Papaita hosts metal extravaganza
Last week’s ESP Metal Day delivered an outstanding showcase of Israel’s vibrant metal scene, featuring four distinct bands that each brought their unique flavor to the stage. The event, to mark 50 years of ESP, was sponsored by Halilit Music Stores, and took place in Papaita in Tel Aviv.
The event’s format—half-hour sets followed by an all-star Ozzy Osbourne tribute—created the perfect balance of variety and cohesion.
Across the Border: Raw Youthful Energy
The evening opened with Across the Border, a rap metal quintet whose youthful energy was absolutely infectious. Fronted by Assaf Bar-on’s dynamic singing and rapping, the band demonstrated impressive chemistry between guitarists Noam Guri and Ofir Shapira, while the rhythm section of drummer Yair Ben Shalom and bassist Ohad Baumgarten laid down crushing grooves that perfectly supported their hybrid sound.
They performed a few songs from their forthcoming debut album release, mostly in Hebrew, but “Under Pressure is in English.
This is a band that is going places, definitely a band to watch.
The post-set songwriting masterclass with Ben Shalom and Baumgarten offered insights into their creative process, with incredible two-handed tapping and polyrhythms.
StormbounD: East Meets West in Symphonic Splendor
StormbounD provided an adventurous musical journey, seamlessly weaving Middle Eastern scales into their symphonic metal framework. Yael Horwitz’s soaring lead vocals were perfectly complemented by Ofer Friedman’s harmony work and growling vocals, creating a dynamic that kept the audience captivated.
The band’s instrumental prowess shone through Rotem Sadia’s keyboard orchestrations and the surprising addition of violin, which added authentic folk elements to their sound. The highlight came when Friedman picked up an Irish Bazouki for one song—a bold choice that somehow worked perfectly within their eclectic sound palette. Pavel Kleiman’s bass work and Yuval Partush’s drumming, alongside a replacement guitarist (I don’t know what happened to Shani Friedman), created a solid foundation that allowed the band’s symphonic strength to truly shine.
Sinnery: Death Metal Precision with Special Recognition
Sinnery brought crushing death metal intensity to the proceedings, demonstrating why ESP Guitars recently endorsed two of their members. Rhythm guitarist and vocalist Alon Karnieli took a moment to thank both ESP and Halilit for making the endorsement happen—a well-deserved recognition for the technical prowess displayed by both him and lead guitarist Idan Kringel.
The quartet’s performance was tight and brutal, with bassist Saar Tuvi and drummer Liam Fine providing a relentless foundation. Their mix of original material showcased their songwriting chops, but their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” was a particular crowd-pleaser, paying homage to metal’s foundational masters while adding their own death metal intensity. There perfectly coordinated headbanging was as good as Judas Priest at their peak.
Subterranean Masquerade: Theatrical Jewish-Oriental Metal
Subterranean Masquerade played theatrical east-meets-west high-energy rock. Fronted by the larger-than-life Davidavi “Vidi” Dolev—whose Tevye-esque appearance belied his explosive stage energy—the band delivered a memorable sets. Watching Vidi climb amplifiers and jump around the stage with infectious enthusiasm reminded everyone why live metal can be such a visceral experience.
The seven-piece ensemble, featuring the triple-guitar attack of Tomer Pink, Or Shalev, and Omer Fishbein, created rich sonic landscapes that perfectly complemented Shai Yallin’s keyboard work. Bassist Golan Farhi and drummer Jonathan Amar held down the complex rhythmic foundations while Vidi’s vocals soared over their Jewish-oriental metal fusion.
Their premiere of “Uman Inshallah” was a highlight of the entire evening, perfectly encapsulating their unique ability to blend Jewish and Arab musical themes into a cohesive metal statement. It’s rare to hear such culturally specific music that feels both authentic and universally compelling.
Educational Interludes: Beyond Just Performance
Between sets, ESP Metal Day proved its commitment to education with masterclasses that went beyond traditional musicianship. Assaf Geranot’s metal beatboxing demonstration opened minds to percussion possibilities beyond the drum kit, while Yotam “Defiler” Avni of Prey for Nothing shared insights into the art of growling vocals.
The Ozzy Tribute: A Fitting Finale with Unexpected Flair
The all-star finale brought together musicians from across the lineup for an Ozzy Osbourne tribute that felt both reverent and celebratory. The finale added a a Zakk Wylde element with both guitarists wearing kilts. Songs included “Paranoid,” “Crazy Train,” “Bark at the Moon” and “No More Tears.”
Seeing these diverse artists collaborate on classic material demonstrated the unifying power of metal music and provided a perfect capstone to an evening and a fitting tribute to Ozzy.
Final Thoughts
ESP Metal Day succeeded in showcasing the incredible depth and diversity of Israel’s metal scene. From Across the Border’s modern rap metal fusion to StormbounD’s symphonic Middle Eastern experiments, from Sinnery’s crushing death metal precision to Subterranean Masquerade’s theatrical Jewish-oriental fusion, each act brought something completely unique while maintaining the quality and passion that defines great metal music.
The combination of stellar performances, educational masterclasses, and collaborative spirit made this an event that satisfied both casual fans and serious metal devotees. The only minor critique would be the missed opportunity to properly introduce band members and all-star participants—giving credit where it’s due would have made great performances even more memorable.
Events like these remind us why the metal community remains so vibrant—it’s built on both respect for tradition and openness to innovation, exactly what ESP Metal Day delivered in spades.