Matan Cohen
Encyclopedia
Matan Cohen is an Israeli musician best known for his work as the guitarist
for successful groove
/metalcore
band Betzefer
and the recently reunited melodic death metal
band Nail Within
. Cohen is also a frequent collaborator of comedy
punk rock
act Bo La'Bar featuring his Nail Within
co-members Evil Haim, and Useless ID
members Ishay Berger
and Jonathan Harpak.
along with vocalist Avital Tamir
and drummer Roey Berman as a one-off band for a high school gig in 1998.
What started as a high school gig became a big part of the lives of the band members and since then the band started working, first as a cover band (Metallica
, etc.) and later they started recording their own material, releasing Pitz Aachbar in 2000, Some Tits, But No Bush
in 2001 and New Hate
in 2003.
In 2005, the band released its first full-length album Down Low
and currently is working on its second.
Matan (who also known as Tim Young outside Israel
) appeared on all of the band's releases and is a part of the band from its formation until today. He is also noted for always using a custom black Gibson SG
guitar.
members to form a new melodic death metal
project by the name of Nail Within
. Cohen served as a second guitarist in the band and while on hiatus from Betzefer
, he left to Germany
to record the band's first self-titled album
.
He was a member of the band through all of its short-lived first incarnation and even suggested Betzefer vocalist Avital Tamir
as vocalist after vocalist Yishay Swearts left. Tamir performed with the band for one show.
Recently rejoined the band as all of its members reunited in November 2007 for a one-off reunion show along with plans to record a new album in the future. Cohen will work with the band on its next album when he will finish prior commitments with Betzefer
.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for successful groove
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
/metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band Betzefer
Betzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
and the recently reunited melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band Nail Within
Nail Within
Nail Within was a melodic death/thrash metal supergroup originating from Tel Aviv, Israel. The band was formed up in 2001 by Betrayer vocalist Yishai Swearts and Azazel members Alex Schuster, Evil Haim and Barak Zait...
. Cohen is also a frequent collaborator of comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
act Bo La'Bar featuring his Nail Within
Nail Within
Nail Within was a melodic death/thrash metal supergroup originating from Tel Aviv, Israel. The band was formed up in 2001 by Betrayer vocalist Yishai Swearts and Azazel members Alex Schuster, Evil Haim and Barak Zait...
co-members Evil Haim, and Useless ID
Useless ID
Useless ID is a four-piece punk rock band, formed in Haifa, Israel in 1994. Known as one of the most successful Israeli punk bands worldwide.-History:...
members Ishay Berger
Ishay Berger
Ishay Berger is an Israeli musician best known for his work as the lead guitarist for successful Israeli punk rock band Useless ID...
and Jonathan Harpak.
Betzefer (1998–present)
Matan Cohen formed BetzeferBetzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
along with vocalist Avital Tamir
Avital Tamir
Avital Tamir is an Israeli musician best known for his work as the lead singer for successful metal band Betzefer and for his experimental pop trio On Shoulders of Giants...
and drummer Roey Berman as a one-off band for a high school gig in 1998.
What started as a high school gig became a big part of the lives of the band members and since then the band started working, first as a cover band (Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, etc.) and later they started recording their own material, releasing Pitz Aachbar in 2000, Some Tits, But No Bush
Some Tits, But No Bush
Some Tits, But No Bush is the debut EP to be released by the Israeli groove metal band Betzefer. It was self-produced and released on January 1, 2001.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Avital Tamir - lead vocals*Matan Cohen - guitars...
in 2001 and New Hate
New Hate EP
New Hate is the second EP by groove metal band Betzefer, released in May 2003. It was mixed by ex-Eternal Gray guitarist Eyal Glotman and recorded in his studio, with mastering by Maor Appelbaum....
in 2003.
In 2005, the band released its first full-length album Down Low
Down Low (album)
Down Low is Israeli groove metal band Betzefer's first full-length studio album and major label debut on Roadrunner Records, as well as their only album on that label. It was released on May 19, 2005, in Israel and June 6, 2005, worldwide...
and currently is working on its second.
Matan (who also known as Tim Young outside Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) appeared on all of the band's releases and is a part of the band from its formation until today. He is also noted for always using a custom black Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
guitar.
Nail Within (2001-2003, 2007)
In 2001, Matan joined former Azazel and BetrayerBetrayer (band)
Betrayer is an Indonesian thrash metal band from Jakarta.-Full-length albums:*Grand Voice Society *Pasukan Berani Mati *Hukuman Mati *Betrayer *Revolusi...
members to form a new melodic death metal
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
project by the name of Nail Within
Nail Within
Nail Within was a melodic death/thrash metal supergroup originating from Tel Aviv, Israel. The band was formed up in 2001 by Betrayer vocalist Yishai Swearts and Azazel members Alex Schuster, Evil Haim and Barak Zait...
. Cohen served as a second guitarist in the band and while on hiatus from Betzefer
Betzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
, he left to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to record the band's first self-titled album
Nail Within (album)
Nail Within is the debut album by Israeli melodic death metal band Nail Within, formed by former Betrayer, Azazel and Betzefer members.The album is heavily influenced by the Swedish melodic death metal, with influences from such bands as At the Gates, Dark Tranquility, In Flames and The Haunted,...
.
He was a member of the band through all of its short-lived first incarnation and even suggested Betzefer vocalist Avital Tamir
Avital Tamir
Avital Tamir is an Israeli musician best known for his work as the lead singer for successful metal band Betzefer and for his experimental pop trio On Shoulders of Giants...
as vocalist after vocalist Yishay Swearts left. Tamir performed with the band for one show.
Recently rejoined the band as all of its members reunited in November 2007 for a one-off reunion show along with plans to record a new album in the future. Cohen will work with the band on its next album when he will finish prior commitments with Betzefer
Betzefer
Betzefer is an Israeli groove metal band, originating from the communal settlement Maccabim-Re'ut. The band was formed up in 1998 and was signed to Roadrunner Records from 2005 to 2007...
.
Betzefer
- Pitz Aachbar (2000)
- Some Tits, But No BushSome Tits, But No BushSome Tits, But No Bush is the debut EP to be released by the Israeli groove metal band Betzefer. It was self-produced and released on January 1, 2001.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Avital Tamir - lead vocals*Matan Cohen - guitars...
(2001) - New HateNew Hate EPNew Hate is the second EP by groove metal band Betzefer, released in May 2003. It was mixed by ex-Eternal Gray guitarist Eyal Glotman and recorded in his studio, with mastering by Maor Appelbaum....
(2003) - Down LowDown Low (album)Down Low is Israeli groove metal band Betzefer's first full-length studio album and major label debut on Roadrunner Records, as well as their only album on that label. It was released on May 19, 2005, in Israel and June 6, 2005, worldwide...
(2005) - Freedom to The Slave MakersFreedom to the Slave MakersFreedom to the Slave Makers is Israeli groove metal band Betzefer's second full-length studio album, due for release on February 18, 2011, after it was delayed a few times between 2008–2010...
(2011)