Two years since their latest single, Tel Aviv based metallized hardcore band ETERNAL STRUGGLE are back with a heavy punch of their new single “Indoctrination” and music video that can be seen above. The hard-hitting single comes from their upcoming debut album “Year Of The Gun”, produced by Brian “Mitts” Daniels (MADBALL) and slated for an undisclosed release date via Demons Run Amok Entertainment and Upstate Records next year. To celebrate their new next-level work, we have teamed up with them to unveil some details about their first single, reveal more insights about the full length, learn about their take on the harsh pandemic times, and give us their top 10 records of the year!
“βIndoctrinationβ is a song that addresses the phenomenon young Israelis admiring the army and blindly serving.” – explains th band. “In our country, it is mandatory to serve in the military for at least 3 years. You are drafted as soon as you finish high-school. Part of our governmentβs agenda is to indoctrinate youth with pride-ridden propaganda to manipulate them into patriotism and admiration towards the military, filling them with excitement to serve as their parents did.”
“Throughout your military service you find yourself in extremely challenging situations that make a young soldier question his/her morals and ethical code. If what they are actually doing is actually within their own personal belief system. If being forced into a fate of war, fear, and hatredβ giving up your basic freedoms and taking an oath to put your country before yourself on the battlefield. Is it worth it? No.
πΌπππππ‘πππππ‘πππ π πππππ ππππ’π‘ π‘βππ π ππ’ππ π‘ππππ , π‘βππ π π πππππππππ πππ βππ€ π‘βπ πππ’ππ‘ππ¦ πππππππ ππππ πππ ππππ πππππ‘πππ‘ πππ βππ€ π‘βπ πππππ‘ππππππ π’π π ππ‘ π‘π ππππ£π π¦ππ’ππ π πππππππ π‘π π‘βπ ππππ.
βYear of the Gunβ marks ETERNAL STRUGGLE’s first full record. The band released Breaking and Entering EP in 2016 and a single Falling Forward, premiered on IDIOTEQ in 2018.
“The EP contains songs from different era of the band when we were more DIY in our approach so the EP was entirely self produced.” – says the band. “Itβs still a great record for what it is but our format has evolved and become more focused and musically challenging.”
“On our forthcoming album titled βYear of the Gunβ we had the great honor to work with former Madball guitarist, Brian “Mitts” Daniels and have him produce it in Israel with us.”
Asked about what made ‘Mitts’ gravitate towards this collaboration, they explained: “We started writing new songs and sending them to Mitts for his constructive feedback as we were looking into different ways to improve our sound and writing skills. Each and every song on the upcoming album received tremendous focus and dedication. Working with an experienced producer was the main highlight in the album process which brought out a lot of magic in the studio while recording.”
“We think that the album really brings our true color and energy to the table with the bandβs original sound and ideas that represent us accurately. A balanced mix of our metal, hardcore and punk influences fused with our passion for sound design, which was polished by Tue Madsen of Antfarm Studios in Denmark. His mixing and mastering work had our jaws on the floor. We will also add that I think that the album content is more mature than anything else weβve done thus far. In our previous releases, we think that we gave a tiny aspect of perspective through living in one of the most conflicted areas in the world and in this record we think we really managed to present and transmit our personal views, thoughts and feelings about everything that we struggle with in our own reality.”
πβπ πΆππ£ππ ππππππππ βππ π‘ππππππππ’π ππ¦ ππππππ‘ππ ππ’π πππππππ¦ πβπππππππππ πππππ π ππππ ππ πππ π΄π£ππ£.
“Anything related to βThe Artsβ has taken a serious blow and has been suffering with less and less hope for independents within βthe artsβ industry.” – admits the band. “The whole country has been under a strict shutdown. When we finished our first lockdown there was a feeling that things will start to get back to βnormalβ, so we managed to pull off an intimate show in June for 100 people. A couple weeks later, a second lockdown was enforced.”
Speaking about their personal take on this tough situation, ETERNAL STRUGGLE shares that “Itβs been stressful and worrisome and still is .”
“Itβs scary because we donβt know how many businesses will survive this without any real government aid.” – they touch the political side of it.
