CARTHAGODS

CARTHAGODS was one of the first metal bands to emerge from Tunisia in the late 1990's. Undoubtedly, they are the pioneers of heavy-metal scene in Tunisia. CARTHAGODS’s powerful sound, influence, and longevity make them one of the best Metal Bands in Tunisia.

CARTHAGODS had just signed a worldwide record contract with a German label “HANDS OF BLUE records” to release their first album, which the band hopes to complete it by the beginning of the current year.

“We’re really excited to see our first album released, after all the lineup changes we’ve seen. It’s been a long time that we look for such occasion to finally satisfy our fans”.

Formed in 1997 by founding members, Tarak ben sassi (guitar), Aymen benhamed (drums) and Nader berber (vocals). The lineup was completed the same year with Sami (bass) and wassim (guitars). For three years the band played covering bands as Megadeth , Iron maiden Metallica , Pantera …..In several local shows.

In 2001 Wassim left the band and was replaced by guitar prodigy Khalil Naweli, at that time the band decided to write their own music. Regrettably the year 2001 was marked by the death of khalil, so the band almost split but the founding members kept writing music till 2004 CARTHAGODS are back on stage with Tarak, Aymen, Mehdi KHEMA (Vocals), Khaled (guitars) and Houssem (bass), with the new lineup and a new spirit, to perform in local concerts till the 1st international metal event in Tunisia “ROCK TUNISIA” on March 2006 supporting the famous Dutch band EPICA.

On April 2007 the band performed in “ROCK TUNISIA II” with KIKO LOUREIRO (Angra/Guitarist) as guest star, who was the first guitar hero performing in Tunisia.

2008 CARTHAGODS released their first records (SHADOWS and EATER OF SIN) with the famous Dutch guitar player Marcel COENEN (Sun caged; Stormrider …), who accepted to produce the band and performed LIVE in “ROCK TUNISIA III”.

On February 2009 Haythem MAHBOULI (Lead Guitars) and Khalil KHIREDDINE (Bass) joined the band and assisted the recording of the new songs “YOUR FAVORITE DESGUISE” and “MEMORIES OF NEVER ENDING PAINS”, on October of the same year the band released the video clip of “Memories of never ending pains (monep)”, the song that had a big success on the web and local radio stations. After that the band was invited to support the Swedish death metal legend DARK TRANQUILLITY in “RESERVOIR ROCK’S”, one of the biggest METAL events in Tunisia, on December 2009.

On July 2010 CARTHAGODS was invited to support the English metal band ANATHEMA in the "SOUND OF PERSEVERANCE" event in which the band played their new compositions.

2011: Tunisia had its first popular revolution on January 14th, the band members splitted for several reasons, only Mehdi KHEMA and Tarak kept faith in the project and hired new musicians, Mohamed Ben Hadida on Drums“who used to be part of the band in 2006,Yassine aka Timon as a bass player (Lost Insen) and the prodigy Marcel COENEN (Ex-SUNCAGED, StormRider, GodsCum) as a guitar performer and a producer, to work on the record.
2014: Khaled Trabelsi (Metal Bar Owner) was interested to join the band as manager and helped out the band to guest some international Metal Stars such as Tim RIPPER OWENS (Ex-Judas Prist, Ex-Iced Earth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio Disciples, Charred walls of damned, Beyond Fear…), Ron “BUMBLEFOOT” Thal (BUMBLEFOOT, Guns n’Roses), Timo Somers (Delain, Vengeance), Barend COURBOIS (Blind Guardian), Hans IN T Sandt (Ex-Mad Max, Marcel COENEN and Friends), Paul Di ANNO (Ex-Iron Maiden), MAX CAVALERA (Ex-Sepultura, SoulFly, Cavalera Concperacy…),Mark Reign (Ex-Destruction, Morgoth) and some of them are part of the upcoming album.
2015: The artwork by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY) and the trailer of the album were out in January and the release of the album is programmed for the end of February… of course tour dates will follow.
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