| Benevolent | |
| Origin: | founded in Kuwait; presently in United Arab Emirates |
| Genre: | Experimental metal, progressive metal |
| Years Active: | 2007–present |
| Website: | Benevolent's YouTube channel Benevolent's Facebook page Benevolent's Official Bandcamp page |
| Current Members: | Hadi Sarieddine Fadi Sarieddine Mohammed Gad |
| Past Members: | Adel Al-Qattan Bader Nana Khalid Al-Mansour Hisham Khalil |
Benevolent is an extreme/experimental metal band formed in 2007 by Lebanese brothers Hadi and Fadi Sarieddine. Formerly based in Kuwait, the band is now based in the United Arab Emirates.
Benevolent was founded by brothers Hadi Sarieddine and Fadi Sarieddine in May 2007 under the name Eminence. The band had initially started as a cover band. In 2008, the band released its first single titled "Solace".
In mid-2009, the band was joined by Adel Al-Qattan on guitars, and Bader Nana on drums. The band soon began writing original material. Soon after the release of "Augmented" in early 2010, Adel Al-Qattan and Bader Nana had departed from the band.
Benevolent entered the studio to begin work on record material for what has become the band's debut EP, titled Divided. "The Tyrant" was previously released as "Augmented" in late January, 2010.
The second single of the EP was the song "Haunting Shores".[1] which showcased a new and more focused direction in the band's sound. Involving elements of poly rhythmic beats, low tuned guitars, and a general move toward what is referred to as djent.
The songs "Clairvoyant Transmission", "Purgatory", and "The Quantum Paradox" were all finalized toward the end of the recording process across the summer of 2010.
On November 5, 2010, the band released its debut EP titled Divided.[2] The EP featured five songs including "Haunting Shores" and "The Tyrant".
Divided was released exclusively for free download on the band's Bandcamp page.
On January 10, 2011, Benevolent announced through their Facebook page that the line up of the band has been completed with the addition of Mohammed Gad on bass guitar. The band also confirmed their appearance in shows promoting Divided in February 2011 in the Middle East.[3] [4]
It was officially announced on the band's Official Facebook page that the band will return to the studio on May 27,[5] 2011 to commence work on a single which will be released through the summer of 2011.
On July 10, 2011, Benevolent debuted their first official music video which features a guitar play-through of the song Clairvoyant Transmission. Hadi Sarieddine worked with the designer of the artwork from Divided as a director and producer for the video.[6]
'The Covenant' is Benevolent's first full-length album, the record was released digitally on March 18, 2014 independently by the band. Andols Herrick (formerly of Chimaira) was announced as the guest drummer on the album.[7]