Former NAIL WITHIN Singer Resurfaces In MOONSKIN

Former NAIL WITHIN vocalist Yishai Swearts and multi-instrumentalist Maor Appelbaum (ex-SLEEPLESS, VULTURES) have joined forces in a new band called MOONSKIN. The group, which was officially born in the summer of 2003, also features drummer Matan Shmueli (ARMILOS) and guitarist Raffi Mor (DISTORTED).

Commented Yishai: "In the beginning it was almost impossible to write. I was in a bad situation after NAIL WITHIN's end that crashed my dream, it was the first time I arrived so close to the target and then everything simply crashed in my face, I was isolating myself in purpose from almost everyone.

"One day Maor came to rehearsal with white pages covered by his own blood from the night before, he was biting his lips to death, it was scary man," Yishai continued. "The only thing I had was the faith that I can make it again and take it higher. As a result of the last year I started to develop neurotic struggles within me, which led me to distance myself from people as hard as could. It was almost impossible for me to communicate with people besides my day job as a label owner."

After attending weekly therapy sessions for several months, Swearts was able to embrace his pain and turn it into words, "It really changed my perspective, I learned how to embrace my weaknesses and turned them into strength, I was able to write again, even to smile…"

For Maor, things were not easy either. "I witnessed the death of one of my relatives before he was declares officially dead," he revealed. "It was shocking experience which I'll never forget".

MOONSKIN will record sketches for a debut album later this year and negotiate with several well-established European producers for the recording of the CD, to be completed in 2005. In the meantime, you can hear MOONSKIN's version of the AT THE GATES classic "Raped By The Light Of Christ" on the AT THE GATES tribute album, "Slaughterous Souls - A Tribute to At The Gates", available now on Drowned Scream Records/Goi Music.

Commented Yishai: "We are proud that we were summoned to the AT THE GATES respectful tribute. It's another opportunity to tribute the all-time best extreme metal band, as Tomas Lindberg [former AT THE GATES singer] made guest appearance in my previous band album (NAIL WITHIN) and now it's our time to give respect to this amazing band. We recorded a version which is completely different from the original but [which] shows our interpretation of the beloved AT THE GATES music."