NERVECELL

In early 2000 the United Arab Emirates witnessed the birth of Nervecell, a formidable metal act, the likes of which was rarely to be seen in the Middle East, never mind Dubai, a cosmopolitan city that is predominantly saturated in mainstream music and chart topping acts.

While the band draws their influences from extreme metal acts like Morbid Angel, Deicide, Suffocation and Bolt Thrower, they also draw inspiration from classic metal bands, such as Pantera, Slayer, Testament, and Sepultura.

Ready and equipped to release their unique mixture of fast paced thrash and brutal death metal, the band set their stall out to be the driving force behind the wave of heavy metal that was ready to explode out of the region.

While suffering from lineup changes in its early years, it was in 2003 that Nervecell decided to record their first demo, entitled “Vastlands of Abomination”, which upon its release garnered the band some well deserved attention. It wasn’t until the band hit the studio, in the summer of 2004 to record their debut EP “Human Chaos” that they began to be recognized internationally. The release immediately grabbed attention from the underground metal scenes around the globe and gained them an international fan base, who were pummeled by mosh inciting songs like “Human Chaos” and “Demolition”; instantly securing NERVECELL a place on the global metal map. The success of “Human Chaos” allowed Nervecell the opportunity to perform in front of 6000 people at the annual Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2005, opening for the legendary SEPULTURA and the mighty MACHINE HEAD.

Soon after, Nervecell were seen headlining metal concerts in Dubai and even headlining the Egypt Metal Festival 2007 in Cairo. At this point Nervecell embarked on a headlining Australian tour in 2007, culminating with a headlining slot at Metalstock Festival 2007, Australia's only 3 day metal festival, and the Australian Road Rage Tour.

It wasn’t too long before the European fans got to see Nervecell head out their way later that year when the band were confirmed for Metalcamp Festival 2007 in Tolmin, Slovenia, alongside KREATOR, AMON AMARTH, IMMORTAL, and many others. Both the press and metal fans alike began to notice the unstoppable progress of the band! Nervecell were creating history at a time when releasing albums, touring extensively and playing international stages wasn’t an option considered by their peers back in the UAE.

By 2008, while the Middle East metal scene was on the rise, Nervecell were at the forefront of it all; having released a highly acclaimed EP and toured extensively on an international scale. After performing before 28,000 people at 2008’s edition of Dubai Desert Rock Festival, alongside As I Lay Dying, Machine Head, and Killswitch Engage; Nervecell decided to take time off from the live circuit to focus on recording their first full length.

In April 2008 Nervecell released the highly anticipated album “Preaching Venom”, featuring PSYCROPTIC's drummer David Haley. The album was mixed by the acclaimed producers Wojtek and Slawek Wieslawscy (VADER, DECAPITATED, HATE) at Hertz Studio in Poland and mastered by the infamous Alan Douches at West West Side Music (SEPULTURA, SUFFOCATION, UNEARTH) in New Windsor, New York.

The success that followed the release of “Preaching Venom” went beyond expectations; the album received immense feedback from all four corners of the world including top reviews from well established magazines such as Metal Hammer, Rock Hard, Legacy, and Metal Edge among others.

By February/March 2009 Nervecell kicked off the “Beyond The Venom” tour, which included an appearance at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2009 with MOTÖRHEAD, ARCH ENEMY, OPETH, CHIMAIRA and others. Not only did 2009 see Nervecell come under the management of Center Stage Management and sign an artist deal with Spellbind Records but it also marked the band’s first European Festival Tour. Consisting of a 3-month extensive tour of the continent in the summer of 2009, it included performances at Wacken Open Air (20th Year Anniversary) where they played in front of 70,000, With Full Force, Metal GDL, Mass Deathtruction, Way of Darkness Festival, Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park to name a few. Nervecell’s appearance at the latter two festivals made them the first metal band from the Middle East to perform on their stages.

While on tour the band gained the attention of Lifeforce Records. Shortly after Nervecell returned home and signed an international record deal with the German label. Yet again, marking another remarkable breakthrough for a Middle East based metal band! “Preaching Venom” was officially released throughout Europe and the UK on October 26th 2009.

Stefan Luedicke, CEO of Lifeforce Records, stated that “We are more than happy to welcome Dubai’s premier Death Metal band on Lifeforce. We hardly ever met a band with such strong work ethic”

With Lifeforce Records now supporting Nervecell, the band decided to return to Europe to celebrate the European release of “Preaching Venom”. A headlining Preaching Venom European Tour was quickly announced, scheduled to run throughout September/October 2009 in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Portugal.

After working relentlessly for 2 years on promoting “Preaching Venom” the band returned back to the UAE for a well earned break.

It was early 2010 and Nervecell headed back to Europe and the UK for 26 shows supporting New York Death Metal icons, Suffocation, on their Legacy of Blood Tour in March 2010. This was followed by a tour in Turkey, opening for the legendary Deicide in April 2010.

It was half way into 2010 and the time was right for Nervecell to finally head out East to perform for the countless fans located all around the Middle East. The band also went on to tour in countries such as India and Sri Lanka, where Nervecell were seen supporting As I Lay Dying.

The year 2011 has a lot in store for Nervecell, starting with the band bringing in the New Year with updates from the studio; so you can expect to catch Nervecell back again with yet another ground breaking album that continues to combine the old school death metal ethics of raw brutality intertwined with modern thrash metal elements of no-holds barred aggression and speed. The album is tentatively scheduled for a March 2011 release through Lifeforce Records in Europe and Spellbind Records in the Middle East. Rest assured the legacy of Nervecell will only continue to aspire many and grow further…from the Middle East and beyond!