CD cover

This much anticipated debut album CD is unlike anything seen or heard in the Shia Muslim community of late. The young team at ontheD blend clever poetry and word play whilst maintaining a hold onto the younger listeners. The album is heavily influenced from hip-hop and the spoken word, but don’t let that put you off, this album really does have something for everyone.

It is evident that they wanted to produce media which isn’t just for Muslims, but for anyone who appreciates literature and poetry. ontheD say they want to push boundaries, challenge traditions and bring Islam into the new era, a new phase.

The album cover and art work is quite different from the mainstream and immediately breaks the traditional mind-set Shia Muslims have been  accustomed to. Instantly the intro grabs your attention and makes you smile with curiosity, leading the listener from one track to the next.

The tracks in the album are perfectly ordered, yet all vary in style. ‘Baynol Haramain’ probably one of the more powerful tracks in the album, sent shivers down the spine, and the tagline ‘my heart is Baynol Haramain… Abbas and Hussain’ is very memorable. Two tracks of particular merit are ‘In My Dream I See a Monk’ which reflects the story of the Monk of Aleppo and the other ‘Bazaar’ which is a first person of narrative of a bystander.

Clearly ontheD are willing to take on the critics with their vision of bringing Karbala into a new light via a new medium.  The album concludes on a tear jerking climax ‘The Killing’ which is the perfect ending to this creatively written and produced album.

Artwork accompanying the album

Track listing:

  1. Intro
  2. This is Karbala
  3. Baynol Haramain
  4. Prostration
  5. In my dream I see a monk
  6. Past tomorrow
  7. Voicemail
  8. Euphrates
  9. So we would stand
  10. Free/Hurr
  11. Who’s Sain?
  12. The truth they say
  13. Bazaar
  14. Too great to be contained
  15. The killing

The CD Karbala: “The Unspoken Word (Volume 1)” is produced by ontheD productions; £5 (+£1.49 shipping)  released 26-Dec-2008; 1 Disc; 15 tracks

The album features artists from across the UK and USA and is available for purchase online at www.onthed.com.

80% of all profits will be going to the Lady Fatemah Charitable trust: www.ladyfatemahtrust.org