The successful Israeli metal band Arallu has been active for three decades and is known all over the world. However, the "Iron Swords" war caused performances in Europe and various projects to be canceled.
The Israeli metal band Arallu, which has been around since 1997 and has released eight albums to date, has been facing boycotts and harsh reactions from record labels and concert venues around the world in recent months, simply because it is Israeli.
The band's lead singer, Daniel, who goes by the stage name "Genie King", published a patriotic but charged post this week, in which he described how companies that had previously courted them, reneged on their agreements, cursed them, cut off contact or explained that they didn't have time. "These are excuses. When someone wants to release an album, they come out," Daniel tells Israel Hayom.
According to Daniel, “When the war started, we received countless messages of concern – from bands, from producers, from people who have worked with us for years. They asked if we were okay, if the families were safe. But as soon as Israel started returning fire, the worries disappeared; suddenly, we were not allowed to be part of the metal world.
The postponement isn’t just about releasing music. Two Arallu European tours planned for the past year, with 12-13 shows each, were canceled one after the other after BDS organizers threatened club owners with protests and financial losses if they hosted the band. “We’ve played festivals and clubs all over Europe, and the feeling is that you’re no longer judged by your music,” says Daniel, “you’re judged by your passport.
Daniel holds up the Israeli flag in a post he published, and according to him, the biggest absurdity is in relation to the flags: "There are bands from Norway or Sweden that appear with their flags at concerts and on album covers, and no one says a word. But when we, an Israeli band, put up the Israeli flag – that's genocide, fascism, a war crime. And why? Everyone has enemies. Us too. But when it happens to us, we suddenly forget October 7th. It's as if it's disappeared. Only Gaza exists now."
Despite everything, Daniel refuses to break down. The post he published attracted many comments: "We will not whine. We are proud of who we are, what we do, and we are not ashamed to talk about it. Arallu has always been a band that believes in itself, and we will continue to release music – even if we have to fight for every step."
Image - Facebook/screenshot - Story originally appeared on 'Israel Hayom' posted with permission from the band