Lebanon is not usually associated with metal music. But a few years ago, a young Lebanese guitarist, Lilas Mayassi, decided to introduce the world to the spirit of the East. Thus was born the thrash/death metal band Slave To Sirens, whose line-up was not stable for a long time, but in 2023 Lilas found the Hungarian Anita Tóth, known in her homeland from the bands Blood Up (later Insane Within).
So the work on the debut album could begin, Lilas, Anita, Shery Bechara and Alma Doumani recorded ten songs for the album, which was released on 14 June.
The four sirens put their all into the tracks. Anita's voice is excellent, with its typical death-thrash growl, and in a few songs we can also hear her clear voice, such as Mistress of Pain. Already as the singer of Blood Up she didn't let her throat get rusty, but now she has unleashed the monster inside her. Last year's Extinguish The Sun showed us what to expect from the album, a real, unadulterated thrash and death sound - metal girl power. A surprise is Beyond Control, in which Anita sings a few lines in Hungarian. But the rest of the girls are great too. Lilas and Shery's riffs, Alma's bass harmonise perfectly with Anita's otherworldly growls, and the songs sometimes have a black metal element. Professional production from a band who have worked hard to make this album. You can hear the hours of work and energy that have been invested, despite the physical distance between them.
Now, of course, some people will say: just another all-female metal band... like Nervosa, Crypta, Bloodhunter... but! Slave To Sirens has been around since 2015, and founder Lilas has been working hard to finally get a permanent line-up. It seems that this has finally been achieved and "Echoes Of Silence" is a great introduction. Let's really hope that the follow-up will be just as rocking. Fans of thrash/death metal are highly recommended to listen to this album, which represents not only smash but also melodiousness.
I should mention here that in 2022, Sirens, a film directed by Emmy Award US filmmaker Rita Baghdadi, the first feature from Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph's Animal Pictures, made its world premiere at Sundance in World Cinema Documentary competition on January 23. The film follows members of Slave To Sirens, as they wrestle with friendship, sexuality, and destruction in their pursuit of becoming thrash metal pioneers.
I see a bright and wonderful future for the girls, because this album is a strong one. Well done, girls!
10/10
"Echoes Of Silence"
Release date: June 14, 2024
Musicians:
Anita Tóth - vocals
Lilas Mayassi - guitars (rhythm)
Alma Doumani - bass
Shery Bechara - guitars
Tracklist:
1. Wmd
2. Reborn
3. Ancient Fear
4. Extinguish The Sun
5. Beyond Control
6. Mistress Of Pain
7. Merchant Of Souls
8. Salomé
9. Full Grown Terror
10. Dark Waters
