Album Recording status so far

Good day fans and friends,

We have been through a lot the past three years to get this damn debut out... Let us say the circumstances were not on our side. Starting by the fact that Blaakyum has a long history and endless originals that lead to the first idea of having a double debut album consisting in total of 22 songs 11 from the early days of Blaakuym before 2007 and 11 tracks written after the late reformation of the band... Financially this was not possible. It was more practical and more logical to combine the two debuts in one album of 11 tracks that holds the best of both, and this is what happened and Lord Of The Night debut is on it's way to see the light.

Later in 2008 we were faced with a major lineup change: our beloved drummer Georgie Nadjarian (Communion/Blaakyum) whom I personally had been in a very pleasant music relationship for over 6 years had to leave the band because of his work contract in Music Hall. Mr. Elias El Rahbany (Ouchi) our guitarist left because of musical and personal differences... that left us without a drummer and lead guitarist for over a year and a half, many joined the band for some time and helped us keep going, and we would like to thank them, namely Hady Battikh (Guitars), Chris (from Element 26) and Marc Bassila (Drums), Blaakyum finally found it's best drummer Mr. Jad Faitrouni... but it wasn't till summer 2010 till we finally had Mr. Elias Njaim one of the most renown guitar virtuoso in the Lebanese Scene, joined the band. From then the recording process kicked off with speed and perseverance thanks to the patience of our production house New Waves Productions and it's lovely staff and mastermind Mr. Walid Al Massih.

We have already finished recording all drum tracks, guitars, bass and solos, few vocal parts, and we still have to lay the Keyboards and the final vocals and the record will be ready for the mix down, we hope our first debut will see the light by the New Year.

The Album is receiving a high level of production, and it sounds heavy as fuck, and we are so excited to share it with you, after all these years where Blaakyum showed a devastatingly aggressive and divers live shows, this record will be a parallel image of these frenzy live shows taken into the studio. It will be, just like Blaakyum is live, Aggressive Thrashy, and revolve around the term I love the most HEAVIOSITY without neglecting the soft part of Rock and the emotional slow rock tunes.

This record sums up Blaakyum's previous era, filled with diversity from Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal, Hard Rock and Soft Rock.

All of the above happened because of you, our fans... and for that we will be for ever grateful.

Cheers mates, and as ever we will... KEEP METAL ALIVE \m/

Bassem Deaibess from Blaakyum

Supporting a United Scene

This post will be dedicated to the Lebanese Metal Scene. But anyone is welcome to give us feed back:

Dear Lebanese Metalheads, Rockers and Free Thinkers,

We have been witnessing a rise in our scene lately, ironically by having much less gigs and concerts than before, but having them on a very good standard, and always rising up with the standard. As well we have witnessed many more international acts that have been brought by more than one promoter/organiser. These big names are:

Hail brought by RockRing
AnathemA brought by 2U2C (Mr. Jyhad El Murr)
Vinnie Moor brought to you by the old timer Eclipse Group

Add to this the many high quality events happening every now and then.

Now that we did mention the good parts, how about we try to look at two major problems:

1. The lack of a proper mid-sized venue
2. The bad (I insist on bad) competition and the rivalry.

I will name things out right, for it is time to stop the "politically correct" behaviour and get things fucking MOVING.

1. We DO NOT HAVE A VENUE. Namely the only indoor venue available is Tantra-Kaslik, and that proved not too good for hosting international bands since it's capacity is limited to 1000 attendant max and if more came it will become not always a pleasant experience. I can't see a good solution for this except keeping our big events in summer, which would result in a rush of events and eventually having many not able to attend all of them due to the fact that most metalheads can't pay such an amount of money in such a period of time, that already is a spend frenzy time.
My suggestion as an individual to this, is calling upon RockRing specially since they are the most active, and on all metalheads to put a collaborated effort to raise funds and build our own damn venue... Sounds impossible? maybe, but I know this, NOTHING is impossible.

2. And the most important issue. It is a shame to see the Lebanese USUAL fighting for prestige and recognition affect the Metal scene. Yes we are Lebanese, but we are the critical eye (supposedly) of this country. So it is sad to see that Mr. Jyhad El Murr whom I see as the big brother of Rock and Metal in Lebanon, being not too pleased because a competitor radio station supported RockRing event. I can understand that he has been among the first to support Rock, in his stations way before Radio One ever accepted Rock, but fact is, till now Rock market is not big enough to fight over. This is one field that doesn't have to nor need nor should it be taken in a competitive way. My hope is that when a rock event happens, competitive Media will unite there as well, as sister Radio and TV stations not as competitors.

This is my cry out to all Metalheads and Metal supporter, this scene has a future, let us not throw it away this time. Later on we should, when the time is suitable, have some civil action towards the ban of some bands and towards our right of freedom to listen to whatever we chose to listen to away from the social and specially the venomous RELIGIOUS influences.

And finally, a huge Hail to all Lebanese Metalheads... we have been fought and unjustly prejudged and Judged... now is the time to rise, and now is the time to claim our rights as humans and more importantly as appreciative of one of the most artistic and expressive forms of Art.

Long live Rock and Roll

Bassem Deaibess

Untile we are up

Have no mistakes this IS the official Blaakyum website till now. But we are working on a proper website that is a bit more than a blog :P

Until then, we have decided to include some adds on this blog to generate more income for the band, since we all know that being in a Metal band means you might never become rich. Not that the aim is to become rich, we simply thought this could boost a bit our already little income generated from shows, to support us in recoding our album and buying new equipment.

But if some of you feels this is being a bit too much of a "commercialisation" of our band, we would like you to voice that out. To many complains WILL result in removing the adds.

Thank you for supporting Blaakyum.