AL-NAMROOD’s “AL AQRAB” – A Saudi Black Metal Masterpiece Still Shattering Boundaries

Sometimes the best music doesn’t need a release date to make an impact. Al-Namrood, the Saudi Arabian black metal trailblazers, continue to push extreme music into uncharted territory with their 10th album, Al Aqrab , released via Shaytan Productions in June 2024.

Originating from a country where performing live is a risk to life itself, Al-Namrood crafts their music solely in the studio, blending ferocious black metal with traditional Arabic influences. Their lyrics are in archaic Arabic—too dangerous to publish—while the use of oud, qanun, and other regional instruments adds layers of atmosphere to their already intense sound.

Al Aqrab introduces Artiya’il as the new vocalist, taking the band’s sound in a fresh but still unmistakably Al-Namrood direction. No Clean Singing’s Didrik Mešiček notes: “ Al Aqrab focuses more on building an atmosphere rather than the chaotic rawness of the previous album… the second half of this album is more aggressive and overall simply better.” Standout tracks like “Diar Al Anbat” and the instrumental finale “Tarjif” demonstrate the band’s mastery at blending traditional sounds with black metal aggression.

Even a year after its release, Al Aqrab remains a unique statement in global extreme music, proving that the spirit of black metal can thrive anywhere, even under the harshest conditions.

Lineup:

Mephisto – guitars, bass

Ostron – keyboards, percussion

Artiya’il – vocals

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