πβπ πππ π ππ βππ£π ππππ ππππ‘ππ π‘πππ ππ π‘βπ π π‘ππππ‘π , πππππ ππ βπ’ππππ π π‘πππππ , ππ‘π. πΌπ‘βπ πππ‘π‘ππ ππ’ππ‘π ππ₯π‘ππππ πππ ππ‘ π‘ππππ π£ππππππ‘. πΌπ‘βπ πππ‘ πππππππ π£πππ¦ βπππππ’π.
“We really hope that the venue owners and studio owners will be able to survive this but would not be surprised if we will have even less clubs around here (they are struggling constantly with city officials regardless of the pandemic), so it is quite scary. For example, we cannot even think about how we will do our album release tour for this record. With years of work on this album, this record has been one of the most anticipated things for us in our lives but without touring due to flight restrictions, we do not know when we will be able to travel without self-quarantining for more than two weeks as soon as we land. Itβs all very unsettling, but we have been doing our very best to stay focused on our music and attitudes. We have always lived amongst difficulty and challenge and we will get through this pandemic as well.”
ππ ππππππ¦ βπππ π‘βππ‘ π‘βππππ πβππππ πππ π‘βπ πππ‘π‘ππ π πππ. πΌπ‘βπ πππ ππππ’π‘ π π‘ππ¦πππ πππ‘ππππ π‘ππ, π π’πππππ‘πππ πππβ ππ‘βππ ππ πππ¦ π€ππ¦π π€π πππ πππ πππππππ π‘βπ πππ΄ ππππ£π.
We asked the band to conclude with their Best Albums Of The Year list and here’s what we got. ETERNAL STRUGGLE’s favorite releases of 2020 are:
PRESSURE CRACKS – THIS IS CALLED SURVIVAL
The energy level on this record is untouchable. sonic waves of passion and angst. A very βin-your-faceβ sound with Jason Aalon Butlerβs vocal delivery, he must be one of the most dedicated frontman ever. truly inspiring. There are lots of other great releases off the same label, titled WarAgainst. highly recommended to anyone who likes it fast, hard & unforgiving.
CODE ORANGE – UNDERNEATH
We were anticipating this release for sometime and it exceeded all expectations. Coming from a background of sound design, this album is an otherworldly blend of technical hardcore, industrial metal and glitch with a thrilling and horrifying atmosphere. The song structures and production are something truly unique and Code Orange continues to prove themselves as one of the more ambitious and boundary pushing bands in heavy music these days. much respect to these innovators.
FEVER333 – WRONG GENERATION
The uncompromisable sound of the streets. this release voices the 99% who are sick and tired of the inequality and social injustice in this world with anthemic tracks to soundtrack the protest worldwide, holding overwhelmingly high energy ‘demonstrations’ rather than traditional concerts, This band has a fierce political agenda and they will have their say no matter what.
IGORRR – SPIRITUALITY AND DISTORTION
Without a doubt, one of the most creative metal projects out there. Igorrr blends elements from classical baroque, eastern gypsy and extreme metal. Not traditional in any which way but sure to scratch that itch you never knew needed to be scratched.
CLIPPING. – VISIONS OF BODIES BEING BURNED
This Halloween themed (double) album will have you holding on to your chair, biting your nails and rushing to lock your door. the most spine-chilling narratives and horror-esque sound design youβve ever heard. Not itβs not metal, Yes it is heavy, Yes it is terrifying, Yes it is game-changing.
BODY COUNT – CARNIVORE
Love how this group has evolved. this album is epic. filled with heavy riffs, killer grooves and a brutally honest straight forward message delivered by the one and only Ice-(mothafuckin)-T. Killer album and extremely relevant, not to mention the special feature from the late Riley Gale (RIP).
PIG DESTROYER – 38 COUNTS OF BATTERY (Re-Issue)
So heavy! suckers for everything this band has to offer.
SEPULTURA – QUADRA
β βwithout expecting a whole lot prior to listening, this album was jaw dropping with mind-blowing artistic production on this record stacked with heavyweight bangers with really great riffs and drum work! killer album.
TRASH TALK – SQUALOR
California hardcore legends released a crazy EP. 8 minutes and 23 seconds of wild energy and unique production from hip-hop producer Kenny Beats. What an awesome surprise!
TABARNAK – SHARIM TABRANAK
You can say that Tabarnak are an Israeli super group that holds a special place in the heart of every Israeli punk-rocker. This release has loads of fresh, fun and clever lyrics, guitar melodies and energetic drums. even without understanding Hebrew, these songs are very well executed and catchy as fuck.