Entwining groove, technical, and extreme metal into their own vicious and highly persuasive confrontation, Israeli death metallers Ferium have unleashed one of the most potent and thrilling albums so far this year with their debut Reflections. A release which roars, challenges, and rigorously seizes the imagination, the album thrusts Ferium into a deserved new world wide spotlight. Eager to find out more we took the opportunity to talk with vocalist Tiran Ezra, investigating the past of the band, Israeli metal, the new attention upon Ferium and much more…
Hi Tiran and thank you for agreeing to talk with us.
It is probably fair to say that Ferium is still a bit of a secret in world metal but that now seems to be changing especially over the past year or so. Does it feel like things are now happening for the band to you guys?
We feel very fortunate to be getting any type of recognition from people outside of Israel, we’ve worked and are still working very hard just to get a sense of fulfilment and only now we are finally getting a taste of that attention to our music that we needed in order to feed us with a drive to create more buzz around ourselves.
It certainly feels that way.
2013 was a busy and successful year for the band; looking back on it what are your reflections of it and how it impacted on your reputation as a band?
We are happy we did everything we have.
But there is always that bug inside our head that says that we should’ve done more; unfortunately it’s not that easy getting out of Israel every couple of months for a tour, it’s quite like hell on earth to be completely honest.
Before we look at your new debut album, can you tell us about the beginnings of Ferium and the driving force bringing the band into reality?
Ever since our major line-up change, bringing Yoni Biton and Ron Amar into the band’s rhythm section, everything seemed a lot more real, providing a fresh sense of understanding towards the music business as a functioning band; I think THAT is the beginning for Ferium.
The past couple of years has made us realised there is quite potent metal scene in Israel but how is the death metal presence in the country?
The scene here is really active when it comes to bands forming or doing any kind of effort to get out of here; the death metal scene is fairly small here since the “core” scene really took the world by the balls, not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s become more than a fashion than a lifestyle. It’s kind of sad to watch from a side if you are a sworn metal fan, because it created this whole new line of people not liking metalheads, for being metalheads, just because they like core, I think that is narrow minded and redundant.
Has it become easier would you say for Israeli metal bands to be noticed and accepted at home and further afield over recent years though?
Absolutely not, no matter where you are from you have to put the same amount of effort to be any kind of a self-respecting band.
Israel is one of the worst places to be on earth when it comes to trying to get out of if you are wishing yourself to be a touring musician.
You recently released your excellent debut album Reflections; did you have any particular hopes for it in regard to attracting attention with a wider audience?
Again, we feel very thankful to get any source of recognition, this is usually not something that you come across, a debut album from Israel getting a worldwide distribution deal, I do believe that the people who catch our theme will be hardcore fans of the material to come in the not so far future.
How would you say your sound has evolved and grown between the album and your first release, The New Law EP of 2009?
A lot more organic and dynamic, and all together completely different in terms of approach and in the way we imagine the finalized product.
The album is a brutal and demanding release which on first few plays certainly impresses thoroughly but it is through further plays that the enthralling web of adventurously skilled enterprise and imagination within the dark depths of songs truly reveal their strengths. Do you deliberately sculpt songs that way or it just their organic growth as they come to life?
Very flattered first of all, it really is a bit of both, the true talent is the lyrics and the whole atmosphere of the songs being portrayed by being open for interpretation and not really pushing anything, down anyone’s throat.
How does the songwriting work within the band generally?
Elram and myself at the Studio work first, with pre-recorded riffs, after that going to the rest of the band for confirmation on input and insight.
How has lyrically and musically the band and its music been affected or indirectly found inspiration in the conflicts around your country and home town Haifa?
I believe that the air in Israel really has done something to our brains, every citizen of this place can just feel the atmosphere here, if it’s the honking in the streets by every person, the news on TV saying practically “hey, there’s going to be war n’ stoof” yeah, it sure isn’t nice.
Lyrically & musically it has done nothing to affect, but it has contributed to what all of us are today as intelligent human beings.
Reflections feels like it is part of something bigger rather than an individual encounter, though to be honest I am not sure why it makes me feel that? Am I imagining it or is there a wider aspect yet to be explored to the theme of the album?
Actually it’ll probably be the 1st part of a trilogy of albums that shows a darker side in mine & Elram’s mind.
..And that side is?
Elram’s side of the story is more of a hands on experience with the lyrics we write, and I usually link in to the whole atmosphere and imagine myself in a kind of world where these stories can actually take place.
How was the recording experience with the album, any unexpected obstacles or good surprises rise up in its creation?
Nothing in particular, except being a really long process of mixing and production so we could get that atmosphere we eventually scored.
Did you learn anything in particular which you can take forward into your future releases?
pic: Guy First Video & Photography
Mostly Elram did, because he really is the mastermind behind the vision which is Ferium, sound wise.
But when it comes to the actual performance and tightness of the tracks, this is something we all became a lot more professional in.
Can you tell us about the excellent art work wrapping the album?
We actually had a very early demo of the album that had an even more raw approach to the mix, once Eliran Kantor heard that, he decided that the drums will actually portray the Rhino on the cover, but the overall concept of the little man trying to pull down the huge rhino is the epitome of the concept put in a metaphor of a man facing his greatest fears.
Not having had the pleasure yet, the word is that Ferium is a mighty proposition live. Is that aspect the most satisfying of being in a band for you?
It most certainly is; I think that the fact we chose such a direct approach to our sound is to be able to perform them live, perfectly, if not better than the recording.
And talking of live shows, what is next for Ferium in that department?
We have a few autumn dates that we are looking at, but definitely will have a couple of tours until the end of this year all over EU.
Thanks once more for sharing time with us.
Any last thought you would like to leave readers considering?
Thank you for taking in interest in us, we are very grateful for this, buy our album 😉
Read the review of Reflections @ https://ringmasterreviewintroduces.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/ferium-reflections/
Pete RingMaster
The RingMaster Review 15/05/2014
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