London, UK based Progressive Doom Metal act Lowen published official music video for the track “Ghazal For The Embrace Of Fire” taken from their latest album, “Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran,” out on October 04, 2024 via Church Road Records and in collaboration with Lay Bare Recordings. Watch the video through the YouTube player below:
Video by Moon Landing Video, filmed at a live performance on Friday the December 13, 2024 at the O2 Islington Academy in London.
Lowen is a London based Middle Eastern progressive doom band composed of Nina Saeidi and Shem Lucas on guitar, with a full band joining the fold for live shows. The band mainly focuses on the displaced identity of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nina Saeidi, who was born into exile from Iran in the UK. In Iran playing Metal is illegal and women singing unaccompanied risk execution. The ancient world as well as its arts and languages form a backdrop for an exploration of the pain and longing of the diasporically dispossessed. Saeidi uses traditional Tahrir vocals, unique to Iran amongst her mournful wails.
“Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran” was recorded with producer Lewis Johns and Kel Pinchin (Ithaca, Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard). Lyrically the album is based on one of the many fables of the Shahnameh, the Persian book of Kings, concerns the folly of rulers who jealously extend their empires despite the warnings of their own people. It is during this tale that he is warned not to go to war with the demons of Mazandaran. This chapter of the book forms the concept of the album. The songs “Corruption On Earth” and “Waging War Against God” are named after and written about the death sentences placed on women protesting against the Islamic Republic of Iran during the ongoing Woman Life Freedom movement that began in 2022.
Lowen have dominated the live scene with appearances at Desertfest, Doomlines, Masters of the Riff and Uprising Festival. They have also recently supported Green Lung and Conan in the UK and EU.
Pre-Orders for vinyl, CD and cassette are available HERE
Tracklist:
01. Corruption On Earth
02. Najang Bah Divhayeh Mazandaran
03. Waging War Against God
04. The Seed That Dreamed Of Its Own Creation
05. May Your Ghost Drink Pure Water
06. Ghazal For The Embrace Of Fire
Album credits:
Track 5 contains a guest cello performance by Arianna Mahsayeh.
Artwork is created by the renowned oil painter Hervé Scott Flament.
