Rish is one of the few women in the Kenyan metal and rock scene. Their goal? To embark their audience on a musical journey that will make an impact on their lives. Since then, they’ve moved back to Kenya and haven’t stopped performing. The band members met in 2006 while studying in the UK. They regularly play at March From The Underground, Kenya’s biggest metal melee. The post-hardcore metal band released their debut EP, Challenge Accepted, in 2013 and recently won the Best Song Award at Audio Inferno’s African rock music awards.

Last Year’s Tragedy is among the acts that stand out in the Kenyan scene. Radio Station 105.5 XFM regularly broadcasts independent Kenyan rock bands with varying influences and sounds, but with one common desire: to spread rock music to their local audience. Kenya has a small but thriving rock scene from which bands like Murfy’s Law and Seismic have emerged. The independent band is incredibly active supporting other acts like African Doomhammer from Kenya. The group regularly includes themes of magic and occultism in their lyrics, from Egyptian Gods to Orishas, as well as mentions of societal and economical issues in Uganda. What makes them standout is the fact that they're a Pan-African metal band, aiming to spread metal to a large audience and make their music available for all.

Their influences range from Motörhead to Black Sabbath. Vale of Amonition is a prolific Ugandan death metal band that's put out almost a dozen releases since their debut in 2009. The ripples of the Angolan Civil War have helped Dor Fantasma gather a cult following. Some say metal music can have a cathartic effect, helping audiences to cleanse themselves off the rage and complex feelings linked with trauma. Like Before Crush, Dor Fantasma were also featured in Death Metal Angola. Their lyrics address issues such as the long term effects of war (the country went through a 26 year civil war) and mental issues. So well, actually, that they are one of the biggest metal bands in Angola. The band sings in English and Portuguese, spreading a positive message in hopes of uplifting their audience. Before Crush has enjoyed success in Angola as well as abroad, having toured in Europe and the United States.ĭor Fantasma does thrash metal pretty well. Their music is as metal as it can be, mixing elements of both progressive and death metal. Formed in 2007, the band cites Blind Witness, Sea of Treachery and Killswitch Engage as their influences. Angolan rock is a big genre of its own, promoted through local media like the radio station Volume Dez and Rockultura Festival, which was created specially to promote the best Angolan rock bands.īefore Crush is one of the metal bands featured in Death Metal Angola.

Jeremy Xido's documentary Death Metal Angolaled to Western audiences' discovery of the thriving Angolan metal scene.

Bonfires, motorbike washes and metal DJs are among the activities that take place there. Overthrusts's performances attract rockers from all over the country and they host the Overthrust Winter Mania fest, an annual celebration of the best of African rock music with acts like Adorned in Ash and SarcotrofiA. Their lyrics openly attack the hypocritical church culture in Bostwana and corruption. Their music is a mix of Western and African influences, and like their name shows, they’re not afraid of being aggressive.

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