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About[picture=1]Started out as more of a hardcore / Nu-metal band, Betzefer evolved in time to more Metalcore and New school metal as Pantera and later Sepultura.
Tel Aviv, Israel, Metal. Something here makes you wonder. The "Holy Land" has not exactly been the ultimate mecca of the heavy metal scene - Betzefer are here to change that!
Thundering double bass, smashing metal'n'roll riffs and a singer who seems to literally eat his mic - welcome to the harsh metal world of Betzefer which musically is so different from what we're used to from that corner of the world.
"We've been hugely influenced by Pantera and Sepultura", explains guitarist and songwriter Matan Cohen. "Why should we deny what everyone can hear anyway?" Mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (i.e. Illdisposed, The Haunted, Mnemic) Betzefer's debut album "Down Low" hits you right in the neck: From the word go the opener "Early Grave" is pumping adrenalin out of the speakers leaving the listener no breathing space, followed by a Sepultura/Soulfly type banger called "Down Low", the Dimebag Darrell-esque missiles "Brix" and "6's & 7's" as well as the hymn "Fuckin' Rock'n'Roll" (also the first single of the album) are what Betzefer are all about.
"Of course, our country has big political problems - but our music should help kids to think of something other than what they see on TV every day: We are entertainment!", states Vocalist Avital Tamir. And they are so good that Betzefer are already one of the most popular acts in their home country. The road to fame has, however, been stony with the band having played in almost every club in Israel since the end of the 90's.
"Over here our music style has not been recognized too often in the media," says Matan. "Although Israel is a small country there are a lot of bands here in the metal scene, but still bands can't tour Israel. Because you have three major cities that everyone will eventually drive to anyways, so there are like 2-4 metal events every month. And still there are so many cliches: as if Metal was something evil and rotten".
Has such prejudice ever kept youngsters from listening to that music? Far from it! Like in the case of Betzefer who got together for a high school gig (Betzefer is an ad lib translation of the Hebrew term "Beit Hasefer", meaning "school"). What started as a one-off event was soon to play a dominant role in the lives of singer Avital Tamir, guitarist Matan Cohen and drummer Roey Berman. Following the usual gigs as a cover band (Metallica, etc.) and a few changes in bass players, Betzefer started their own songwriting. 1999 saw the release of their first demo followed in 2000 by the EP "Pitz Aachabar"., In 2001 they released "Some Tits, But No Bush," and more recently an EP (2003) entitled "New Hate". The new bass player Rotem Inbar gave the band the ultimate kick - the line-up consolidated, the material drifted from the initial New Metal into a much more aggressive, classic direction and Betzefer all moved to Tel Aviv - into a combined flat/rehearsal room. "Other musicians see their band as a job, but for us it's much more than that", Matan emphasises. "Betzefer is our life!" Their club gigs soon became little triumphs which eventually reached Europe.
Everybody needs good friends - so do Betzefer. Sven (Vocalist from Aborted) from Belgium introduced the band to producer Kris Belaen und the CCR Studios. Scarcely had they decided to record the album "Down Low" with Kris when in June 2004 Betzefer found themselves on their way to Europe for a tour supporting Fear Factory. "Everything was happening at once", singer Avital remembers, shaking his head. "We were right in the middle of recording the album when we heard that Fear Factory were looking for a local support in Netherlands - I mean, this band is one of my absolute heroes." The result was just sensational and a real boost - Betzefer returned to the studio determined to give it all. No sooner said than done - "Down Low" is modern Thrash Metal at its best, topped with the outstanding sound provided by the Antfarm Studios of Tue Madsen. "We finally want to make it in Europe: We are ready!"
Tel Aviv, Israel, Metal. Something here makes you wonder. The "Holy Land" has not exactly been the ultimate mecca of the heavy metal scene - Betzefer are here to change that!
Thundering double bass, smashing metal'n'roll riffs and a singer who seems to literally eat his mic - welcome to the harsh metal world of Betzefer which musically is so different from what we're used to from that corner of the world.
"We've been hugely influenced by Pantera and Sepultura", explains guitarist and songwriter Matan Cohen. "Why should we deny what everyone can hear anyway?" Mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen (i.e. Illdisposed, The Haunted, Mnemic) Betzefer's debut album "Down Low" hits you right in the neck: From the word go the opener "Early Grave" is pumping adrenalin out of the speakers leaving the listener no breathing space, followed by a Sepultura/Soulfly type banger called "Down Low", the Dimebag Darrell-esque missiles "Brix" and "6's & 7's" as well as the hymn "Fuckin' Rock'n'Roll" (also the first single of the album) are what Betzefer are all about.
"Of course, our country has big political problems - but our music should help kids to think of something other than what they see on TV every day: We are entertainment!", states Vocalist Avital Tamir. And they are so good that Betzefer are already one of the most popular acts in their home country. The road to fame has, however, been stony with the band having played in almost every club in Israel since the end of the 90's.
"Over here our music style has not been recognized too often in the media," says Matan. "Although Israel is a small country there are a lot of bands here in the metal scene, but still bands can't tour Israel. Because you have three major cities that everyone will eventually drive to anyways, so there are like 2-4 metal events every month. And still there are so many cliches: as if Metal was something evil and rotten".
Has such prejudice ever kept youngsters from listening to that music? Far from it! Like in the case of Betzefer who got together for a high school gig (Betzefer is an ad lib translation of the Hebrew term "Beit Hasefer", meaning "school"). What started as a one-off event was soon to play a dominant role in the lives of singer Avital Tamir, guitarist Matan Cohen and drummer Roey Berman. Following the usual gigs as a cover band (Metallica, etc.) and a few changes in bass players, Betzefer started their own songwriting. 1999 saw the release of their first demo followed in 2000 by the EP "Pitz Aachabar"., In 2001 they released "Some Tits, But No Bush," and more recently an EP (2003) entitled "New Hate". The new bass player Rotem Inbar gave the band the ultimate kick - the line-up consolidated, the material drifted from the initial New Metal into a much more aggressive, classic direction and Betzefer all moved to Tel Aviv - into a combined flat/rehearsal room. "Other musicians see their band as a job, but for us it's much more than that", Matan emphasises. "Betzefer is our life!" Their club gigs soon became little triumphs which eventually reached Europe.
Everybody needs good friends - so do Betzefer. Sven (Vocalist from Aborted) from Belgium introduced the band to producer Kris Belaen und the CCR Studios. Scarcely had they decided to record the album "Down Low" with Kris when in June 2004 Betzefer found themselves on their way to Europe for a tour supporting Fear Factory. "Everything was happening at once", singer Avital remembers, shaking his head. "We were right in the middle of recording the album when we heard that Fear Factory were looking for a local support in Netherlands - I mean, this band is one of my absolute heroes." The result was just sensational and a real boost - Betzefer returned to the studio determined to give it all. No sooner said than done - "Down Low" is modern Thrash Metal at its best, topped with the outstanding sound provided by the Antfarm Studios of Tue Madsen. "We finally want to make it in Europe: We are ready!"
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