk and his band "Boombox" in 2015, during a performance in London, which featured members of "Boombox". He noted that he saw Andriy's video on Instagram, in which he stands in Kyiv Square with the beautiful church and golden dome and sings the song. He said it was a powerful moment inspiring the song being written. For Listening: Spotify Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

On January 12, 1968, "Pink Floyd" made its debut as a five-member band with David Gilmour. Want to know more about the circumstances that led to the lineup change? Stay with us. (Photo: brain-damage.co.uk) David Gilmour's acquaintance with Syd Barrett began when Gilmore was 11, at Cambridge School. The two later developed their friendships, when in 1962 Gilmore began studying at the College of Arts and Technology in Cambridge. Gilmour and Barrett used to play music during school breaks. In August 1965 Barrett and Gilmour spent their time as street performers in Spain and France. They used to play "The Beatles" songs, and later toured France and living in tents outside Paris. Gilmour even attended Pink Floyd's recordings of the single "See Emily Play", in May 1967, but even then he felt that something wrong his friend, when Syd Barrett did not really recognize him. In December 1967, when Syd Barrett's mental state began to deteriorate, Nick Mason turned to Gilmour and offered him to join "Pink Floyd". Gilmour accepted the invitation and on January 8, 1968, the first rehearsal with him was held. Thus "Pink Floyd" became a five piece band. Gilmour's first appearance with the band was on January 12, 1968 at "Aston University" in Cambridge. The band played five tracks including: "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun", "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Flaming". The band continued to perform in the above lineup with Syd Barrett and David Gilmore for an additional number of live shows. (Photo: History In Pictures Twitter) However, following the worsening of Barrett's mental state, David Gilmour became a permanent member of the band taking his place, making "Pink Floyd" back to a four piece band, including: Nick Mason, Richard Wright, David Gilmour and Roger Waters. The band's last performance with Syd Barrett as a quintet was held on "Hastings" on January 20, 1968. On January 26, 1968, on the band's way to a show at Southampton University, the four members simply decided not to pick up Barrett on their way. This was the band's first live appearance as a quartet without Syd Barrett. The original intention was that Barrett would continue as the band songwriter without taking part on their live shows, just like Brian Wilson from "The Beach Boys". But, even this idea was soon abandoned due to Syd's mental state. An official announcement of Syd's departure from the band would only be released on April 6, 1968. Barrett and Gilmour's continued their friendships although Barrett's dismissal from the band. Gilmour even produced and participated in Barrett's albums - "The Madcap Laughs" and "Barrett" from 1970. Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Band Members: Alon Karneali: Vocalist and backing guitar Idan Kringle: Lead Guitar Saar Tobi: Bass guitar Liam Payne: Drums (Photo: Or Shenkerman) In 2013, a group of motivated and aggressive 17-16-year-olds went down to the musty basement of a music store in Herzliya and recorded their first demo. Well, "recorded" is perhaps a bit of an exaggerated word for the circumstances, since the entire "recording" was done using the cell phones of the band members on a laptop of one of their friends. Almost a decade later, Alon Karneali (vocalist and backing guitar) and Idan Kringel (lead guitar) will tell us that it was an amateurish and shocking step, but at the same time necessary for the band's progress in the right direction. Don't get us wrong, this underground recording (we couldn't find a better way to describe it) didn't stop the band members from feeling like "rockstars", with their every guitar riff sounding like a masterpiece that belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They recorded the demo and burned it on CDs, on which they stick the band's logo. Dreams come true!!! This was their first significant step as a band and from here they began to work their way up with a lot of investment, hard work, and great love for music. They handed out the burned CDs with the band's logo at the shows. Shows...? Wherever there was a flyer with an available space they would put their logo on and go up to perform. They approached every band from the Israeli metal scene, known more or less, with the aim of being an opening act or even a small part of the set, just to get a chance to perform, to reach another ear, another audience. North, South, it doesn't matter where. Loading the gear, traveling, and performing!! Along with the hard work on the stages and on the road, the band members continued to write more new material. In 2016, the band already felt ready to release something and an EP was planned for it. When they came with the intention of recording the EP, Yuval Kramer, a musician, VP at "Kramer Electronics" and owner of a recording studio (we will mention him later), convinced the young group to record a full album. Kringel brought a few more riffs and the band was ready to go in and record their debut album. "Ready" is perhaps a little exaggerated, because the band members said that the recording of the debut album was very strange. Parts of songs were written while recording, and ideas came in abundance but they didn't know how to record them or how to process them into songs or even sketches. The process was very difficult for them mainly because they did not know how to deal with it. To this day they are sure that many good songs and ideas were lost during the recordings. The rule was that if a riff sounded good then it was "remembered". how? Good question... Despite the lack of experience and the good materials that were lost along the way, the band managed to write materials that were enough for a full album, the debut album. They entered the basement again, this time of a recording studio called "IScream Studios" in Ramat-Gan which was operated by Eli Picover. Eli believed in them and supported them throughout the process. He took four inexperienced kids and taught them everything they need to know when going into a recording studio and accompanied them through the entire recording process. On May 6, 2016 "Sinnery" released her debut album: "A Feast Of Fools". On 07/21/2016, the band held a celebratory launch performance at the Ha'Ezur club in Tel Aviv in celebrating the release of their debut album, a performance that its members will testify is one of the defining moments in the band's short history. The show was almost sold-out with more than 300 people filling the club. Karniali and Kringle said that until then they had not seen anything like it. In all their previous shows, several dozen people came and suddenly they stood on a stage and saw the club Ha'Ezur fully packed. A crowd that came especially to see them. Not as an opening act, not as part of a mini-festival or set. It was a huge moment for them, but it didn't end there. The band started the show and found that all these people standing in front of them, these people who had bought a ticket with their best money, were roaring all the words to the songs from the album they had just released. It was undoubtedly a big and powerful event for all the band members. An interesting story: bassist Sa'ar Tobi, who joined the band shortly before, says that about an hour and a quarter into the set, the band members were already exhausted. Then, he suddenly decided to answer the chants of the enthusiastic audience who roared "we want more" with an interesting answer - "you want to hear a new song"? The other members of the band, totally exhausted, looked at Sa'ar with surprised looks and did not understand what just happened. They didn't plan or rehearse the song, but if Sa'ar promised then it must be fulfilled and the band performed the song "Hanged From the Sun", a song that will eventually include as a bonus track on the band's second album. The launch show was a defining moment when they realized they had something good on their hands. They realized that this thing should now be taken seriously and invested everything they have in it because they got approval from the audience. They got confirmation that people love what they do. Here is the place to point out that Sa'ar's joining the band, right before the launch show, was a significant addition to the turning point, because he was the one who pushed them to decide that they were going for it with all their strength no matter what! About a month after that unique show, the band members fulfilled another dream. They performed as an opening act for the band "Betzefer" in a club that for them is mythological, the "Barbie" club in Tel Aviv. It was their first show at the club, a show that opened their eyes and became a goal and an ambition that will soon come true! (Photo: Avihai Levy) It didn't end there, because right before that show the band signed with