Lowen (band)
Lowen | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels | Church Road Records |
| Members | Nina Saeidi Shem Lucas Cal Constantine |
Lowen are an English heavy metal band formed in 2017 by Nina Saeidi and Shem Lucas. The daughter of refugees of the Iranian Revolution in England, Saeidi wished to start an act that would allow her to perform metal with Middle Eastern elements.
The duo was formed after meeting at an Akercocke show and they have released one EP and two albums, the latest being Do Not Go to War With the Demons of Mazandaran (2024).
History
[edit]The band was formed in 2017 by Nina Saeidi (lead vocals, folk instruments, lyrics; born to parents who fled the Iranian Revolution[1][2][3][4]) and Shem Lucas (guitars, bass) after they met at an Akercocke show.[5][6][7][8] The name Lowen is partially inspired by the Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal[9] and constitutes "a bastardisation of the Germanic word for lion", according to Saeidi.[10] The name also symbolizes a balance between the East and the West, with the lion symbolizing chaos and power to the former, and pride to the latter.[10][6]
With drummer Louis Suckling, they debuted in July 2018 as a trio[9] with the album A Crypt in the Stars,[5] which was recorded in just 12 hours, except for some overdubs added later, and released independently with Saeidi handling most of the non-musical work, as well.[9] It was almost entirely written over the course of 9 months of jam sessions, drawing inspiration from Mesopotamia[9] and the Ziggurat of Ur.[11]
In 2021,[11] they released the EP Unceasing Lamentations,[5] consisting of acoustic folk improvisations.[12][4] It was originally performed for a live stream in Brighton and then sent to Magnus Lindberg of Cult of Luna for mastering.[4]
Their second album, Do Not Go to War With the Demons of Mazandaran, was released on 4 October 2024 via Church Road Records[5][2] featuring Cal Constantine on drums.[12] It is inspired by Div-e Sepid of the Shahnameh,[3][11][7][13] its title taken from one of the poem's chapters,[10][13][6][1] while also alluding to contemporary matters such as the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.[11][7][12][10] The album was promoted by the singles "Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran" (the native equivalent to the album title[14]), released on 3 May 2024;[14] and "The Seed That Dreamed of Its Own Creation", released on 5 July,[15] coinciding with the album announcement.[16]
In March 2025, they were announced as a supporting act for Zakk Wylde's Zakk Sabbath's European tour.[8]
Musical style
[edit]Lowen perform a blend of progressive, doom, death and stoner metal with Middle Eastern music.[8][10][12][5][3][9][13] The duo consulted musicologists to discuss their approach, including Richard Dumbrill, who warned them that playing microtonal music on Western instruments "couldn't be done"; after studying folk music from Egypt, Turkey and Iran, Shem Lucas managed to recreate microtones using quarter-tone bends, pre-bends and slurred phrasing, seeing a connection between the rhythmic nature of Middle Eastern folk music and how guitars are sometimes used for percussion in brutal death metal.[8] Sammy Urwin and Justine Jones of Employed to Serve (owners of Lowen's label Church Road Records) defined them as "world prog".[7]
Nina Saeidi sings in English, Farsi, Akkadian and Sumerian[8][10][5][12][11] and is influenced by traditional and contemporary Iranian music,[9] employing the Tahrir technique.[11][7][13][4] Lowen's lyrics draw inspiration from ancient mythology, science fiction and fantasy.[8] Saeidi discovered heavy metal as a teenager and was influenced by Akercocke and System of a Down, whose incorporation of music from their native Armenia inspired her to follow a similar path.[10][2] She was initially the band's bassist and didn't even consider singing, but Shem Lucas encouraged her to do it after listening to her guide vocals.[6][4]
Lucas is influenced by Mike Scheidt of YOB and Tom G Warrior of Celtic Frost, citing the latter's Monotheist as a particular favorite.[9][8] He says Lowen's sound incorporates maqam, Iranian folk music and North African music[6] and frequently explores time signatures other than 4
4.[8]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- A Crypt in the Stars (2018)
- Do Not Go to War With the Demons of Mazandaran (2024)
EPs
[edit]- Unceasing Lamentations (2021)
Singles
[edit]- "Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran" (2024)
- "The Seed That Dreamed of Its Own Creation" (2024)
Members
[edit]Current members
[edit]- Nina Saeidi – lead vocals, folk instruments (including: santur, daf, shruti box[13][6]) (2017–present)
- Shem Lucas — guitars, bass (2017–present)
- Cal Constantine – drums (2022–present)
Session members
[edit]- Louis Suckling – drums
References
[edit]- ^ a b Finney, Graham (16 December 2024). "Lowen: "For people who live under a dictatorship heavy metal is the perfect antidote to that oppression…"". V13.net. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Ruskell, Nick (4 October 2024). "Lowen: It's illegal for women to sing. So this is defiance, it's rebellion". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Law, Sam (4 October 2024). "Album review: Lowen – Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran". Kerrang!. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Trueman, Gary; Dennis, Peter (4 May 2023). "Interview: Lowen "I've always had a fascination with the Tahrir vocals, and I always wanted to hear part of my culture in this music."". Devolution Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Connell, Ross (2 October 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Lowen - Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Gray, Joe. "Orange Spotlight: Lowen – Orange Amps". Orange Amps. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Madden, Emma (4 October 2024). ""It's the sound of what's trapped inside me": How LOWEN's NINA SAEIDI connects to Iranian heritage through heavy metal". Revolver. Project M Group LLC. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bradley, Dan (7 March 2025). ""The musicologist looked me square in the eye and said it couldn't be done": Meet Lowen, the heavy trailblazers defying metal rules by playing prog-doom in Middle Eastern and North African styles – scoring them a support tour with Zakk Wylde". Guitar World. Future plc. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g DuVall, Dante (6 November 2018). "Doom-metal.com". www.doom-metal.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Scarlett, Liz (11 December 2024). ""I've always existed between two cultures." Meet Lowen, 2024's breakout prog metal sensation inspired by System Of A Down and Akercocke". Metal Hammer. Future plc. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Fordham, Tom (30 September 2024). "ALBUM REVIEW: Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran - Lowen". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Oliver, Richard (30 September 2024). "Album Review: Lowen - Do Not Go To War With Demons of Mazandaran". The Razor's Edge. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Robertshaw, Adam (29 December 2024). "INTRODUCING: Lowen". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ a b Heasley, Ellis (3 May 2024). "Lowen release new song 'Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Clement, Keith (7 July 2024). "Lowen - The Seed That Dreamed Of Its Own Creation - New Single/Video Out Now". Metalheads Forever Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ Heasley, Ellis (5 July 2024). "Lowen announce new album 'Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran'". Distorted Sound Magazine. Retrieved 22 May 2025.