Opinion: Is the Egyptian Doom Metal scene in TROUBLE?!

Opinion: Is the Egyptian Doom Metal scene in TROUBLE?!

By: Rana Atef a.k.a ..DaRk~~KniGhT

Originally published on 22/5/2018 at 10:00 pm

Introduction

So, Back to the Egyptian Metal scene universe, but actually, I am aiming to shed light an important issue which is the position of the Egyptian Doom Metal bands.

Allow me to give you a quick, and a brief map of the history of the Egyptian Doom Metal scene history, or to be more consistent the Egyptian Doom Metal bands that enhanced the Egyptian Metal scene with their originals.

Egyptian Doom Metal Map 

Ps: the list includes only the bands that released originals (not tribute bands), and the bands are arranged according to the year of founding!

2004, Egypt has meet the oldest and the first Doom Metal band that composed Doom Metal originals, Grave Solace, it is founded by Ayman Ibrahim a.k.a "Necro".

He is not only the first musician who composed original Doom Metal stuff, but also he is the only Egyptian Doom Metal project that played Atmospheric Funeral Doom Metal music.

The band's releases contain four full length albums: Tears Of Darkness in 2006, Dead Swan Lake in 2007, Repentance For Graveness End in 2009 and Recitations From A Dreary Funeral in 2013 and two splits – An album with collaborative artists - which are "The Singing Of The Twilight in 2007 and "In Memoriam" 2010, in addition to a compilation CD released in 2015. Actually, the band could be considered on hold.

Link: "Death of the Swans" by Grave Solace: http://media.myspace.com/gravesolace/music/song/death-of-the-swans-20208332-20009517

Link: "The Fall of My Conscience" by Grave Solace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcOaJoUptKA

After that, the Egyptian Metal Scene faced few Doom Metal projects such as Chronicles of Eternity  that founded by one of the greatest Egyptian Metal composers, Shung, the man who founded a number of Great bands such as Sand Aura, and Beyond East. The band  released few singles in 2007, the news of the band were stopped suddenly without any further notifications.

Link: "Feverish Night" by Chronicles of Eternity: http://media.myspace.com/chroniclesofeternityband/music/song/feverish-night-43579363-46435695

Link: "Elixir by Death" by Chronicles of Eternity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTiXIkC2MkI

 In 2009, Egypt has meet the first, and the only Melodic Death Doom Metal band, or in other words, the closest African Metal equivalent to Swallow The Sun, Sinprophecy!

Sinprophecy was founded by Sayed Ragai, and Amr Fadaay, and participated in different major Metal concerts, in addition to participating in the first Wacken Metal Battle in Cairo. 

The band released its first full length “Through Sacrifice and Redemption” in 2016. 

Honestly, Sinprophecy is considered the most successful Doom Metal in Egypt, as it has a real fan base on the ground, and real popularity in the whole African continent. Plus, Ragai is one of the famous Metal voices in Africa.

Link: "War Shall Begin" Music Video by Sinprophecy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM83eZq7cPQ

Link: "Summoning" by Sinprophecy Live at Wacken Metal Battle Egypt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbhskjh9XpU 

In 2010, Sinprophecy members enhanced their presence in Egypt after forming an Atmospheric Post Doom Metal project “Morka Asyl”. Shortly, Morka Asyl released two releases “Solve Agony” demo, and “Eternal Solace” EP.

Link: "The Sculptured Fate on Catacombs" by Morka Asyl: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eafwNiiO80U

In 2012, two of the well-known Egyptian Metal guitarists: Elave Salah, and Mohamed Tarek Al Khaleel a.k.a “Mishmish” founded two promising Doom Metal bands: Metamorphia as Melodic Death Doom Metal project, and Winter Shades. 

Unfortunately, no news is posted about both projects few years ago!

Link: "The Beginning" by Metamorphia (A Primary Version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4dtiFBXpfA

Link: "Roots of Agony" by Winter Shades: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt2PsdDR2Wo

Finally, in 2014, a new rising Doom Metal band appeared, Midwinter that founded by Alfred Ehab, and Ahmed Essam Nassar a.k.a “Moka”, the band released its first EP in 2015, entitled “Portrait of Doom” which I proudly participated writing mostly of its lyrics, and I am still greatful for Midwinter’s A Portrait of Doom lineup: Alfred Ehab, Ahmed Essam Nassar, and Moataz who left the bands few days after the EP release. 