the label "Pitch Black Records" from Cyprus, and shortly after the show, without any prior preparation, they found themselves on a plane on the way to a show in Cyprus. It was a year where they did things they never imagined they would do, but no doubt dreamed about. After they signed with the label, the members of "Sinnery" realized that it was time to push forward and work on the second album. They contacted Yuval Kramer (remember him?) in order to book him as a producer for the album. They met him for the first time when they were 16 years old when Yuval was the guitarist and producer of a band called "Dark Serpent". Yuval always spoke in their language. Even then he treated these children, who came to pester him with all kinds of questions, very seriously. He really embraced them. He would come to their rehearsals from early morning, sit with them for long conversations into the night and give them advice, ideas, and perspectives they hadn't thought of. The members of "Sinnery" really wanted to bring him in as a kind of fifth member of the band and he took this role fully during the production of the second album. He went into all the intricacies and depths of the creative process with them, whether it was in dynamics, sound, and even lyrics. His goal was to get all the emotions of the band and put them on the record. But wait a second, let's take a step back... It can be said that the journey to "Sinnery"'s second album, which was named "Black Bile", started back in 2016, with Sa'ar and the song "Hanged From the Sun". Immediately after that, they started working on new music, with the creative process being influenced by various bands they listened to during the period. Their musical influences have expanded over the years, but it can be said that bands like "Gojira", "Trivium", "The Hunted", "Behemoth" and "Decapitated" have been given a dominant place in the playlist of the band members and have been particularly influential on them. In these years the band went through a process of maturation, just like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The bands they were listening to at that time changed, and Kringle went into writing more deeply, but there was a feeling of a journey of development and formation of the musical identity of the whole band. As a visual example of the musical development, you can even see the change that the band's logo underwent. (Photo: Or Shenkerman) The band members described the writing process for "Black Bile" as distinctly discontinuous. Writing for a short period, such as intervals, intense writing for a short period, a short break, and intensive writing again. There is no specific method, no law. Sometimes the words come first, sometimes the riffs, sometimes a certain rhythm but in this album, especially in the second part, Alon preferred to write the words only after the music was finished perfectly. They said that the creative process also underwent development and disillusionment. The band members have developed a different look at music, understanding that it is part of a language that should eventually penetrate the listener's heart. They started thinking about how they as a band can convey their emotions, feelings, and frustrations through music and songs. How would they like to feel as listeners hearing the songs they wrote for the first time. They wrote quite a few songs that were abandoned because they felt that the emotions didn't manage to come through well in them, that it just didn't happen there. If they felt there was a riff or a section that was strong enough, they would take it and try to build a song around it, but of course, it didn't always work out. They had many experiences and explorations until they found exactly what they felt was right, what they felt conveyed their feelings and emotions in the best way. Before entering the recordings, they worked on all the songs independently, occasionally sending the materials to Yuval for consultation. By the time they started recording Yuval already knew all the songs, riffs, and lyrics from all directions. He would help them regulate, change, correct, and polish the songs until they got the final outcome. They held the recordings in "Libra Studio", Yuval's private studio in Mevaseret, which is located in the basement of his house. It turned out, that while the members of the band unleashed destructive attacks on their instruments in the basement, on the floor above them, a quiet family was eating dinner. After they worked on all the songs and finished them almost completely, they went in, individually to record their part on the album. Each instrument was recorded separately throughout all the songs on the album, until the end. Of course, even though the songs were already polished and done by the time they started recording, there were still things that changed while recording in the studio. Yuval insisted on limiting the number of people present at the recordings, to allow the band member who was recording to enter the atmosphere and be focused on the recording. Yuval was of the opinion that the same member who came in to record was "the king". It was his moment, his moment of creation and the performance should be without interruptions and without three additional opinions. The band members said that the atmosphere during the recordings was amazing, creative, positive, and serious. It is interesting to discover that this album was actually recorded three times. For the first time, the band members wrote, created, and recorded at home a full song from start to finish. The second time they brought the materials to Yuval and then changed, repaired, polished, and improved. The third time they recorded each instrument separately and this is what ended up on the album. The mix and mastering for the album were done by Matt Hyde from London, a well-known figure in the metal scene who produced, engineered, and mixed for bands such as "Slipknot", "Trivium", "Machine Head" and more. They found it through Google. Yes, you heard right. They knew who they wanted from other albums he made, looked him up on Google, and contacted him. The work on "Black Bile" was finished at the beginning of 2020, right before the coronavirus broke out!! But then, along with the whole world and especially the music industry, the band members also suffered a huge impact. All of their plans got a sudden braking with all four wheels. They had a "hot potato" in their hand and they didn't know what to do with it. A full and perfect album that they were proud of creating but they were very worried about the timing of its release. They didn't feel it was right to release the new material when the whole world was in uncertainty, but there wasn't a rehearsal or a meeting of the band where they didn't have the strong desire to do something already. Release some song, share some teaser, anything. It burned in their veins and fired their brains, that the album on which they worked so hard, the album that presents the new, cohesive, and mature identity of the band, sat on the shelf. Then, to channel the frustration, the band members decided to use the time to "arm up". They spent their energies on everything needed around the album: the design of the album cover, booklet, promotional photos, posters, shirts, stickers, music video shoots, and everything that can be done to be ready for the show. And finally, it happened. The album "Black Bile" was officially released on September 16, 2022. (Photo: Eyal Pe'er) On February 11, 2023, "Sinnery" will have a closure at the "Barbie" club in Tel Aviv with a particularly festive and powerful launch show. 7 years after they stepped on the same stage as an opening act for "Betzefer", they will hold their first show as headliners at the legendary club and we have a feeling it will be a blast from start to finish. The crowd will be warmed up by "Maanish" and "Hotbox", two bands that will put the crowd into electrifying energies before "Sinnery" takes the stage. The band members unanimously decided that it wouldn't be another 6 years until the next album will be released. They decided to take it forward with all their power and beyond, working on a European tour, on new music, and working on all paths to step up and take their music and the new album to explode in Israel and all over the world. You can say that they are already implementing, when in the middle of 2022 they took the stage at the "Rockstadt" festival in Romania with huge bands like "Lamb of God", "Behemoth" and "OverKill". On a personal note In order to be a metal/rock band in Israel you need a lot of DIY skills!!! In other words, you have to do everything yourself! This is not only because the genre in Israel is still very niche, but mainly because of the very problematic geographical location which means that things don't come to you, you have to go and look for them outside! To look for good mixing and professional mastering abroad. To look for a label by yourself. To sign a tour in Europe. Although this is very challenging for the Israeli bands, it is also what makes them hungry, strong, and goal-oriented to achieve all these things. Fortunately "Sinnery" has