When Heavy Metal goes to war: The truth behind the battle lines

After all, we are united.

Syria, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, The Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, Libya and India. They all have two things in common, one being an active conflict zone, the other being Heavy Metal music scenes.

From the invasion of The Ukraine by Russia, to the ongoing rocket launches between Israel and Palestine, we're seeing humanity being destroyed by it's very self, yet as we have seen with countries like Brazil, China and Indonesia, Metal music can not only bring democracy and internal stability, but it can bring a way forward for the population to speak out and use it to release any feelings they want to without harming anyone.

Let's be honest, it may well be seen as the devil's music, but when you have people commit acts of extremism, where is the devil's work now? Certainly not metal music. Bands like Israel's Orphaned Land and Palestine's Khalas have sought out to show that underneath the cloaks of the mass media, a unique global culture thrives where political, social, cultural and national differences are pushed aside in favor of a common understanding: Heavy Metal.

But when the mass media only want to cover the negative sides all the time, to show and sell stories in order to make a quick buck through unmistakably purporting such countries as nothing but extremist hotbeds, and lacking any mutual feeling as neighbors or diplomatic friends, what they don't realize (and we've said this) is that Metal music, unifies the world.

So, what happens when Heavy Metal goes to war? Are friendships forgotten or are they simply put on hold? Let us take you to these conflict zones and discover the truth behind the battle lines.

We would like to make it clear we are completely neutral when it comes to talking about certain conflicts.

Israel vs. Palestine

One conflict that always seems to be right on the front pages is the ongoing spat between Palestine and Israel. With the Gaza strip being slap bang in the middle of it, whilst each side fires over rockets at each other and accusing one another of doing wrong, resulting in the unnecessary loss of life.

On the metal forefront, two bands have grabbed the headlines as they toured with each other and showed that they are brothers in arms. Orphaned Land, an Oriental Folk / Doom Metal outfit fronted by Kobi Farhi were awarded alongside Palestinian rock group Khalas with the "Global Metal" award at this years Metal Hammer Golden God awards. Furthermore Orphaned Land recently performed two sets at Bloodstock Open Air, one being an acoustic set.

You can watch both bands receive their award right here.

When you have two religions come together, Islam and Judaism, this coming together signifies a strengthening within the global metal scene, one that says we are united. In a general context it is a strong sign to say 'let us bring peace and stop these meaningless conflicts'.

Our own Israeli correspondent gave his thoughts on this (and in context with an Orphaned Land):

                   "You can see Arabs, Jews, Muslims and Christians singing together, drinking and having fun. Singing together about peace and forgetting they "hate each other", this is beautiful to me and most importantly of all they sometimes bring Palestinian bands to perform and support peace, I do think this is leading us to peace, more than politics does"


People from hall of the democratic filed (Right of left)

https://www.facebook.com/Khalasband
http://www.khalas.net/