Massive Scar Era: Unique mix of influences

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I have never heard of a musical collaboration between the Egyptians and Canadians until recently. Massive Scar Era is a metal band based in Cairo, Egypt and Vancouver, British Columbia. Massive Scar Era will release sophomore EP Color Blind on October 5. The music have Egyptian-oriented influences. And the band introduces pre-colonial Egyptian music through their sound, celebrating the Egyptian identity. What does this mean? The violin, which heavily utilizes Egyptian scales and microtones, does not follow the guidelines set by the Cairo Music Conference (1932), held during the British Colonization of Egypt.

From its formation in 2005 Massive Car Era has been heavily involved in supporting gender issues promoting anti-sexual harassment and women empowerment campaigns. Back then Cherine Amr was driven with the idea of forming a metal band out of her passion for playing guitar and singing since she was a teenager. Due to her family’s restrictions, she was only allowed to play music with girls, so the only way for her to play music was to form an all-girls band.

After a few false starts at maintaining a cohesive band, she found in the violinist Nancy Mounir her musical companion. They clicked straightaway even with their distinct musical backgrounds. Influenced by both metal, classical and Egyptian music, the band started to garner interest from audiences who were absorbed by the fusion of all those elements. One the new record Nancy Mounir plays violin, percussion and Egyptian flute.

Massive Scar Era kept on exploring that unique mix of influences and rehearse a diverse and large number of songs. The curiosity of discovering new sounds allowed the style and tone of the band to evolve. In no time, the band established itself among the music scene by landing a multitude of local gigs and appearances such as in Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria) and in the S.O.S. Music Festival. Touring North America and Europe, Massive Scar Era is always excited to share its sound with different parts of the world, experiencing an ultimate connection with the audience through music.

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