American management and they are signed to a label in the USA that should take care of them abroad. But make no mistake, they are not waiting for the phone to ring. They are the ones who dial in and make sure to push themselves in every possible way. Reality requires them to maintain daily contact with various officials in order to keep this wonderful thing moving forward. We wish the band great success and hope to see them on posters abroad and in Israel frequently!! Now go and buy tickets to the crazy show on 11.02.23 Barbie Club Listen to the new album "Black Bile" on: Spotify, Apple Music Social Media: Facebook / Bandcamp / Instagram Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Band Members: Skinny – Drums Flipa – Guitar Danny - Vocal (Photo: Mooz) After leaving their apartment in Givatayim, where the band's three members reside, we found it difficult to relax. Not only were we shaken by the incredible stories we just heard, but also by the unique character of this band. These musicians had a fiery passion in their eyes, a powerful drive flowing through their veins, and an abundance of motivation aimed at one goal: realizing their dream. And this dream went beyond simply releasing the next album or gaining international recognition. Their dream was to become the next big thing in the music industry. While it might sound somewhat presumptuous, we assure you that by the end of our review, you will perceive things differently. As the cliché saying goes, "If you aim for the sky, you will hit the stars!" Arad, a city with a history of vibrant festivals in the 90s, had become a rather uneventful place with vast desert landscapes by the early 2000s (no offense, dear Arad's). Nevertheless, Skinny (drums) and Six (bass) were determined to form a band with their high school friends. Initially, they played cover songs from various bands of the 90s at local clubs, while also attempting to write their own original material. However, their progress was limited. Members came in and out, and in six years, they only managed to compose six songs. In 2013, Skinny and Six reached the conclusion that their current approach was not sustainable. They decided to disband and form a new, professional, committed, and cohesive group—one that would create the music they loved and elevate their amateur endeavors to the next level. Their first step was to search for a guitarist and a vocalist. Flipa (yes, they are only called by their nicknames, so calling them by their real names could lead to trouble) was a friend of Skinny who hung out with the same circle of friends. He had the chance to witness one of their performances and became incredibly enthusiastic about the idea of being on stage and making music. Flipa expressed the desire to play the drums and asked his parents to support his dream. They "accepted" his request taking an old, unattractive, and slightly damaged classical and unused guitar from a friend, which was the best they could accept (all due to their neighbor, a drummer, who caused them headaches). Flipa took the guitar and began playing, teaching himself to play. He even managed to play the entire "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" album by the "Red Hot Chili Peppers" on that beaten-up Soviet guitar (don't underestimate it, as there were 17 songs, including some complex John Frusciante parts). Although Skinny knew that Flipa played the guitar, their musical tastes differed, so he never considered inviting him to join the band, especially since Flipa didn't appreciate "Limp Bizkit." It didn't seem like a good fit for Flipa either. (Photo: FaceOff) After an unsuccessful search for suitable guitarists (Well...Arad), Skinny reached a breaking point. He turned to Flipa and extended an offer to join the group, playing him the song "Golden Cobra" by "Limp Bizkit," expecting to see a thrilled reaction. However, Flipa didn't display the expected excitement and politely declined the offer. Nevertheless, he still tried to assist the band by suggesting other guitarists he knew. Despite several months of searching, the perfect candidate hadn't been found (don't worry, we're just as perplexed as you, Arad). Feeling desperate, Skinny resorted to exerting emotional pressure on Flipa, attempting to convince him to join the team. He invited Flipa to attend one of their band rehearsals. As Skinny and Six started playing, Flipa picked up the borrowed 7-string guitar. In an instant, it was as if he had been struck by lightning. The energy in the room surged, and the combination of the three friends created an uncontrollable and electrifying synergy. By the end of the rehearsal, Skinny and Six set two conditions for Flipa: no guitar solos and contentment with playing even a single note in a song. Flipa agreed to these terms, and the trio embarked on the search for a vocalist. They recruited a guy named Dave, who had a troubled past but possessed exceptional microphone skills, and began working on original material. After a year of performing, experimenting, and searching for their musical identity, they entered the studio and recorded their first demo, "Bite Me." However, the story took an unexpected turn when the day after the recording, Dave was imprisoned for a year following an armed robbery. With the rest of the band members already enlisted in the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) and Dave in prison, the band went into a sort of hiatus. They occasionally got together to jam and keep their passion alive. At the end of 2015, after Skinny was released from the army and Dave from jail (Six and Flipa were still in the army), the band had the opportunity to fulfill a dream—they went on a tour abroad! How did this happen? It may seem surprising, but a foreign production company, in collaboration with a local company, offered Israeli bands a chance to tour Europe. It was an "organized trip" consisting of 14 shows in 5 countries over 15 days. The band members, with the exception of Six, who was replaced by a local guitarist, eagerly seized this opportunity to perform in various clubs across Europe. Some shows were packed, others had few, and their accommodations ranged from two-star hotels to cramped apartments or backstage rooms. But they had someone looking out for them—the all-powerful "Bojo." He served as their tour manager, driver, stagehand, cashier, and security guard. The band members considered it an incredible experience and a valuable learning opportunity for the young group, but they realized that this was not how they envisioned their future international tours. However, their expectations for the tour were high. They anticipated significant exposure and opportunities for growth abroad, but they returned to Israel with only nice stories. The feeling of disappointment and emptiness deeply affected the band members. Determined not to give up, they decided to shift their focus back to the local scene and embarked on a small tour in clubs around Tel Aviv. They soon discovered that the demands were high compared to the disappointing results. The clubs required hefty upfront payments and didn't attract new audiences. Additionally, the band had to finance buses for their fans from the south, which meant they not only failed to gain the desired exposure but also incurred substantial expenses. (Photo: FaceOff) Realizing that this approach wasn't effective in reaching a new audience, they sought an alternative solution. How can they get a free audience? Street Shows!! They pooled all their money and invested it in equipment, including a GMC van, amplifiers, speakers, and microphones, all needed to set up impromptu shows on the streets. It was reminiscent of Dave Grohl's legendary red van. They scouted for locations like alleys, abandoned buildings, skate parks, and remote hills. They promoted their performances on social media and made as much noise as possible. They would load up their equipment in the van and set it up at each new location from scratch. While some performances were illegal and faced interruptions, police calls, and reports, but nothing could deter "Hotbox". (Photo: Hotbox) Skinny recounted one instance that he will never forget where they performed at a new skate park, hosting their own launch party in front of a large crowd of punks. When the police arrived to shut them down, the crowd erupted in chaos, turning the event into a wild scene with clashes between the crowd and the authorities. This experience taught the band a crucial lesson—they couldn't rely on anyone else. From then on, whenever they received a "No" as an answer, they took matters into their own hands. Every time a door closed, they broke it down with sheer determination. The term "do it yourself" became their expertise, earning "Hotbox" a doctorate in the subject. To recap, we're still in 2016. In the same year, the band attempted to participate in the "Indienegev" festival but faced rejection. And what does "Hotbox" do when told "no"? They created their own festival! They discovered a farm near a "Nafcha" prison, built stages from wooden floors, purchased amplifier equipment, organized food, and drinks, enlisted the help of friends to