Crash of the Titans: Purgatory
This month, Purgatory will be one of four hastily-assembled 'supergroups' competing live onstage in Jordan's first rock-themed talent contest.
Words by John Lillywhite.
VISITING PURGATORY IS A noisy experience.
“I'm lucky my parents have a basement,” quips Ahmad Abutahoon, the newly-created group's electric guitarist. After a rousing practice, the musicians consent to an interview -- and keep up a lively banter throughout.
When asked why they think they made it this far, the four members of Purgatory remain (mostly) modest.
“Maybe it’s because the drummer is sexy,” snickers Tamer Bga’en (the drummer).
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“Only the judges can answer that,” says Ahmad Ajjouri -- notable for being the only keyboard player to place in the first round of Crash of the Titans.
Purgatory haven't spent much time together yet, but they describe their sound as “rock with a touch of symphonic.” (Bga'en describes it as “death metal,” to the sound of groans from the other members.)
The name Purgatory was chosen by vocalist Kareem Kalan, in a reference to the Christian middle-space between Heaven and Hell.
“That’s where we are right now,” he explains, “although we know that even if we don’t win, we are still winners.”
The band members say they heard about the competition from friends, or stumbled upon it over the Internet: only Ajjouri and Ahmad Abutahoon, the electric guitarist, were friends before Crash of the Titans began. They are all different ages, and some newer to their instruments than others. Bassist Zaher Mdanat has been playing for three years, while Bga'en has played drums for only six months.
With the exception of Ajjouri, none have ever taken part in a competition like Crash of the Titans -- or, for that matter, considered gainful employment as budding rock stars. Nevertheless their rapport is strong: both onstage and offstage it’s impossible to see a guiding hand behind the formation of the group.
Purgatory practices every two days, hoping to wow the judges with renditions of Metallica's “Fade to Black” and Stradivarius' “Black Diamond.”
“There's no such thing as Arabic Rock,” quips Bga'en, “and if there is, no one listens to it. People think that anyone who plays metal is satanic.”
Other members of the group are more upbeat. Ajjouri talks about how hard it is to get music contracts in Jordan -- and about how all song selections for Crash of the Titans had to be vetted by the panel of judges -- but he does think the competition will help to promote acceptance of a “different kind of music.”
Kalan agrees. “The competition has allowed people with different skills to work together and collaborate,” he says. “Just because metal is about things other than love, that doesn’t make it bad.”
It's a funny position, being a band put together by judges, solely for a competition. Will Purgatory's members (or inhabitants?) continue to practice together after the competition? Will the contest be an opportunity for this disparate band of musicians to gel as a group, or will they go their several ways?
“I think we will still be making music together whatever happens,” says guitarist Abutahoon.
“Not me, I'll be sleeping and drinking,” jokes Bga'en.
“We have a very funny death metal drummer,” explains Kalan, dryly.
In September, dozens of musicians auditioned for spaces in Jordan's first rock- and metal-themed talent contest, Crash of the Titans. Nineteen were chosen and scrambled into four impromptu bands. Starting on Friday, October 30, and continuing through November, those bands will compete against each other, live on stage, for the title of Jordan's, most, er... titanic sound.
As the battle rages, JO will be following the shows and profiling the four competitors. You can follow the stories here, and go to Crash of the Titans to vote for your favorite band.
