Kaddish was the 1994 cult release from Israeli doom/death metal act Salem, a concept album telling the horrific tale of the victims of the Holocaust during World War II. Metal Mind Productions has now remastered and reissued this album, whose theme still tells a powerful message today, especially considering that members of the band had family who either perished or survived the Holocaust.
Salem play an exciting doom/death metal hybrid, as their music is filled with crushing riffs, ponderous rhythms, growling vocals, and lurid atmosphere. The vocals of Ze'ev Tamanboim are tortured and frightening at times, and in the case of Kaddish perfectly tell the tale of the horrors and anguish that the people in the concentration camps must have felt. His 'broken glass in throat' growls on "Eyes to Match a Soul" slice right through the crushingly heavy riffs from Lior Mizrahi & Giora Hirsch, one of the more powerful and doom laden numbers here. The title track is 8 minutes of pure melancholic doom and death metal, with guitars filled with menace not unlike classic Celtic Frost, while the melodic "Dying Embers" throws in plenty of prog & atmospheric elements into the death & doom metal mix. "The Edge of the Void" is one of the speedier pieces here and includes some technical guitar riffs and intricate drum patters to go along with Tamanboim's grisly vocals.
The CD comes in the standard Metal Mind digipack, filled with artwork, photos, lyrics, and essay from the band. Kaddish remains an important release to the band to this day, and if you didn't have the opportunity to check it out back in 1994, now's the time to do so.
Track Listing
1. The Fading 04:32
2. Above The Ground 04:55
3. Eyes To Match A Soul 05:32
4. Kaddish 08:15
5. Fear Of The Future 04:05
6. Dying Embers 05:49
7. Desert Prayer 01:06
8. The Edge Of The Void 03:17
9. Haґayara Boґeret 05:31
10. The One That No One Knows 05:00
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