They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. On March 25, 2022, for the second time in three years, a lightning bolt called CREATIVE WASTE hit the Bohemian Art Cafe, a coffee/record shop in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. While the band had performed at international festivals and gigs across the world, playing in their home country was problematic. When the band performed at the Bohemian Art Cafe 2019, it was the first public Metal show in the history of Saudi Arabia. Despite fears and concerns, the show went off without a hitch. The success of the show, however, wasn't about ticket sales or venting restrained angst. It was about artistic expression. It was about saying that if you have a dream, you can make it happen with enough drive, with enough focus.
Three years later CREATIVE WASTE returned for another historic evening. This time the fears and concerns were much different. Instead of worrying about being incarcerated or heavily fined, the fears were about turnout and sound engineering. And while the worries about sound engineering were warranted (the band experienced a few minor technical hiccups), the crowd was abundant and enthusiastic. Fans who could not come into the venue because of capacity issues were happy to stand outside and watch the show through the large panel glass walls. Metal Temple editor Gary Hernandez had the privilege of attending. It was mind-blowing.
For those new to CREATIVE WASTE, they formed in 2002 and have one demo, one EP, one live split, and two full-length albums under their belt. They are currently a foursome, with brothers Fawaz al-Shawaf (guitars, vocals) and Talal al-Shawaf (drums) being joined by Abdulaziz al-Bayyat (bass) and Hussain Akbar (guitars). Most Metal fans categorize them Grindcore. The band does not disagree. A few weeks after the March 22 show, he had the chance to catch up with Fawaz al-Shawaf to talk about their history-making shows in the Kingdom, the Metal scene in the region, their plans for the future as well as some insights into what makes CREATIVE WASTE tick.
