Motör Militia (also known as Motor Militia) is a

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i heavy metal band. They are regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands in the

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and Middle East area to record and release a full-length album of original material on an independent label. In 2003, Motör Militia built a following based on word of mouth promotion in their local and neighboring Middle Eastern music communities. At the same time, members of the group began interacting with many other bands in their local heavy metal scene, organizing

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heavy metal and hard rock concerts at a pace faster than previously realized. This, in addition to the band's decision to play sets consisting almost entirely of original material (and subsequently recording and releasing it), influenced many local groups to do the same. Popular for their atypical

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song selections, live shows, and original compositions, the band remains well known in Middle Eastern heavy metal and hard rock music communities.

Biography

Formed in 2001 by school mates Motör Militia is regarded as one of the first metal bands in the

region and Middle East to record and release a full length album of original material on an independent label. In 2003 Motör Militia built a following based on word of mouth promotion in their local and neighboring Middle Eastern music communities. Members of the group also began interacting with many other bands in their local heavy metal scene, organizing DIY heavy metal and hard rock concerts at a pace faster than previously realized. This, in addition to the band's decision to play sets consisting almost entirely of original material (and subsequently recording and releasing it), influenced many local groups to do the same. The first FVF Music Festival was organized by Motör Militia on October 23, 2003, attracting a crowd of over 1,000 concertgoers. In the spring of 2004 while riding the wave of momentum that had been created the band was signed by the Saudi based independent label “SandStorms Records” to record and release an album of original material. 'The Sound of Violence' was released in June that year and launched at the final FVF show. In 2007, the band regrouped with a new lineup and continued where they left off. As a result of their resurgence they aided in the resurrection of the Bahraini live metal scene, which had almost disappeared in their absence. In 2010, the band independently recorded the album “Cloaked in Darkness." After the album's release in 2011, the band hit the road notably headlining the Dorrak Festival in Bahrain, performing twice in Dubai and at the Deccan Rock Festival in Hyderabad, India along with death metal act

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. Returning to Bahrain, the band closed out 2011 with an appearance at the annual Bud Battle of the Bands; an event traditionally reserved for hotel based cover bands. By being allowed to participate for the first time, the band took the event by storm, leaving a lasting impression. The release party for "Cloaked in Darkness" in 2011 was recorded by Studio 77 and subsequently released in 2012 as a split live DVD entitled "Resurrection: The Bahrain Underground Vol. 1." The band continued performing live, opening for Nervecell's second Bahrain performance in 2012 and playing at the 2013 Bahrain National Day Festival at the Bahrain International Circuit in front of a national audience.

Members

Current members

* John Baker –

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

(2016 – present) * Hisham Alawadhi –

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

s (2007 – present) * Ahmed Janahi –

s (2014 – present) * Mohammed Alkhuzaie – bass (2017–present) * Abdulla Muijrers – drums (2001 – present)

Former members

* Mahmood Abdulla –

, bass (2001-2015) * Yousef Hatlani –

s (2003-2005) * Ahmed Abualkhair –

s (2008-2013) * Salem Sulaibeekh –

s (2003-2004) * Abdulrazaq Awadh – bass (2007-2016)

Discography

* The Sound of Violence (2004) * Cloaked in Darkness (2011) * Resurrection: Bahrain Underground Vol. 1 (2012) *

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(2018) *Metal! Live In Bahrain Vol. 1 (2019)

References

External links

Band website

JorZine bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Motor Militia Thrash metal musical groups Bahraini heavy metal musical groups Musical groups established in 2001 Musical groups disestablished in 2004 Musical groups reestablished in 2007 2001 establishments in Bahrain Isa Town