Symphony X – Pharoah

From “The Divine Wings of Tragedy”, one of the best albums from one of the best prog metal bands, a song about Pharoah’s curse. I love Symphony X because for a prog band they don’t sacrifice the heavy while still keeping the fous on the melody and structure.

Mercyful Fate – Mad Arab

Just LISTEN to it. Fucking awesome. King Diamond has serious chops.

Iron Maiden – Powerslave

The title track of Iron Maiden’s fifth studio album, Powerslave is a continual favorite among metalheads. Says Dickenson of the track: “Powerslave” is “about a dying Pharaoh. He’s about to die and he finds himself a slave to the power of death, as well as the slave to his own power. When a Pharaoh dies, all the slaves that built his grave and prepared his funeral have to die too. Even if he didn’t want it, his power implies without questions that these people must die, far beyond his own will. Basically, he’s a prisoner of his power.”

Nile – Sacrifice unto Sebek

One of the few bands I know of successfully pulling off a continuous theme, being brutal as fuck, and also being the nicest, most down to earth and intelligent guys you’d ever meet. I can also respect the huge amount of effort that goes into creating the lyrics for their songs (which I read because I am an Egypt geek and I recognise a lot of the source text). From “Annihilation of the Wicked”, a great little ditty called “Sacrifice unto Sebek”.

Lykathea Aflame – bringer of elvenfris flame

Not strictly “Egyptian”, but the middle eastern influences incorporated into lykathea Aflame’s brilliant death metal make them a must-have on this list.

Meads of Asphodel – Creed of Abraham

An interesting and rather eclectic black metal outfit from England, using many middle eastern melodies in their music. Again, not strictly “Egyptian” but useful to pad out a list that I realised is a little thin on the ground. WARNING: Anti-Semitic themes to the lyrics, which I DO NOT in any way condone or endorse – I just think musically, they have really interesting ideas.

And, because I think this is awesome, here are the Meads of Asphodel doing a cover of Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World.

Metallica – Curse of the Pharoahs

In the interest of this list NOT being entirely filled with Mercyful Fate songs, here’s Metallica covering Mercyful Fate’s “Curse of the Pharoahs”.

Dream Theater – In the Name of God

Can’t seem to get a full vid of this. I find a lot of Dreamtheater songs too long-winded, and this is certainly long, but it’s a particularly good one.

The Bangles – Walk Like An Egyptian

Had to be done, folks. Had to be done.

Any more good Egyptian-themed songs (metal or not) or songs with strong Middle Eastern influences?

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