Interview by Hamed Shocair from - JorZine

02/06/2006 (Interview from the Phex Era)

JorZine: With his ultimate passion of music, Phexataan (Muhannad Bursheh) became one of the most well-known artists in Jordan and in the Arab world. An active member in four bands, a member in the Jordanian National Orchestra. On This interview, Phexataan talks about his musical projects, his vision for the local scene and more...

First of all, we would like to thank you for giving us this opportunity to make an interview.
Thanks for you, it is my pleasure!

Phex; (one-man project) what can you tell us about it? (WHO IS PHEX?)
A one-man band, stared by me (Phexataan, a.k.a. Muhannad Bursheh) in 2001! In Phex I have my own self! I do what I want, so it is kind of relaxing and fun! It is great to do your own music, and then see how it come out when recorded…

What I can tell about Phex is that it’s a multiple styled project; each release has its specific sound. The first ever release made by Phex was an Electronic music CD (Demo) done in 2001, containing 5 tracks; Rave, Techno, Drum n Bass … This demo is called "Experiments 00-01", because its truly musical experiments done between the years 2000 and 2001. Only few people have heard about this release by the way, because it was never officially released or distributed, it was only given to some friends, it didn't even have a cover artwork until a short period of time when some people became interested in having it, so I had to make a cover artwork.

The second release was "The Black Vision" demo in 2002, also has the same story of Experiments 00-01, only distributed very limitedly between friends, and the cover artwork was made 2 years after its release. It contains 2 tracks and an occult hidden track.

The third release, and you can say the true beginning when Phex started to be heard and to take a name was "Spirits and Devils" promo 2003. It contains 10 tracks, 2 of them are the same that appeared on The Black Vision demo. The style is somehow Doom/Death/Industrial Metal. The promo sounds so dark due to the raw production.

The 4^th release, first full-length album. "Transfixion" (Album 2005); I seriously consider this release a hit in the Jordanian and Arabian scene, and a significant release, not because its my own music, but because of the work made on it; professional recording and production in the international level which until the moment not any Arabian band released a CD with such production. Also the printing of the album that comes with a full booklet. The style of Transfixion can't be described easily, its really strange, its not death metal, but closest to death metal; you can say Extreme Metal simply, or you might refer to it as Post Death Metal. Transfixion consists of 10 tracks, which most of them were tracks that appeared on "Spirits and Devils" promo, but they were re-recorded and re-produced, with big changes in the songs' structures and riffs. Also it include a tribute song (Powder Burns) the legendary death metallers Bolt Thrower.

What is the main reason that made you decide to start a project such as Phex?
It was started as my side project aside from Augury. The main reason is to be able to create and own world for myself, to be able to make my own music which everything is done by one mind, I do what I want exactly in it, with no pressure from the outside or anything! Its also real fun when you are recording your own music in the studio and you record everything alone; bass, guitar, vocals … Of course I would never forget the great support and help from my friends and fellow musician, especially Sirenwave (Muhammad Masri), who gave me some great ideas on the Transfixion album, and did the great production of the album.

I have to add that even if Phex is a one-man band, but in every release there are some guest members, I really like the idea of bringing session members to play some solos or to do backing vocals and stuff like that. On "Spirits and Devils" promo, Omar Nooreddin (Augury) played guitars on the song "Burgor", and Saeed Abu-Jaber (Augury) did the backing vocals on the same song, also he is a guitarist in Augury. On the same release, Basil Bursheh (Augury) played keyboards on the track "Chords of Demise". On Transfixion album, Sirenwave played 2 solos on the song "Watching Your Death", and Zaher Siryani (Tyrant Throne) played one solo on the same song. Basil Bursheh (Augury) performed keys and synth on the track "Fires of Demise"!

