Souhaib Louati did not grow up in a metal scene. He grew up in Mahres, in Sfax, Tunisia, in a home shaped by classical Arabic music, and found heavy music by chance in a friend’s car in June 2021. Two years later, he started 2Worlds Speaks Metal, a page focused on bands from across the Arab world and the people supporting them on the ground. In this conversation, he talks about the exact point where metal clicked for him, the resistance he faced at home, the pressure of putting himself on camera, and why he believes local and underground bands from the region deserve serious international attention.
“discovering metal felt like finding
a completely new language.”
Where are you from, and what kind of musical environment did you grow up in?
I am from Mahres, in Sfax, Tunisia, and my musical foundation started far from metal. I grew up in a household centered on classical Arabic music, which gave me a deep appreciation for complex melodies and traditional structures. In a town where almost everyone around me, from family to friends, listened to everything except extreme music, discovering metal felt like finding a completely new language.
What pulled you into metal in the first place?
I always had a broad taste in music, but for a long time metal was not even on my radar. I had heard a few rock songs here and there, but nothing had really stayed with me. Everything changed on June 6, 2021. I was in a car with friends in my hometown of Mahres, and the driver, Mohamed Rekik, played three tracks: ‘Toxicity’ by System of a Down, and Disturbed’s ‘Immortalized’ and ‘Indestructible.’ That moment changed everything for me. The energy, the precision, and the power of those songs hit me in a way nothing else had before. For me, it was a life-changing discovery. From that day on, I wanted this music to be part of my life every day.
What is it actually like to run a metal content page from your part of the world, day to day?
Honestly, day to day, it is mostly about the screen and the sound. I did not grow up in a metal neighborhood, and I do not live in one now, so the environment around me is the digital world I built for myself. I officially launched 2Worlds Speaks Metal on October 7, 2023, but the real turning point was June 6, 2021. That was the day I heard Disturbed and System of a Down in a friend’s car, and everything changed. I went from knowing nothing about this music to making it part of my whole life. Since then, I have kept trying to learn more every single day.
“I felt the Tunisian metal scene needed someone to represent it, and I told myself, ‘I’ll be that person.'”
What made you start 2Worlds Speaks Metal, and what gap did you feel needed filling for Arab metal coverage? Also, have you ever felt resistance, misunderstanding, or pressure for putting yourself out there publicly with metal content?
2Worlds started with an idea, like everything else. Becoming a YouTuber or content creator was a childhood dream of mine. Back then, I was hooked on Tunisian YouTubers like Jellyfish and m3kky. The idea that became 2Worlds came to me in August 2023. I felt the Tunisian metal scene needed someone to represent it, and I told myself, “I’ll be that person.” At the same time, every individual represents the community in their own way by supporting bands, because that is exactly what the scene needs: “SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BANDS.” That applies across almost every Arab country where metal exists. I want to salute every promoter and supporter from the Arab world. Joel, you too, because you are doing great work. As for pressure, yes, I feel a lot of it, especially when I am on camera or editing videos for Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Misunderstanding? Not really. From my perspective, my content is direct. I do not like playing around just to get buzz. Resistance? Hell yeah. I faced a lot of it, especially from people in Mahres saying, “What is this guy doing?” or “What nonsense is this?” And of course there were the usual claims that metal is satanic, and all of that.
“Our common language is this music, no matter which borders we live behind.”
When you say the page is for “all the Arab Nation,” what does that mean to you in practice, especially across scenes that can be very different from one country to another?
For me, saying the page is for “all the Arab Nation” means creating a real connection. The metal scenes across the Middle East and North Africa can feel isolated from each other because of geography and because each local scene faces its own challenges. Through 2Worlds Speaks Metal, I want to show that whether you are a fan in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, or anywhere else in the region, we are part of the same movement. Our common language is this music, no matter which borders we live behind.
How do you decide which bands, releases, or stories deserve the spotlight on 2Worlds Speaks Metal?
In “News of the Week” and “Out Now” posts, I do not choose bands or releases based on personal preference. Those sections are built on detailed research before I publish them. Every band from the Arab world deserves a place on 2Worlds Speaks Metal. For me, anyone who puts real effort into their work deserves support.
What are you hoping people understand about you, and about the scene around you, after following your page for a while?
I want people to see what Arab bands are capable of. I do not believe mainstream bands are better than Arab bands, or better than underground bands in general. Anyone who puts real effort into their music deserves to be seen and deserves a place in front of the international metal audience. On a personal level, I would give one piece of advice: if you have an idea, work on it and develop it. Do not be afraid of what people will say. People will always talk. I also want to thank you, Joel, and Africa.Rocks for the work you do for the African rock and metal scene. And I want to thank my friends, who have supported us at every step of 2Worlds.
To follow Souhaib’s work and stay connected with 2Worlds Speaks Metal, head to Instagram.
