# Khalas

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Khalas
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Khalas.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalas
> Source revision: 1356281631
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

For the palm date cultivar, see [Khalas (date)](/source/Khalas_(date)).

**Khalas** (Arabic: خلص), also known as **Arabic Rock Orchestra**,[1][2] are a [Palestinian](/source/Palestine) heavy metal band based in [Israel](/source/Israel) and formed in 1998.[1] The name of the band means "enough" in Arabic.[3]

In 2013, they embarked on a tour across Europe along with [Israeli](/source/Israel) band [Orphaned Land](/source/Orphaned_Land),[2][4] an event which brought coverage to the band in Western media, in outlets such as *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*[5] and [CNN](/source/CNN).[6] Khalas guitarist Abed Hathout and Oprhaned Land vocalist [Kobi Farhi](/source/Kobi_Farhi) met around 10 years before the tour in a radio station.[2]

In the following year, both bands shared the *[Metal Hammer](/source/Metal_Hammer)* Global Metal Band of the Year award, after a request by Orphaned Land, which had been chosen by the readers for the award.[7] The groups received the honor in [IndigO2](/source/IndigO2) amidst [tensions around the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers](/source/2014_kidnapping_and_murders_of_Israeli_teenagers).[7]

In response to criticism that the bands' partnership would be a validation of the [Israeli occupation of Palestine](/source/Israeli_occupation_of_Palestine) or of [Palestinian terrorism](/source/Palestinian_political_violence), both groups stated that their message of understanding "is a sign to everyone that peace is possible".[8] Hathout also responded to criticism that the band doesn't write politically charged songs, focusing instead on less serious topics, by claiming that "as a Palestinian, I have the right to write songs about beer, about ladies throwing bras at us on stage, and it annoys me because when I answer that, a lot of people say, now you are an Israeli. Well fuck that - if I don't talk about the occupation, I am an Israeli, suddenly".[1]

## Members

### Current members

- Riyad Sliman – vocals[9]
- Abed Hathout – guitar[9]
- Dani Rooster – bass[10]
- Fadel Qandil – percussions[9]

### Former members

- [Bassam Beromi](/source/Bassam_Beromi)
- Tarek Sha'aban

## Discography

- *Ma Adesh Feeha (We've Had It)* (2003)
- *Arabic Rock Orchestra* (2013)
- *The Peace Series Vol. 1* (2021, split EP with Orphaned Land)

## References

1. Smallman, Etan (February 10, 2014). ["Israeli and Palestinian heavy metal bands head-banging for peace"](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/meet-the-israeli-and-palestinian-heavy-metal-bands-headbanging-for-middle-east-peace-9119705.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260427052749/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/features/meet-the-israeli-and-palestinian-heavy-metal-bands-headbanging-for-middle-east-peace-9119705.html) 2026-04-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-26.

1. Kamin, Debra (July 26, 2013). ["A heavy metal, Middle Eastern band of brothers"](http://www.timesofisrael.com/a-heavy-metal-middle-eastern-band-of-brothers/). *[The Times of Israel](/source/The_Times_of_Israel)*. [ISSN 0040-7909](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0040-7909). [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20241202020750/https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-heavy-metal-middle-eastern-band-of-brothers/) December 2, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-26.

1. Earache, Asher. Interview with Bassam Beromi, Abed Hathout and Fadel Kandil of Khalas. [HardAndHeavy.net, archived by Archive.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20080424203547/http://www.hardandheavy.net/eng/interviews/index.php?op=1&id=183)

1. Arad, Dafna (July 23, 2013). ["Moshing for peace: Israeli, Palestinian metal bands to share stage on European tour"](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/2013-07-23/ty-article/all-is-one-heavy-metal-for-peace/0000017f-e3ce-d75c-a7ff-ffcf15db0000). *[Haaretz](/source/Haaretz)*. [Archived](http://web.archive.org/web/20260520115003/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/2013-07-23/ty-article/all-is-one-heavy-metal-for-peace/0000017f-e3ce-d75c-a7ff-ffcf15db0000) May 20, 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-26.

1. Sherwood, Harriet (July 21, 2013). ["Israeli and Palestinian bands unite in 'metal brotherhood'"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/21/israeli-palestinian-bands-unite-tour). *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*. Retrieved March 28, 2016.

1. Mackay, Mairi (August 12, 2013). ["Rock the conflict: Jewish and Palestinian metal bands tour for peace"](https://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/11/world/meast/israel-palestinian-jewish-rock-bands-for-peace/). *[CNN](/source/CNN)*. Retrieved March 28, 2016.

1. Ritchie, Meabh (June 16, 2014). ["Make metal, not war: ‘We are the ambassadors of peace’"](https://www.channel4.com/news/metal-israel-palestine-peace-music-award-orphaned-land). *[Channel 4 News](/source/Channel_4_News)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140617191448/http://www.channel4.com/news/metal-israel-palestine-peace-music-award-orphaned-land) 2014-06-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-05-26.

1. Suchet, Richard (17 November 2013). ["Arab-Israeli Metal Bands On Tour Together"](https://news.sky.com/story/arab-israeli-metal-bands-on-tour-together-10427699). *[Sky News](/source/Sky_News)*. [Comcast](/source/Comcast). Retrieved May 26, 2026.

1. ["Khalas: On Creating Heavy Metal Music in Arabic"](https://movementsandlocations.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/khalas-on-creating-heavy-metal-music-in-arabic/). Musiqa Mustaqilla (Arabic for "independent music" or "self-contained music"). September 21, 2016.

1. ["Kahlas - Bios"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090303211915/http://www.khalas.net/bio.php). Archived from [the original](http://www.khalas.net/bio.php) on 2009-03-03.

## External links

- [Khalas - Official website (No Longer Available)](http://www.khalas.net/) - [January 2016 archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20160109152513/http://www.khalas.net/) - [September 2013 archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20130928090022/http://www.khalas.net/) - [September 2009 archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20090302054643/http://www.khalas.net/)
- [Khalas](https://www.youtube.com/) on YouTube
- [Khalas](https://bandcamp.com/khalasofficial) on Bandcamp

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Khalas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.