To Summon The Blues

Have I summoned this before?

Silhouetted and dissolved.. Am I?

 Bloodpaints on my cross..

Mortal thou art in my eyes..

For whistles loudening in my ears..

Singing what’s left of my fears..

That they shalt come away..

Come away, my heart!

Again I would summon the blues..

The blues that bid no often clues..

A scarlet rose withering on its own..

And yellow flares fading in blue night skies..

Amongst MEs, dual nebulous sparks..

Art masses of my severed heart..

Heart half broken, heart half dead..

Not what for I ever had to pend..

Had to be so sole!

May, 28, 2012

Reviewing: Walls of Death (Vol.1): The Dead Zone

Walls of Death (Vol.1): The Dead Zone

Thursday 3^rd of May 2012

El Sawy Cultural Wheel – River Hall Venue 

While ‘ordinary people’ were sitting by the Nile, having a drink and chatting about their ‘ordinary lives’, Cairoian Metal music fans were having an extra’ordinary night’ at the River Hall with the presence of 3 different Metal acts in an atmosphere full of energy… and moshing!

Up first was Last Remaining Light (2011 - Metalcore), that happens to be a combination of members from different groups including Destiny in Chains, Tide of Septum, Jailbirds and others. I can recall them leaving a good impression in their first and only performance on the same stage last year and a better one this time, covering bigly-metalcore-bands such as Trivium, As I Lay Dying, and Lamb of God, then even bettering it with an original The Zohan despite of the sound issues they faced.

Last Remaining Light

Dark Philosophy, a Black Metal band of 9 years, was up next. I’ve been looking forward to hearing these guys after being told of the excellent quality music they created, and they did not let me down. Bits of melodiousness, heaviness, depressiveness and uniqueness one could ever wish for in a Black Metal act.

Noor Mephito of Dark Philosophy (Vocal- Ex Bass)

Tariq of Dark Philosophy (Drums)

My favourite part of the gig was when Destiny In Chains was guested to perform their new single Temper as a surprise, occurring to be a Deathcoric masterpiece and featured in Total Deathcore Volume 3. It was too heavy that I felt I was getting crushed by gravity!

Zander of Destiny In Chains (Vocal)

Sheva of Destiny In Chains (Guitar)

The gig was closed by Sinprophesy (2009 – Melodic Death) which I got to see live for the second time after their huge success at Extreme Noise 2011, and having The Prophecy in Chains for the second time too (as far as I know), and even though I didn’t quite feel the harsh vocalling whatsoever but their performance was superb.

Regardless of the usual sound issues bands would always have to face every time performing at the Wheel I’d praise Sayed Ragai’s role as an organizer, Mosh Pit Maniacs and Jorzine as sponsors of the event, it was quite outstanding.

Sayed Ragai of Sinprophesy (Vocal)

Omar of Sinprophesy (Bass)

Photos by: Lina El Gohary
Special Thanks goes to: Zander Adam 
                                       Seif El Bayoki

(D.O.S.): Dear Friends, Not Talking About My Issues Doesn't Mean I Don't Have Any!

To be an introvert is to get judged by people surrounding you and have to deal with it silently. I don't like sharing my feelings with others, and I don't get used to people so easily, which put me under the 'arrogant bitch' category. For those who I'm close to, the usual impression they get is that I don't have much going on in my life and I'd come off as boring if never having something interesting to blab about.

Flash news: I do have issues, I do have a lot going on in my life and on my mind, but I'm not that type of girl who would turn into a whining drama queen over things she thought she could handle alone, because I have always taken care of myself and of my life on my own.

My best friends, who happen to be not too many, don't know anything about me either. For some reason I like to centre my full attention on their problems and be a good listener and supporter for them. I don't recall any have ever heard me sharing my endless dilemmas of family, friendships, love and inner-self., and if I do, they don't know it all.

It's Shakespeare's birthday, and so far him being so inspiring and extraordinary is inapprehensible by me.

Quote of the Day: "All that glisters is not gold; / Often have you heard that told: / Many a man his life hath sold / But my outside to behold: / Gilded tombs do worms enfold."
-William Shakespeare

The celebrated playwright and poet died on this day in 1616 at the age of 52.

Goodreads

Reviewing: Storm Corrosion

Summary: folkish Blues!

When the names of Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt came along together, everyone expected something heavy, something that could be tagged as ‘Metal’, then came Strom Corrosion to disappoint all their fancies about it, but not mine.

