Heavy metal band Coat of Arms breaking out of the UAE with latest album

UAE-based metal band Coat of Arms serve up an insightful take on modern life in the UAE with third album A Shade of Red.

The Dubai-based heavy metal band Coat of Arms, whose lyrics are inspired by UAE life, are planning to tour the United Kingdom later this year. Courtesy Coat of Arms

Heavy metal band Coat of Arms are breaking out of the UAE, and the region, with a strong third ­album and international tour dates on the cards.

A Shade of Red offers a streamlined take on the quartet's modern, industrial-inspired ­approach, with biting, observational lyrics inspired by modern life in the UAE. Available online now and with physical copies set to go on sale this month, we caught up with the band's 28-year-old British-born frontman, Mohammad Bailouni, who was raised in Abu Dhabi.

A Shade of Red is your third full-length release. How is it different from what we’ve heard from Coat of Arms before?

With our last album, Sun & Satellites, we used a producer from the States, Diego Farias from the Los Angeles band Volumes. At the time, the music we were doing was a different direction – there weren't too many bands doing that and to be working with a pioneer of that sound, we picked up a lot of fans from outside of the UAE. This time, we decided to do everything in-house. I produced the whole thing from my home studio. Lyrically, with this album we wanted to tell the stories of the things we see going on that are never really discussed. On the last album we were answering ­questions about things we'd thought about, on this one we're asking a new set of questions that we don't even have the answers for.

What kind of questions?

The album is very much about societal stuff, mainly here in the UAE. There are not a lot of albums coming out of Dubai, a place where there are so many nationalities and stories – but not many of these stories come out of that place. I have lived in the UAE for 25 years. You hear a lot of people talk about what’s happening on the outside, but not within – so we’re addressing labour [exploitation], corporate interests, technology – issues that occur here as much as anywhere else.

For example, social media – have we stopped to think about what effect this will have on us? It’s like processed food – everyone ate it and then 20 years later realised it wasn’t such a good idea. We’re asking those questions now.

What does the album title signify?

The colour red is a very emotional colour – it can mean heat, anger, love, danger – all depending on the shade. So all of the songs on the album are the same colour – but each of them is a different shade.

Are you happy with how the album has been received?

I think it’s been better received out of the UAE than within, which I have mixed feelings about. It’s weird that not many people from here get that it’s an album about here, but at the same time we’re spreading these stories about the UAE all over the world.

You recently played your first international gig, at the Santa Maria Summer Fest in Portugal. How was sharing those stories there?

It was a different experience – people didn’t know what to make of us. It was in Beja, a couple of hours from Lisbon, and a lot of people told us because it’s not the capital and not as well-off, they are not exposed to as much music, and what we’re doing is not music that they were accustomed to – they’re still a couple of years behind. We’re playing in Sri Lanka in August, so that should be interesting, and later this year we’re looking at shows in Holland, Brazil and touring the United Kingdom.

How do you think the UAE scene competes on the international stage?

I've been doing this whole band thing, playing shows, writing music, since I was 15. I grew up in Abu Dhabi and we used to organise shows for Dubai bands to play. In terms of talent, it's improved a lot – there are bands writing now that I think could be played anywhere in the world. The weakness in the scene is still the live gigs – there are shows being playing at venues which are not ideal. One time I had to sing Happy Birthday to someone at a show. I'm not really here to do that.

But in terms of the GCC, Dubai is number one. Across the Mena region, Egypt and Tunisia were meant to have fantastic metal scenes, but Dubai is probably up there in the top three, if not top, right now – a lot of people move here just for the music.

• You can download or stream A Shade of Red at coatofarms.bandcamp.com Physical copies will be on sale soon from the band's Facebook page