photos by Yalon Schori
Loudwire is hosting the worldwide exclusive of Israeli progressive metal outfit SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE‘s official video for “Somewhere I Sadly Belong.” The song precedes the arrival of the band’s fourth LP, Mountain Fever, which sees release Friday through American prog powerhouse, Sensory Records.
One of Mountain Fever‘s most explosive tracks, “Somewhere I Sadly Belong” features guest vocals from Ashmedi Melechesh of Mesopotamian black metal band Melechesh and gospel choir vocals by British Singer Jackie Hole. The song comes to life through an official video directed and filmed by Yalon Schori and Yoni Sherman Heschel and edited by Yalon Schori.
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE‘s lead vocalist Davidavi Dolev reveals, “This one is extremely dear to us and might be one of the most personal songs on the album. It’s about history, but also about history in the making. The song is dedicated to all people in refuge and exile. I would also like to dedicate it to my grandmother. We used sign language in the chorus of the video to symbolize the deafness of our society towards those who are in need. It’s about roots, identity, love, guilt, trauma, immigration, and wars. Are we going to make it? In order to bring our complete vision to life we were extremely honored to host Ashmedi Melechesh, who is the original source of extreme metal in the Middle East, who really brought to the song the spirit we were looking for.”
With the video’s premiere, Loudwire writes, “Musically, ‘Somewhere I Sadly Belong’ meshes elements of classic prog rock with Middle-Eastern melodies and folk touches. The band navigates some surprising instrumental turns, flipping the switch between aggression and whimsy. Even amid these more uplifting elements, the lyric, ‘Are we going to make it?’ sung as a gospel choir, leaves the most poignant impact as citizens of the world look to escape the clutches of cruelty and pursue individual freedom.”
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE’s “Somewhere I Sadly Belong” video is playing exclusively through Loudwire now at THIS LOCATION.
Lasers Edge division Sensory Records will release Mountain Fever worldwide on May 14th across all digital platforms, on CD, and multiple double-LP vinyl variants cut at 45RPM.
Find preorders for the CD, the Black vinyl, and the Yellow vinyl HERE, the standard digital HERE, the Hi/-/Rez 24 Bit digital HERE, and an array of new merch items at the band’s webshop HERE.
Following nearly a year-and-a-half off the road, SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE is ecstatic to finally announce new live performances in support of Mountain Fever. The band has confirmed their first actual attended live performance since before the pandemic, as they prepare to headline FestiKasach 2021 in Jerusalem on June 3rd. They have also booked a special headlining release show for the new LP, set to take place in Tel Aviv on July 1st, where they will be joined by guests from Orphaned Land, Amaseffer, and more musicians from the Oriental Metal Scene.
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE will continue to announce more live performances over the months ahead as more lockdown restrictions are lifted, including a set at Maximum Rock Festival Bucharest, Romania and much more. Watch for new live updates and much more to post over the months ahead.
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE Live:
6/03/2021 Yellow Submarine – Jerusalem, IL @ FestiKasach 2021 [info]
7/01/2021 Gagarin Club – Tel Aviv, IL @ Mountain Fever LP release show [info]
Boasting ten new songs, Mountain Fever sees SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE continuing to push the balance between pioneering experimentalism to their own take on modern pop culture and its manifestation in the Middle East. With nearly an hour of engaging music, revealing an album composed of African and Balkan brass sections, Arabic violins, extended vocal techniques, and several special guest appearances, the band explores radio friendly hooks that emerge out of heavy riffs and polychromatic arrangements.
Mountain Fever was recorded in Golan Heights, Israel with engineer David Castillo, after which it was sent to Fascination Street in Örebro, Sweden (Leprous, Katatonia, Opeth) where it was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren, then completed with artwork and layout by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media. The record features several notable guest contributions, including drums from Matan Shmuely (Orphaned Land), bouzouki and lead guitars on “Mångata” by Idan Amsalem (Orphaned Land), and vocals on “Somewhere I Sadly Belong” by Melechesh Ashmedi (Melechesh) and Jackie Hole (The Super Things).
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