"Nervecell are without a doubt one of the biggest names in the Middle Eastern metal movement. Based in Dubai, they have played Desert Rock with Machine Head and Sepultura, headlined festivals in Egypt and can honestly claim an international following, touring Australia at the time of writing. Beginning in 2000 as a hardcore band, they soon moved into heavier territories, blending death metal with thrash influences. Tracks such as ‘Human Chaos’ offer precise, well-played but not overly technical pummeling, with USDM (US Death Metal) style riffing evolving into more mid-paced passages and accomplished leads, all topped off with a decent production, currently something of a rarity with Middle Eastern acts.

“We are probably the only metal band in the region that have lasted this long and we have a fan following here as well as internationally.” Explains Ribeiro. “There are no real venues out here for metal bands to perform on a regular basis and hardly any organizers who believe in paying bands to play, so it’s rough being a metal band. But I think we in particular have accomplished a lot being a self-funded Dubai-based band.”

Few would argue that last point, and readers are recommended to check out their ‘Human Chaos’ EP while they await the arrival of forthcoming album, ‘Preaching Venom’."