set things up, and invited several other bands to perform. They successfully held a festival in the middle of the desert called "Road Kill." Although only 100 people attended the festival, it generated buzz, and rumors about a band organizing a festival in the south reached Barcelona. An Israeli individual from Kibbutz Tlalim contacted the band and proposed organizing a festival in Tlalim. Embracing the opportunity, "Hotbox" organized a two-day festival with 20 bands, two stages, a tattoo happening, merchandise, skate ramps, and plenty of alcohol and music. "Road Kill 2" attracted 400 attendees and became a significant milestone in the southern music scene. (Photo: Hotbox) They proceeded to establish four additional festivals in Tlalim until 2017. Each festival had a unique theme and featured bands that are now familiar to you, such as "Sinnery," "Shredhead," "Dazy's Fasulia", and more. These festivals exposed the band to a new audience and provided opportunities within the music industry, allowing them to perform in larger venues and central areas. They began performing at "Barby" as the opening act for bands like "Bezefer," "Festihell", "Dazy's Fasulia", and surprisingly, they were even invited to perform at the "Indienegave" festival, which had previously rejected them. During one of these festivals, they met their sound engineer, with whom they recorded their first EP titled "White Trash." They spent three days in a desert studio, eating, drinking, and sleeping there, as they recorded and released their debut EP on January 2017, containing six songs. Notably, the mastering for the EP was done by Yoram Vezan, a renowned professional who had previously worked with artists like Zack De La Rocha and Wu-Tang. Having him appear on the EP cover was not only a display of his exceptional skills but also carried significance. After the festival period, they found themselves with a surplus of equipment and decided to set up their own rehearsal space in a rented apartment in Beer Sheva. This room provided them with the freedom to create and practice without relying on anyone else or incurring additional costs. During those two years, the band members worked tirelessly and wholeheartedly to make their mark on the audience, create their music, and share it. This determination became the band's DNA, as every member recognized that success was the ultimate goal and they were willing to sacrifice everything to achieve it. However, in 2018, after two years of fulfilling dreams such as performing at Barbie, living together in a villa in Be'er Sheva, and establishing their rehearsal space while spreading their music, a pivotal moment arrived. (Photo: FaceOff) Their vocalist, Dave, decided to leave the country and the band, leading to the dissolution of the remaining members. Six relocated to Arad, Skinny remained in Be'er Sheva, and Flipa moved into a friend's apartment. This new situation brought immense frustration to the band members. After all their hard work, financial investment, and emotional dedication, Dave's departure occurred at the peak of the band's success. For a year, the band members experienced a profound crisis that affected them not only professionally but also personally. They attempted to continue without Dave and explored the possibility of collaborating remotely, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. Consequently, they embarked on a search for a new vocalist who could embody the band's DNA. This search entailed finding someone who not only matched their musical style but also possessed the right character and commitment. They held two auditions that demonstrated musical talent, but neither candidate formed a genuine connection with the band, prompting them to continue their search. Flipa, acquainted with Ethel Feigman, a singer and musician involved in the Israeli hip-hop and metal scenes, sought her assistance in finding a suitable vocalist. Ethel responded to the request and mentioned a guy who rapped in Hebrew and Russian and also possessed growling abilities that might be fitting. Flipa and Skinny decided to give it a try, engaging in a conversation with him and requesting a test recording of vocals on their song "Big Bag Johnny." The response came swiftly, catching Felipa, Skinny, and Six off guard. As they were heading to a meeting, they received an email from the singer in question. They promptly returned to the car to listen to the recording on the sound system. Astonished by what they heard, they realized his vocal range was incredible, his voice rough, and his rap skills were exceptional—everything they had been searching for. He successfully passed the initial test, and a first rehearsal was arranged in the studio. From the outset, a cosmic connection was formed among the four members, completing the missing piece of the puzzle. It was akin to the combination of Chris Cornell and the "Rage Thresome"! Danny immigrated to Israel in 2007 at the age of 10. Before that, he predominantly listened to Russian music and Russian rap. Upon moving to Israel, a friend introduced him to international bands like "Limp Bizkit", "Linkin Park", and "Disturbed", marking his first exposure to English music. This exposure not only introduced him to English music but also captivated his attention, prompting him to delve deeper into it. He began creating music at the age of 14, writing and rapping in Russian. Due to his small stature, he earned the nickname "Maloy" (meaning "young" in Russian). Danny connected with a studio owner and started recording rap sketches in Russian. Through these collaborations and work with friends, he honed his skills in creation, singing, and rapping. Over several years, he collaborated with various bands, producing and recording diverse material for both the Russian and Israeli music scenes. This led to him establishing a reputation as a rapper and producer. However, he still felt something was missing deep inside. He yearned to create something different—something raw and powerful, reminiscent of the energy and intensity he had heard in the songs of "Limp Bizkit" and "Linkin Park". In 2017, he attempted to form a rock band to express his passion. Unfortunately, the band's commitment and goals did not align with his standards. Danny's drive and fervor exceeded that of the other band members, leading to a swift dissolution of the band shortly after its formation. For a whole year, Danny embarked on a personal journey of self-discovery, gradually shifting his focus toward music production. He secured a space for himself at the "Jean Jacques" studio, studied the craft at BPM College, and actively sought out artists to collaborate with. One such artist was Ethel, whom he had known from the group "Orgonite." Given her desire to embark on an independent path following the disbandment of her previous group, Ethel accepted Danny's offer, and the two began working together. During their collaboration, Ethel introduced Danny to the local music scene, showcasing various metal bands and occasionally bringing people to the studio. It was during one of these instances that she played "Big Bag Johnny" by the band "HotBox," leaving Danny astounded as it perfectly aligned with his artistic vision. Fate intervened when Ethel informed him, two weeks later, that "HotBox" was actually in search of a vocalist. She asked Danny if he would be interested. (Photo: FaceOff) Following an electrifying rehearsal with the new vocalist, where he successfully passed a second test, Danny was assigned a third test—to write lyrics for an instrumental piece composed by the band. Until then, Danny had only sung in Russian and Hebrew, never in English. However, he possessed a natural sense of flow and knew precisely how he wanted the words and melody to sound, fitting seamlessly with the music. Initially, he would come up with gibberish sentences, refining the style, and later replacing them with coherent lyrics. Successfully passing this test, the band embarked on a new journey. They began intensive work, meeting three times a week, dedicating their time to writing, creating, and practicing to perfect their music. In 2019, they held their first standalone show, having previously performed as an opening act or as part of a festival lineup. The show took place at a local club known as "Haezor" and it features other musicians like: Nomi, Teddy Neguse Ethel, Dav, Sunshinewalker, and more. Hotbox, having Danny only learn six of the band's songs due to time constraints, filled the remaining setlist with metal renditions of songs by the artists they hosted. The concert experience took Danny by surprise, as he was accustomed to performing for hip-hop/rap audiences, not metal fans. Rapping to metal sounds in front of such an audience proved to be an exhilarating and somewhat surreal experience. During that period, Danny was staying over at Flipa's apartment after band rehearsals. One evening, while watching a movie in a somewhat hazy atmosphere, Danny turned to Flipa and boldly proclaimed, "I'm going to be the next Freddie Mercury, and anyone who joins me will reach the top." Initially taken aback by the audacity of the statement, Flipa gradually