Mentalblog, Matisyahu, and Jewish Music's Equivalent to Anthrax
After reading Mentalblog's posts about Matisyahu, I went out and bought the CD. I am very impressed, especially with the song "Got No Water". Matisyahu successfully takes reggae and elevates it, infusing it with kedusha.
This brings me to Anthrax, a "thrash" or "speed-metal" band that was formed in the 1980's. They were my favorite band when I was in junior high and high school - and their guitar player Scott Ian was even Jewish. You always enjoy the music that you listened to growing up. You just can't shake it. Anthrax's music has such a power behind it that it effects me like no other music. Unlike other heavy metal groups, their lead singer actually sang, and sang lyrics about societal problems such a poverty, intolerance, racism, and drug addiction.
I am still waiting for Jewish music's equivalent to Anthrax. Maybe then I could listen solely to Jewish music. While I greatly enjoy Yosef Karduner and Simply Tsfat, I need something to listen to while I am running on the treadmill. I need something that rocks!
Matisyahu has shown us that it is possible to make Jewish music from genres of music that are not traditionally thought of as "Jewish". Is their anything innately wrong or "un-Jewish" with heavy metal music? How about if it is performed by Jewish musicians who sing about Jewish topics?
Forty years ago just the thought of putting Jewish songs to rock music was unheard of. It is not of unheard of today. It is quite commonplace. Just because something "has never been done before" isn't a reason why it cannot be done now. There aren't any specific halachos that prohibit "Jewish" heavy metal. If reggae can be taken an elevated, heavy metal sure can.
So, where is Jewish music's Anthrax?
15 Comments:
Or Jewish music's D'Angelo? Or Maxwell? Or India.Arie?
I'm not crazy about heavy metal. But I do like rock and roll. Have you listened to Blue Fringe? I like them.
Sorry to toot my own horn here, but that's exactly what I set out to do when I formed Kabbalah 20 years ago. Make music that people like myself (and you) would listen to because we like it, not because it's Jewish. You can hear a bunch on the Psycho.Radio without downloading, or get mp3's off of www.mosheskier.com
I joined Jewish Rock Bands *precisely* so that I would not have to play in Goyishe Bars. My goal was always to play for Jews, but to play the kind of music that I enjoy playing and listening to. That being said, there's nothing that compares to experience of playing or listening to music in a rock or blues club. Acoustics, atmosphere...you just don't get the same feel in an auditorium or shul. It is simply the best way to hear this type of music.
It's unfortunate that there aren't any similar all-Jewish venues available. (Or maybe there are in NY?)
Aren't most Jewish songs in a minor key? The metal difference is that it's faster, louder, and more distorted. There are depressing lyrics in all genres.
Do you know how many Jewish metal bands I've found in Israel? There is a healthy underground scene here both in the frum community and the secular community. I have interviewed many of them on my show. Sorry I don't have a login but I am Benyamin Bresky and you can listen to me every Sunday on The Beat on http://www.IsarelNationalradio.com. This week I have a sort of hard rock band, but in the past I've done some truly ripping groups. You may think it's a novelty to see guys in long payos, black hats and tzitzit totally thrashing, but I've see them all the time. And they're not just ripping off American groups either. There is no way that this one band from Tzvat could possible have access to a mass amount of CDs when all they do is sit in yeshiva all day. Check out http://www.metalist.co.il/ or do a search on Jewish and metal in Google. Fell free to email me at bbresky@IsraelNationalRadio.com.
Rob never played with Anthrax. His brother never played for the Stray Cats. I'm not 6'10" and the sky isn't purple.
Believe me, I'm right.
Simple Jew, WHERE have you been in the last 10 years? There is a real true Jewish HEAVY METAL Rock artist named David Lazzar. He has put out 3 different cd's since 1996-2005. I saw him perform in N.Y this past March on Purim night in the Village. He is the first religious Hasidic Jew to do this. His music is still underground, because the market for Jewish Heavy Metal is not as big in the Jewish world as Rap or Reggae. He also performed with Mattisyahu last summer in Montreal. David Lazzar's Web site is DAVIDLAZZAR.COM He has a lot of fans in N.Y. and in the U.K. He is constantly being aired on the station Arutz shevah in Israel. My friend just heard David Lazzar being played all this past week on Arutz 7 .
Now and then I dig through teh Web to look for Jewish-themed metal. I've been slowing building a collection of songs and information. My dream is to join/form such a band (I've been drumming almost 30 years and have a metal enthusiast almost as long). Perhaps the most commerical effort lately is Orphaned Land's "Mabool", which has numerous Jewish and Israeli influences.
Do you know of a URL that has soundclips from Mabool?
I totally agree (although I do think there is "Jewish" heavy metel out there - somewhere).
MissShona: Thanks for your comment. I am still looking for it.
yeah, David Lazzar is pretty good. There's this other band Teihu they have stuff posted at Teihu.com but it's old stuff, I heard them live recently in Pittsburgh and they've gotten much better than is aparent from the stuff on their website I think they are supposed to play Syracuse University later this year opening for Lazzar.
The bass guitarist from the Midbar band now plays with the David Lazzar band. His name is Mo Gelber , he is completely nuts but a great musician.I recognized him playing with the Lazzar band at Yidstock. He even has a myspace page.
I dont know if you guys have heard of Omek Hadavar. They just put out a new disc on Sameach label. Its called Depth of the Matter. Some of their songs are pretty heavy. I've seen them play too. They're not quite metal but they get pretty heavy in some of their songs.
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