Track By Tracks: Massive Scar Era - Assyad (2024)

About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Zār is a possession cult that incorporates music and dance into its rituals, aiming to establish reconciliation between individuals and the spirits (Assyad) believed to inhabit their bodies, causing illness. The Assyad represents the projection of fears and anxieties, and the Zār ritual seeks to alleviate suffering, challenges, and conflicts faced by the individual. At the heart of the Zār ceremony, an ensemble guides the devotees through a trance dance, breaking down barriers to personal identity through rhythmic and melodic patterns deeply rooted in emotional and cultural contexts. This allows individuals in a trance to identify with the possessing spirits, providing a unique sensory experience.

The EP Assyad blends traditional Zār songs and rhythms with metal. Each track is inspired by a specific Zār spirit.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Muluk al-Ardiyya | The Kings of the Earth | ملوك الأرضية (first song we worked on):

Muluk al-Ardiyya is a song for the spirits living on the mainland. They are among the oldest kind of invisible creatures whose agency is related to the forces and life on Earth.

2. Abdel Salam Lasmar | عبدالسلام الاسمر:

Abdel Salam al-Asmar, a revered religious figure in Libyan Muslim history, lived from 1455 to 1575 CE. Began an ascetic (zahid) in Libya's expansive desert, known for performing miraculous acts for the needy. Later in life, he became a mujahid (holy warrior), defending his city with fervor. Revered across North Africa, he features in traditions like Zār, Gnawa, and Stanbeli. His militant stance inspired many Sufi orders in anti-colonial and military resistance efforts.

3. Genie, Lambo | جني يالمبو:

Spirit of the fire, Jinn Lambo is a spiteful creature and a servant of Sultan al-Nar, the fire sultan. The music retains strong African elements, maintaining a profound connection to Zār's Eastern African roots. The ritual necessitates the presence of fire and lit candles during the trance dance.

4. Inner Dialogue:

Inner Dialogue is inspired by the Zār song "Salila, the Master of the Water," depicted as a mermaid symbolizing rebirth and abundance. Salila is a captivating yet proud female spirit, drawn to wealth and gold, but also capable of transformative generosity and support for humanity.

5. El-Leil | The Night | الليل:

"The Night serves as an ode to the day and sun. The benevolent Asyad sings to the night, longing for its swift departure, as darkness is associated with malevolent spirits.

6. Pretend:

Pretend draws its inspiration from the esteemed spirits of Mamma el-Sultan and Sa’det El-Bar. Mamma el-Sultan presides as the revered master over all Zār spirits, while Sa’det El-Bar commands the domain of Al-Midan, the battlefield.

7. School Girls | بنات المدرسة ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos):

"School Girls" represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney's voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song "Banat el Madrassa," which reflects a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.