Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

METAL SCENT are an Israeli based quintet that drives in between the Heavy Metal genre and Hard Rock genre. Our Kostya Aronberg had a chance to interview METAL SCENT’s guitarist Dror Yakar.

1. Hi Dror, welcome to metalshockfinland!

Hi Kostia, pleasure to be interviewed here.

2. Tell us about formation of Metal Scent band and its history.

Metal Scent was formed around 2004. The plans to form it were around even earlier, and we did have some friendly writing and playing sessions but it actually became a band around that year.

3. All the musicians from the band have great experiences in the musical field, tell us little about choosing musicians for the band?

Well, Ronen Rami and myself are original members, we all knew each other before from the Music scene in Israel and even played together here and there on different occasions. The idea of the first Album was in the air and it was obvious that sooner or later we’ll play together, us coming from a very similar musical taste it was a natural continuation to the story. The band went through a few line up changes and about 5 years ago Yaniv Aboudy joined forces with us as we were looking for a Guitarist that comes from a heavier genre. It was a perfect match and he has a big part in the writing and arranging of the new Album blending his sound, ideas and input to the band. Our fresh member joining the band last year is Shahar Cohen on Bass that also comes from a very close Musical taste to ours and practically conquered that spot with an unbelievable motivation and hard work.

4. Which bands/musicians influenced you the most and who do you consider to be your “GOD” in the metal world?

My influences are so many and come from a lot of musical styles that it would be impossible to write them down here. But! We’re talking Metal here so biggest influences are early Metallica, Motorhead, Dream Theater, NWOBHM, Sepultura, Judas Priest that actually taught me the basics of playing this style so I must give them a credit here, Iron Maiden, Slayer, Death, Deep Purple, Kiss, Crimson Glory, Fields Of the Nephilim.… wow so many more. As a Guitar player – Paul Gilbert, Gary Moore, Randy Rhoads, Jason Becker, Greg Howe, Michael Schenker, Guthrie Govan, Allan Holdsworth… let’s stop here ’cause the list goes on and on .

5. This month Metal Scent released there 3rd album. Please tell us about the process of creating the album.

The majority of the new Album was created at our homes. Most of it was mixed by Ronen at his studio, the guy practically didn’t sleep for months and without his dedication I doubt it if we would have ever completed this project. The Album includes 12 songs plus 3 bonus tracks. All original material written by the band. The acoustic song from the album “The Voice” was released as a single in Israel a few months ago and is currently N# 1 for the second week on the billboard of the “Underground” which is the Israeli Facebook chart page for Metal in Israel.

6. Recently Metal Scent returned from Ukraine and Georgia tours. We would like to know more details about the shows taking place in the countries of former USSR.

In Ukraine we played the Biker Show Festival which was an unbelievable monstrous production, the main act was performed in front of 40,000 people. We came on stage with sunrise and played a huge stage with tons of equipment and lighting gear that was sufficient for a Metallica concert. It was a great show and we had a great time.

In Georgia we were supposed to play the Global East Rock fest. On the headliners bill were supposed to be Sepultura, Dark Tranquility, Sabbaton and Ken Hensly. We were supposed to play the second day of the Festival, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to a lot of unexpected technical and administrative reasons. As we were sitting that morning shaking our head in disbelief dealing with this kind of news we decided that we should go to the Festival site at the time it was supposed to open because a lot of people didn’t know about it yet. We arrived the site and like we expected loads of Metalheads started to gather there not believing that the Festival is actually not going to happen. Then something that felt like magic started to happen, people were recognizing us, knowing our songs, having mp3s and pics of us on their cell phones, it was amazing.

And then people started buying discs from us and took our autographs until our hands started to feel pain because of so much signing. That evening we were invited by one of Geoegias best extreme Metal bands by the name of Dismorial and that was one of the best evenings we ever had. In both countries we had unbelievable experience and the hospitality there was amazing. I hope we can come back ASAP to Georgia to make it up to all those so loyal fans that came to see us and didn’t, and to visit again those friends we made there, especially in Georgia and may be share a stage with them too.

7. Your first 2 albums were mostly cover versions of the popular songs. The first album was focused on Israeli pop stars which were modified by you to powerful heavy metal and the second album – cover versions for all international stars. The third album will include your own creations?

Our third Album includes only original creations. A little correction, our second album is devided into half cover versions for sixties hits that we arranged into Metal, and the other half is original material. Two of these original songs were re-recorded and a little upgraded and are on our new Album as bonus tracks.

8. Your vocalist Rami Salamon is a very busy person and sings in 3 other bands as well ( Edgend, Crossfire, Stella Maris). Is it the main reason why we were waiting for your third album for almost 4 years?

No. lol. This is not the reason it took so long. Rami is busy alright but when we sit down to work he is very dedicated, sharp and efficient. The reasons that it took so long are mainly technical reasons and there are far too many to mention here, I don’t want to bore the readers lol. what’s important that it’s ready, better late than never and I hope our next Album will take much less to complete.

9. In 2007 you performed with Uriah Heep. Please tell us a little about the concert and the impression that those guys left upon you?

Uriah Heep are very nice guys and a great band with a History known to all (I must also mention their unbelievable drinking ability 😉 ) . We had 2 concerts as their opening act when they came to tour Israel. These were great two sold out concerts. We had a great time!

10. A lot of my acquaintances call you Israeli Dave Mustaine =) They say you look like him and play as good as he does. What do you have to say about it?

Well, first of all, to be compared to such a respectable and big figure in the Metal scene by people is a big compliment for me although I am not sure I see the resemblance… apart from the hair may be. So, I guess what I have to say about it is thank you.

11. Thanks a lot for the interview. And to finalize please tell something for readers of Metal Shock Finland…

Thank you very much Kostya, I hope we will have the opportunity to come to tour Finland and to get to know fans and Metalheads there. We know the Metal scene is very big in there.

Interview by Kostya Aronberg

For more information, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/metalscentband – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Metal-Scent/189376561098603

METAL SCENT 2010 LIVE VISIONS HANGAR 11,TEL AVIV ISRAEL