Naser Mestarihi: The Fire Behind Winterburn and the Fight to Keep Rocking

From discovering Hendrix as a kid to sharing the stage with Guns N' Roses, Naser Mestarihi's journey has been anything but ordinary. Now, with Winterburn preparing to release their second album, the guitarist and vocalist opens up about the music, the struggles, and the determination that keeps him moving forward.

It All Started With a Guitar Riff

For some musicians, there's a particular moment that changes everything. For Naser Mestarihi, it happened while watching television. Growing up in Qatar, Naser was surrounded by music thanks to his father's record collection. The Beatles were his introduction, followed by Guns N' Roses, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, and countless others. He remembers falling asleep listening to his Walkman, imagining himself performing alongside his favorite bands.

But it was Jimi Hendrix who finally pushed him toward becoming a guitarist. While watching Channel V, Asia's equivalent of MTV, Naser caught a clip of Hendrix performing "Voodoo Child" at Woodstock.

"Hearing the wah scratch notes and opening lick just blew my mind," he recalls. "I wanted to be a guitarist right there and then."

That fascination quickly became something much bigger. Over the years, Naser explored everything from blues and classic rock to metal, funk, soul, and new wave. Rather than limiting himself to one style, he began tracing his favorite musicians' influences backward, discovering the artists who had inspired them. It's a curiosity that continues to shape his music today.

From a Solo Career to Winterburn

Before Winterburn, Naser had already spent years recording, performing, and developing his career as a solo artist. By 2018, with plans to tour the United Kingdom taking shape, he decided it was time to give his live project a new identity.

The band adopted the name Winterburn, taken from a song on his solo album Praed Street. "I wanted something universal," he explains, noting that his own name wasn't always the easiest for audiences to pronounce.

Winterburn became the next chapter of a musical journey that had already been years in the making. The band's debut album, Ivory Towers, featured Grammy-winning drummer Thomas Pridgen, known for his work with The Mars Volta. The record attracted international attention, earning coverage from publications including Metal Hammer and Classic Rock. In 2022, Naser also joined Gibson's artist roster, another milestone in his career.

But Winterburn's journey wasn't without complications. After several lineup changes, Naser began rebuilding the group following his relocation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 2024. He eventually brought together bassist Mohammed Al Meshkhas and drummer Abdulla Abul, two experienced musicians he already knew through the regional music scene.

Finding talented players was only part of the equation. They needed to share the same musical ambitions, work ethic, and personalities.

"I'm not here to just make some dough playing with someone I can't stand"

For him, the chemistry between bandmates matters just as much as what happens onstage.

No Gimmicks, Just Heavy Rock

Ask Naser to describe Winterburn's sound, and he doesn't overcomplicate things.

"Straight no bullshit riff based groove rock."

It's a blend of classic hard rock, heavy metal, groove-driven riffs, and strong melodies. But despite the band's recognizable sound, Naser insists he doesn't approach songwriting with a formula.

"I literally just spit out riffs and licks while I'm practicing or jamming. I piece them together and take it from there."

The goal isn't to imitate another band or chase a particular trend. It's to create music that feels natural, exciting, and worth playing. That philosophy carries directly into Winterburn's upcoming second album, II.

An Album That Had to Be Recorded Twice

Making a record is rarely straightforward, but Winterburn's latest album presented some unusual challenges. Between relocating, adjusting to major changes in his personal life, and putting the band on hiatus, Naser found himself working on the album under constantly changing circumstances.

At one point, he had already recorded nearly the entire project. Then he made a difficult decision. He started over. Despite having the performances captured, he felt they weren't good enough and chose to rerecord the album.

The finished sessions were spread across several locations. Naser recorded most of his guitar and vocal parts at home, while Abdulla tracked drums at his home studio in Bahrain and Mohammed recorded bass at his own house. Some vocals and acoustic parts were recorded at Naser's family home in Qatar, where he set up a temporary vocal booth.

The album also gave him an opportunity to revisit unfinished ideas. The opening track, "Zephyr," was originally intended for Ivory Towers, but Naser wasn't satisfied with its arrangement.

Rather than forcing it onto the previous record, he shelved the song. Years later, he returned to it, reworked the arrangement, and gave it a new life. It's one example of how II brings together both older musical ideas and newer experiences.

The Personal Stories Behind the Music

While Winterburn's music is built around heavy riffs and infectious grooves, some of the new album's most important moments are deeply personal. One track in particular, "618," documents an experience that changed Naser's life.

Living with multiple sclerosis, he suffered an attack that caused partial paralysis. The song chronicles that experience and his eventual recovery of the ability to walk and play guitar.

"It's about defeating the odds"

His health has also changed the way he approaches music. Naser speaks openly about periods of depression, creative inactivity, and the pressure he sometimes feels to accomplish everything he wants while he still can.

"The sense of urgency mainly stems from me being worried about how much time I've got with my illness"

But even when he goes weeks without picking up a guitar, the connection remains. Once he starts playing again, he describes the experience as "cathartic and liberating." Music isn't simply a career for Naser. It's something he continues to turn to through difficult periods of his life.

And despite everything, his ambition hasn't faded.

Introducing the New Album With "The Abyss"

Winterburn recently gave listeners their first taste of II with the single "The Abyss." Interestingly, it wasn't originally supposed to lead the album campaign. The band had planned to release it second, but an internal poll among the musicians and crew changed their minds.

Everyone kept coming back to its catchy chorus. So they decided to go with it.

Naser describes the track as a heavy rock shuffle, combining the spirit of Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy with Winterburn's signature twin-guitar leads, driving rhythm section, and melodic hooks.

"Architects of Denial," which closes the album, addresses genocide denial, while other songs explore more introspective territory. Another particularly meaningful piece is "Sully," an instrumental Naser wrote for his son.

With everything from personal reflections to politically charged themes, II promises to reveal different sides of the band.

From Bahrain to the Stage With Guns N' Roses

Winterburn's story has also included some remarkable live moments. Among the biggest was opening for Guns N' Roses in Bahrain. For someone who grew up listening to Slash and imagining himself onstage with his favorite musicians, it's a striking full-circle moment.

Yet Naser doesn't spend much time dwelling on accomplishments. Between fatherhood, his health, and constantly working toward the next musical goal, he says there's rarely an opportunity to sit back and absorb everything.

His focus remains on making better records and delivering stronger live performances.

And the band isn't slowing down. With II approaching its December release, Winterburn are already looking toward touring and have begun demoing material for another album.

"We're still hungry," Naser says. "We still want to get out and tour behind our new record."

The Musicians Behind the Heavy Riffs

For all the serious subjects in Winterburn's music, there's a lighter side to the band that fans might not expect. According to Naser, all three members are neat freaks. And they're also completely obsessed with cats. Naser has four. Mohammed has two. As for Abdulla? Naser admits he's lost count.

It's a funny contrast to the heavy riffs and powerful performances that define Winterburn's music, but it's also a reminder that there's more to the musicians than what audiences see onstage.

After years of recording, performing, rebuilding bands, and overcoming personal challenges, Naser Mestarihi still approaches music with the same fascination that began when he first heard Hendrix.

The difference now is experience. He's more versatile, more focused, and increasingly aware of how much he still wants to accomplish. Winterburn's second album represents another step forward, but it's far from the end of the story.

When asked what advice he'd give his younger self, his answer is surprisingly simple.

"Don't waste time and practice more."

Coming from someone who has spent much of his life chasing the next riff, the next record, and the next stage, those words carry a little extra weight.

Winterburn's second album, II, is scheduled for release in December. Their new single, "The Abyss," is out now.