Bloodshel was formed in 2012 and proudly carries the torch of classic heavy metal. Drawing inspiration from legends such as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Dio, and Rainbow, the band combines intricate melodic songwriting with powerful riffs and energetic live performances. On 3 December 2025, Bloodshel reached a major milestone by opening for Metallica on the main stage at Al Dana Amphitheatre in Bahrain, performing in front of more than 10,000 metal fans!

https://www.facebook.com/bloodshel/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5TMy4f7ppEKVKEmUM4dm38?si=_FAnqMIOTPuFTMnFN1ZYNw

Hellionight was formed in 2016 as a side project of Omar Zainal, lead guitarist of Smouldering In Forgotten, with the goal of creating a band rooted in blackened thrash and speed metal inspired by the raw intensity of the early 1980s. Fast, aggressive, and uncompromising, Hellionight delivers old-school metal with relentless energy and attitude. The band's debut full-length album was released on 3 July, 2026.

https://www.facebook.com/hellionight/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2lFHjmu5FIJlBjjaXJCnhA?si=bCaKTcJXT5yqVjhePJ5Z0Q

Motör Militia is a pioneering Bahrain thrash metal band formed in 2001. Widely regarded as one of the first metal bands in the Arabian Gulf to record and release a full-length album of original material, they played a key role in shaping Bahrain's heavy metal scene. More than two decades later, Motör Militia continues to deliver high-energy thrash metal and remains one of the Kingdom's most respected and enduring metal acts.

https://www.motor-militia.com/home

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5m1kIxU51wANZT1Vqkw9rh?si=BATO8muxQ9mAvzHMCabAcw

Necrosin was formed in 2019 and features veteran musicians from Bahrain's metal scene. Drawing inspiration from late '80s and early '90s death metal legends such as Death, Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, and Slayer, the band delivers a relentless blend of old-school brutality and precision. Necrosin released their debut EP in 2023 and made their live debut the same year, opening for Incantation in Dubai. In early 2025, the band won the Wacken Metal Battle Middle East, earning the honor of representing Bahrain at Wacken Open Air 2025 in Germany - the first Bahraini band ever to perform at the world's most iconic heavy metal festival.

https://www.facebook.com/Necrosin.BH/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vtCKRwBV4a1kOfUarDbJD?si=re7PzdLvQQeDUjKKhTItag

Smouldering In Forgotten was formed in 2005 as a black metal band and has since evolved into one of Bahrain's most acclaimed extreme metal acts. Blending the ferocity of black, death, and thrash metal with the atmosphere of ethnic Arabian music, the band's sound is both aggressive and distinctive. Drawing inspiration from the region's history, culture, folklore, and art, Smouldering In Forgotten has forged a unique musical identity that has earned recognition both within Bahrain and on the international metal scene.

https://www.facebook.com/smoulderinginforgotten/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aME2XoQ60wTl9Z4Iers9D?si=RQ9f0OXWTD-FHxp5BN-xWg

Zvindiyar is a death metal project formed in 2025, built around atmosphere and aggression in equal measure - drawing from Persian and Arabic mythology to give the music weight, meaning, and a cultural identity that extends beyond the music itself. Featuring veterans of the Bahrain scene, the band brings decades of experience to a sound that is both crushingly heavy and uniquely its own.

https://www.instagram.com/zvindiyar/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/43ShrtGFdBpdbFF84hviwR?si=54iM2_1LSvyueVd9daghiw

Book of Anthems are a Bahraini instrumental metal band with a unique story. Their debut release was originally recorded with Arabic instruments and elements woven into the sound - an ambitious concept that the band ultimately weren't satisfied with. Rather than move on, they went back and re-recorded the whole thing, stripping out the Arabic elements in favour of something heavier and more organic. The re-recorded version was quietly uploaded to streaming platforms in 2024 without any announcement or promotion. They played a handful of shows, including Metal Fest Bahrain, before going quiet.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0cKgEhQqMyZAuYnTuBePMq?si=GSXofEjNQSeNPDtdyHDHNA