“Hello, we are Chaotic Dread! We are a three-piece metal outfit from a small town in Meghalaya called Nongpoh. We are the first ever band to play this kind of a genre in our district. We are Bhanu Chhetri on guitars and vocals, Syns Syiem on bass and vocals and Sagar Kylla on drums.
“The band was formed in the beginning of 2014 as a four-piece act. We started off by playing some local gigs and competitions. In 2016, due to some personal issues, our then vocalist Dhruv Sharma decided to quit the band and since then, we continued as a three-piece outfit. Our sound has also evolved to be stronger and heavier than before.
“Speaking of our inclination towards death metal, we found it to be the most relatable and sickest sub-genre of metal. We always wanted to create new, heavy and ‘distorted’ music which is very rare in our place. Here at our place, most people associate death metal with something as petty as a bunch of guys screaming and creating random noise. Nevertheless, it’s good to see that the notions of people towards metal as a form of music are changing slowly.
“Being a death metal band, we have been influenced by the likes of Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus and Nile. Our songs mostly revolve around themes of torture, war, humiliation, real aspects of humanity and the present scenario. These themes and lyrical contents of our songs are often deemed disturbing, upsetting or off-putting by people.
“We are on the verge of completing a recording session and are looking forward to releasing new material very soon. We are very excited to be a part of Insidious Prophecy Vol. I. We have some mind-crushing brutal original music on our set-list along with some covers. Looking forward to your support!”
The venue for the show is Muzik Factory, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Passes are priced at 250 INR early bird and 300 INR at the gates. For more details, follow the event page on Facebook here!
Brazen Molok is a four-piece metal band from Raipur, Chattisgarh. They’re one of the upcoming metal outfits from India that show appreciable musical acumen. The band has played at various events across the country and are soon going to release their debut full-length album. Indian Metal Scene recently had a conversation with them where they spoke about their music, ideology and experiences. Read here:
IMS: Please introduce the band to us. Tell us a bit about how you decided to form the band.
Brazen Molok:Brazen Molok is a re-incarnated outfit of what was known earlier as Devil Lies on Strings (D-LOS). We all were from same city and hardcore metalheads. We started with covering some rock bands like GnR and then some metal bands. When we started performing metal we were appreciated well enough. So that’s how we entered into metal.
IMS: Please tell us about your perception of death metal. What made you choose this sub genre in particular?
Brazen Molok: Death metal is something we can completely connect to. How we write the lyrics and execute it musically is what we actually think about it. Death metal helps us to expressed our feeling and approach towards society.
IMS: How do you write your music? Is there any compositional process that you follow or is it spontaneous?
Brazen Molok:Sarthak, our guitarist starts with writing the riffs and then our drummer Nikhil sits along for jam sessions to create a basic structure. Once it’s done, our bassist Taran composes his parts and at last, Saurabh writes the lyrics.
IMS: What are the lyrical themes your music incorporates? What is their relevance?
Brazen Molok: Our lyrical themes are all about shared experiences as like-minded people despite being culturally different.
IMS: What importance does Brazen Molok attach to ideology when it comes to making death metal?
Brazen Molok: Our ideology speaks for the poor and oppressed. We oppose racism, casteism and the rich/poor divide. So, we believe we are at war with the society that thinks otherwise. It is the genre which shows us the easiest way to express our aggression, our thoughts about the wrongdoings in society.
IMS: Please tell us about bands or artists you derive inspiration from.
Brazen Molok: Actually all of us have different tastes in music. But our biggest influences are Dying Fetus, Cattle Decapitation, Cannibal Corpse and all heavy/death metal bands. And from the Indian metal scene, we follow Undying Inc., Bhayanak Maut and Gutslit.
IMS: Do you have any non-musical influences? Literature, movies, real life experiences etc….
Brazen Molok: The wrongdoings in society led us to write death metal. Our music seeks to resist that.
IMS: What’s cooking. in the camp? Tell us about your upcoming release. Any shows anytime soon?
Brazen Molok: Yeah, we are working on our full length album which is going to be released by April of 2017. Just a few songs are left to be be recorded. And recently we played at Alpviraam 5.0. It’s a local gig here. We will soon be getting back to recording the album. We are done with all the songs and have recorded two of them as demos at a local studio called Omania. We are planning to hit the studio again in February 2017.
IMS: Please share with us memorable experiences from your journey so far as Brazen Molok.
Brazen Molok: After forming the band, we traveled and performed in many parts of the country. But the best experience was sharing stage with Demonic Resurrection at IIT BHU.
And everyone loves the Pune metal scene and recently we performed at Stromfest IV-Deccan Rock pre gig in Pune. That was one of those great times we had with the band.
IMS: How well is your music accepted in Chattisgarh? Is there a growing metal scene in your hometown? Tell us a bit about it.
Brazen Molok: People appreciate our music which is the most important thing for us and it encourages us to continue our music as a death metal band. Few year’s ago the metal scene over here was very small..like we had only 5-6 people who knew what Metal is. But today, the scene here is growing. Musicians support Metal, whether they play indie rock, classical or Bollywood stuff. Our last gig saw around 220 people in the house which was great!
IMS: Any message you might have for our readers..
Brazen Molok: We just wanna say, do support local metal bands, and please pay to see local bands on stage because we work very hard for every set of 30 minutes. Support metal in India and help the scene grow!
IMS: Thank you for your time. We wish you all the best!
