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Playing God And Other Short Stories
Salem
www.salemband.com

Release:

Pulverised Records
Distribution: Soulfood ; 30.04.2010 (GER)

Info:

The illustrious history of the unrivaled legends SALEM had always been a dauntless path but despite of all the obstacles throughout their 25-year existence, the band seemed to be an even more formidable and well-oiled resilient machine.

The seventh full-length album "Playing God And Other Short Stories" is a different twist to the quintessential SALEM conceptual songwriting structure. Based loosely on the concept of superheroes, "Playing God And Other Short Stories" proves the band's diversity to be able to move away from the political issues and still retain the unaffected integrity of the band!

Featuring the now-defunct Death Metal darlings At The Gates's frontman Tomas Lindberg appearing as guest vocals on two tracks and also utilising the services of the famed Sterling Sound mastering engineer UE Nastasi (Biohazard, Clutch, Devin Townsend, Sepultura, etc), "Playing God And Other Short Stories" is clearly a milestone in the band's intense and long enduring career.

Tracklist:

1. Drums Of The Dead Part I
2. Drums Of The Dead Part II
3. The Privileged Dead
4. Exodus
5. The Downfall Of Paris Part I
6. The Downfall Of Paris Part II
7. The Mark Of The Beast Part I
8. Beast Lullaby
9. The Mark Of The Beast Part II
10. The Mark Of The Beast Part III
11. I Hate Pigs!
12. Playing God

Biography:

SALEM was formed in 1985 along with the newly born extreme metal scene and released 2 demo tapes called: " Salem "(1986) and "Destruction till Death"(1987).

Back than, SALEM were in very good relations with Mayhem’s founder Euronymous who offered SALEM relocation to Norway and joining their cult. Varg Vikernes (Burzum) who disliked the band ideals thought differently and sent to vocalist Ze'ev Tananboim an explosive envelope by mail. After 5 years of a successful underground career and a line-up change to: Ze'ev Tananboim - Vocals, Lior Mizrachi - Guitar, Michael Goldstein - Bass, Giora Hirsch - Guitar, Amir Neubach – Drums, The band released "Millions Slaughtered Live"(1990). This demo tape sold 1,500 copies and got the band a record deal with the German label Morbid Records.

"Creating our sins"(1992) and "Kaddish"(1994) were released by Morbid records. Prior to the release of "Kaddish", Morbid Records released a 7-inch picture EP with the single "Dying Embers"(1994) to promote the album, and when "Kaddish" came out, a limited edition of the album was released on vinyl (picture disc).

The opening song "The Fading" was played on M.T.V's Headbangers Ball rotation and also got the band to be elected as one of the best 10 up and coming bands in the world by M.T.V and Kerrang. "Kaddish" also featured a cover song called "Ha'ayara Bo'eret" (the town is on fire), a song that is being 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.

In 1998, following the best offer the band got from Israeli label B.N.E., producer Colin Richardson, the man who produced such known act as Machine Head, Fear Factory etc, flew over to Israel to record "A Moment of Silence". The album was recorded at D.B. studios in Israel and The Chapel in England and was released late 1998.

Right after the "A Moment of Silence" recording session, Amir Neubach quits the band to pursue a music career in New-York City. Nir Nakav, who just returned from L.A. after 4 years, joins SALEM. In early 2001, In December 2001, SALEM signed deal with KMG/ System Shock from Germany. The 4th album "Collective Demise" released in September 2002.

The fourth SALEM album is the most aggressive SALEM album to date. Produced by the band and recorded in D.B. Studios (Drums, Bass, and Guitars) and Noise Studios (Vocals and mix) in Israel to maintain the bombastic production standard set forth with previous release "A Moment of Silence". "Collective Demise" contains 12 new songs, which textually are snapshots of our reality since September 2002. Nir Gutraiman (Guitar) joins SALEM in 2002.

February 2004 SALEM is back with a vengeance, Live Demise D V D offering their ever-expanding fan base the opportunity to bring one of the band's infamous live shows home. Shot last July in front of 1000 raging fans, this full-length live concert is presented in stereo, 5.1 and DTS mixes. 2005 saw the light of "Strings Attached" the first album in music history of extreme metal band with full strings quartet orchestra, the startup made a huge impact in the European market and magnificent reviews were written in all important media journalists, the album led to special show in Israel in front of 1000 die hard fans with the strings quartet on stage and Attilla from the Norwegian band Mayhem as special guest.

June 2007 The band's new album "Necessary Evil" was released by French label "Seasons of Mist" in June, the album reflects more modern yet technical and aggressive side of the band.

On June the band played at the main slot of HELLFEST FESTIVAL in France with bands as Machine Head, Slayer, Blind Guardian, Within Temptation and more.

"SALEM Underground's" official release date is June 6th, 2008. This DVD is a collection of performances from 4 different shows. The concept for this DVD was to mix the recorded audio (in Stereo) but to leave it un-edited to maintain the rawest live experience possible.

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