Atlanta, Georgia progressive death metal band Daath are getting ready to launch a tour with Cynic and Dragonforce which runs from April 15 in Anaheim, California through July 31 in Urbana, Illinois. Many musicians in such situations dread the endless miles they'll have to drive between cities as they zigzag the country. Guitarist Eyal Levi is more concerned about the planes they'll occasionally have to board to travel extremely long distances, especially overseas. In this edition of "Jumping Darkness Parade," Levi addresses his crippling fear of flight and how he combats his anxiety.
I’m writing this from 33,000 feet where I’m being shaken like a baby by an abusive father, like a heroin addict going through withdrawal, like an alcoholic on the way to work -- YOU GET THE F--KICK POINT!
Anyone who knows me knows that I hate flying with a passion, but that I have to do it a hell of a lot -- Waaaaay too much for someone that hates it. This hate isn’t new. I've been this way since I saw that movie “Alive” when I was 13 years old. No joke. Somehow, that stupid movie about soccer-playing cannibals made me have near-anxiety attacks every single time I stepped foot on an airplane.
Just to illustrate how bad it is, I go through a mental death ritual where I come to terms with the fact that I’m about to die -- EVERY TIME! And I do this all the time. Oh, and try hanging out with me the night before a flight. A few have done so, and can testify that I'm a nervous wreck. You really think that I would get used to it by now.
There’s ways to calm it. On my flight to the first show of my first European tour ever, the other guitarist in the band and I stood at the back of the plane and basically emptied out their entire wine collection. That’s one way to handle it. But ever since “air rage” has become an issue, the airlines have become none too sympathetic towards people that just wanna get trashed on a flight! I swear that if you let me, I’m not going to start any fights or try to open the door to the outside or charge the cockpit. I’m a peaceful and happy drunk. All it would do is chill me the f--k out. But that’s not really too much of an option anymore. Plus, they charge New York prices and I’m not about to pay that when drinking has become something I typically do for free or real cheap.
Doctors have recommended drugs like Ativan, Xanax, and Valium for me. I’ve tried 'em all. I basically have to take an elephant's dose just to feel like a normal human being. I will take so much that I'm in a haze and falling asleep before the plane even pushes back and starts to taxi. Sounds like the solution, right? NO! The moment the engines rev for takeoff I am AWAKE! It doesn’t matter how much of those drugs I take, the moment we’re speeding down the runway my adrenaline kicks in and life starts to suck.
So why do I hate it so much? There's something about hurtling through the air at 500 miles-per-hour in a pressurized metal tube that just doesn’t feel right to me. In fact, it feels wrong. It feels wrong that I have to trust these pilots and mechanics. If the airline industry is anything like what I’ve seen in every other facet of life, people just don’t give a f--k. What if the mechanic who worked on your plane is going through a divorce, just started drinking and is letting his problems spill over into his work? What if your pilot is an egomaniac who decides he’s man enough to fly you through that storm? What if your air traffic controller just cant handle the stress anymore and loses it while directing your flight in. Add about 100 of your questions to that list and you’ll begin to see where I’m coming from. That said, my hatred for this form of travel will never stop me from living life the way I want and that involves a shiteload of travel. Guess I’m f--ked.
Daath's third album, The Concealers, comes out April 21. The band recently filmed a video in Atlanta with director Rubin Fuller for the track "Day Of Endless Light."
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