There has been a four long years since we heard anything from Salem; Israel's premier metal band. But the silence has been broken with their brand new album "A Moment Of Silence". This is a brilliant Goth Metal album and we contacted Salem for an update.
Ze'ev and Nir from Salem gave us the full story in their own words.
1. You have been around for at least ten years. When and where was Salem started ? Could you give us a brief biography ??
Current line-up was formed around 1989, to go back even further, a prototype version of salem existed between 86-88 during which time 2 demos were released: salem and destruction till death.
For the past 10 years our current line-up released the demo a millions slaughtered, which later on was released as a bonus on the creating our sins cd. This was followed by the release of our dying embers 7" picture ep. Kaddish came out a few months later. Salem's new release: a moment of silence was released a few months ago.
Throughout this period salem played with such known acts such as: megadeth, entombed, rotting christ, cancer, disharmonic orchestra as well as headlinning tours throughout israel.
Salem was featured on m.t.v. europe several times and also on the german show: viva.
2. Please tell us more about your releases before the "Creatiing Our Sins" album.
As stated earlier, 2 demos were released: salem and destruction till death. Those featured a different line-up and were truly underground tapes.
3. You released two albums through Morbid Records in Germany. How did you get in touch with them ?
Morbid Records heard our millions slaughtered demo, asked for more material to be sent and shortly afterwards morbid records decided to sign the band.
4. Please tell us more about the classic "Creatiing Our Sins" album.
Creating our sins was released after the gulf war. The first track on this album touched on the subject, it's titled "masquerade in claustrophobia".
This was 1992, the scene was very fresh and receptive. This album sold a lot of copies. The reviews were very supportive which all led to the release of Kaddish also on Morbid Record.
5. ….and the follow up album "Kaddish".
Kaddish was a bigger production. Recorded in 1994 using on of israel's best sound engineers. The album contains 10 songs. The main difference between our first and second release is that kaddish dwells on the doomier side of black metal. "the fading" track was featured on m.t.v. europe. This album also sold thousand of copies worldwide. Issues we addressed on the album: the holocaust, political tension in the middle east and human sufferings.
6. You have now ended the co-operation with Morbid Records. Please tell us why and when this relationship ended.
Morbid Records is a business, their goal is to make money. The band is composed of people who want nothing to do with business but do need some money to live. Salem never saw a penny for both releases. Consequently we had no choice but to leave the label.
7. What happened between the release of "Kaddish" and your new album four years later ?
Kaddish came out in dec. 94, throughout 95 the band played out gigs to support the release. Starting 1996 the band began compiling material for a new release. The Israeli label B.N.E. offered the band a first class production, they promised Colin Richardson to take on the producer role.
This was 97. By the end of that same year a moment of silence was recorded and mixed both in Israel and England. B.N.E. wanted to license the album but a contract was never finalised between them and modern music led to the release of the album in October 98.
8. You are now on B.N.E. in Israel. Please tell us more about this company.
B.N.E. is an Israeli label who used to import a lot of metal acts around the turn of the decade and later on grew out of metal and into electronica.
9. Please give us a full insight to your new album "A Moment Of Silence". The recording, the tracks, the concept, the line up on the album and the art- work.
"A Moment Of Silence" was produced by Colin Richardson, the man behind Machine Head, Fear Factory, Bolt Thrower, Carcass, Napalm Death, Pulkas and more. It was recorded at d.b. studios in Israel. Mixed and mastered at the Chapel, England.
The album contains 11 new tracks including a Pink Floyd cover and a remake of "eyes to match a soul". The line-up is the same as the previous
Two releases: ze'ev tananboim- vocals. Lior mizrachi- guitars. Michael goldstein-bass and amir naubach- drums who since the completion of a moment of silence left the band and was replaced by nir nakav.
Currently, the album is being promoted and the reviews are great, check out terrorizer magazine (feb. 99) who gave us a 9/10, metal hammer greece gave us an 8/10 to name just a couple.
10. Please give us an insight to your lyrics.
Issues of our new album - whatever is happening around us. Israel is a small place and it's practically impossible to ignore the happenings of the day. Therefore we touched on the assassination of the prime minister: Izhak Rabin, families waiting to hear about their sons who are in the army
every time something goes wrong, etc.
11. You have gone from Thrash/Death Metal to Goth on your new album. Why ?
The new album is putting together a lot of different styles. Can you really label a song like symbiosis as gothic? How about flames? You see, there's no denying some songs have a gothic scent but the album has a lot more to offer. As artists we are not too concerned with styles. We write songs that move us emotionally and hopefully will do the same to whoever listens to them and that's about it. It's either good or bad.
12. According to the BNE website; your new album will be licensed on a European label. What is the latest news ?
As mentioned above, we make music. Business is not our strong side- so this time around we hired a lawyer to take care of business for us.
B.N.E. negotiated a licensing deal with modern music for a very, very long time. Modern music got tired of waiting, our lawyer didn't like some of the clauses they were asking the band to sign on and it all exploded.
13. As we have learned from the BBC and CNN news; Israel are deeply divided between non- religious people and religious extremists. Please give us an insight in life in Israel.
You have to live here to fully understand it but we'll try anyway.
It all starts with the simple fact that you are being considered a Jew if your mother is Jewish. You don't have to practice anything, you don't even have to believe in anything. None of it can "Un-Jew" you. Now begins the struggle between those who practice the religion and those who choose to live a secular life but still considered Jewish. Secular Jews don't want any orthodox Jews laws to force them to live their lives in a way the don't believe in. hence the problem.
14. Several Black Metal bands, Burzum are the most known example, has attacked Jews based on their Nazi beliefs. Are you offended by bands like Burzum and the attitude too many Black Metal bands have against Jews ?
Funny you've mentioned Burzum and Jews in the same breath, but more on that in a little while.
We are big supporters of freedom of speech and freedom of choice as long as you respect others regardless of the color of their skin, the color of their eyes or where they're from. We think that most of the black metal bands and crowd are not really into that. The minority that is using those motifs in their music, in most cases, are simply ignorant. They don't really know what they get themselves into. Hatred won't help anyone on the face of this earth to live a better life.
Back to Burzum, a millions slaughtered demo was purchased by the fool, who contacted the band. His letter claimed our music was good but our subjects were not happening. According to him hitler and sadam hussein should have killed all Jews.
Our reply soon followed and was as stingy as his stupid immature letter.
In return the fool mailed us a bomb. It never got through because every package is being checked upon arrival. Nothing happened to us but look what happened in the end: this stupid idiot killed on of our best friends, Euronymous, burned several churches and ended up in jail.
15. What is your future plans ?
We start our "A Moment Of Silence" tour. Right after that we'll start putting together a new album.
16. Where can Salem be contacted ? Any web sites, except from the dead one mentioned on the CD ?
Our web site is under construction. No address available yet.
We can be contacted at:
Salem
P.O. Box 566
Givatayim 53000
Israel
Or e-mail: zrtenenb@netvision.net.il
17. Any final comments ?
Thank you all for the interview and the support.