Jarada – No Co-Existence With... Jarada

I was introduced to Tel Aviv/Jaffa’s hardcore punk band Jarada back in 2019, after listening to their self-titled debut from the year before. Since highlighting them on DIY Conspiracy with their follow-up Ma’agal Sina’a, I eagerly anticipated their latest offering, No Co-Existence With… Jarada, which I got on vinyl from Germany’s hardcore label Passion Means Struggle.

The album couldn’t resonate more with the present political conjuncture and the stark realities that its lyrics convey. The ruthless extents that oppressive governments, far-right extremist factions and radical religious zealots would reach is chillingly evident. This volatile concoction yields devastating consequences, leaving in its wake countless innocent lives (Q. The children? A. The children), caught in a ceaseless vortex of violence and destruction.

No Co-Existence With… Jarada opens with the powerful 35-second blistering proclamation “Religion is a Cult,” and painstakingly digs into Israel’s realpolitik with powerfully titled tracks like “Me and You (Will Tear the Regime Down),” “Inertia,” “Galley Slaves Forever Remain Slaves,” and “No Co-Existence With Police” (note: originally in Hebrew, I’m referring to the English translations of the titles here). Each track pulsates with thrashing hardcore fury, mirroring the turbulent times that have defined the region during Netanyahu’s reign.

Drawing inspiration from pioneering Israeli political punk bands such as Nikmat Olalim, Dir Yassin, and Nekhei Naatza, Jarada deliver a fierce fusion of scorching crustcore riffs, relentless tempos, and a brutally honest political message. Yet beyond the real-politics of the state of Israel, Jarada touch upon the emotional turmoil and life-altering decisions one faces amidst all the chaos. This is also evident in the band’s name, which translates to anxiety.

Consisting of ten hard-hitting tracks sung in Hebrew, most of them less than a minute long, this album stands out as one of the most authentic portrayals of hardcore punk today, but its cultural and social implications are even more important. To truly grasp its depth, I’ve provided the English translation of the lyrics from the closing track, “Tear Down the Settlements and Sentence Their Leaders.”

I’ve decided to take care of myself
And check what’s making my life difficult
What will improve the everyday life—
A raise? The government’s downfall?
A Peace agreement ?

There’s only one thing—
To tear down settlements

A real solution has to be
Removing intruders from foreign territories
How did the messianics penetrated the mainstream
And turned your children into cannon fodder?!

Or maybe just simply leave them there
And lock up the borders
A true co-existence between a settler and an Arab
Because in the end the Capitalist always triumphs over the messianic

Tear down settlements and sentence their leaders

Harder, faster and louder than the band’s previous releases, No Co-Existence With… Jarada is the band’s most aggressive delivery to date and should be listened to with an open mind and critical reflection. It’s arguably one of the most socio-politically charged and perhaps divisive DIY punk releases of the year. Either way, it demands immediate attention.