Documentary on the first all-female metal band in the Middle East gets official trailer

A new documentary on the first all-female metal band in the Middle East has received its first official trailer.

Sirens tells the story of Beirut outfit Slave to Sirens, and how the group challenged societal norms in their quest to become thrash icons.

The film tackles themes of friendship, sexuality and destruction, as the band leave Lebanon to play the UK, but find their home country in a state of collapse upon their return. Meanwhile, guitarists Lilas Mayassi and Shery Bechara confront their own complicated relationship in and out of the band.

If you haven’t heard Slave to Sirens, take a listen to Salomé below – it’s razor-sharp vintage thrash with contemporary prog-metal influences, made all the more potent knowing Mayassi and Bechara’s chops were honed in the face of such cultural opposition.

Sirens was directed by filmmaker Rita Baghdadi and executive-produced by Natasha Lyonne and Maya Rudolph.

The film received its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and will open in New York (Angelika Film Center) on September 30 and Los Angeles (Laemmle Royal) on October 7 with other cities to follow.

For more information, head to Oscilloscope Laboratories.

Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.