Carthagods (Tunisia) music video feat. Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity) - Whispers from the wicked

ABOUT: CARTHAGODS is one of the first metal bands to emerge from Tunisia in the late 1990's. Undoubtedly, they are the pioneers of heavy-metal and the oldest existing Metal band in the country. Their powerful sound, influence, and longevity make them one of the most important bands in the Tunisian Metal scene’s history. CARTHAGODS has just released their first Video Lyrics « The Devil’s Dolls » out of their next album under the same title. « We’re really excited to see our fan’s reaction about this first Video Lyrics, since it will be an appetizer from our next album, which will be musically more heavy and melodic, and lyrically more straight and brutal ».

Formed in 1997 by founding members, Tarak Ben Sassi (Guitar), ZACK Aymen Ben Hamed (Bass/Drums) as a cover band with some friends. The band had a break since 2001 to 2004 after the loss of their beloved friend and Lead guitarist Kh’lil. 2003, TARAK and ZACK decided to start looking for new members and it began with M.KHEMA as a Frontman, so they started writing original materials as « Shadows » and « Eater of Sin » which came out in their first demo in 2008. Meanwhile, they started performing in small shows, till their 1st international collaboration during the “ ROCK TUNISIA ” festival on March 2006 supporting the famous Dutch band EPICA. On April 2007 the band performed in “ROCK TUNISIA II” with KIKO LOUREIRO (Megadeth/ Ex Angra) as guest star, who was the first guitar hero performing in the Tunisian Metal scene. 2008 CARTHAGODS released their first demo (SHADOWS and EATER OF SIN) featuring the amazing Dutch lead guitarist Marcel COENEN (Ayreon/GodsCum/Sun caged/Stormrider…), who was pleased to produce the band and performed LIVE in “ROCK TUNISIA III”.

On February 2009 Haythem MAHBOULI (Lead Guitar) and Khalil KHIREDDINE (Bass) joined the band and assisted the recording of the new projects as “MY FAVORITE DISGUISE” and “MY REVENGE”, on October of the same year the band released their first video clip of “MEMORIES OF NEVER ENDING PAINS”, one of the most popular songs of the band, which came in the album in two different versions, one of them came along with the beautiful voice of Zuberoa Aznárez from DIABULUS IN MUSICA. In December the band was invited to open the show for the Swedish death metal legend DARK TRANQUILLITY during “RESERVOIR ROCK’S”, one of the biggest metal events in Tunisia on that time, with more than 4000 Crazy Tunisian Metal Heads.

On July 2010 CARTHAGODS was invited to open the show for the English metal band ANATHEMA in Tunisia as they guested on stage the Italian Bruce Dickinson Fabio LEONE (Angra/Rhapsody of fire…) to perform some Iron Maiden Classics and he was happy to perform « MY FAVORITE DISGUISE » with the band. 2011: Tunisia had its first popular revolution on January 14th, the band members splitted for several reasons, but M.KHEMA « vocalist »and TARAK « Guitarist » kept faith in the project and released the first album with the help of Med Ben Hadida « Drums » (who used to be in the band in 2006), Timon « bass » (Ex :Lost Insen) and the prodigy Marcel COENEN (Ayreon) as a live performer and producer.

Meanwhile, the band met Khaled Trabelsi (Bar Owner/KHEMA’s friend) who was impressed by the energy of the band and decided to join the adventure as manager and created a Magical space for the local Metal scene « LE PLUG » where CARTHAGODS have enjoyed Jamming with living legends and talented artists from the actual international Metal scene as: Paul Di ANNO (Ex-Iron Maiden)/ MAX CAVALERA /SOEN/Dark Tranquillity/ Mark Reign (Ex-Destruction, Morgoth)/ Barend COURBOIS (Blind Guardian) and many others. And collaborating in studio with legends such as: Tim RIPPER OWEN (Ex-Judas Priest) in « My favorite disguise »/ Ron “BUMBLEFOOT” Thal (Sons Of Apollo ,Ex: Guns n’Roses) in « My revenge »/ Hans IN T Sandt (Ex-Mad Max) and Zuberoa Aznarez (Diabulus in Musica) in « MOENP »/ Their old friend Mark JANSEN (Epica, Mayan) in « A last sigh »…and release the first album self titled in June 2015.

One month before the official release, in May 2015, CARTHAGODS had the opportunity to perform their first Album for the first time, in Istanbul in front of more than 5000 amazing crazy motherfucker, as they opened the show for the Giant German BLIND GUARDIAN on their « Beyond the Red Mirror » worldwide tour, And burned down the place, the contact was so easy and so natural with the Turkish audience, they gave positive energy, that the band really needed, since their the Lead guitarist « Marcel COENEN » couldn’t make it due to some Visa issues.

But that didn’t prevent the audience to enjoy the music and sing along the choruses even though they didn’t hear the songs before…So it was a good reason for the band to go back to Istanbul in 2017 as a headliner during the TAKAS PAZARI festival.

CARTHAGODS Feat. Mikael Stanne - Whispers from the wicked