Metal Brainiac

Saudi Arabia is on the other side of the world from the United States, but even a repressive monarchy hasn’t kept heavy metal out of its borders. Wasted Land is from the coastal city of Jeddah and it’s one of the few metal bands that have managed to record and distribute music and attract fans and supporters beyond Saudi borders. In this conversation, guitarist Ayman Al Ghamdi and vocalist Emad Mujallid speak about finding their way to metal, building a band against oppressive governmental pressure and keeping their metallic dreams alive after more than 15 years of promise and struggle.

Zosia West grew up in Pittsburgh’s musical theater community, and you can hear that foundation in the power she brings to her metal band, Reign of Z. Her lyrics come straight from personal experience—often of trauma and also of resilience.

In advance of her band's upcoming tour opening for Combichrist and King 810, Zosia talks about migrating from musical theater to metal and the catharsis of her lyrics, along with some candid, behind-the-industry financial realities for any emerging band striving for bigger things.