We’re told that the Saudi band Dune first formed around 2004 but went on hiatus in 2007 before making a public release — “hiatus” being a word often used instead of “split up” when the passage of time leads to a subsequent resurrection.
And Dune did indeed revive (thankfully), releasing a single in 2022 (“Refuge“) and another in 2023 (“Reject“). And then in May of this year they released their first EP, entitled Years of Chains, which includes those two singles and two more songs. It thus marks the 20th anniversary of their original formation.
Dune have explained that they wrote the songs on the EP years ago, but never got a chance to record them properly. After picking out these four tracks from their originals following their revival, they of course finally have recorded them, and we’re happy to help spread the word through our video premiere of “Sieve“, the EP’s opener.
As you’ll discover through “Sieve” (if you haven’t yet heard the EP), Dune ride the sandstorm of thrash, but with a healthy dose of groove and the spreading of a pernicious atmosphere. Yet with this opening song they don’t dive right in, instead luring listeners with exotic and eerily wailing guitars and the heavy metallic throb of the bass.
Even when the intensity mounts, the eeriness of the opening persists — but sounds much more ominous and malicious. The music thunders and slashes, squirms and shrieks, and memories of James Hetfield spring vividly to life when the vocals first come in — though the vocals also descend into menacing depths.
Consistent with the lyrics, the song sounds diabolical, and increasingly so as the chords gloriously blare. The reverberations of a djinn-like solo enhance the diabolism. But the song is also hook-filled, and head-moving, catchy as well as bone-rattling and sinister.
Credit for the fiendishly good artwork goes to Dune bassist and backing vocalist Mamdoh Tawili. The full recording lineup for the EP is:
Samer Nakhala– Vocals
Abdulrahman Ghazali – Guitars
Mamdoh Tawili – Bass / Back Vocals
Mustafa Karazoon – Drums
The EP is available on most streaming platforms (see the links below), and it’s recommended for fans of Testament, Slayer, Pantera, Metallica, and Korn.
We’re also including the YouTube streams for the other three songs off the EP. Like the one that’s the subject of today’s video premiere, they also pack a groovesome punch (thanks in part to that big clanging bass), they get the blood rushing, they feature excellent gritty vocals, and they make time for episodes of exotic and haunting melody with an oriental flare.
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