Saudi Rock Band Sound of Ruby Drop New EP ‘Jaxx Invasion’

Sound of Ruby, one of Saudi Arabia’s first and longest-running rock bands, have just released ‘Jaxx Invasion’, their first official live album, and are currently working on a four-LP project featuring over 30 new tracks.

This new phase follows a string of recent releases - ‘Rock Puffs’ in 2022 and ‘Betamax’ in 2024 - which marked their return after a long hiatus. Now, the band is entering one of its most active and creative periods yet.

Formed in the Eastern Province in the 1990s by vocalist and composer Mohammad Al Hajjaj, Sound of Ruby helped shape Saudi Arabia’s underground rock scene. Despite lineup changes over the years, the group has stayed true to its raw, DIY ethos. Guitarist Nader Al Fassam and producer/multi-instrumentalist Kamal Khalil have long been part of the band’s core, and drummer Faris Al-Shawaf recently joined, continuing the legacy of his brother, Talal.

Blending punk, noise, and local influences, Sound of Ruby’s music draws from American acts like Black Flag and The Butthole Surfers, while also referencing Saudi folk artists like Fahad Bin Saeed and Bashir Shannan.

Beyond the music, the band played a key role in building Saudi’s alternative scene. In the 2000s, Hajjaj and Khalil launched S.A. Metal, one of the country’s first online forums for heavy music, and organized underground gigs that laid the groundwork for future scenes.