Time to move on to the next stop on our short excusion across the Middle East, and if one country is in the news more than any other these days in terms of war and conflict, then I don't need to tell you which one that is, and where we're headed next. Obviously, with the current crisis ongoing, I have no idea whether any of these bands are still operating, remain in the country or are even alive. But we wish them all safety and hope as we dare the dangerous journey northwest through Iran's hated neighbour Iraq and across the border into
Well if we thought there were few metal bands in Iran, try Syria! Total --- and I mean total, including unsigned, split-up, everything --- of
twenty-eight bands to choose from! Doesn't leave much scope for variety, does it? Well I personally know no Syrian metal bands, but this one at least comes up on YouTube, so let's try them out.
The Burning Ship -- Buried by the Last Tragedy --- 2011 (Independent)
Truth to tell, it's only a demo, and that's all these guys have released to date. There are only a mere three tracks on it, and I think I can only get two on YT, but as I said above, pickings appear to be very slim here in the Arab States. I suppose the fact that there's a bloody civil war going on at the moment probably limits the amount of people who are more interested in laying down tracks than in escaping the country and trying to survive. Still, we'll see what's on offer and do the best with what we have.
“Deadly isolation” opens this three-track EP, and there's a dark, haunting and desolate feel about the synth intro, with some really nice piano and guitar. Buried by the Last Tragedy (sorry guys but I'm not going to be able to resist referring to you as BLT from now on!) are described as death/doom metal, and the vocal is certainly fitting for both: a dark, nasty, angry growl, with the music slow and powerful though not plodding. Definitely more on the doom than death side though. Very melodic, very satisfying. Two guitarists, one of whom, Akram Al-henwani, also does the vocals, and a drummer with the fantastic name of Nizar James Misanthropic! Plus a bassist of course. The music is really strong and stirring, and both Akram and his mate Ahmad Al-Adllby on the other guitar really know what they're about.
Now I definitely hear a piano there about halfway, but there are no credits for keys or piano, so I can't tell you who is playing. The first track is at least almost eight minutes long, as is the next one, so there's a decent amount of music here even for only three tracks. The third is apparently acoustic and a mere three minutes, but still, that's nearly twenty minutes in total, which is not too bad. The title track then has a really nice sharp guitar opening it, and has that dark doom feel about it that BLT seem to prefer. I really don't see the Death Metal influences here, though I freely admit I know next to nothing about that subgenre. Still, for me, on the basis of what I hear on this short album, I would say BLT are definitely more in the Doom Metal category, possibly a little Black thrown in, but not Death. Anyway it's another good track, pounding and grinding, and at the end it slides into the beginning of the third track, which is acoustic, but unfortunately it cuts off after about ten seconds and I cannot find that track on YouTube at all. A real pity.
TRACKLISTING
1. Deadly isolation
2. The burning ship
3. The distant voice (acoustic)
Short, not to say sweet, but an interesting introduction to the music of this war-torn country. I suppose most of what we stumble across will be like this, as life has to take priority over music, but hopefully we may unearth the odd gem as we tiptoe through crumbling streets where houses have been reduced to rubble, try not to look at the corpses lining the road like firewood, and hold our breath as we try to understand how anyone could manage to put together a band, or create music amongst all this madness...