Massar Egbari Rolls Out New LP With 'Mabaetsh Akhaf Pt. 1'

Legendary Alexandrian alternative act Massar Egbari has started to roll out their highly anticipated project, ‘Mabaetsh Akhaf’ (No Longer Afraid), with the release of the first three tracks as part one, promising sequels in the upcoming weeks. The album will be the band’s fourth full-length project, coming seven years after their latest LP, ‘El Album’.

Led by vocalist Hany El Dakkak, Massar Egbari is considered a pioneering act in the realm of Egyptian alternative rock music. Having been active since the early 2000s, gaining popularity with the indie wave catapulted during the Arab Spring, they have released numerous successful albums and singles, some of which could be considered era-defining.

On their latest release, Massar Egbari finds themselves treading a liminal space, neither committing fully to one direction nor abandoning another. Across three tracks, the band experiments with an array of sounds and genres, yet the execution feels tentative, falling short of the impact one might expect. The band crafts three feel-good tracks that succeed in delivering their purpose but don't take a lot of risks artistically. While Hany El Dakkak’s distinct vocals continue to define the band’s work, the other defining factor, Mahmoud Siyam’s guitar work, shines only briefly throughout the record.

The second track, ‘Benetkalem’, features one of the best moments on the record, with a guest appearance by the legendary chanter Mahmoud El Tohamy. His breathtaking vocals over heavy rock instrumentation elevate the track’s slow beginning into a climactic soundscape. Meanwhile, the EP's final track, ‘Bamby’, feels overly nostalgic. Hany El Dakkak ventures far to deliver a classic pop tune over excessive horn instrumentation and swaying tabla beats. Yet, despite his fine vocal performance, the track could feel as though it belongs to a bygone era of pop.