Crescent

Review by Genaro Aguilera-Reza

The short: 

Crescent is a Death Metal band from Cairo formed in 1999. They have been recognized as the foremost metal band from Egypt and the first one to play at Wacken, the most important heavy metal music festival.

The long: 

Most of today’s metal acts come from the global north, so it is refreshing to listen to carefully produced metal music coming from the MENA region. Crescent defines its sound as death metal band while incorporating elements from their homeland into their music. Their lyric content focuses on Egyptology and the guitar riffs include Middle Eastern musical scales. Crescent has received international recognition for their uncommon sound. A French record label closed a deal with the band, and has allowed them to tour Europe extensively. Their international fame also brought repression from the Egyptian authorities. Playing shows at home has proved very difficult, as metal music is highly repressed by the Egyptian government.  Despite the scrutiny, Crescent continues to create music and have just release a new album this year '”Carving the Fires of Akhet”.

To listen or not to listen:

Crescent’s guitarist & vocalist Ismaeel Attallah recognizes that metal music was never meant to be for “mass consumption”. Nonetheless, you can listen to the band and support their efforts to bring alternative music to Egypt.