found himself smiling, recognizing that this was precisely the kind of bandmate he had been searching for—one with lofty ambitions and grand dreams. Following the show, the band members set their sights on their next chapter—the United States. From the moment Danny joined the band, the goal had always been to make it overseas and reach new heights. With everything seemingly aligning in an electrifying cosmic manner, the time had come to board the plane. However, as they say, plans and reality often diverge, and that's when the coronavirus pandemic struck. Forced to confine themselves to their homes, the band adjusted their course. They decided to utilize all their available time to create content and engage in activities that would help promote the band. They recorded covers, produced music videos, collaborated with other artists, and heavily focused on writing and creating their debut album. In the midst of all this, they also set out to build their own studio, feeling an undeniable cosmic connection to Dave Grohl. Over a span of five months, they independently worked on the album. Both the instrumental compositions and the lyrics were crafted collectively by the band members. Reflecting on the experience, they described it as a wild journey that fostered personal and musical growth for each individual and as a cohesive unit. This collaborative process with Danny marked a significant departure from the past, posing new and exciting challenges. Skinny noted that while Dave would typically freestyle his lyrics, making them up on the spot during live performances, working with Danny required a more structured approach to lyric writing. Striving for professionalism and polished results, the band invested considerable time and effort, with Flipa even studying sound and editing to elevate the album to another level. On September 7, 2021, "Hotbox" released their debut album, titled "Legacy." The album, consisting of 21 tracks, drew inspiration from rap albums of the 2000s known for their long duration and inclusion of link sections and samples. In the same month, the band celebrated with a grand launch performance at the "Gagarin" club, marking the beginning of their participation in prominent shows and festivals. They collaborated with the French group "Smash Hit Combo," performed alongside "Walkways" and "Sinnery," and played a pivotal role in the production of the "Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.1" and "Psycho Ward Fest, Vol.2". "Hotbox" quickly gained a reputation for delivering one of the wildest and most exhilarating live shows in Israel, characterized by costumes, masks, pyrotechnics, acrobatics, and the record-breaking feat of 25 stage dives during a single song. In 2022, Six made the decision to leave the band due to health reasons and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. However, the band resolved to carry on, though they have yet to find a suitable replacement who aligns both musically and mentally with the vision of "Hotbox." Regarding their signature masks... The story began at the first "Road Kill" festival, where they playfully wore masks during one of their shows. The audience embraced this quirky element, which became an integral part of their image. They eventually decided to keep them on until the end and even beyond. The masks symbolize unity, erasing individuality on stage and presenting the band as a collective, faceless entity. Their dream is to witness an entire crowd of masked individuals passionately raging at their concerts. (Photo: FaceOff) On a personal note, "Hotbox" follows two guiding mantras. The first is "All In," signifying their unwavering commitment to go the distance, setting goals together and making collective sacrifices to achieve them. They refuse to take shortcuts or compromises, dedicating themselves fully to the band. The second mantra is "DIY" (Do-It-Yourself), which extends beyond the technical and material aspects of their work. They strive to be self-reliant mentally as well, avoiding dependence on others and taking control of their own destiny. Skinny shared that every time they accomplish a particular dream, they create a new one, continuously pushing their ambitions further. Having fulfilled their initial set of aspirations, they are now on their way to realizing even greater goals. The band members' ultimate aim is to transform "Hotbox" into their full-time career, immersing themselves in music completely and making it their primary source of sustenance. They aspire to travel worldwide and perform on every stage imaginable, aiming for a level of success and recognition comparable to that of "Metallica." This upcoming Saturday, there is a special opportunity to witness one of the most significant live acts in Israel's metal scene. The show, titled "Final Round," promises to surpass all previous endeavors of the band. Hosted by Alon Karneali and Idan Kringel from "Sinnery," the event features performances by Six Pack, Lou & Vit, and a surprise guest artist, making it a highly anticipated spectacle. Social Media: Facebook / Bandcamp / Instagram / TikTok Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Friday Release #102 Our latest favorite band Nothing But Thieves just released a new EP. We have already talked about the band's EP trend in our shows, the band members like to release an EP between albums in order to experiment and stretch the boundaries of their work. They said that through the EP they experiment with different styles and allow themselves to create without limits and then test the audience reactions. This time too they are doing it... Although the name of the EP is taken from their third album "Moral Panic" which was released in October 2020 is not what you think. The EP does not include songs that did not make it into the album, but includes five brand new songs that were written only after the album was released. For the band, the EP is a straight continuation of the band's development from the previous album. The EP contains 5 songs that are very diverse and different from each other, it opens with the song "Futureproof" which feels like a direct sequel from the previous album, but already the change is here on the second song "If I Were You" which gets a more industrial and electronic twist. Going back to the band's so familiar DNA in the song "Miracle, Baby" but then moving on to one of the band's extreme songs "Ce n'est Rien" (in French This is Nothing) a kind of combination of Slipknot with Nine Inch Nails, without a doubt the band goes to an extreme direction and stretches the boundaries of its mowing. The EP ends with a gloomy love song "Your Blood" with an acoustic guitar accompanying Conor Mason's caressing and delightful voice. Track List: 01. ‘Futureproof’ 02. ‘If I Were You’ 03. ‘Miracle, Baby’ 04. ‘Ce n’est Rien’ 05. ‘Your Blood’ Listen to the album on: Spotify, Apple Music Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to the website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Radio show, Sundays at 11:00

Band Members: Tomer Pink: Guitars Omer Fishbain: Guitars Or Shalev: Guitars Shay Yalin: Keyboard Golan Farchi: Bass Yalon Schoru: Drums Vidi Dolev: Vocals (Photo: Sabine Bischof) A One-Man Project In 1997 Tomer Pink, a young musician from Golan Heights, founded a musical project. He knew exactly what he wanted and how his music would sound. At first, he worked and created alone, but after a short time, he was joined by Yishai Schwartz (Raven Music) and Dori Bar-Or (Eternal Gray). The three continued to write and create materials together, but due to a new job opportunity, Tomer had to take his project and try to form it on another continent. In 2002 Tomer moved to the USA and revived the project with several local musicians. The project began to take shape and in 2004 Tomer even managed to release his first EP: "Temporary Psychotic State". The EP was released under the label "The End Record" and quickly received great praise from the critics as well as from the audience. The very elastic combination of different styles, from soft psychedelic rock to progressive metal, created a galaxy of colors and sounds, which immediately bought the band a status of honor in the prog world. Riding the wave of laudatory reviews, Tomer entered "Counterpoint" studios in Utah that same year and began to sow the seeds for “SubMasq” debut album. He connected with talented musicians and players, including vocalist Paul Kuhr, guitarist Jake Depolitte and drummer Steve Lyman, and incorporated a choir, strings, and other instruments into the recordings that enriched the band's unique sound. In 2004 Tomer released their debut album: "Suspended Animation Dreams". An album with eight songs that took "SubMasq" one step further and continued to stretch the boundaries of music with jazz, folk, and classical music elements which were all led by the prog metal style. By the way, this album was mastered by Neil Kernon (Grammy award winner) and is the second part of a trilogy that began with the first mini-album: "Temporary Psychotic State. Even though this album also received praise and rave reviews, Tomer decided to end the project and go