Lowen is a London based Middle Eastern progressive doom band consisting of Nina Saeidi on vocals, daf, santoor and more, as well as Shem Lucas on guitar, alongside Cal Constantine on drums and a bassist when playing live.
The band focuses on the displaced identity of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Nina Saeidi, who was born into exile from Iran in the UK. In Iran playing metal is illegal and women singing unaccompanied risk execution. The ancient world, its art and languages, form a backdrop for an exploration of the pain and longing of the diasporically dispossessed in her mournful wails and use of traditional tahrir vocals unique to Iran.
Lowen’s sound can best be described as a cross between Dead Can Dance and Bolt Thrower as they fuse traditional Middle Eastern rhythms and melodies with the heaviest music they can play.
Their second album Do Not Go War With The Demons Of Mazandaran was released to critical acclaim. It ranked at no.2 on the Metal Hammer Prog Albums Of The Year list and no.9 overall. Kerrang placed the album at no.29 on their year end list and Bandcamp named the album on their Best Metal Of 2024 list.