Album Spotlight: Massive Scar Era - Assyad
Cherine Amr of MSE talks to us about her ambitious project that fuses the rich history of Zar with the catharsis of heavy metal.
In Egypt’s metal scene, few names are as prominent as Cherine Amr (AKA Cheen) of the influential Alexandrian group Massive Scar Era. For years, the band’s music has carved out a space in Egypt’s alternative music sphere, and has contributed to the growth of the country’s heavy metal community. However, with her latest project ‘Assyad’, Cherine has taken Massive Scar Era’s sound into uncharted territory by looking to the rich musical tradition of Zār for inspiration.
‘Assyad’ emerges from Cherine’s fascination with the Zār ritual, a practice involving music, dance, and spirit invocation to address emotional and psychological suffering. Alongside Zār musician and healer Mohamed AbouZeid and his group The Abou El-Gheit Ensemble, co-producer Etienne Tremblay, Zār singer Salem Atallah, drummer Simon McKay, bassist Frédérick Filiatrault, and cultural consultant and executive producer Dr Kawkab Tawfik, Cherine blends the unrelenting force of metal with the ancient spiritual practice of Zār, creating a seemingly disparate, but surprisingly connected fusion of sounds that grounds modern heavy metal in the rhythms of the past.
As she reflects on the process of making ‘Assyad’, Cherine speaks of the challenges of marrying these two distinct genres. From writing seven tracks in just 20 days to working closely with her collaborators to create something that could be both understood and felt by audiences, the album’s development was as much about emotional connection as it was about musical technique.
Ultimately, ‘Assyad’ makes a powerful analog between two demonized groups; the heavy metal audience, and the Zār community, who have both had their music and practices come under scrutiny by society at large. Through the album, Massive Scar Era and The Abou El-Gheit Ensemble invite listeners to embrace the unknown and explore the deep connections between music, culture, and community.
Watch the full interview here:
- Previous Article hhhhhhhhhhhhh
- Next Article افتتاح معرض ديارنا للحرف التراثية واليدوية في الجونة لأول مرة
Trending This Week
SceneNow TV
Events Calendar