on hiatus... We're coming back!! After 7 years of hiatus, during which Tomer went through significant processes in his personal life and along the way returned to Israel, the longing for music overwhelmed him and he decided to bring "SubMasq" back to life. In 2012, Tomer gathered several local musicians, including drummer Matan Shmueli ("Orphaned Land") and guitarist Or Shali, and started collaborating with them on the next album. Some of the people who took part in the project were from different parts of the world, such as vocalist Paul Kuhr from Chicago. In 2013, the band's second EP called "Home" was released, which marked the band's return home. The revolving door continued to work, musicians came and went and Tomer started working on the second album. Keyboardist Shay Yalin and Norwegian vocalist Kjetil Nordhus joined the project. Despite the distance, Tomer managed to connect and merge all the musicians and create "SubMasq" second album "The Great Bazaar". Although this album was a significant musical change compared to the band's earlier material, it received very warm and strong feedback from the fans. Tomer said that it gave them a really good feeling that they were in the right direction, especially in light of the fact that they had so much fun creating this album. Shay said that one of his most memorable moments was during the work on the album. He and Tomer collaborated by remotely, but they never met. At the same time, Shay wrote parts for strings, violins, and cello. They met for the first time in a small recording studio on Zion boulevard in Tel Aviv, where Oren Tzur, their violinist, joined. In the same studio, they recorded the string parts for the album. Shay has recorded such roles in the past, this was not his first time, but it was the first time he recorded with Oren Tzur and he describes it as a completely different experience. Oren's level of talent, attitude, and grace are phenomenal, and he never heard or even imagined that the things he wrote would sound like this. Oren took what Shay wrote and amplified it dozens of times. He performed each take in a different way and it sounded as if a different violinist was playing there each time. A Band In The Making In 2016, the band went on its first tour in Europe. The idea for the tour came as a result of an invitation the band received from a guy in the Netherlands who produced a festival called "Progpower Euro". The band's manager at the time decided it would be a good idea to build the entire tour around the festival, with the highlight being the festival show that would end the tour. The guys packed their tools and went on tour in Europe with two other bands, on the Nightliner bus. One of the bands was from Poland and the other from Australia. Just by writing the word Nightliner, we started drooling... This was the band's first time abroad. They appeared in nine different places in Denmark, Germany, France, England, and the Netherlands. Let us write the word Nightliner again. So, this way: despite all the aura around Nightliner, Shay said that the tour was not organized well in many ways. But hey, at least they performed abroad. But not only that. Tomer said that this tour was a very important initiation for the band. They learned a lot about the industry in Europe, about how to go on tour abroad, about logistics, about dealing with the various parties, about schedules, about marketing and more. The most important thing about this short tour was that it opened doors for them. It exposed the band to a wider audience, to various industry parties, and to collaborations that in the future created amazing opportunities for them. This was a very important and significant tour in the band's career. (Photo: Yalon Schori) One of the shows on the tour was in a town on the Danish-German border called Fleschberg. A small town, an intimate show, even anonymous, but one that Tomer said he will never forget. The band members were sitting backstage, waiting for the doors to open and for the crowd to start pouring in, but...no one came. Six people were present in the show, including the security guard and the bartender. The club was empty. They took the stage and put on a show of a lifetime for all four people who paid money and came to see them. Tomer said that during the show they went down to the floor and started dancing and going wild with the audience, making them happy and having fun together with them. In retrospect, it turns out that of the four who came to the show, there were two Dutchmen who owned a small progressive rock magazine called "Progspace", which grew over time. They remembered "SubMasq" favorably. They remembered a band that, despite performing in front of six people, gave their heart and soul until the end and this is something that taught the band a great lesson for the rest of the way. At every show, whether it's in front of six people or 10,000 people, there will always be someone who will experience great joy from the show and it will affect not only his world but the band’s world as well. As we mentioned, they finished the tour at the "Progpower Europe" festival that took place in a small village in the Netherlands, but for them, it was an unforgettable experience. Hundreds of people came to the festival to see "SubMasq", among them a very large group of fans who waited for 7 years for the long overdue album and the band's performance. After all the drooling over the Nightliner, during a tour in Europe, there are also less "sexy" things, all relative of course. Shay defined the tour throughout Europe as 23 hours of "waiting"... It takes a few days to get into the mindset, but a European tour is 23 hours of waiting and 1 hour of the show. It's a hard work and you have to love it. You build the stage, you sell merch and you are also a performer and each of these things takes an equal part and time consumption. Therefore, you have to come to this thing out of a great love for music, a strong and lasting love, because there is a lot of work around a 60-minute show. It is admittedly less "sexy", but it is undoubtedly needed and even essential in the process of development and growth of a band!! The band members, yes you can already call them the band members, and in a little, while you will understand why, said that Tomer always has the next album in mind. When they finished "The Great Bazaar" they already had sketches for the next album... In 2017, the band's third album, "Vagabond", was released under the "ViciSolum" label. Also, on this album, the vocalist was Kjetil Nordhus, but this time he was joined by Eliran Weitzman who handled the death metal roars. They officially celebrated the launch of the album with a special show at the old "Gagarin" club together with Nordhus, when their warm-up band was "Tomorrow's Rain". After the show, the band was supposed to go on another European tour with Nordhus, but since the Norwegian vocalist informed the band that he would not be able to take part in the tour, the band had to look for another vocalist... The Missing Piece Of The Puzzle Vidi Dolev lived and worked in Scandinavia, where he studied music and also worked in the profession. He was a member of several bands, collaborated with various musicians, and even recorded several albums. From Vidi's stories, we felt that he too, like Tomer, was looking for a certain musical style and when he couldn't find it in Israel he left for another continent, to find and create what he likes. After 4 years in which he was on the Denmark-Israel line, Vidi returned to Israel. Tomer picked up the phone and invited him to perform with them in one show with an option to continue with the band, all if he would be suitable of course. Vidi, who knew the band very well, did not hesitate and immediately said yes. He did not doubt at all that he was taking this opportunity with both hands. This is exactly what he was looking for musically and what a cosmic connection! (Photo: Kyle Finlan) In December 2017, the forming band completed the last part of the puzzle and went on stage as an opening act for the band "Orphaned Land". Needless to say, already at this show the sparks on the stage and the electricity that went through Vidi to the rest of the band members were crazy!!! The band went on to tour Europe with "Orphaned Land", with this tour proving to be "another world" compared to what the band had previously experienced. The tour had a manager who dictated the pace and managed everything with a high hand. There was a schedule, there was organization, there was professionalism, and all of this became a much better experience than before. But for Vidi, this tour was like a boot camp. Not that touring is a foreign thing to him, but this was his first tour with the band. Four weeks where they appeared almost every night. Four weeks in which he had to find his place, understand the dynamics, and understand what his part is in the composition of the cohesive team. Each time he tried something different, tried to feel what worked and what didn't. Sometimes with the band members, sometimes with the audience, a real "trial and error" of self-learning on stage and off it. Beyond these