Metal Scene in Egypt

Cairo, Egypt- Loud music, teenagers dancing and singing with the music but the hall of wisdom in Al-Saqia Culture Wheel is not full of fans.

This was the reaction of the fans towards “Yesterday Lied Band.”

In a society that doesn’t accept metal, rock music it was very difficult to the band to start. Metal music or bands in Egypt is not widely spread as many picture it as a sin or “devilish music” since anyone relates it to the devil because singers wear black clothes with weird slogans, sing loudly and use inappropriate words.

Yet, the metal scene in Egypt has always been present but there were always problems and debates facing them.

“With the new technology like YouTube and face book the society became more aware and accepting to the metal music,” said Rashid Wagih, guitarist, Yesterday Lied Band.

He added that groups on face book and up loaded videos on YouTube and MySpace helped people to understand metal and that’s not related to the devil groups that appeared in the 1990′s.

The band, formed 2006, is mainly influenced by old school heavy metal bands and that reflects heavily on their song writing and compositions.

“We get inspired by events happening in around us whether it’s political, cultural or anything,” said Wagih. “We composed a song called “first to decay” and it’s about the political situation in Gaza.”

Bands like “Yesterday lied” and other are still unknown for the public. Yet, other bands like “Wyvern” are going international and are producing albums.

WYVERN was the first heavy metal band to play in the SOS Music Festival in November 2006 in-front of 15,000 people. This concert gave Wyvern more popularity and the band became more than any underground band.

In an interview with Rock Era Online Magazine, Marwan Shaaban, Wyvern Vocalist, said that they have always been dreaming to produce a metal album. He added that it took the band a lot of effort and time to produce the album.

The album called “The Clown” produced in 2009 by Wave Studio and it features seven tracks and its available now in stores.

Wagih said that bands like Wyvern, Cairoke and others are taking the underground rock and metal music in Egypt to another level. These bands have participated and performed in international festivals in Russia, Italy and France.

"The Cultue Wheel" is now hosting metal bands to perform to the public.

Consequently, they are exposed to new cultures and music and bring it back here and this develops the status of the bands.

In the 1990′s heavy and trash metal bands appeared in Egypt and playing at illegal places and thus the society refused the idea of metal music and view it as a sin because they wore black clothes, had long hair, drank alcohol and smoked hash.

“1997 was the last time metal was publicly heard until 2004 when the metal bands started to reemerge under independent musical bands,” said Bassam Yacout, freelance sound engineer.

Shaaban said that Wyvern and others are changing the society’s perception and stereotypes about metal and it’s not necessary to wear black and have long hair.

“I always listen to metal music and all my friends don’t like but because I like the music itself I hear it,” said Ahmed Sherif, a metal fan. “Today it’s different than the past I can go to the Saqia or Town Hall and watch a metal band playing. It’s a normal thing now.”

“Today bands are playing legally in authorized venues,” said Wagih. “All venues are very strict in concerts about liquor and smoking especially with metal bands so people won’t get a negative impression about metal.”

The next concert for “Yesterday Lied” is on February 26^th 2010 in Jesuit School. Be there!!!