The 6-track album is Progressive\ Psychedelic\Folk\Blues\Ambient\Indie-flavored, with spices of the dark atmosphere I’d always expect in Wilson and Åkerfeldt’s music. I like that they did not mainly rely on the greatness and popularity of their vocals., the main and only focus of this album is maintaining this dark, obscure, yet plain atmosphere, by using a quite variety of instruments and sounds. I also think of the timing of the release as brilliant, because the music is really summery and dreamy, which is totally proper in such a time of the year.

Bottom line: most people (especially Metallers) who have never been exposed to Indie\Folk bands (such as: Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and others) will definitely not appreciate it. But for me, I consider it one of the best experiences in 2012.

Åkerfeldt and Wilson

Album Art

I Don't Hate You!

Depth of blue..

Tonight she falleth..

Amongst suns and moons..

Tears to scars..

On face so gloom..

Skin so dry..

Craving dreary fires..

Demon’s growls..

Heard at night..

She, not screaming..

It’s the dark..

For path untrodden..

Opted out all wrong..

All falleth in darkness..

I don’t hate you..

I’ve chosen the darkness..

April, 10th, 2012

Reviewing: Metal Blast - The Heavy Dose

It’s not so often that one could get the chance to listen to good music and have a great audience around them at the same time. Last night’s gig (Metal Blast: the Heavy Dose) at El Sawy Culturewheel was literally such a heavy dose for Metal music lovers in Cairo.

The whole thing started with Karma, an Alt-Metal band that was formed in Cairo 2006. It was a hell of a beginning, setting everyone on fire with their heavy tones, and it got even better when they featured Zander Adam of Destiny in Chains!

Afterwards, and preceded by a long anticipation of mine, the almighty Wyvern (Heavy\Thrash Metal - 2003) got on board. I have always heard great things about the band but never seen them live before. Wyvern simply kicked asses last night, with their spectacular solos and extraordinary drum solos that unleashed the beast outta their fans and the voice outta my lungs (yeah, too much yelling and screaming).

Then comes the Lebanese Heavy Metal band of 17 years. When I first heard of Blaakyum, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but their music unleashed hell. It was one of the most awesome bands I’ve ever seen playing in Egypt. Beside the good music they played, they knew how to communicate with their audience. I have to admit the band was beyond my expectations, chapeau! Sadly, since their formation back in 1995, the band couldn’t officially release any of their albums until their debut album release "Lord of the Night" on Friday the 13th of January 2012.

Event organizing was pretty good; all was set and ready in time, and bands' CDs sold on doors. Expect for one thing that I didn’t personally like was putting off Blaakyum to the end of gig, the away-band should have played first so everyone could get to see them.

Karma 

Wyvern

Blaakyum

Reviewed with me: Sam Ramirez

Photos by: Lina El Gohary

Best Rock Basslines

Because bass guitar is unheard, unfelt and unseen as a basic instrument, I’d like to point out some Rock tracks that have the best bassline ever played:

Pink Floyd – Sheep

Bassist: Roger Waters

Echo & the Bunnymen – Show of Strength

Bassist: Les Pattinson

Bauhaus – Double Dare

Bassist: David J.

Siouxsie & the Banshees – Jigsaw Feeling

Bassist: Steven Severin

The Sisters of Mercy - Lucretia.. My Reflection

Bassist: Patricia Morrison

Virgin Prunes – Pagan Lovesong (The Hidden Lie version)

Bassist: Trevor Rowen

Queen – Another One Bites the Dust

Bassist: John Deacon

Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart

Bassist: Nick Harmer

What Patsy Should Have Said!

Singular!

Reviewing: Wine From Tears

 ‘Good bands disappear’. This applies to WFT who have not released anything since their full length album Through the Eyes of a Mad in 2009, and that was a hell of an album!

The band’s musical style is all about harmonizing components of Melodic Doom and Death Metal along with profound Gothic touches such as chorus, keyboards, some female-vocaling and the lyrical theme as a whole.

Weeping and dimness are embraced by the heavy guitar chords, and the beautifully played keyboard captures a portrait of dark fairytales.

I love how they change their usual tempo from depressive slow to angry fast in The Sinner solo followed by “Search for a church…, I’m going to take you with me” which makes it one of my favourite tracks.

And agreed with most of WFT’s fans, Close To Katatonia is the 5 stars track of the debut. It’s amazing how Alexei is capable of mastering both clean and brutal vocaling to perfectly synth with the riffs. Also, in Before the Gods, the heaviest track among ‘em all for me, where the tempo change haunts then leaves you craving for more.

