I've actually never heard of " #OrientalMetal " before

#Genre was maybe the wrong word to use before (not sure if I should go back and change it?) the geographic label is more just a "category" that overlaps with genre and style.

There is also a #GermanMetal playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EId7CFKROoBp9

But that isn't simple either… it could be a language category if not for the English Language band "Emigrate" featuring #RichardKruspe from #Rammstein … and one track from "Oomph!" in English

and it doesn't work as a national category because it features #Nachtmar from #Austria and #Laibach from #Slovenia (both a bit problematic) but at least they didn't include the bands from the USA that use some #German in their lyrics? (often less problematic, just not very German)

maybe "German Metal" works as a "theme"?

I'm not sure if "Arab metal" works as a category at all? Maybe "Arabic metal" including a few related tracks like that "German metal" list?

I thought this thread was forking but it's ended up linking back to the "where does Melechesh come from?" #Znous don't seem to think they are #IsraeliMetal "We understand that things went the way they went with early “Oriental Metal” bands coming from historical Palestine like #Melechesh or #OrphanedLand (which were the first to be labelled so). Many newer bands coming from the region have unfortunately adhered to this bordering-racist and discriminatory term/genre." https://www.znousland.net/we-are-not-oriental-metal-do-not-exotify-us/ (same link as in previous post)

I also saw Orphaned Land on that "Israeli Metal" list https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EIfUNA6VGyfJf they are just "Formed in Israel in 1991…" https://open.spotify.com/artist/7xTMxqAmbtE0Nce5lz7t0h

I'm not sure how they identify given the essay from Znous describes them as from "historical Palestine" but i am curious now…

Now I am wondering if there a #ChineseMetal #spotifyPlaylist with #Chthonic on it?

cc @kirt @kirt @kirt @Kirt

#HistoricalPalestine #90sMusic #90sMetal #PalestinianMusic

So far "MENA Metal" seems like the more fitting #MusicGenre label for #Spotify to use in place of "Arab" … but the "Middle East and North Africa" acronym is a bit obscure and academic?

The #Spotify "Arab Metal" #playlist currently includes #Znous from #Tunisia #NorthAfrica https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Z5dr3yRC0mbwGzkGoCYyx

They use a lot of imagery and symbols that look #Berber / #Amazigh to me … but I don't know if that's their own identity or what #yanks would call #CulturalAppropriation https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Z5dr3yRC0mbwGzkGoCYyx

this might help… "WE ARE NOT ORIENTAL METAL DO NOT EXOTIFY OUR ART" https://www.znousland.net/we-are-not-oriental-metal-do-not-exotify-us/

cc @kirt @kirt @kirt @Kirt

some of these tags should have scare quotes, but it messed with the post formatting… #OrientalMetal #ArabMetal #MENA #MiddleEastAndNorthAfrica #culturalidentity #MusicGenre #MusicGenres

@biggusmickus if you are looking in that direction (non-western bands) you should try #Znous from Tunisia; their blend of metal/hardcore with traditional percussion & strong political stance is pretty great:

https://znous.bandcamp.com/album/znousland-3