Then, the band released its final single “All the Suns are Gone” two years ago, and it headed mostly of the African Charts, alongside some singles from “A Portrait of Doom”

Although, I am more into Symphonic/Gothic Doom Metal stuff, but it carries a promising feedback!

In my point of view, I wish deeply that Midwinter original members re-think of their decision, and start working on improving Midwinter music.

  

Specially, that the band needs to add more vivid, melodic tunes to the music to push the life into its tunes, and to manage to attract more listeners 

Moreover, the band’s music sound needs to have better and more professional recording, mixing and mastering processes. 

Link: "All the Suns are Gone" by Midwinter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsgiCzop8VQ

Catharsis is the latest Doom Metal project that hit the scene with professional three originals, and very impressive teasers, and a long waited cooperation with Ragai.

The band is founded in 2017 by Ahmed Sokkar, Infernum Expectat founder and Magdy Hanafy, the founder of Worsens.

It suffered from lineup changes: for example Mostafa Sherif joined the band after his departure away Segadoras lines.

Sheriff left that band shortly after Segadoras last concert in Metal Grinders 2016, and Sherief has composed one of Segadoras latest performer originals which has known among the Egyptian Metal Scene fans “The Black Metal influenced” track, which carried remarkable, alerting guitar tunes. 

Last week, Sokkar announced the end of Catharsis, which in my point of view is ill, stubborn, unprofessional decision!

Firstly, we need more Doom Metal bloods in the scene, Catharsis composes good quality project, and it received good feedback!

Secondly, the music of the Catharsis, is attractive, and melodic, beside the latest teasers introduced that the band added more Symphonic dimension to the music.

Link: "Eiggam" by Catharsis: https://soundcloud.com/catharsisonline/eiggam

Back to 0 Square 

With Catharsis split up, the Egyptian Metal scenes stands in very critical position, as currently only Sinprophecy who carries Doom Metal flags in Egypt, although different voices stressed that Sinprophecy is not a pure Doom Metal band!

Lately, Sinprophecy faced a case of 0 activity, but there is news about Sinprophecy’s return.

What Sinprophecy Thinks

Actually, I had the chance to chat Sayed Ragai to know his thoughts about the Egyptian Metal Scene, and The Egyptian Doom Metal Scene.

Ragai imitated his talk with “Well from my opinion I see that the Doom Metal Scene here in Egypt is totally underrated, but if you took a wider look you will find that this is something common worldwide, Doom Metal has been always underrated among other Metal genres.”

Then, Ragai clarified the hardships of the Egyptian Metal bands “to be honest the whole Egyptian Metal Scene is a mess now, it's not a tight community like the old days, however most of the people here doesn't have the notion to support, with all respect but the like button on the page doesn't pay the bills of the jamming & recording sessions or the equipment, so it's pretty obvious that most of the musicians will quit as they already have a normal life and bills to pay to cover the expenses of life, otherwise they will take the path of commercial music, so you will gain some money and have several venues to play in without feeling that fake pity, if you know what I mean!!!” 

Then, he explained “I'm not blaming or judging, I'm just try to clarify the blurry image of how things work.

only the fool won't realize that life was never meant to be easy, however I know that my words won't change a thing as may his soul rest in peace "Chester Bennignton" said At the end it doesn't even matter.”

Conclusion

The Egyptian Metal musicians should think of breaking the traditions of following certain trends for example, the latest few years witnessed a big number of active Melodic Death Metal bands, and now only few original projects that really managed to continue its path as their music comes from a real deep thinking, and good aspirations.

Also, the Egyptian Metal scene is currently directing into new trend which is Oriental/Symphonic trends specially after Odious’ “Skin Age” 

PS: I am not talking about the bands that were founded as Oriental Metal bands or Symphonic influenced bands.

So, the bitter truth is that mostly of Egyptian Metalheads are Doom Metal lovers, and the evidence is the number of fans who attended Metal Blast and praised the presence of Inner Missing and Swallow The Sun.

It is really hard to have a good Doom Metal fan base in the local scene and could find more bands that satisfy the fans hunger. 

I appreciate what Sinprophecy does in the scene, and I wish to see more Doom Metal bands rise!