Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

THE FADING is an Israeli based melodic death/thrash metal band, founded in 2000 under the name Excessum. The band released two EPs before winning the Wacken Open Air Metal Battle contest, earning them a contract with Wacken Records, where they released their debut album “In Sin We’ll Find Salvation” on August 3, 2009. The Fading are: * Ilia Badrov – lead vocals * Arie Aranovich – lead & rhythm guitars * Elad Manor – bass * Shaked Furman – drums * Paul Mitiyanine – lead & rhythm guitars.

Last week I had a chance to have a talk with Ilia Badrov, the band’s lead vocalist. This what came out from our chat…

Hi Ilia, I’m Tarja. Welcome to Metal Shock! Maybe you consider me as a curious person, if I ask you, what have you eaten today? 😀

Hey Tarja! Thanks for asking! I’ve just finished a whole pack of Ben & Jerry’s 😀

ahahah… just kidding! Please give me a short presentation of you and your band The Fading… Can you tell me how you guys got together?

I’ve formed the band with Arie’s brother Boris who was my neighbor, under the name Excessum. Naturally, Arie joined the band sometime afterwards. Shaked and Elad met Arie in metal shows and events before they joined the band. We didn’t know Paul before we asked him to join The Fading, we just saw him performing with his former band Deface. Since 2007 we’re one happy family.

In these past eleven years, what has been the best act, so far, where you’ve played?

It was definitely Wacken Open Air 2008!!! It was our first international gig, and what a gig it was!! Another unforgettable gig was last year, when we played on a moving truck along the Tel-Aviv beach at a big music parade together with Israeli rock, trance and hip-hop acts.

Do you see your sound has changed in these years?

Of course, nowadays our sound is much more mature and our songwriting seems more natural. We know exactly how we want to hear our music. The basics have remained the same, but now we play melodic death metal and we love it!

From where are coming your influences?

Every member has his own influences, but In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, The Haunted, Machine Head, Sepultura are always there. We also listen to different styles of music. Every non-metal style can inspire you as much as metal, as long as it’s well-written and when it sounds good.

You’ve played several times at Israeli Wacken Metal Battle competition, tell me about this experience…

Actually, it felt more like a sport competition, because of the hard trainings and tactical practices we did before the event.  Anyway, it felt great to be the first band to represent Israel in the competition, and we were very proud when we were announced as the winners.

In 2008 you won an international record deal with Wacken Records, how has it changed your life?

Well, we’ve all quit our jobs, and we’re all proud owners of new BMW’s… and we’ve got a lot of money. No, it’s not true… 😀

Hope you don’t mind my next question… knowing that in Israel the religion is very strongly present. How metal fits in it?

Actually, metal fits perfectly here. People in Israel are very emotional and metal is a great way to express emotions.

…and How you see the metal scenes and venues in generally, in Israel?

Comparing to countries like Sweden and Finland, heavy metal is not that popular in Israel. The Israeli metal scene is very limited, and extreme bands rarely get any press coverage. We’ve got very few solid venues here, but I guess it’s ok when you think of the size of our little country.

You’ve toured a lot also outside of Israel. Do you see any differences between the metal-cultures in other countries?

The gigs in Europe are much more organized, and people are more patient towards the musicians. The venues are much better and the people involved know actually what they are doing… In Israel, metal fans are much younger than in Europe, but that’s a good thing when it comes to live shows, because they are much more energetic and they always go crazy!!

In January 2009, you went to Västerås in Sweden to record your first full-length album for Wacken Records, and “In Sin We’ll Find Salvation” was released in Europe in august 2009, followed by an European tour. How the audience welcomed you?

The responses were really great! After every show we’ve earned some new fans!I I especially remember the shows in Portugal, Spain, Luxembourg and Germany. Great times, great fans!

However, you published “In Sin We’ll Find Salvation” in your homecountry only in march 2010. Why this choice?

Oh… It’s a long story… Let me put it this way – sometimes life is just unfair!

In November 2010, you supported Ensiferum on their only show in Israel. What are you memories about the concert?

We had a lot of fun! The venue was packed, and the crowd was very supportive. As we say here in Israel – great success!!

Well, now we’re living the 2011, what are your plans for this year?

In May we’re going to tour Ukraine for a first time! The excitement is huge! Finally I can speak to the crowd in my native language, Russian. We’re also planning to record a new album this year, once we’ll finish writing it.

While you’re not playing, what do you do? I mean hobbies ecc.

My main hobbies are basketball and 90’s parties.

Now the last question… what are your greetings to our readers?

Be cool and stay old school! 😉

Thanks Ilia, it was nice talking to you! Hope to see you soon on stage also here in Italy and of course in my homecountry, in Finland!

Thanks a lot for your interest and support! May the metal force be with you!

Interview by Tarja Virmakari

The Fading – The Sin Collector (OFFICIAL VIDEO)