Rockin' In The Islamic World

Underground Heavy Metal Scene Thrives Cautiously In Egypt

(AP)  The music was loud and the tattooed fans were wild, dancing and swaying in flashing strobe lights to the crashing sounds of heavy metal songs. Suddenly, the music stopped. The band leader grasped the mike and announced: "It's prayer time."

No one left to pray. Everyone stood by the stage and waited, as the band paused its music while a nearby mosque began the call to prayer from a loudspeaker. Then the music resumed.

Welcome to Egypt's heavy metal scene, making a tentative comeback in a conservative Muslim society nine years after a government crackdown amid allegations of satanic worship, drug use and group sex among the upper-crust youthful fans.

"We are Arab Muslims. We respect our religion. But we only love this music," said Noor, a 23-year-old part-time German language teacher and guitarist for Dark Philosophy, a pioneering Egyptian heavy metal band.

Noor has no illusions that the raucous music is likely to catch on big-time in a society where many young adults still date with a chaperone.

"The first step is always the hard one," he said. "People are not used to our music and songs yet. People cannot get over all the negativities that happened in the past."

In January 1997, about 100 heavy metal and rock music fans were arrested in Cairo by state security officers on suspicious of satanic worship—a serious allegation in a country where respect for organized religion runs deep.

Egypt's state-controlled media carried stories of clandestine parties with drugs, group sex and bizarre satanic rituals including exhuming corpses and killing cats to drain their blood. Fans were ridiculed as spoiled rich kids seeking to fill empty lives with loud music, sex and drugs.

Egyptian authorities have banned heavy metal concerts. But as police controls eased over time, fans organized discreet gatherings, usually in remote areas around Cairo and Alexandria.

Several hundred fans—guys with goatees and Zodiac tattoos, girls with spiked hair and nose rings—turned out on a recent Friday afternoon in a rented house on the outskirts of Cairo. In shaggy raven black hair and T-shirts with gothic symbols, they came to proclaim "Egypt metal's second wave."

[joltme]

sounds to me like the young people in the middle east don't much care for war either.Would'nt it be wonderful if money became worthless making it so we would have to lay down our guns and everyone having to come together as one to make it all work... Then again maybe were all just to tired we just don't know any better and all we have now,Is all will ever have.Either way it's time for my nap...Mj

[jensnoztree]

I am a Christian and I don't think that a certain style of playing music and voice fluctuations make any music 'satanic'. Even the Bible says that man looks at the external but God looks at the heart of man. Whether you worship God with old hymns or contemporary or rock or ska or metal, he is looking at whether you are worshiping in truth and in spirit. God gave us the ability to create music and gave us talents to see and know how to make differnt sounds. It is sad that some people use those gifts for 'satanic' purposes, but just because music is loud or uses a guitar, it is not satanic.

[johnkick]

I am going to tell my Daddy on them.

[johnkick]

I'm going to tell my Momma on them.

[yeahright7]

P.O.D. - MXPX - UnderOath

tell them as they walk thru the valley of the shadow of death - spreading the word of GOD to all who will listen that all of ANY music is bad -just like ALL muslims aren't "bad"

[drgoodwin12]

In reply to snflwr4rea have you ever listen to Hindu music or Buddist music? Are they Satanist to? I have listened to all forms of music and the only music that repulse me is that of hip hop,rap and any fool that praises evil in any form. You may be religous,maybe not. The USA is not evil nor are the rythmns of Rock which happen to come from Arab and African cultures. With your logic then all Arab,African music would be Satans music.I happen to like Ravi Shankar in small doses and other arab musicians who play with rock,jazz musicians or on thier own. It seems to me all the evil that is in the world comes from one sided individuals who cannot think for themselves or are only after something for themselves.

[drgoodwin12]

In reply to snflwr4rea have you ever listen to Hindu music or Buddist music? Are they Satanist to? I have listened to all forms of music and the only music that repulse me is that of hip hop,rap and any fool that praises evil in any form. You may be religous,maybe not. The USA is not evil nor are the rythmns of Rock which happen to come from Arab and African cultures. With your logic then all Arab,African music would be Satans music.I happen to like Ravi Shankar in small doses and other arab musicians who play with rock,jazz musicians or on thier own. It seems to me all the evil that is in the world comes from one sided individuals who cannot think for themselves or are only after something for themselves.

[ageofreason-2009]

I am glad to see brave souls in an oppressive environment challenging the status quo. Satanism to most is actually about thinking for yourself and being an "adversary" to ignorance. Few Satanists believe in Satan as a real entity but as a state of mind. LaVey's Satanic Bible, if this is the basis chosen, is infinitly less evil than the Bible for anyone who would trouble themselves to read both as I have. I have not read the Koran however I have found the passage that states believers should kill the infidels. Evil is a concept that is abused and confused by most of society.

[drgoodwin12]

Although their are a few bands that play heavy metal that worship Satan, most do not. I have listened to Rock,Heavy Metal,Punk,progressive rock and just about every form of rock including jazz/rock fusion for over 40 years. I do not drink,take drugs or worship Satan. I beleive in the same God that muslims beleive in except that I accept Jesus as my saviour. I consider myself sensible and moral. I have been married to the same woman for 25 years. Music did not make me change my religous beleifs or my sense of mores.It has enlighted me to hear and see other cultures and to respect them.Music has been the voice that championed the civil rights movementand brought a new perspective on the catastrophy of Vietnam,9/11 and many civil issues.So in conclusion listen to the lyrics of Dylan,Neil Young,Bruce Springsteen and enlighten your minds. This argument about music is because of a lack of understanding between cultures that have been divided by politicians and religous figures who have used it for their own gain.

[walidhussien]

from your choice of the music (Heavy metal)
I think you are just a group of imitators cause i really don't see any thing in our culture as arab muslims that can be translated into this kind of music.
If you have choosen rock music for instants i would have agreed with you cause rock music can be a very effective and can attract even more people other than the young drugies & *** maniacs.

Thinks again heavy metal is not the right choice.