Another flavour added is female vocaling in Feeding the Angel side by side to brutaling, a track that I find rather complementary to the album. The one and only flaw of such a wonderful album is that it’s too long and at some point you could get either strayed.. or bored!

       

Song for the Heartless

 You speak as of heaven you are..

Yet to me, hell is raining immorality..

Amply making promises..

Only with hate you cram me..

And I let it be..

And I let you chop the smile off my face..

To scatter my years onto seclusion..

Onto bizarre conclusions..

You are no a man of cult..

Nor am I a woman of heresy..

But you have taken the wrong turn..

To indulge a life of dismay and hypocrisy..

And I don’t let it be..

And I don’t let you reign over me..

To wander my years impetuously..

So you’re not the one who keeps me alive..

And you are not the one to kill me!

Mar, 27, 2012

Musica Eternal II

I can yet hear ya, echoing..

Lyke sounds of rain in emptiness..

Flowing thro my veins, killing..

The sweetest kills..

I can yet hear ya, falling..

Lyke mountains collapsing before Gods..

For slowly can I fall into this..

But ne'er to rise..

There's no way out of you but into you..

I can yet hear ya, flowing..

Lyke poison are thy words..

Nay, I shall no complain, nor ache..

Still do I make no sounds to fake..

As I am stirring still into you..

I can yet hear ya, blowing..

Lyke a soft wynd touching my peel..

Doth it give me the sorest shivers..

But leav'th me the finest appeal..

I can yet hear ya, Musica..

Diminishing fears..

O'er our love-lacking life..

O'er my selfless affairs..

Whenas I hear ya..

I can yet hear ya, flawless..

Endless, sugary and sweet..

Feb: March 15, 2012  

Reviewing: The Foreshadowing

I had always had this particular image of Doom Metal as an extra depressive genre which is made for those who suffer a sever depression or so, that was before I got myself more into it only to discover a whole new world, not of gloominess, but of music worth spending the time with..

My initial idea of Doom emerged from mainstream bands like Anathema, My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun, Draconian and so on.. but it was only a few months ago when I came across underground bands, and here are some of them:

The Foreshadowing:

My doorway into the underground world. Their debut album Days Of Nothing 2007 is a 53 minutes of dusky Doom Metal compiled with an ambient\Gothic touch. Melodies are slightly soft, riffs are wavy and giving the feeling of romance rather than the ruins of human race. There is something about this album that keeps you attached to it even when it’s not playing, the music will linger inside your mind and grabs you right back to it.

The second album Oionos 2010 is, obviously and according to fans' opinions, more ‘epic’ than ‘doomish’. It’s notable that the change of label to Cyclone Empire Records left a noticeable imprint on this album, thus you can notice signs of a better production in louder drums, clearer guitars and good sound quality.

In Oionos some kind of musical maturity is sensed, Marco’s voice is deeper and touchier, Jonah’s drums is more powerful and well-tempoed. I happened to have found an almost-accurate and cool description of the vocaling style (which in my opinion is one of the basic reasons of their success) on Last.fm, quoting some fan on Fallen Reign “Tonight's Decision-era Katatonia sung by Mikael Åkerfeldt, with modern production and a touch of Sentenced”.

I also like how they end their apocalyptic journey with something dark and ambient such as Into The lips of Earth and Revelation 3-11, that hands you over to peace after such a long journey of fighting. Their 3^rd record Second World will be released on the 10^th of April and I’m expecting a blast.

Related Artists\Bands: Alessandro Pace, Klimt 1918, Spiritual Front, Grimness, How Like a Winter.

Musica Eternal

 

Music.. ain't no music..

Until it bring me shivers..

Music.. ain't no music..

Unless it do me the fevers..

It falls, hits and hurts..

Yet leaves me bleedless..

With the dreamy melodies..

I dance but I stray..

With both my ears stroke..

I never want to end my day..

Nor the night, sweetened..

'Cause it's like sailing away..

And on the shores of words..

Can I find my life story?

And on the drumming waves..

Should I swim slowly?

And with the guitar gods..

Aren't I taken by glory?

But I'm still hungry..

Still thirsty for more..

The more it comes..

The longest it will last..

'Cause I can never get enough..

For now and forevermore..

Sep, 04, 2011

4:30 a.m.

 

You, My Reverie!

Part I

Have a disgrace to carry afar and toss’ll out?

