#42: Narjahanam (نار جهنم)
One of the heaviest and the darkest acts out of the West Asian region, Narjahanam unleashes a sandstorm of grinding hooks and epic auras.
Background Info (Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives):
Country of origin: Bahrain
Location: Manama, Capital Governorate
Status: Active
Formed in: 2004
Genre: Black/Death Metal with Middle Eastern influences
Lyrical themes: Middle Eastern History, Wars, Religion, Genesis
Current label: Haarbn Productions
Years active:2004-present
Compared to the European side of folk metal-dom, the West Asia-North African area is similarly diverse in terms of metal subgenres. Unlike the others listed so far, Narjahanam’s music is ominous and brutal, but they pull off their fusion style very well nonetheless, particularly in their second album, Wa Ma Khufiya Kana A’atham (2013). Traditional maqams indeed are perfect bases for the crushing riffs, with Arabian percs — the doumbek and daf (and riq, if I’m not mistaken), the lute (oud, I think), and the symphonic maqam layers completing the epic package.
Favorite Albums:
- Wa Ma Khufiya Kana A’atham (2013) وما خفي كان أعظم
Favorite Songs: — most of these songs (all from their 2013 album) feature traditional darbuka/doumbek rhythms; malfouf, maksoum, and ayoub rhythms are some of those I recognize; they’re a sweet combo to metal’s heaviness
- Qudoom Alsultan / قدوم السلطان
- Rimal Alzaman / رمال الزمان
- Ahlu alquboor / أهل القبور
- Sulaiman / سليمان
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