challenges, Vidi said that this tour was amazing for him. He went from touring in private cars and trains to touring in...are you ready??? Nightliner!! He said that it was a different league, a much better experience than he had experienced before. (Photo: Adrian Coleasa) During the tour, reviews began to appear very favorable and very focused specifically on the performances of "SubMasq" in Europe. One of the most prominent of them was a review in "Metal Hammer" magazine, about a show the band held in Berlin. This made all the members of the band, but especially the new "rookie" Vidi, understand that it's not just him who feels that amazing feeling which happens on stage, because now it already has external validity and the stamp of a well-known and respected magazine. The audience and critics responded to the "Electricity" and the incredible dynamics that took place on stage. This review was the first of many reviews that came out and never stopped marveling at this thing called "SubMasq". Vidi, who started as a second vocalist together with Eliran, continued after a short time as a solo vocalist and if you haven't had the chance to listen to him until now, then let us make a comparison here, without fear: he undoubtedly reminds us of the "chameleon" Mike Patton. Of course, at the end of the tour, it was already clear to everyone that Vidi is an integral and permanent part of the lineup. "A pirate ship that is also soup" In the two years that followed, the band, which had already turned from a one-man project into a cohesive and unified ensemble, plowed through Europe with concerts in every possible club and/or venue. They performed non-stop for weeks when they occasionally came to Israel for rest breaks. Vidi said that there was one very special performance for him that was a kind of "enlightenment". In 2018, after several shows in the northern part of Europe where the cold prevails, they came to a show in hot Barcelona. During the show, there was a moment when he leaned on one of the poles. After a few minutes, he realized he could climb the pole, just like Eddie Vedder in his heyday. He plucked up courage and started climbing. At the same time, he saw Tomer start to climb onto the counter of the bar. Not a few minutes passed and the entire audience, in absolute madness, started climbing on everything possible, as if the band and the audience together challenged gravity. Then it was revealed to his eyes: "SubMasq" shows defy gravity!! (Photo: Kyle Finlan) During the tour, they started working on the next album. If in the previous albums, Tomer would write all the materials and divide the roles among the members of the band, including the lyrics, this time it was different. Since each of the members had already formed his place in the band, the creative process also received the same dynamic and they began to work as one harmonious unit that writes and creates together. Tomer wrote a sketch, guitars/drums/general melody and then separately or together, everyone wrote their parts for the song. After the first stage, the song went to Vidi who usually claimed that the song was overloaded, and it is impossible to write lyrics for. It came back to the rest of the band members who had to delete half of the music and send it back to him and from there they continued to work on the song together in a rehearsal room. It's like a soup that you have to feel its different flavors. You have to find the balance between the texture, the taste, the level of freshness, and the crispness of each of the ingredients. Tomer is Captain Hook. He's piloting this pirate ship and its crew who are now making steaming soup. He connects and synchronizes everyone to bring this pot of soup to safety. A New Era With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the band experienced one of the most significant events in its career. It signed with the famous label "Sensory" - "The Laser's Edge" which is one of the largest labels in the USA for prog music. Not only was the signing with such a large label significant but also the timing. The label signed the band from Israel at a time when the uncertainty in the music industry was at its peak. No one knew how the coronavirus would affect the industry and what would happen in the future when in the background we experienced closures and bans on gatherings everywhere in the world. This fact alone made them realize that the label believed in them and signed them despite the harsh reality. A new album is ready – check! a big label for distribution – check! an audience - no!!! In light of the uncertainty, closures, and the inability to perform, the band decided not to release the album. To maintain the musical connection with the audience, but also to maintain the musical connection between themselves, they decided to record songs from the previous albums in special "isolation" performances, and the album "The Pros & Cons of Social Isolation" was released on October 2020. Two months before the significant lifting of the restrictions, in May 2021, the band released its fourth album: "Mountain Fever". The members of the band said that they felt that with the release of the closures, the music industry in Israel received a huge hug from the audience and especially "SubMasq", which felt that the audience in Israel received them with more warmth and love. The industry suddenly experienced crazy growth, partly because for a long time artists from abroad did not come and people were thirsty for performances. This caused many local bands to take advantage of the opportunity and take things in a much more professional way. They sharpened their shows to give the audience a top-notch experience. The band's first performance after the COVID was as a warm-up show for “Fortischaroff” at the Golan Land Festival on June 2021. During the performance they tried out all their new songs and practiced the structure of the setlist, all this in front of an audience that was eating pizza and waiting for the main show. A similar experience is also remembered by the band during the warm-up show for the rock n’ roll giants "Deep Purple". There, the audience entry time was not synchronized with the performance time and "SubMasq" found itself on the big stage in front of huge clearings of seats. Nevertheless, for them, these two shows were very important because, despite the challenging experience, they were allowed to perform the new songs and check the feeling on stage and to experience performing on a big stage, in such a big stadium. At the beginning of 2022, "SubMasq" decided to explore the audience and post-COVID new gathering in Israel by holding an "Unplugged" concert tour. At in parallel to the preparations for the crazy show, they planned for Purim at the Gagarin club, they also started working on a more intimate, calmer show with low volume and energy compared to the madness that usually happens on stage. To give some guidance to the band, Tomer brought the reference to the legendary “Nirvana MTV Unplugged” show. According to Shay, the band took that thing and made it "purple and smoky," sort of a cigar-and-whiskey vibe. They took their songs, stripped them down completely, took them apart, and reassembled them in a more accessible, yet still powerful way. They worked on these arrangements for weeks in a rehearsal room in Kibbutz Yagur, sharpening and refining the new arrangements more and more, so that they would not lose their power and emotion, despite the absence of strings, keyboards, and other sounds. They held several shows in this special tour in which guest artists such as Noa Gorman from the band "Scardust" and the metal choir "Hellscore" also took part. If you didn't get to see the show, you can get a taste of the "Metal Unplugged" project initiated by Omri Yagan of the yellow submarine. The year 2022 continues to be a special year for "SubMasq" and that summer the band was addressed by a start-up company that owns the "Heavys" brand and develops on-ear headphones that are specially built for listening to metal music. The company is partnered by quite a few Israeli entrepreneurs who know "SubMasq", know their music, and their shows and know the band very well for years. Since the company was looking for Israeli representation, they turned to "SubMasq" which joined an impressive representation of bands such as "Symphony X", "Star One", "Klone" and more. This is it, with great sadness, we say goodbye to the Nightliner, because after COVID the whole music industry changed, the tours changed, and the band itself also changed and therefore they started working in a method of forays. Instead of going on a tour for several weeks, they would fly to two or three shows and return. One of their most memorable outings is the participation in the "Saarang World Fest" festival in India on Jan 2023. This is a festival that takes place every year to unite people from all over the world, where different bands from all kinds of places in the world come to perform each time. "SubMasq" held two shows during the same visit. One was completely spontaneous, following an invitation they received on the day they landed in India and the other was at the