Arallu Interview | Athenaeum Of Sin Reviews

The Interview — Arallu: The Voice Behind the Sin

Interviewee: Genie (Main Member)
Publication: Athenaeum Of Sin Reviews

Q1. Why revisit The Demon from the Ancient World now, nearly two decades later?

Genie: Hello Kris and Athenaeum Of Sin magazine.

Butchered the main member of Arallu is here—it’s great to interview for your great magazine.

Dmoon is a very well-written and interesting album, but its production ruined it. Still, in many magazines that reviewed Arallu’s albums, it was considered the best one, even after Death Covenant.

Since January, we’ve been discussing within the band the idea of re-recording it, but it never actually happened because of other activities.

The past three years — with the ongoing war here, the band’s inactivity, and the approach from Nir Nakav who played drums on the first two albums of Arallu back in 1999 — all led to the creation of this album. I’m very happy that it finally came to life, and even more so because, coincidentally, this year marks the 20th anniversary of its original writing. With the re-recording, and with the physical abilities of the band members who worked on the album, it was important for us to take the music in the best and most fitting direction possible. The original version already exists — some fans love it, some don’t, but it’s out there. Back in 2005, we had to compromise due to the studio budget and the physical limitations of the musicians in the band. But in 2025, there are no compromises. If we’re doing the album again, we’re doing it in the best way possible.

I think it’s beautiful that there’s a chance to compare the two, but Demon 2025 is, in my opinion, a monster of an album in every aspect compared to the original, classic version.

What interests me most is hearing what those who truly loved the original will have to say.

Every album we create has its own atmosphere. What was right for the production in 2005 is not right for the production in 2025. That’s why even the track order and the artwork are different. This is not a simple reissue of the album — it’s a completely new and full production. In many ways, it’s almost a brand-new album.

Q2. What’s changed in your creative process since the original release?

Genie: I believe that since 2005, when our album was released, the band has grown tremendously over the past 20 years. Back then, there were things we simply couldn’t create – but today we know how, and we have the ability to do so.

Dmoon in 2025 sounds completely different from what we created back in 2005.

Q3. How does D-MOON reflect the current state of the Middle East, musically or thematically?

Genie: D-MOON is an album that looks back to the ancient world — a world ruled by kings and kingdoms, filled with demons and sorcery. Unlike the Middle East of today, which is marked more by violence than mysticism, this album captures the atmosphere of the region in a broader, more mythical sense. Unlike our other albums that deal directly with religious wars and Islamic terror, this one speaks to the timeless aura of the Middle East’s ancient past.

Q4. Can you walk us through the construction of “Battleground”?

Genie: This song, unlike the others, does deal with terror. Sadly, it even seems to describe what happened on October 7, when terrorists broke into homes and brutally slaughtered everything in their path — including women and infants. The song was written 20 years ago, and yet it suddenly exploded in our faces two decades later, as if it had been waiting for this tragic moment.

Q5. What role does history play in shaping Arallu’s sound?

Genie: A central role. The whole concept behind writing Arallu’s lyrics is essentially a comparison between the ancient world and the world of today. This is especially true for the D-MOON album, which focuses more on the ancient Middle East than our other albums.

Q6. How did the current lineup influence the reimagined album?

Genie: I believe the lineup playing on this album brings the atmosphere of the songs to life in a much more professional and clear way than the original version. Something in the 2005 version felt off, but in the new version everything feels right and very precise — thanks to the musicians who performed on this new recording of the album.

Q7. What was it like working with Dory Bar and Maria Engler on production and visuals?

Genie: Working with Dori Bar-Or is always a pleasure because he manages to bring my vision to life with incredible precision. It started with the GENIEWAR album ten years ago, and since then we’ve completed five full albums together. Dori really understands the atmosphere I’m looking for from album to album, and he executes it brilliantly.

Maria, the photographer, is someone we worked with for the first time. I had seen her work with other bands — I didn’t particularly like what she had published before, but I recognized her professionalism. With the right tuning, I knew I could get amazing photos that would capture the album’s atmosphere, and I think the results are clear.

I’m very grateful to both of these talented people.

Q8. Do you see this album as a continuation or a rebirth?

Genie: Rebirth!

Q9. How do you balance aggression with atmosphere in your songwriting?

Genie: Honestly, I’m not sure. Yesterday I was listening to this album as well as Dat Covenant, and I realized that the atmosphere in both albums is so strong and full, yet it’s never overdone and doesn’t compromise the intensity or aggressiveness of the music. They complement each other rather than competing with one another. I have to admit, I’m pretty surprised by that myself.

Q10. What’s the biggest misconception about Arallu’s music or message?

Genie: I think in Arallu the message is stronger than the music. But not everyone understands our meaning unfortunately.

Q11. What do you want listeners to feel when they hear D-MOON?

Genie: I want them to close their eyes and feel as if they are on a nightly march across the desert sands, under a full moon, with whispers of war winds gathering around them. They should feel their feet lifting off the ground, hovering like demons above the desert, while beneath them two armies clash — but these are not human soldiers. Something mystical and incomprehensible is happening below as they float, and they cannot make sense of it.

That’s the album atmosphere you all should feel.

Q12. How do you approach live performance—ritual, rebellion, or release?

Genie: Ritual. More like Mayhem shows. Enter deep breath to my soul and feel unhuman.

Q13. Any final thoughts on legacy, evolution, or what comes next?

Genie: Thank you very much, Kris, for this interview and for the incredible support all the way. It’s not something to take for granted in these times, and unfortunately, music isn’t what truly matters in periods like the last two years we’ve been experiencing.

I hope that anyone who receives this album for review or listening will be able to make the distinction — to ignore the background noise of war and not judge based on our personal opinions or where we come from. We, too, have enemies like any country, and we want peace and quiet, fighting so that our children can live in safety and raise their own child.

This closes the interview. The rite is complete, the voice of Arallu now etched into the archive of sin.

Please read the review — Click Here.