El Mahdy Jr, Gantz | ms

1) Gantz (1998 - 2006) were a band from Besancon, France. Its current formation is composed of four members playing a dark and emotional form of screamo. The crystalline arpeggios that succeed the chaotic moments give rise to similarities with bands such as Isis and Envy. The lyrics are very personal, drawn from everyday life and questioning the nature of humanity. Gantz have toured Europe playing shows in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and have played with many groups such as Funeral Diner, Envy, Yage, Hk, Raein, Pledge Alliance, Amanda Woodward, Isis, Majority Rule, Cave In...

El Mahdy Jr. and his family fled the brutal Civil war of his native Algeria in the 90′s, relocating to Turkey. Upon returning years later to Algeria, Mahdy worked as a French-Arabic translator in Algeria and later in Burkina Faso. Sick in bed with malaria, he began to paint sonic pictures of his travels in exile; digitally decoding a hazy trance- induced melting of his native Algerian music, Turkish folk, the furious Poly-Rhythms of West africa, and his love of slow, low slung Rap beats. Now living in Istanbul, El Mahdy Jr. is a respected artist amongst the Istanbul beat...