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What's the origin of your band name? Have you changed the band's name before?
Hello from Jerusalem Peter, I'm Butchered the main member of the band . the name Arallu is from 1997 when I preformed the band ,and the meaning of the name is comes from the ancient world in the Middle Eastern culture of Mesopotamia. He is one of the strongest demons that live inside the wailing wall under the golden dome and shocking the ground from Jerusalem to the entire world. The ground of Mesopotamia is Soaked with blood from ancient times until the battles of today. This area is cursed by the ancient demons and peace will never vome to this land. Arallu talk about exactly this, and the link between the ancient world and the modern world, that very much resembles each other. We wake up every to new horror in our life, and we are exploring the reasons why, and the religions process from then to today. We come from Jerusalem and there's never been stability in the area, and I think never will be, but let's hope for good.
List the name of each band member and what instrument they play.
Gal "Pixel" –Guitar
Omri Yagen-Guitar
Assaf Kasimov-drums and percussion
Eylon Bart- Darbuka and Saz
Moti “butchered” vox and bass Guitar
What genre of music do you consider your work to be? Who are your major influences?
Musically, we describe our style as Middle Eastern black metal. We're inspired by the old school black metal roots mix with our special Middle Eastern elements. So I believe it's coming naturally inside our style because we live it since we were born. The band main roots inspired by the old school black metal band as ,Venom, old Slayer, Bathory, Celtic frost .I'm inspired a lot from King Diamond, deicide, morbid Angel, I really liked the new Satyricon, the last album by Paradise Lost, Abbath, and Watain. The last Mayhem is great as well.
How long have you all known each other? How did you meet?
Gal play in Arallu from 2007 , Assaf joined us after we came back from the 2013 europe tour, right before we began recording "GENIEWAR". Eylon and Omri joined the band after we released "GENIEWAR' album in 2015. We are not playing together for so long, but today we have the best line up since Arallu became a band. All of them knew Arallu before (we were after 4 full albums,Dvds and a lot of shows) so I just ask people and they immediately joined the band and I'm thankful and happy for that.
When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?
The full concept of Arallu is around the ultimate war over the Middle East because we living it . Arallu was founded in Jerusalem in the middle of the conflict between the religions around the old city of Jerusalem in the 90'. I remember the bus exploding next to me and the hatred comes through the TV news. I was 16 years old and the extreme black metal concept around Europe comes to my life mixed with bloodshed around Jerusalem is what brought Arallu band to life. "SIX" like the other albums of the band is talking about the situation around the Middle East as it crawls to Europe and the US, and some personal issues we deal with our everyday life.
Like the song "Adonay" is talking about a simple man from Jerusalem killed by terrorist attack and left behind him a huge world of people who loved him, but actually this song was talking about the last days of my grandfather who really suffered before he died a few months ago…. He was my role model and I really admired him. The song "Possessed by Sleep" that's about the murder of a little girl named Hilel Yafe Ariel while she was sleeping and the terrorist killed her in bed. When you live around Jerusalem and you have 3 children all you're thinking about is how to keep them safe in this horrible world. From the other aspect we have the song "Soulless Soldier" is about a soldier in the army service that is fighting the wars around Israel and when he killed a terrorist who tried to kill soldiers the government put him to trail for that. Its absurd. Arallu is the horn of the situation in the Middle East and specially the horn of the wars all around the years in Jerusalem. We don't look for paper news Headlines. We play and live black metal from the 90's. Its more than a decade that Arallu screaming about the global terror. "Satanic War In Jerusalem" our second album from 2002 ,talking about the situation in Jerusalem that spread to the all-world. I write this album in 2001 when the Islamic terror attack everywhere in Israel and especially in Jerusalem. Unfortunately "Satanic War In Jerusalem become a self-fulfilling prophecy and today we all know it. "The War On The Wailing Wall" our debut album from 1999, was the mix between our daily life and extreme black metal Against religions.
We play a risky music. Those who understand the main idea behind our music will like it but not every magazine really listens for what he received from bands all around the world. When I'm writing my music and my lyrics I'm not looking for some victories. This album is talking about the wars of today as ISIS are trying to destroy and kill anyone who doesn’t agree with their religious views. Like in the song "Only One Truth". Arallu concept is the mirror of the human race, hypocrisy of the governments all around the world including Israel, and the unwillingness and fear to fight against the extreme religion leaders. We live in the Middle East as u know. the situation here is not easy here in Jerusalem and Israel. We live in days of war religions, and religions hatred was what inspired our music and lyrics. i mean I'm looking for something fresh ,something no one touched before. Because our music is a mix with extreme black metal music and Arabian / Middle Eastern music is very hard to understand it in the first listening. Usually people who like extreme black metal don’t like the Middle Eastern parts and vise versa, when we wrote this album we knew its risky and we know it from the debut album from 1999, but Arallu always looks to bring something different to the global metal scene and we are doing it in a small steps…
What can you tell me about your instruments? (i.e., Are you subject to brand loyalty or will you play with whatever's available? What made you choose the instruments you have now? Was it cost or was it a style/model/brand/color preference?
