December in Dubai is a month of metal madness. Fans of metal and rock music would be thrilled to see that the biggest metal event in Dubai the iconic Desert Inferno festival is taking place in two legs.

The first Desert Inferno metal festival, edition XXVII taking place on the 7^th of December at the Bar Baar, AL Jadaff Occidental Hotel, promotes an eclectic blend of cultures; hailing from the Mediterranean is Greece’s Project Renegade, then comes the Hungarian hardcore punk band Lecsa-Punk, along with two of the UAE’s very own groups with their own interpretations of extreme music, Prosecuted and Afterburner. The British thrash metal veterans, Evile, are the headliners for the event.

The second Desert Inferno metal festival, edition XXIX, displays yet another plethora of bands hailing from nations, also performing at the Bar Baar, AL Jadaff Occidental Hotel on the 14^th of December. There are a variety of acts from the United Arab Emirates; the groove metal outfit Mandirigma, the metalcore group Badgenes, the post-hardcore group Crows Ravens. American death metal legends Malevolent Creation are centered in the poster promoting the event.

Yet accompanying all these bands from such prominent nations in both legs of the festival is a Lankan metal band that has passionately persevered and been committed to its sonic craft within the metal genre; Stigmata.

Make no mistake; this isn’t Stigmata’s virgin venture beyond the coconut tree-fringed shores of Sri Lanka. The band has performed its unique take on the metal genre to New Zealand, Maldives, Dubai, Australia, Bangladesh, and India. Yet what makes this Dubai tour so special is that they coincide with the band’s 25th anniversary—twenty-five years that have included four studio albums, a variety of single releases and music videos released, and countless live performances around the world and in Sri Lanka, with a tireless commitment to their art by practicing amidst the demands of their personal lives and schedules.

Stigmata has released four albums which have been received with immense fondness by its fanbase; ‘Hollow Dreams’ (2005), ‘Silent Chaos Serpentine’ (2006), ‘Psalms of Conscious Martyrdom’ (2010) and ‘The Ascetic Paradox’ (2015). Besides the brilliantly complex musicianship of its members, the band are also one of the most thought-provoking lyricists of Sri Lanka, courtesy of the frontman, Suresh De Silva.

Stigmata’s inclusion in the Desert Inferno festivals is a more than noteworthy achievement considering the fact that this is the first time a Sri Lankan band from any genre has been invited to play for more than two legs for the same international festival.

Even for Lankans who do not listen to the metal genre frequently, it should be a moment of great pride. Stigmata has opened the doors for more local musical talent to venture out into the world. It is a beyond commendable achievement for a band that performs a niche style in a small island like ourselves.

From admiring and being inspired by groups like Malevolent Creation and Evile during their career to sharing a stage with them, Stigmata remains a testament to the wonders a passionate Lankan artist could achieve with sheer passion and commitment to their craft, rendering this an achievement that could inspire Sri Lankan artists beyond the metal genre as well.

Follow Stigmata on their social media pages (Instagram, Facebook and TikTok), expect more updates on upcoming shows to celebrate their monumental 25 year milestone, their 5^th album released, more global tours, new exciting merch reveals and drops and more.

For bookings and tickets for the Desert Inferno events, check the official Resurrection Metal events page on Instagram (@resurrectionmetaleventsdubai).