The crowd was awesome that night. Everyone was excited, yet sad because this will be the last gig before Ramadan, however when Pull Box started playing everyone stood in the front and gave them a great support. Seriously,Pull Box how do you guys pull off a great performance like that? The front female is just energetic and when they play they put everything into it.

Pull box

Around 9:32 Svengali started setting up the stage and now the crowed is getting closer to the stage, let’s not deny the fact that Svengali is on everybody’s favorite bands in the UAE list, so I personally did not expect anything less than what they did that night. Performing their best hits ‘Sink’, ‘Conquer’ and ‘Embrace’, Svengali got the crowed in a mosh pit and headbanging!

Svengali

By 10:40,InnerGuilt were setting up the stage to perform for the first time in Dubai performing their best songs, such as ‘Burned of Guilt’ their single from 2010, ‘Through narrow Corridors’ single from 2014 and a Gojira cover ‘Lizard Skin’, as well as a Sepultura cover ‘Troops of Doom’. The crowed really loved their Thrashy/ death metal tunes from their album Slanderous Society that was released on April 11th, 2012. InnerGuilt’s front-man has a charismatic stage presence which is something that’s very important for a Thrash band like themselves. They pulled a great show.

Inner Guilt

The Lebanese veteran metal band formed in 1995 Blaakyum came down to Dubai to share their groovy/thrashy metal music with us. Even though the band’s set was marred by the sound system of the venue, Blaakyum got everyone in the Music Room head banging and supporting them. Right before they went on stage I had a small chat with Rabih Deaibess the guitarist and he told me how delighted they were with the hospitality they received and with the support they got from both the crowd and the other bands. With his Middle Eastern flavored voice,Bassem sang two of my favorite songs ‘Lord of the Night’ and ‘Cease fire’ along with the rest of their songs from both their albums Line of Fear and Lord of the Night. Thank you Blaakyum for coming down and playing in Dubai, I can now add you to my top favorite bands I’ve seen live.

JoScene and Metal Bell, thank you guys for giving us one of the most memorable nights. You guys rock!

Blaakyum

Check the rest of the photos here.
All photos are copyrighted to the photographer George Durzi and JoScene.
Check George Durzi’s page here.

Written by: Rim Jurdi.
Edited by: NJ Bakr.

Complete bands set lists in order:

Maticrust:

1. Die In Vain
2. Identify and Attack
3. Their Lies
4. Denies and Demise
5. Forced Patriotism
6. It’s None of Your Fault
7. Never Mind Them
8. Unheard Cries

Tartarus:

1. Seshot (Intro)
2. Axes of Hatred
3. Cosmic Storms
4. I am the black wizard (Emperor cover)
5. Grimness and Atrocity
6. Mother North (Sataryicon cover)

Arrivl:

1. Deception in the shadows
2. Endless
3. Grotesque cold empire
4. Plagues of flames
5. As the eternal winter
6. Sacrifice in blood
7. Exile`s silents
8. Wound
9. Everything invaded (Moonspel cover)

Kimaera:

1. Ancient serpents
2. The Day Innocence Died / In A Dying Embrace
3. In the Shade of Nephilim
4. Lost Control (Anathema Cover)
5. Among the Dead
6. The Taste of Treason
7. Crystal Mountain
8. God’s Wrath

Metal East Anthem (Music my DJ)
Anarchadia – True World Order
E.Y.E – Panaromia II
Bilocate – Hypia

Aramic:

– The Summoning
– The Fallen

Svengali:

– Conquer
– Embrace

Kaoteon – Anthem of Dead
Benevolent – The Tyrant
Nervecell – Nation Plague
Voice Of The Soul – Under A Blood Red Sky
Scarab – Ankh
Myrath – Merciless Times
Chalice Of Doom:

– Shame Written In Blood
– Against The Wind

Nu clear Dawn – The Meeting
Ascendant – Doomsday Machine

The venue, The Music Room; Now, I’ve never been to the Music Room before but I heard a lot about it. The place is spacious, with a decent stage and lightening equipment.

At 8:15, the first band started Fat Randall. The only punk band in the whole night. The band was fun to watch, and very silly; cracking up jokes between tracks. The set included 5 tracks and 2 covers, “No Cigar” and “To Be With You”. Their first track “Retardation” was seemingly good, until the Solo.

Apparently something went wrong with the cables, and there was no distortion. Romario – the bassist – and Paul – the guitarist – tried to hide it with some wisecracks. It worked, everyone laughed and they proceeded to the next song. Despite their shenanigans, the audience interactions didn’t raise until the very end when they wiped out with “Millennium Falcon”.

DJ Cindy Reframe blessed our ears with some 80s heavy metal tracks to entertain the audience until the next band got ready, which was Voice of the Soul. 9:00 sharp the band was on stage – I was really impressed with how time punctual everyone was. They started off immediately, with a slight problem with the drums, but was easily fixed. The band started off with “Immolation” , with almost over half of the crowd was at the stage; banging their heads. “Guardians of Genocide” genuinely had an intelligent solo. Monish – the guitarist – absolutely nailed it. Moving on to their track from their upcoming album in September – which jokingly has no title – the drummer gave us some beats until Kareem and Monish tuned their guitars. The track is much heavier than the previous two, and that gives you a slight hint how the album is going to be like. They skilled it off perfectly, I don’t think there would be any other way to end their set.

Again, DJ Cindy moves into heavier tracks. MC Sary announces some giveaways including t-shirts, CDs and ION turntables. While Svengali set-up their gear, other band members helped them set everything in place and that was a very nice gesture.

9:45 Svengali started – I told you they were precise – So, this was their first time on stage, and boy they carried it out! Their tracks were all from their EP “Unscathed”. The band have been putting up their practicing sessions for the past few months and it clearly shows their effort on stage. I enjoyed the harmony between Fadi’s clean vocals and Adnan’s brutal vocals. They went together so well especially in “Ophidia” and “Sirens”. The vocalist Adnan was so high on interacting with others, jumping and calling them to jump along. The audience were on edge as they were looking the band they’ve waited for months. In case you haven’t heard their EP, listen to them here.

Finally, Bilocate; Again DJ Cindy goes on amazing everyone with mingling tracks together smoothly, and band members helping the Headliners arrange their gear and instruments. Now, almost all of the venue was empty except for the stage surroundings. They came back to Dubai after 5 years away to show us what they got!

They started heavily off with “A Desire to Leave” everyone was singing the lyrics along; pretty amazing. Their second track was by far my favorite “The Tragedy Within” as it had some tabla mingled, and everyone was belly dancing! They only had one cover in their mindblowing set “The Castsaway” by Amorphis; and they smashed it.

This was a very intense night. Metal Eastern Night and JoScene did a great job in managing the bands, the time between the sets was precise. They made sure the audience wasn’t too drunk or heavily headbanging to extent of hurting themselves. I could see organizers roaming around the venue making sure everything is in place. MC Sary ended the night with announcing the winners of the ION turntables, lucky them! It was a Perfect night, with great choice of bands and venue.

Review by: Nj Bakr
Photography by: Alexandre Antozzi

Stay tuned with artists on:

• Fat Randall – Facebook.
• DJ Cindy Reframe – Facebook.
• Voice of the Soul – Facebook.
• Svengali – Facebook.
• Bilocate – Facebook.