‘Israel and Iran’s governments aren’t good. Neither is ours’: Lowen, the metal band confronting a troubled Middle East

Formed by the daughter of Iranian refugees, the UK trio are sampling the sound of Israeli bombs and championing women’s rights as they confront authoritarianismNina Saeidi is wearing a green, gold-encrusted robe and holding an antique knife above her head. After unsheathing the blade, she pokes it into her stomach, then makes a slitting motion across her throat. Although these may seem like the ritual actions of a priestess, Saeidi is actually performing on stage at Bristol festival ArcTanGent last weekend, singing with her metal outfit Lowen in a crammed tent.“It’s a Turkish Ottoman dagger,” she tells me backstage later that day. “I got it in some very cool, obscure-looking vintage shop in Turkey last year. I’m really interested in historical items from that region – but, because I can’t go to Iran, I have to gather things from around the Silk Road and places like that.” Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

South Park targets Trump’s manhood in latest episode spoofing DC takeover

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Gal Gadot blames ‘pressure on celebrities to speak out against Israel’ for box office failure of Snow White

Gal Gadot says ‘pressure’ to ‘speak out against Israel’ led to Snow White’s box office failure

Gal Gadot says ‘pressure’ to ‘speak out against Israel’ led to Snow White’s box office failure

British Opera Company Cancels ‘Tosca’ Collaboration in Israel After Criticism

TikTok removes video by Huda Beauty boss over anti-Israel conspiracy theories

Bob Geldof accuses Israel of 'dangling food in front of starving, panicked, exhausted mothers'

Culture

South Park targets Trump’s manhood in latest episode spoofing DC takeover

Tom Sandoval eliminated from AGT but remains ‘excited for what’s to come’ in his music career

American Pie actor Seann William Scott’s monthly income revealed in legal battle with ex-wife

Brent Hinds death: Ex-Mastodon lead guitarist killed in motorcycle crash

Millie Bobby Brown, 21, announces she’s adopted a baby girl with husband Jake Bongiovi, 23

Marc Maron says the Rogansphere has ruined comedy. Is he right?

Meet Corey Mylchreest, the up and coming star of Netflix's Hostage

‘I wrote my latest album while pretending to be the Prime Minister’s kidnapped husband’

Millie Bobby Brown and husband adopt a baby girl

Sonallah Ibrahim, Egyptian Novelist of Irony and Dissent, Dies at 88

Facing a ‘Reading Crisis,’ Denmark Wants to Make Books Cheaper

Highest 2 Lowest review – Denzel Washington is surprisingly one-note in Spike Lee’s generic kidnap thriller

Eddington review – Ari Aster’s brilliant, blood-soaked skewering of modern America

Sorry, Baby review – A star is born in Eva Victor’s remarkable depiction of assault and survival

The Life of Chuck review – Stephen King adaptation is a treacly mess with a dancing Tom Hiddleston

Previously unheard Beatles tracks to accompany new Peter Jackson documentary episode

Games of Thrones actor Kristian Nairn pulls out of Strictly Come Dancing due to ‘unexpected medical reasons’

Raye at All Points East: Full line-up and set times for festival

Meet Alien: Earth's breakout star Sydney Chandler

Former Strictly Come Dancing boss issues defiant defence of scandal-hit show

‘I cast Celebrity Big Brother – Gary Lineker wanted an eye-watering fee’

Watch out Stephen Graham – Richard Gadd’s brutal BBC thriller pulls no punches

Game of Thrones star Kristian Nairn quits Strictly Come Dancing ‘with heavy heart’

Last One Laughing UK season 2 cast announced with one iconic comedian set to return

All Points East announce ‘one hell of a replacement’ after Doechii pulls out

Iconic rock band warn they’ll ‘never play many cities again’ in devastating tour update

BBC stands by Doctor Who after uncertainty over series future

Eamonn Holmes forced to apologise for using racial slur on GB News

Celebrity Traitors full-line up and launch month revealed

Nip/Tuck star Dylan Walsh and family involved in major car crash

Previously unreleased Beatles tracks to feature on new Anthology 4

A Matter of Time by Laufey review: Is this my album of the year?

Netflix fans ‘already hooked’ on new Suranne Jones thriller as all episodes drop

BBC boss finally shares major Doctor Who update after cancellation fears

‘I’ve seen a sneak peek of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors – I’m already spellbound’

Inside The Fortune Hotel host Stephen Mangan’s family life with his actor wife

‘I played ITV’s £250,000 gameshow – I didn’t know it would be so stressful’

We finally know when everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure is returning to Netflix

Previously unreleased Beatles tracks to feature on new Anthology collection

Wynonna Judd’s daughter Grace Kelley accuses mother of ‘covering up’ stepfather’s sexual abuse

Orlando Bloom shares view on Johnny Depp’s Pirates of the Caribbean return

What kids don’t want you to know about Gen Alpha culture

Tyla has conquered the world — now South Africa's popiano queen takes London

‘I’m even more excited for this new reality show than Celebrity Traitors’

Ilona Maher could be the next big WWE superstar but alarm bells are ringing

‘Insanely good’ crime thriller quietly added to Netflix soars up the chart

British rising star ‘screen tests’ to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond

Director of Netflix’s smash hit K-Pop Demon Hunters drops hints about sequel

Dawson’s Creek cast reunite for cancer awareness after James Van Der Beek diagnosis

Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke claims 911 tapes will shed new light on wrestler’s death

Baby Reindeer star Richard Gadd reveals physical transformation ahead of new BBC show

Gemma Collins announces ‘unfiltered’ reality show about IVF journey and extravagant wedding plans

Suranne Jones says Hostage role showed her the brutal reality of political life

Eamonn Holmes uses vile racial slur as Kerry Katona describes her cosmetic surgery

17 weirdly underrated performances by great actors

Jack White says Trump is ‘masquerading as a human being’ in response to White House calling him a ‘has-been loser’

Strictly Come Dancing start date confirmed for 2025 season – and we don’t have long to wait

‘I learnt to dig every little thing’: Jeff Bridges on cancer, the Coens, and the Covid that nearly killed him

Duolingo apologises after app calls JK Rowling ‘mean’ in German lesson

Vienna to host Eurovision Song Contest 2026