Myrath

Myrath, meaning "Legacy" in Arabic, was formed in early 2001 by 13-year-old guitarist Malek Ben Arbia and his childhood friends, drummer Fahmi Chakroun and guitarist Oualid Issaoui. The lineup was completed by bassist Zaher Ben Hamoudia and vocalist Tarek Idouani. Initially, Myrath performed covers of blues, heavy, and death metal for the first two years. In 2003, Elyes Bouchoucha (keyboards and vocals) replaced Tarek, and Oualid left the band. This new lineup focused on progressive metal, mainly covering Symphony X for nearly two years. After gaining experience, Myrath began writing original music that combined their Oriental roots with Western influences, blending progressive, heavy, and melodic styles. In summer 2004, drummer Fahmi Chakroun and bassist Zaher Hamoudia were replaced by Saif Ouhibi and Yassine Belgith, leading to the self-produced album "Double Face," released in March 2005 in Tunisia. In September 2005, Malek traveled to France to study at the Music Academy International (M.A.I.) to enhance his skills. Myrath opened for Adagio and Robert Plant at the Mediterranean Guitar Festival in March 2006, where they met Adagio’s keyboardist, Kevin Codfert, who later produced their second album. Upon returning to Tunisia in July 2007, Malek was determined to pursue an international career with Myrath. In December 2006, they recorded "Hope" with Codfert, marking a significant turning point for the band, which was signed by Brennus Music in September 2007. In June 2007, Zaher Zorgati, regarded as Tunisia's best metal singer, joined as lead vocalist and debuted at the Rock à Radés Festival on August 10, 2007.