We are not subjected to any particular brand, the important thing is that the sound and the style will be right. Me and Omri play BC rich guitars and Gal plays Dean guitars. Our drummer uses sabian cymbals mostly but we were not approached by any company to endorse yet. Of course we'd love to have an endorsement but first of all what matters for ua is the sound and style.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
One of the best shows of Arallu for my opinion is the show with Behemoth in Israel of 2014, our show in "Metalgate fest" in Czech republic was great as well, and our release album show from "GENIEWAR" album as well. When the people react like a maniacs in your show u can know that is a good one. We bring 666% from ourselves every show . we play from our heart and u can see it in our YouTube channel. I think Arallu as a band does really cool shows. for now we have nothing for sure out side Israel, we booked 2 release shows for "SIX" album in Tel Aviv October 28th,and Haifa October 21st. we are in contact with a few metal festivals and Europe tour and its will be a honor for us to come play in your great country as well.
Which songs do you perform most frequently? Do you ever play any covers? Do you have a set play list?
We have our two songs that were in any Arallu setlist since they came out which are “Jewish Devil” and “Desert Battles”. They just work with every crowd and they have all the essence of Arallu in them.
We covered "Slayer" Evil Has No Boundaries in our second album "Satanic War In Jerusalem" and "Powerslave" of Iron Maiden in "GENIEWAR"album 2015 and now we cover in our shows and tours-"Troops Of Doom by Sepultura. You all can see it in our YouTube channel.
Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs? Do you think these topics will change over time? Could you briefly describe your music-making process
When I start to feel the anger flowing in my veins I take my guitar and start writing some riffs. This is the beginning of the process. Unfortunately together with that the world provides me all the time ideas to write lyrics. Especially, in these days around the Middle East. When I have a few riffs I'm sending them to my band members and we meet in the rehearsal room and start working on a new song. unfortunately this world of hatred always brings me an idea for next….
What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?
We rehearsing 2 hour every week, but when we write a new music its coming for 3-4 hours.
How has your music evolved since you first began playing music together?
Arallu concepts is very clear .we have our special form and we trying to bring to each album his own sound with other Middle East Instruments. we keeping always the line of Arallu concept textually and musically but every time we are looking for something special to not repeat ourselves. we are trying to describe the situation around the middle east. we like to use a big Vocabulary to explain the situation and not to repeat ourselves.
What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
Our biggest challenge is to conquer the big metal fests as Brutal Assault and Hellfest. We really like to preform there. I think if we get this opportunity. We will not disappoint. People will know our special sound and I believe they will like it.
What's your ultimate direction for your band?
To keep with the real old school metal music and not fall down for the new wave of metal.
What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
Play what you really like and don't copy what you heard. don't play metal to be a famous star. play it because it's in your blood and guts
How can fans gain access to your music? Do you have a website, Facebook, Bandcamp site, etc?
Yes we have facebook page of the band, we have bandcamp page and all our videos in our youtube channel
What is your favorite song to perform?
The song from our second album called "JEWISH DEVIL". It's great and full of energy, undoubtedly one of the all time best Arallu songs.
What are the plans for the future?
We hope to keep with full force of creating unique music, and we really hope to play on the main stage of Brutal Assault and Hell Fest…. Who knows maybe we finally will do it….
Thank u for your great interview and I hope to come play for u in the near future.
DJ Fist Interview with Butchered from Arallu
Dj Metal Craig: How did you guys come up with the band name Abnormality?
Mallika: It took about 6 months of heavy debate. Jeremy was the one who suggested it and it was the first name we could all agree on, and it suited our sound.
Dj Metal Craig: How Did you came up with the album name ‘Sociopathic Constructs’?
Mallika: The title relates to many of the song topics. Sociopathic (as in how the powerful people in the world tend to be sociopaths) and Constructs (as in the tools and methods the few control the many).
Dj Metal Craig: Please talk about the song titled “Monarch Alpha” and the themes and concepts behind it?
Mallika: Monarch Alpha is the sequel to an older song Monarch Omega. Its about a victim of the secret CIA mind control program MK Ultra, who is now a covert government agent and assassin with split personality.
Dj Metal Craig: Please talk about the song “Curb Stomp” and themes and concepts behind it?
Mallika: Curb Stomp is about a victim of pedophilia getting revenge on their abuser. It's in response to the catholic church priest scandal as well as the pedophilia and child prostitution in Hollywood (and around the world). Sexual abuse trauma follows the victim through their whole lives. We wanted to make a song about this theme.
Dj Metal Craig: What's the current lineup and what instruments do they play?
Mallika: Jay Blaisdell- drums, Mallika Sundaramurthy- vocals, Jeremy Henry- guitar, Sam Kirsch- guitar, Josh Staples- bass.
Dj Metal Craig: Do you have any upcoming shows?
Mallika: Right now we have a European tour booked in July, including an appearance at Obscene Extreme Festival.
Dj Metal Craig: Would you to talk about your other project Castrator in a little detail?
Mallika: (Out of respect for Metal Blade I can't comment on it at this time)
Dj Metal Craig: How did it feel being part of Parisitic Extirpation (one of your previous bands)?
Mallika: I really enjoyed the years I spent with that band. We toured a lot and played many great shows. I got to experiment with a different, more guttural vocal style.
Dj Metal Craig: What new news do you have on the Abnormality front?
Mallika: The biggest news is our new album which came out in May. Other than that we are looking forward to playing upcoming shows and seeing our fans on the road.
Thanks,
Mallika
DJ Metal Craig Interview With Abnormality
