User:TheTyrantParadox/Benevolent (band)

Benevolent is a death/experimental metal band based in Kuwait, formed in 2007.

Formation & Lineup Changes (2007–2009)
Benevolent was founded by brothers Hadi Sarieddine and Fadi Sarieddine in May of 2007 under the name Eminence. The band had initially started as a cover band for music by bands such as Opeth, Tool, and other music.

In 2008, the band released it's first single titled "Solace", which was a mellow and ambient track with Fadi Sarieddine on cleans vocals.

In mid-2009, the band was joined by Adel Al-Qattan on guitars, and Bader Nana on drums. The band soon began writing original material, which culminated in two track: "Corporatacide" and "Augmented". (The song "Augmented" was later released on the band's debut EP under the name "The Tyrant"). The sound that the band presented in the two new releases declared a new direction and change of sound that the band is moving toward, in comparison to the band's previous release "Solace", the new tracks were very heavy, and with the vocals shifting to growls throughout. However, the band carried forward the ambient and atmospheric elements into their new direction.

Soon after the release of "Augmented" in early 2010, Adel Al-Qattan and Bader Nana had departed from the band to focus on other projects.

Recording Divided EP (December 2009–August 2010)
Benevolent entered the studio to begin work on record material for what has become the band's debut EP, titled Divided. Working exclusively with Sajid "Sarj" Masoud at Sarj's Studio, Kuwait.

The band would write songs and enter the studio to record songs individually, this process spanned the period from December 2009 up until August 2010, when the band finalized all recordings for Divided.

"The Tyrant" was previously released as "Augmented" in late January, 2010. However, Fadi had re-recorded the growl vocals for the version that is on Divided EP.

The second single off the EP was the song "Haunting Shores". which showcased a new and more focused direction in the band's sound. Involving elements of poly rhythmic beats, low tuned guitars, and a general move toward what is referred to as Djent. The song also was the first to feature clean vocals by Hadi Sarieddine.

The songs "Clairvoyant Transmission", "Purgatory", and "The Quantum Paradox" were all finalized toward the end of the recording process across the summer of 2010.

Divided EP and New Members (November 2010–Present)
On November 5th 2010, the band released it's debut EP titled Divided. The EP featured five songs including "Haunting Shores" and "The Tyrant".

Divided was released exclusively for free download on the band's Bandcamp page, for a limited period of one month after release.

The EP received positive reviews from the fans and regional Metal websites, Jorzine gave the album a rating of 9/10, naming the band as "The best Middle Eastern Metal band of the year".

Shortly after the release of Divided, Hadi Sarieddine had revealed in an interview with Streaming Chaos that the band has been rehearsing with guitarist Hisham Khalil, and drummer Khalid Al-Mansour in preparation for shows in support of Divided across the region.

Track List

 * 1) "Clairvoyant Transmission"
 * 2) "Purgatory"
 * 3) "The Tyrant"
 * 4) "Haunting Shores"
 * 5) "The Quantum Paradox"


 * Co-produced, mixed, and engineered by Sajid "Sarj" Masoud at Sarj's Studio, Kuwait.
 * Drums written by Hadi Sarieddine & Bader Nana, digitized by Sajid "Sarj" Masoud
 * Guitars recorded by Hadi Sarieddine (Adel Al-Qattan appears on "The Tyrant" and "The Quantum Paradox")
 * Bass recorded by Hadi Sarieddine
 * Vocals recorded by Fadi Sarieddine (Growls, and cleans on "The Tyrant") and Hadi Sarieddine (Cleans)
 * Keyboards and pianos digitized and engineered by Hadi Sarieddine

Current members

 * Hadi Sarieddine - guitar vocals
 * Fadi Sarieddine - vocals
 * Hisham Khalil - guitar
 * Khalid Al Mansour - drums

Past members

 * Adel Al-Qattan - Guitars
 * Bader Nana - Drums