Paws, Pets & Metal is Metal Insider’s newest column on bands with pets, discovering who watches them on the road, and more. Get to know more about these metal furbabies. We caught up with Neolia as each member went into great detail on their pets.

 

Hey guys, Thanks for the cool interview. It was so refreshing to write about the creatures we love and care for.

 

Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?

Tomer: 

At the moment I have two cats, one female named ‘Mona’ and one male named ‘Andrew’. Mona is a Maine coon and a tricolor and she has a birth defect in her pelvis that makes her posture unstable, she’s also epileptic so she’s on pills twice a day. She’s definitely the jealous type and tends to be grumpy with Andrew. With all that said, she’s a sweetheart and the most gentle creature. Ander is a Scottish Fold, and Dennis the menacing type. He is just the opposite of Mona and tends to go crazy, run around and annoy Mona mostly. He is very playful and energetic and usually sleeps next to my feet.  

 

Inbar: 

So I don’t have any pets of my own (although my girlfriend and I really want to foster a puppy) but my parents have an amazing dog, her name is Ray. We grew up together at my parent’s house. She is truly one of a kind, the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen. She is Knaani’t which is a beautiful breed whose origin is from the land of Israel. I truly consider her as my own pet! They have one more cute cat that’s called Sha’hor (black in hebrew), and another cat named Stevie. They are cute yet destructive towards my girlfriend, who is allergic to cats. It’s an adventure every time we go up to the north of Israel to visit my parents. 

 

 

Ben: 

Honestly, as I haven’t had a straight home for a while, I mostly find myself sitting in other people’s homes. Luckily enough, they trust me to take good care of their buddies. I sometimes looked after dogs or cats, and there were even chickens or bunnies. Nevertheless, it always brings surprising adventures and connections. 

 

 

Guy: 

Biryon- a black dog with a beautiful soul. When I finished my army service it was difficult for me to adapt and cope with myself. There was a village next to me with an unofficial dog shelter and I heard the authorities are going to close the shelter and take all the dogs(and you know.. So I had a calling to go and at least take one to take care of. That’s when I met my best friend Biryon. We took care of each other until this day 12 years after we met at that shelter. Bidjo: a black cat that loves metal. Five years back when I was living in the city with my partner in life and my love Sophia we were working at a pub. One evening I got a call from Sophia saying that there was a newborn kitty in front of the pub’s entrance. When we noticed his mom not showing up and he was in bad shape so we took him to our home and he is our little troublemaker until today.

 

 

 

Yair: 

Haya is my dog and my best friend. She feels me with life and happiness. She’s super energetic and friendly and she attends all my parties and loves metal. Kohi is a true trooper because Kohi has one leg missing, but it is pure love and a strong pillar in our family. Like most cats, Kohi likes the outdoors, although it scares me quite often worrying she might not be able to defend herself. Having one leg doesn’t prevent Kohi from hunting or just getting crazy whenever, so cat life is pretty good.

 

 

Have you ever taken your pet on tour?

Tomer: 

Oh no, Haha, but I bet it would be an exceptional experience. I guess it needs to be a certain type of animal for me to decide it can handle a plane flight, but I’m not sure animals need that kind of experience, plus it would probably just keep me worried most of the time.

Inbar: 

I wish. Ray would have so much fun. I could imagine Ray running up the hills of some outdoor festival having the time of her life. 

 

Ben:

I actually once traveled for two months in India with my ex and a puppy she found in Rajasthan.  He was growing up while driving with us in the back of the van. 

 

Guy: 

Not yet but I once dreamed I was on tour with Biryon my dog. That counts?

 

Yair: 

I’ve never taken myself on tour yet so let alone a cat. I guess in the fantasy world it seems pretty awesome.

 

Who looks after your pet while on the road?

Tomer: 

My girlfriend does, it’s understood as we usually rely on each other for this kind of help, and we know we can be at ease. We both love animals very much, and she used to go to villages outside the main cities and rescue dogs that were being used for battles. 

 

Inbar: 

My brother. He loves her so much, and I do think she likes him more then me.

Guy: 

My parents. We have a very good relationship and Biryon basically became my mom’s pet because they got such strong connections and he helped my parents so much so I am very proud of him.

 

Yair:

I have my wonderful family helping out whenever I need it, so I can chill and know that they always have my back. 

 

What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?

Tomer: 

I guess it’s the one with the least screaming in it which is, ‘Day in Day out’ Loud screaming tends to shock them a bit so I try doing it behind closed doors. 

Inbar: 

Ray is all about high energy and endless running and jumping. She likes extended-range guitars in particular which makes her love every Periphery’s album. 

Ben:

I actually had a dog that really hated Chet Baker’s trumpet, surprisingly, but at the same time could really dig “Summer Rain” by Sikth.

 

Guy: 

Biryon loves Deliverance by Opeth. He knows all the songs from that album. Bidjo is obsessed with Meshuggah and if he had to choose a song it would be the track “Nothing.”

Yair: 

Definitely Carried Away. I think it’s because it has some really relaxing parts to balance the energy.

 

 

How did you introduce your pet to metal?

Tomer: 

Honestly they weren’t properly introduced but I guess, it’s sort of like when I used to live in the same room with my brother and he used to hate Metal until at some point it slipped into his mind and he learned to live with it and finally love and be one with it.

Inbar: 

Well, she was hearing metal music straight out of my bedroom when I was young when I was playing, and from my brother’s room (yup, he’s a metalhead and plays the guitar) 

Ben: 

He actually grabbed my headphones and asked for Iron Maiden. I told him: “Yes, but…”

Guy: 

The first time I took Biryon to the vet he was stressed so I put on some nice relaxing metal music and he fell asleep. So I tried the same thing with Bidjo and it worked the same. Magic.

Yair: 

Hmmm.. You know they are just there at all times so I guess it just happened naturally and they feel my soul and they trust me with whatever they listen to.

 

 

What animal charity means most to you?

Tomer: 

That’s a tricky one. I would’ve loved to be able to choose one over the other but I can’t. Every effort being done in favor of animals is a blessing and a beam of light in my opinion. I wish that in time we will be able to do more for these pure creatures. 

Inbar: 

I appreciate every organization that is helpful for animals, especially those that raise awareness toward animal rights.

Ben: 

I salute people who invest time, energy and resources to make animal life a bit better on this planet. 

Guy: 

I have infinite respect for all animal charities all over the world.

Yair: 

Listen. I don’t know all of them, but there’s this guy here in Israel that takes care of pitbulls and rescues them, so I wouldn’t mind giving him my money.

 

Ben:

We / I must say that this was one of the most fun, anecdotal and meaningful interviews we had as a band. I guess that animals are a very big part of our lives, loving us for who we are and what we do, so it’s nice to give them some credit for that.