Salem

Death Black Metal - Israel

SALEM were formed in 1985 along with the newly born extreme metal scene and are now the only rock/metal band in Israel that has been active about twenty years straight. The band soon recorded the “Salem” and “Destruction till Death” demo tapes, which were respectively released in 1986 and 1987.

In 1990, the “Millions Slaughtered Live” demo came out and quickly sold 1,500 copies, which got the band a record deal with German label Morbid Records. SALEM then became a cult band within the worldwide extreme metal scene and for members of bands such as MAYHEM and BEHERIT.

“Creating our Sins”, the first official release, came out in 1992, while the extreme metal scene was still forming. “Kaddish” (meaning ‘a prayer for the dead’) followed two years later, and sold over 40,000 copies worldwide. The opening song, called “The Fading”, was played on MTV’s “Headbanger’s Ball” in heavy rotation and also got the band to be elected as one of the best 10 up and coming bands in the world by MTV and Kerrang!. “Kaddish” also featured a song called “Ha’ayara Bo’eret” (meaning ‘the town is on fire’), which is associated with the holocaust. This national controversy found its way to the Israeli parliament for a discussion of whether or not it is appropriate for a metal band to play such songs.

Following the success of “Kaddish”, Israeli label BNE decided to take SALEM a step further, signed the band on a three album contract and recruited Colin Richardson to produce “A Moment of Silence”. Richardson, known for his work with FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, NAPALM DEATH and many other big names on the metal scene, loved the demo and rejected offers from other bands and flew to Israel to produce the album.

Early 2001, SALEM were released from their contract with B.N.E. and signed a deal with KMG/System Shock a few months later. Fourth album “Collective Demise” was released in September 2002, and remains the band’s most aggressive record to date.

In the beginning of 2004 SALEM released their first official DVD titled “Live Demise”, featuring a 90 min concert, 8 video clips, interviews, etc. Of course the songs have gone through many revisions throughout the years, as the band members have evolved as artists and as people.

In their long years in the business, SALEM played numerous shows as headliners but were also much obliged to play on the same stage with other known bands like MEGADETH, ENTOMBED, BEHEMOTH, ANCIENT RITES, ROTTING CHRIST, CANCER, Attila Csihar (MAYHEM) and others.

2005 saw the birth of the “Strings Attached” album, featuring all time band’s various favorite songs with an orchestral classical strings quartet. The album was the first full length album by an extreme metal band to be 100% recorded with a string orchestra.

The new “Necessary Evil” album was written in 2006, and features thirteen songs of SALEM’s music at its best: the new material is heavier, modern, dark and highly unique.