Prey For Nothing Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

We just finished a gigantic tribute to our favorite band, Death. It's been 10 years since Chuck Schulinder, the man behind Death's legacy, passed away, so it was fitting to make a tribute show in his memory, especially in a place like Israel, where Death never got to perform. We actually managed to pull 25 Death songs in a 3 hours concert, so we're pretty proud. Other than that – we're working on a massive concert here in Israel to celebrate our new album's release, with a lot of guests from the Israeli metal scene. Hopefully we'll manage to arrange some European tours until the summer.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the new album and how it
differs from previous recordings?

We took a heavier and more technical approach this time, more than our debut album "Violence Divine". I don't know if we meant it to be heavier and more complex, but as the musical work progressed, we found that we blend more 'Death Metal' in our specific style, including blast-beats and tremolo pickings that we didn't use before. But the main and aware choice that influenced our album's music was the choice to record this album at Hertz Studios, in Poland. Hertz Studios were responsible for the leading polish Death Metal albums in the last years, so we knew it's going to be heavier by far.
But even when we're pushing ourselves to heavier directions, we are not going to leave out the melody, which plays such a big role in our music.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explore
with the new release?

While "Violence Divine" was much more political and touched many subjects relating to ideas such as human relationships and perspective of oneself, "Against All Good And Evil" drifted from the political point, away to the more philosophical approach. Even if we are dealing with existentialistic concepts, some ideas like special events that took place in the recent years, or certain behavioral fashions are also approached, like how easily we, as a society, tend to follow technological trends, or consume media's garbage.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

At first, when Yaniv (guitars) came up with the name "Prey For Nothing", it was actually spelled as "Pray". But our good friend Yuval Kramer, from Amseffer, who played with us at our mere beginning, suggested the play of words, putting an E instead of the A. the meaning behind that play of words is that we, as metal-heads and self-thinkers (not always the same sadly), are standing at the top of the existentialistic food chain, like lone predators, the Tyrannosauruses of modern society. Prey for nothing and predators to all.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and
how would you describe your stage performance?

We work very hard to play as best as we can, and deliver an exciting performance live on stage. We played together with Paradise Lost, Aborted and Finntroll among others, all were great shows – but I think the best show was Helleluja metalfest 2009 – an amazing crowd of almost 2000 people – all screaming the words with us. That was purely unbelievable.

6. Are there any touring plans for the new release?

As for today, not yet I'm afraid. We are still looking for the best opportunity to tour this summer, and hopefully we'll reach the European shores before the end of 2012 for some musical metal slamming.

7. On a worldwide level how has your new album been recieved by metal fans?

It's too early to tell, I think. So far the reviews were quite complimenting. Some critics find our music hard to digest, mainly because it sits right between Progressive metal and Death metal. The progressive metal critics find it too extreme and hard to listen, while the more extreme metal lovers find it sometimes too complex or intense musically. But I guess the majority can understand how we mix the two different styles into one musical brand.

8. Are there any other projects besides this band or is this a full time
line-up?

We are all committed to Prey For Nothing 100%, but since we don't really have much place to tour here in Israel, we all can find the time to work on several other projects. Yaniv Aboudy plays guitar with the heavy metal band Metal Scent. Iftah plays drums for the stoner rock band called Pig. Tal actually have another full time fledged band, a groove metal unit called Vipress. I'm mostly working behind the scene, writing lyrics for bands like Amaseffer and Reign Of The Artchitect, and I give a good shouting here and there.

9. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

I guess we can go on two directions from here without changing our musical integrity. We can either become more melodic and catchy, or more complex and progressive. I guess we'll do them both, since "Against All Good And Evil" is more complex and more melodic than "Violence Divine" – so choosing both paths seem natural to me.

10. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your
music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The most obvious influence is Death, but we are all love bands like At The Gates, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Testament and Megadeth. We also cherish bands like Symphony X and Dream Theater – for the musical complexity, and their style and methods gave winds to our technical sails. Currently I listen mostly to Gama Bomb, a lovely and funny Irish Thrash metal  band. I am a thrash metal junkie, and to discover bands like Gama Bomb, Hexen and the like are a real treat to me, when I give pause to my Powermad and Forced Entry albums.
Another good albums I recently listened to are Vader – Welcome To The Morbid Reich, Machine Head – Unto The Locust and of course Symphony X – Iconoclast.

11. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

I'm a fan of good ol' table top RPG's, but mostly the regulars. Good movies, good books and good TV shows. A Game Of Thrones was the best thing ever happened to everything that have a screen, and I bet the new 'Dark Knight Rises' movie will blow my mind to pieces.

12. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Keep things metal and say hell no to politics. Never judge a band just by their place of origin, and metal-heads world-wide are all much like brothers to me then any other orthodox Jew who sits in Jerusalem and get fat from my tax money, even (and maybe especially) if their from Iran, Turkey, Egypt or any other place that has some kind of political feud with the country I'm coming from. Keep things metal and Iron Up!