booked festival. The band members said that it was amazing to see how the Indians respond to their music like enthusiastic fans, to the same music that Tomer wrote somewhere years ago while in India. "SubMasq" is now working on the next album. They feel that it will not be easy to surpass "Mountain Fever", but in parallel, they are working feverishly and exceptionally on the festive and very special show that will take place on April 1st, 2023. The band members say that this is a show that they have never done before, in terms of the setting, lighting, props, and setlist. This will be a one-time show that will not be repeated, so you must not miss it!! On a personal note, After they went through quite a few years of beautiful moments, successes, crazy experiences, constant growth, and thousands of people expressing their love for the band and its music around the world. The band members feel that the band is in the best place they have ever been, and the band is receiving significant recognition from all directions, in Israel and abroad. They work together harmoniously on and off stage, and the writing and creation are abundant with a new album on the way. More plans and many surprises are on the way starting with the special and one-time performance on April 1st at the Gagarin Club. There is no way you are missing the show on April 1st in Gagarin Club Website / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube / Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music אתם מוזמנים לעקוב אחרינו בפייסבוק ו/או להירשם לאתר!! "עימות חזיתי" - בלוג הרוק של ישראל ופודקאסט

It's not every day that we get to see two great artists perform on one stage, especially such influential musicians as Jerry Cantrell and the "Pixies". Those who were present yesterday at Pavilion 1, Expo Tel-Aviv, had the privilege of witnessing one of the finest "alternative rock" derbys that Israel has known in recent years. Not that we think they should be introduced, but on the right part of the field, we got the veterans and more experienced of the two rivals - the "Pixies". One of the most influential indie-alternative bands of the eighties and nineties of the last century. A groundbreaking band that changed the face of alternative rock and influenced artists and bands like Billy Corgan, PJ Harvey, "Blur", "Bush", "Radiohead", "Dinosaur Jr.", "Nirvana" and even our own "Mashina". The left half of the field included Jerry Cantrell, one of the prominent figures in the grunge scene, who continues to provide quality material, either through his band "Alice In Chains" or in his solo career. Jerry took the stage reinforced by his excellent backing band which included, singer Greg Puciato, known among others as the frontman of "Killer Be Killed", "The Dillinger Escape Plan" and "The Black Queen", guitarist Tyler Bates, known from Marilyn Manson's backing band, drummer Gil Sharone, who previously played with "The Dillinger Escape Plan" and Marilyn Manson and bassist George Adrian who collaborated with guitarist Tyler Bates in writing material for the soundtrack of the cult film "Psycho Cop 2". Let's start by saying that although both bands gave exciting and immersive performances, if we are to compare the two, the "Pixies" won this alternative "derby", despite the sound problems they encountered. It's not that Jerry Cantrell didn't deliver the goods, quite the opposite! He gave an excellent performance and contrary to the claims regarding the performance he gave last night at the "Barby" club, the sound was good. The crazy energies could be felt in the audience and on the stage already from the opening song "Atone" - undoubtedly one of the greatest from his last solo album "Brighten". The sensations and pleasure grew stronger as we delved into the setlist, which gave us a balanced dose of "Alice In Chains" classics, Cantrell's solo career and his latest album. The first surprise came already in the second song with "Check My Brain" from the album "Black Gives Way to Blue" - Alice's comeback album and their first with William DuVall. The song wasn't played in the band's performance at the "Barby" club last night, which was a pleasant surprise since no song from the Duval period was played. Immediately following "Cut You In" and "My Song", two songs from his first solo album "Boggy Depot", the excitement in the crowd was immediately heightened, as the first sounds of "No Excuses" from "Jar OF Flies" were played. The next high point came with "Man in the Box" which managed to throw the audience in the air. Here is the place to mention the wonderful vocals of Greg Puciato which sounded simply excellent and in our humble opinion surpassed even William DuVall, especially in the songs "Down in a Hole" and "Rooster" where for some moments we were able to see the spirit of the legendary Layne Staley floating above the stage. This tremendous show ended to the sounds of "Would?" Who may have started everything for Jerry and "Alice" somewhere 30 years ago, with the release of the movie and soundtrack "Singles". The performance of this song perfectly summed up the overall feel of the entire show. Jerry and his backing band simply came to enjoy their last show, which closed the European tour, and along the way managed to give the enthusiastic fans one of the most beautiful gifts for the summer of 2022 - feeling 30 years younger for 75 minutes of magic. The only downside that can be mentioned in relation to this excellent performance, is related to the early announcement of the production, according to which we are going to witness a full performance by Jerry. Contrary to this announcement, we got an hour and a quarter of a performance that included only 13 songs, without an encore, compared to a set of 21 songs that was played the night before at the "Barby" club. The songs "Bleed the Freak", "We Die Young" and "Them Bones" which was regularly part of the setlists in the current tour, were missing from the show. After about 20 minutes of preparations, the "Pixies" came on stage and the victory in the alternative "Derby" could be felt already in the first seconds of their performance. The crowd flocked in and quickly ran towards the stage and the density was well felt in contrast to Jerry's performance. Already at this moment, there was no room for doubt. Pavilion 1 is the "home court" of the "Pixies". Their crowd dominated the venue and after the opening instrumental "Cecilia Ann" you could hear it too. It started with "St. Nazaire" from the album "Beneath The Eyrie" released in 2019. The audience simply roared the lyrics of the song which is not one of the band's "classics" in a way that left no room for doubt. The hall is full of a warm crowd of devout "Pixies" fans who came to sing, shout and rave The band played a perfect setlist of 33 songs that included the classics from all eras. Starting with the masterpiece albums "Surfer Rosa", "Doolittle", "Bossanova", "Trompe le Monde" from the time of their classic lineup that also included Kim Deal, to the latest excellent single "Human Crime" released about four months ago and even the interesting cover of "Winterlong" originally by Neil Young, and taken from the band's b-sides album. Almost two hours of a show where the band didn't stop for a moment, not even to say "hello" or "thank you". All the great songs were there. A huge celebration of all that is good about this influential band: "Wave of Mutilation", "Monkey Gone to Heaven", " Here Comes Your Man", "Where Is My Mind?", "Bone Machine" and more kept the audience warm and fired up throughout the entire show as he recited all the lyrics along with Black Francis and his greased gang. It was amazing to see the drummer David Lovering and the guitarist Joey Santiago who are in their 60s (well Santiago a little less) sharing the stage with the young bassist in the band Paz Lenchantin and maintaining crazy energy throughout the performance, until the tremendous "candy" that ended it - "Debaser". All this, despite the band's "posture" and insistence on not uttering a single word during the entire performance. In conclusion, nothing to add, it was simply "Gigantic". Looking forward to more of these... Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast

Editor's Choice... On June 29, 2018, "Bullets For My Valentine's" released their sixth album "Gravity". We are not objective because we have already mentioned in one or more of our shows that we think this great band could have been Metallica's direct next generation before the black album. They have a wonderful combination of sawn-off riffs with melodic, insane drumming and sweeping lyrics, they have undoubtedly flowed in the thrash metal / metalcore genre. But this album is a significant change in style... Some even called it the "bastard hybrid of Linkin Park-style radio rock" that didn't really sound like a compliment. Anyway, this band is very talented, especially Matthew Tuck the band leader and lead writer, so we recommend you spend 41 minutes and 47 seconds of your time listening to the album at: Spotify, Apple Music Follow us on Facebook or Subscribe to our website "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog & Podcast