RIYADH: On a recent rock night at The Warehouse in Riyadh, the sound of electric guitars, pounding drums and fans singing along filled the venue as Saudi rock band Bogus took the stage.
The event highlighted a growing appetite for rock and metal in the Kingdom, and musicians and fans say the alternative scene is gaining momentum despite remaining largely underground.
Founded just five months ago, Bogus was created by a group of experienced musicians who saw an opportunity to help fill a gap in the local music landscape.
During their performance, the band played popular rock covers including Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris,” Thirty Seconds to Mars’ “The Kill,” and Bon Jovi’s “Bed of Roses.”
“We are a rock band,” said Mohammed Yasin, the band’s lead guitarist. “There are a lot of good musicians here in Saudi Arabia. We met around five months ago and decided to create the band because the scene needs more rock bands.”
According to Yasin, each member had previously performed with other groups, but they united around a common goal: bringing more rock music to Saudi audiences.
“The rock scene is growing in Saudi Arabia, especially in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam,” he said. “There are good rock and metal bands, some of them have been around for years, and now many new bands are emerging. More people are discovering this music.”
The growing fan base played a major role in the band’s formation.
“We saw that there is a big community here,” Yasin said. “A lot of people want rock shows, but there are not enough bands. We wanted to be part of changing that.”
While Bogus currently focuses on tribute performances and cover songs, the band is already working on original material.
“We are developing our own songs now,” Yasin said. “Soon we will release original singles, but at the moment we are performing tributes to the artists and bands we love.”
Despite the scene’s growth, challenges remain.
“Not everyone accepts rock music,” he said. “The distorted guitars, loud sound and aggressive vocals can be difficult for some people. Usually, when we perform, it is mostly rock fans who attend.”
One of the key venues supporting the scene is The Warehouse, a musician-led space that has become a hub for live alternative music in Riyadh.
Jilwiy Saeed, stage manager at The Warehouse and vocalist in a local metal band Maadan (which means metal in Arabic), said the venue was established in 2021 by musician Mohammed Al-Attas with the goal of creating a dedicated space for musicians to perform and connect with audiences.
“The idea was to create a place where musicians can jam, perform and showcase their talent,” Saeed said. “At the same time, it gives audiences the chance to enjoy live music in an intimate environment.”
He said demand for rock and metal performances has exceeded expectations.
“It’s growing very heavily, surprisingly fast,” he added. “Tonight’s Bogus show is the fourth consecutive sold-out event. That is amazing.”
Metal performances at the venue regularly attract more than 150 attendees, he added.
“People enjoy the music, the loudness, singing along to every song and every lyric. It’s quite amazing to witness.”
Saeed believes the community’s growth reflects years of pent-up demand. “There is definitely a hunger for this kind of music,” he said.
“The challenge is balance. Sometimes there are bands but not enough venues, and sometimes venues but not enough bands. Right now, Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province are the main places supporting this type of music.”
Veteran Saudi metal musician and Dune bassist Mamdoh Tawili has witnessed the scene’s evolution firsthand.
Tawili’s thrash metal band Dune originally formed in 2004 before disbanding in 2007. The group reunited in 2021 and has since become one of Saudi Arabia’s most recognized metal acts.
“There is a huge rock and metal scene here,” Tawili said. “There are many bands creating original music, and there is a large and supportive fan base among Saudis, expatriates and even listeners from outside the Kingdom.”
“Interest in Saudi metal is also growing internationally,” he added.
“We have done multiple interviews with international websites and media outlets. There is real curiosity about what is happening here.”
That attention reached new heights in 2024 when Dune’s EP “Years of Chains” was recognized by the international publication Metal Has No Borders, which placed the release in its Silver Tier for Thrash Metal Album of the Year.
The publication praised the EP’s aggressive energy and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s emerging metal movement, writing that the Kingdom’s growing scene is producing music that deserves global attention.
As new Saudi bands emerge, venues expand their programming and audiences continue to grow, the Kingdom’s alternative music scene is carving out its own place in the country’s rapidly evolving cultural landscape.
What was once a niche interest is increasingly becoming a visible part of Saudi Arabia’s live music ecosystem — one sold-out rock show at a time.