Tell us about Transfixion, what was the influence of the album?
Well, am basically gonna mention what I said in a question above. It is the first full-length album. It contains 10 tracks that are professionally produced. Most tracks were enhanced re-recordings and reproductions from the Spirits and Devils promo. The album is so heavy and brutal all in all, varies from extremely fast beats (Example tracks: Sprits and Devils, Llama's Odyssey, The Insect War, Watching Your Death) to slow beats (Example tracks: Black Vision, Watching Your Death, Powder Burns). As I said before, the style is hard to descried; its close to death metal, but its not death metal; Extreme Metal or Post Death Metal with ambient touches could be good definitions.

For those who want to purchase the album, you can get it from Mute Records, Amman-Jordan. For those from outside Jordan who want to purchase it, just contact me at phexasaurus@yahoo.co.uk

Where do you see Phex after 5 years? I mean do you intend to continue your path to success?
I still can't see where will Phex be in 5 years time, but I can say that Phex will be definitely much bigger than now, with more releases and probably a good label deal since am already in contact with some labels. And of course I intend to continue with the path, as long as Phexataan is alive, Phex will be alive. There are even possibilities of making other styles of releases other than metal, such Ambient music albums or electronic music again, but extreme metal will always be the first priority.

I know that many people know about your participation in other bands, but can you tell us more about these participations?
Indeed!

AUGURY (www.augury.tk): An atmospheric black/heavy metal band. Started in 2000, released a well known demo in the Arabian world and Jordan, "Temptation of Oath" (2004), it even reached many European countries and the Americas. Also released a split CD with the Belgian folk black metal band "Natan", the split was released by the Mexican label "Atolinga Records". The band is now on hold, because most of the members are not in Jordan, so we're waiting for the future to decide what will happen with the band.

Band Members:
Tareq Fayyad – Vocals
Phexataan – Bass & Backing Vocals
Omar Nooreddin – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Saeed Abu-Jaber – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Basil Bursheh – Keyboards

TYRANT THRONE (www.tyrantthrone.tk): My brutal death metal band, formed in 2004 by my cousin Zaher Siryani and I. We're working on our first EP, will be probably called "Abomination". This EP will definitely be the most technical thing the Arabian world is yet to produce. Boil your fucking blood for it! Now the band is performing many live shows (With session members to complete the line-up)…

Band Members:
Zaher Siryani – Guitars
Phexataan – Bass & Vocals

APOKALYTE: My newest project, an its only a temporary project for the time being, the plans are only to release one full-album, but who knows what happens in the future. Apokalyte is and Industrial/Ambient Black Metal band. Formed only by Sirenwave and I, to share our interest in black metal and electronic music, we decided to mix these 2 styles of music and make an album. We're now working on the album and already finished a lot in it, it is gonna be something big, take my word for that!

Band members:
Sirenwave – Guitars, Programming, Vocals
Phexataan – Bass, Vocals, Programming

What do you think about Jordan’s metal scene? And what feature does it have?
As I always say, we do have potentials, but there is no support at all. But it is improving a lot these days as I noticed; concerts which stopped in 2002 are finally happening again and in big numbers, these days we're participating in concerts each and every month. And finally, the authorities understood that playing metal doesn't mean summoning Satanic rituals, but still am not sure of that 100%, I just hope they did. There is only something bad in some of the local metalheads mentality that needs to be changed, I just can't understand what is it! One more thing is that most local metalheads are not so supportive to local bands; they see you live and wreck their necks banging on your music, and when you mention your album to them no one buys it, they prefer to copy it from their friends (Its only for 2JD lads, come on, original CDs for 2JD, where can that ever happen?)… I mean am truly getting more buyers from international countries more than Jordan, especially from England!

Any last words?
Thanks a lot for the interviews. Keep this great support, we need it, you're doing a great job guys. Just stay true. And for the local fans, all we need is support guys, so thanks for that!

Phex Official Website: www.phex.tk
Phex @ MySpace.com: www.myspace.com/phexmusic
Phex @ Audiostreet: www.audiostreet.net/phex

Thank you very much for your time.