Betzefer
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| Betzefer | |
|---|---|
| Origin |  Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel |
| Genre(s) | Metalcore Groove metal Thrash metal |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Label(s) | Roadrunner |
| Associated acts | Nail Within They:Swarm (ex-Whorecore) |
| Website | Betzefer.com |
| Members | |
| Avital Tamir Matan Cohen Rotem Inbar Roey Berman |
|
| Former members | |
| Evil Haim Mashy |
|
Betzefer (Hebrew: בצפר) is a four-piece groove/metalcore band originating from Maccabim-Re'ut, Israel. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007.
The band's major influence is Slayer, but Pantera and Sepultura are also credited as being major influences.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
The band was formed in 1998 for a one-off high school gig (Betzefer is an ad lib translation of the Hebrew term "Beit Hasefer", meaning "school"), featuring singer Avital Tamir, guitarist Matan Cohen, drummer Roey Berman and another friend who was known by the name "Mashy". But 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", a parody on a popular Hebrew children song.
In 2001 they released "Some Tits, But No Bush" and later in 2003 an EP entitled "New Hate" with new bass player Haim Binyami, all self-financed and self-released.
Not long after the release of the EP, Evil Haim left the band as a bassist, but still stayed to works as the band's soundman, additionally to the new band he formed after the departure from Betzefer - Whorecore.
Rotem Inbar joined as a bassist instead of Evil Haim.
In June 2004 the band took off to Belgium to record their first full-length album "Down Low" with record producer Kris Belaen to whom they were introduced by Sven De Caluwe of Aborted and Whorecore.
They eventually recorded the album with Belaen, while the final mixing and mastering was done by Danish record producer Tue Madsen who worked with such bands as The Haunted, Mnemic, Sick of It All, Aborted and Cataract.
They also worked with producer During the recordings, American industrial/groove metal band Fear Factory who were currently touring Europe offered Betzefer to tour with them as their supporting act.
During their performances the band was noticed by the major heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records who signed the band to a 4 album contract.
After the signing, the band came back to the studio to finish the recording.
On June 6, 2005, Roadrunner released the band's first studio album "Down Low", which after, the band toured Europe intensively to promote it.
Beginning March 2007, They toured with Sepultura supporting their Dante XXI tour, supporting Lamb of God and Soulfly on their German tour and Chimaira on their UK tour, and through 2007 performed in such venues as With Full Force festival in Germany and Planet Music in Austria. They were even joined by Sepultura guitarist Andreas Kisser a few times for a performance of "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.
On July 2, 2007, Betzefer were the opening act of American thrash metal band Megadeth's show in Tel Aviv, Israel.
On December 2007, Betzefer parted ways with Roadrunner Records, stating that the record label doesn't fit anymore for what they are looking for.
On March 10, 2008, Betzefer served as the opening act for American groove metal band Machine Head, who performed a sold-out show in Tel Aviv, Israel. At the show, the band performed the whole second album, a set of 10 new songs, along with old classics.
A few days later, the band entered the studio to start recording their second studio album, to be produced again by Tue Madsen.
On May 21, 2008, it was announced that Betzefer's upcoming 2nd studio album won't be mixed and produced by Tue Madsen after all, and that it will be, instead, mixed and produced by grammy-award winner Warren Riker, who has produced albums for Down, Santana and more.
The band has commented that as much as they liked working with Madsen, they decided to work with Riker instead, since they have the option, because they do not want the new album to sound like the latest one, and they hope Riker will bring the new sound they look for in their new songs who will combine the old elements of the band's music along with new experimental material.
On May 20, the band finished the recording of their second studio album and announced that the album is in its final mixing stage and will be released around July 2008.
They then performed at a donation heavy metal festival in Herzliya, Israel on May 30, 2008, in which they said they were recording the crowd for a new song called "Doomsday" in which vocalist Avital Tamir stated they needed to have people screaming the word "Day" in the chorus, for the record. At the show the band also played two new songs: "Doomsday" and "Best Seller".
It was recently announced that the current title for Betzefer's 2nd studio album is "Freedom to The Slave Makers" and that the album will be released in September 2008 and not July 2008 as it was said before.[2]
[edit] Musical style and Influences
The band's musical style is mostly regarded as groove metal and thrash metal, influenced by bands such as Pantera, Slayer and Sepultura, although on an interview with an Israeli extreme sports magazine, vocalist Avital Tamir also stated Guns N' Roses and Metallica, as influences, additionally to Pantera.[3]
They are described by many as metalcore, groove metal, thrash metal, post-thrash and even alternative metal and nu metal, but the band disproves any labeling on their genre and vocalist Avital Tamir stated in an interview that their genre is purely rock or alternative rock[4], and that they see themselves mostly as part of the Israeli alternative rock scene, and that no one of the band members even saw himself as a metalhead before, and the connection between the band and metal music is simply because the music is fast, heavy and harsh.
In another interview with Avital Tamir and Matan Cohen, they stated AC/DC, Aerosmith and Black Sabbath as their rock-rooted influences.[5] They also mentioned they have influcnes ranging from hard rock and heavy metal, through punk and even blues.
Slayer is thought to be the band's biggest influence, since in their biggest hit single "Down Low" the last verse of the song praises Slayer's album "Reign in Blood" as "the best damn fuckin' album ever".
They also play the opening riff of Raining Blood in almost every concert, as a finish to their song "Down Low".
[edit] Band Members
[edit] Current members
- Avital Tamir - lead vocals (1998–present)
- Matan Cohen - guitar (1998–present)
- Rotem Inbar - bass (2003–present)
- Roey Berman - drums (1998–present)
[edit] Former Members
[edit] Discography
| Release date | Title | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Pitz Aachabar (EP) | Self-released |
| January 2001 | Some Tits, But No Bush (EP) | Self-released |
| May 2003 | New Hate (EP) | Self-released |
| June 6, 2005 | Down Low | Roadrunner Records |
| September 2008 | Freedom to The Slave Makers | Unknown |
[edit] Links
[edit] References
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