I come in no peace..

Wilt thou tell of my insipid reveries..

And let kingdoms evoke my words and name?

For portraits on walls to melt..

For a lady to acquire her shame..

For an infant to grow selfish..

And profit on his clever games..

Whilst reveries of mine perish into airborne ashes..

Foreshadowed graves shall not speak of my name..

I have conn’d truths over times and times..

So above remains could rise thy crows..

I have built such thinkings, thou shalt know..

And upon dreams we built unusually dreams..

What to have hail’d as home..

Part II

Alas! He sought out her grace..

As of me, I, sorrowful as I could be..

The dreads over mountains of heart-to-heart..

And frightens my face-saving to appear..

But not to demolish our whims..

As to bite all the crumblings and sear..

Break all the vows and still mend..

Eternally shall thou live in the cunning fear..

For in no peace I come..

Part III

Profuse is the indulgence, lifeless cambium..

Like we both lived together, on a deserted island..

 And the greenery in yellow fields resembles..

A letter in this poetry of romance..

I write not with words, but with blood..

I paint thee echoes..

The prayers..

Chapel bells ringing loudly in my ears..

I pray not with words, but with souls..

Imploring you in my time of need..

Thou thought of wittiness to float..

Over rubbishy motions in seas and cease..

Though all the tenderous oceans could never contain..

Temerity, appetence, and me!

Feb:March 15, 2012

Artwork by Sarah G. Mosallam

His Nought

Because I never asked for nothing..

He brought me a chocolate bar, stuffed with nothing..

He thought I would care.. about his –nothing-..

As always..

He hoped I’d eat vacuity.. gladly!

But I got worn-out of nothing..

The more I want, the more I get nothing..

Again he brought me a chocolate bar..

But this time it was stuffed with something..

I ate it with lust all over me..

And it did taste so damn funny..

So I asked “Darling..

What does it have inside?”

He answered “nothing, ..

It’s been always nothing!”

 

 5:35 P.M.

Feb, 12th -2012

In Regione Caecorum Rex Est Luscus

A spacious meadow, a rose grew in..

Ivory tower and the eye is sole..

One, what I see.. A world to me..

Envy of the blind is blinding me..

The rose, by the wronging wynd to have withered..

Growing pale.. yet often preserved above 'em all..

The ivory failing to be maintained..

For they kill mammoths of the rose's land..

To the leas, toward defacement it led me..

To the graves, I dared to carry my fascist sorrows..

To the bones, have I ached for the foreboded end..

End where to the blind's kingdom and soul..

Unlikely seen, improbably said..

"I am a king", I am no king..

But of the fool.

Oct the 31th, 2011

5:25 P.M. 

   

Hymns Of Agony

Mourn, doves of tolerance, mourn..

When the very dear of you was torn..

As mothers wail over sons and guns..

Guns shooting innocence in the morning sun..

Rebel, birds in the shadows, rebel..

Don’t let the light seep from yer beaks..

Like autumn’s hymn sung under the veil..

In words of agony..

Fight, with all yer might, you fight..

For the starry skies will shine on ya..

But for the graves where to bury their lain..

And the lanes we pass across the veins..

Lies a bloody youth and I remember..

Whose blood we swept off the ground..

5th of Feb, 2012

5:45 P.M.

No More

No more the edging for sorrow I held..

No more shall I crawl towards ambiguity..

No more do I let thee enter my zone of war..

Where I fight and I survive..

No more do thee invade this hallow brain..

No more can I sense that narrow stair..

Leading to suffocation..

Taking me beyond the likely life..

No more wilt I count thy silly lies..

Up thy damn arse they shall head and stay..

No more of nonsense have I taken..

No more inner snaps to be breaking..

I am in charge of my own entity..

For thine is to be shaking and faking..

15th of Jan 2012

3:05 P.M.

My 15 Songs of this Winter

Shape Of Despair - Night's Dew

Tamaryn - Choirs Of Winter

Blackfield - My Gift Of Silence

The Cranberries - Zombie

Broken Social Scene - World Sick

Cocteau Twins - Shallow Then Halo

Beach House - Turtle Island

Patsy Cline - Walking After Midnight

Swallow The Sun - ..And Heaven Cried Blood

Jesu - Silver

Christian Death - Electra Descending

The Gathering - On Most Surfaces

Dead Can Dance - The Arrival & The Reunion

R.E.M. - Day Sleeper

Siouxsie & The Banshees - Jigsaw Feeling