Yiddish Metal band GEVOLT, founded in 2001, hails us from Israel. In 2006 GEVOLT released a debut CD called Sidur (ritual metal for practical use). Later the band changed the concept and started to sing in traditional European Jewish language Yiddish, covering some classic Yiddish songs. Their second full-length album AlefBase was released in February-March of 2011. MSFinland’s Kostya had a chance to interview band’s vocalist, Anatholy Bonder, please join the conversation…

1. Hello Anatoly, welcome to Metal Schok Finland

Hello Metal Shock Finland!

2. Tell us more about the band’s history and how you met with other guys?

Oh, it all started long ago in 2001. Since then, the band has significant changes. In the beginning we were four of us: me, Yevgeny on guitar, Max on bass and Oleg on drums. I then worked as a sound engineer at the record studio where they rehearsed in a progressive metal band “Soul Enema”. Soon an opera singer (Dina) and violinist (Marina) joined us. But after a recording of our first album, Dina went to the band “Stormy Atmosphere”. When Marina decided to stop her music career, we found Eva. My old friends Dmitry and Vadim gradually became a part of us. Long ago, in the nineties we played in a punk rock band (I was on bass, Dima on guitar, and of Vadim on drums). So, Vadim replaced Oleg and Dima took the synthesizer. Soon Yevgeny (our guitarist) formed his own band (“Sumo Elevator”) and left us. And Max is now in “Stormy Atmosphere”. In their places now play Michael and Mark, we knew they from the local scenes.

3. You are called “The first Yiddish Metal band”. How the idea to play Yiddish Metal music was born?

Well. First we did the cover on “Tum Balalaike” in 2005 and later the “Zog Nit keyn Mol” and “Shpil Zhe Mir…”. And in 2007 we released a promo single on CDRs with 2 tracks (in some versions there was 3 tracks) in “Yiddish Metal”. Since then we knew what we will do next …

4. What bands influence the most on Gevolt’s style?

Each of us have a different taste in music. We do not limit ourselves on some special style. It’s hard for me to tell what influenced us, because, every one of us have his own personal influences. What I can tell – is my personal influences: So, I was very impressed by the folklore. Also by music from some Russian bands (Auktyon and Grazhdanskaya Oborona). I love what Serj Tankian is doing. I like Gogol Borderllo and Emir Kusturica’s band, Fintroll, Rammstein, Metallica, Nirvana… But when I listen to something , I don’t care about the style. I listen to the core – to music.

5. In 2010 you released the second album “AlefBase”. Tell us about the writing process.

It was a hard and long process. We started the recordings in 2005 in the record studio where I was working. Then we recorded 3 tracks (“Tum Balalaike”, “Zog Nit Keyn Mol” and “Shpil Zhe Mir…”). When the drummer changed we re-recorded drums, Then, when Violinist changed, we re-recorded violins… In the same time we were working and performing, so we had a little time for recordings , so we had long breaks. Then, when guitarist changed, we re-recorded guitars, then we arranged and recorded the 4 last tracks with all the current members. And in summer or spring (I don’t remember:)) of 2010 we started to mix. All mixes and pre-mastering we did by ourselves at home. Mainly I was working on it with a help of Dmitry and Michael (They’re soundmen too). It was a bit hard, cause the recording was in different studios with different sounds. We mixed, listened, remixed, listened, tried many ways of sound. And in February of 2011 we just stopped and said “this is it!”. 🙂

6. How the album has been welcomed in the world?

“AlefBase” (by what we saw) has been welcomed very well. Many people was waiting for it. We received a lot of good responses from many countries. Yeah, there was “not-so-good” responses too. But in comparison to good ones, it was just a drop in the sea, so… You know there is nothing in this universe that everyone can like.

7. At the beginning of 2012 the band released new video for the song “Thsiribim Tshiribom”. Tell us about the shooting process.

It was spontaneously, wildly, crazy, and insanely. We just agreed with the camera-man (our friend Tim Slovin) and published the date of the session. We requested our fans and friends for help in making the shooting. We got help with light and sound equipments and generator transporting. The video had no scenario, no storyboard… We just plugged in and played the song 15 times.

8. It sounds like you are really satisfied with the clip?

Yes, we are really satisfied with the result. But for me, personally it took a lot of time to learn the video editing program :).

9. What plans Gevolt has for 2012?

Man makes plans – God laughs 🙂
We are working on new material, plan to shoot more videos and play more gigs.
Maybe tour out of Israel – it will be nice to meet on the same stage our friends from Sweden “Dibbukim” and to play live for all these people from all over the world who want to see us live .

10. Good luck! Thanks for the interview! Any last words for our readers?

Thanx a lot. Good luck, everyone.

Interview by Kostya Aronberg

Gevolt – Tshiribim Tshiribom