Rock Era Magazine — the music publication operated by Naqada Music Management — is publishing this statement in full solidarity with the growing number of independent bands and artists who have come forward with serious, documented concerns about their experiences with Darkside Records and its founder Saïd Chebacheb.
These are not rumours. These are the accounts of multiple bands who tried to resolve their concerns privately, in good faith, and at length — and who have now chosen, as a collective, to speak.
A group of bands — including Antiquus Infestus, Galloglaigh, DUSK, Maddox Theory, Mythos, Hëllridër, Catharsis, Anemoya, Obscured Violence, and others — have issued the following statement:
“We are a group of bands who have all experienced serious problems with Darkside Records and its representative, Saïd Chebacheb. We were repeatedly given promises and deadlines that were not fulfilled — regarding physical releases, payments, distribution, promotion and live shows. Some bands paid money and did not receive what was promised, while others were not paid for performances.
We tried to resolve these issues privately for months. Instead, we received excuses, delays, broken promises and, in many cases, silence.
We are no longer willing to remain silent. This is our collective statement. We have the messages, agreements and evidence to support what we are saying.
Please share this post so that no other band or artist becomes another victim of the same situation.”
Egyptian band Hëllridër have added their own detailed account, which Rock Era Magazine reproduces here in full:
“We’d like to highlight our experience with DSR. We were ignored the whole time — miscommunication was the norm. We felt that the label took advantage of our work. We contacted fellow bands Catharsis and Anemoya, who are signed to the same label. We contacted the venues ourselves and booked them, and at the end of the day someone else took the credit.
Agreed funds were either late — and we mean two hours before a gig type of late — or stalled entirely. The private group that included the band members was deleted.
Promotional material was generated using AI, despite an abundance of real video footage — to the point where we ended up making our own promotional content to post ourselves.
As per contract, DSR was required to commit to the artist’s online fan community for up to 20 hours per week, with a $300 monthly budget. The label has not posted any content related to the band since February.
And we will note: the engagement on the label’s posts appears to come from purchased bot activity — with zero organic reach.”
Independent music is built on trust. Artists invest their time, their money, their work, and their reputations when they enter into an agreement with a label or management entity. When that trust is broken — and when the same pattern of broken promises, missing payments, uncredited work, and sustained silence is reported by multiple independent bands across multiple countries — it becomes a matter of wider concern for the entire music community.
Rock Era Magazine stands unequivocally with the artists who have come forward. We encourage any additional affected bands to share their documented experiences publicly. We encourage the wider music industry — journalists, promoters, booking agents, distributors, and fellow artists — to take note.
The bands involved have stated clearly that they hold documentation: messages, contracts, and evidence. We take them at their word, and we believe the community deserves to know.
To Darkside Records and Saïd Chebacheb: the artists you work with are not without voice, and they are not without support.
