A haunting acoustic rendition of Leonard Cohen’s much-celebrated song, Hallelujah, is perhaps not what you would expect to hear covered by a heavy metal musician, but such is the scope of Hadi Sarieddine’s talent and passion for progressiveness.
As a founding member of the Dubai-based metal band Benevolent, Sarieddine, from Lebanon, has seen the region’s musical landscape shift over the last decade as more fans discover a taste for an often misunderstood genre. Originally formed in Kuwait in 2007 alongside his brother Fadi and bass guitarist Mohammed Gad from Egypt, the group represent an exciting homegrown injection into the Middle East’s changing rock scene.
Ever-present in their studio tracks and stage sets are the growls and head banging you might expect from metal performers, but their music also promotes uplifting affirmations of positivity and resolution that have struck a chord with many followers.
With the release of their first full length album, The Covenant (2014), they have had the opportunity to showcase their musical journey through quality production skill, vocal ability and lyrical dexterity that feels anything but amateur.
After coming together during their university years, Benevolent has been slowly building their fan base and booking bigger shows as Middle East metal heads take greater notice of their presence.
With their next major gig set to take place in Beirut on May 24, Sarieddine is hopeful that their music will continue to resonate alongside the metal scene’s growing influence.
“The region is now home to more bands and more fans than ever before,” he said. “So many musicians have done great things in the Middle East and they inspire us to want to do the same. I feel like we’re at a very fortunate time and with anything that you put your heart and soul into - if you allow it to see the light of day - it really goes a long way. There’s no limitation over anything.”
Sarieddine’s inspirations range from heavy metal trailblazers Metallica to Pink Floyd, Catatonia and Meshuggah. He helps produce all of Benevolent’s music in his home studio and considers local audiences today much more receptible to metal than a few years ago.
“When the Beatles first started out, their music was considered radical,” he said. “It was comparatively the death metal of today. Even Beethoven was forward thinking in the way he presented his music. There’s a lot of undiscovered possibilities in the Arab world and I think they’re slowly starting to get unwrapped. It’s very cool to be part of that wave.”
After nearly a decade of making music and performing, the trio exhibit an interesting family dynamic that seems fitting for a band born in the Middle East.
Whether by relation or musical connection, Sarieddine says he and his band mates are looking forward to contributing a positive element to the region’s metal movement.
“The one thing that we continue to carry forward is the fact that we really like to have a lot of layers in our music. It’s awesome to be sharing this with people who are so close to me.”
By Mohamed Kadry