Since its inception in January 2014, Nepal Deathfest has established itself as one of the most coveted and prestigious extreme music festivals in Asia through both its successful editions. The first chapter of Nepal Deathfest was a huge success and featured six bands from Nepal, India and Bangladesh and was witnessed by an audience of more than five hundred people. In the second edition, the fest went a step forward in being a two-day event which featured twelve bands. Legendary Japanese band Defiled headlined the event which also showcased SxAx from Thailand, Malapetaka from Malaysia and nine bands from Nepal.
The third edition of Nepal Deathfest is scheduled to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal on January 22 and 23, 2016. The fest seeks to bring some of the most accomplished extreme metal acts from across the globe together on one platform. The event was conceived with the vision of having an extreme metal event in this part of the world where extreme music enthusiasts can come together, discuss and experience this glorious genre.
“The fest is divided into two days; Day 1 is purely dedicated to grindcore and other extreme forms of metal while Day 2 is especially dedicated to old school metal, though a little mix up should not surprise anyone. NDF respectfully dedicates its stage to two of the most respected drummers that the metal world recently lost. Day 1 stage will be called ‘Martin Kearns Stage’ (Bolt Thrower) and Day 2 stage will be called ‘Jim Konya Stage’ (Nun Slaughter)”.
-Zivon Gurung
-THE LINE-UP-
INTERNATIONAL BANDS
FLESHCRAWL | Death Metal | Germany
Fleshcrawl formed in 1987, is an accomplished death metal band hailing from Illertissen, Bavaria, Germany. Their most recent album, Structures of Death, was released in 2007, under Metal Blade Records. Although their playing style has evolved over the years, Fleshcrawl is often compared to Scandinavian/melodic death metal bands like Grave and Dismember. Like these bands, Fleshcrawl creates a familiar, mid-range guitar tone with rapid tempos and short guitar solos consisting of fast, nimble alto-range progressions. Occasionally, they incorporate organs and other instruments, such as trumpets and kettle drums into their music, particularly in their instrumental intros and interludes. Fleshcrawl’s lyrical themes are generally characteristic of typical death metal, and encompass concepts such as insanity, horror, doomsday, war, murder, misanthropy, genocide, gore, slavery, and sacrifice.
SETE STAR SEPT | Noisegrind | Japan
Formed in 2010, Sete Star Sept is a two-piece noisegrind band based in Tokyo, Japan. The band is known for its unique rendition of grind in the extraordinarily unapologetic expression of the genre. Sete Star Sept delivers interesting music with harsh, often unconventional sonic madness and does not shy away from exploring new dimensions. The band moulds some hardcore, classic metal riffs around the crux of grindcore enriched by chaotic grooves weaving in and out of the compositions.
NERVOCHAOS | Death Metal | Brazil
NervoChaos from Sau Paulo, Brazil has been playing since the past two decades their unique style of death metal while also upholding the glory of other sub genres like thrash, black, doom and punk. A significant part of their music is brazenly old school with a few modern twists to remain relevant. In two decades of playing extreme music and exploring death metal through its golden years, NervoChaos has consistently delivered superlative extreme metal. The band has achieved many new levels of innovation and has pushed its boundaries into the most ferocious and offensive territories although never compromising on musicality.
MEAT TRAIN | Thrash/Death/Goregrind | UK
Meat Train formed in 2011 is an extreme metal band based in England. Their debut album Flesh Made Man stirred the air in the underground with its in-your-face delivery of heaping amounts of death/thrash/grind. Meat Train has been thriving in the extreme metal underground ever since. Their music is characterised by undeniable aggression, energy and speed indicative of the rich inspirations they draw from the likes of Carcass, Mortician and early Entombed. Meat Train delivers grindcore, death and thrash grounded together in a meaty blend of grinding screams, brutal riffs and relentless grooves.
RIP OFF | Grindcore | India
Rip Off is a grindcore band based in Bangalore, India. The band released a two-way split album titled Monkeys & Whores along with Nepal’s extreme metal band Wakk Thuu. Their track titled You Can’t Spell HealTHCare Without THC was featured in the compilation album A Grindcore Christmas Vol.IV.
LOCAL BANDS
Alongside these international bands, the line-up also features some great local acts like DYING OUT FLAME signed under Xtreem Music, Spain, ROG, UNDEFINED HUMAN, NIHILITY, DEFLESHED, CORPSE SICK, LAASH, ASPHYXIATE, CHILDWIFE and GRENADE.
-GOODWILL AMBASSADORS-
Naty Metal from Costa Rica, best known for her work in alternative modelling and the underground metal scene.
Pragati Amatya, who is representing Nepal in Queen of Asia 2015 is the official Goodwill Ambassador, spokesperson and host for this edition of Nepal Deathfest.
-OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS-
Jamsthan, Manish Photography and Anish Shakya, who are well known for supporting underground local bands are the official photographers and videographers for Nepal Deathfest 2016.
To check out the Official Nepal Deathfest Page, click here!
To RSVP Nepal Deathfest 2016 event page, click here!
Fragarak came into existence in early 2011 and laid the foundation for one of the most promising acts to newly emerge out of India that year. Fragarak is a lethal blend of melodic tunes accompanied by intense technical rhythms, supported by fiercely independent bass lines, bolstered with decimating drumming, and channeled by lyrical themes delivered through bestial vocals. We had a chat with the band about their music, gigs and future of the band. Below is the whole conversation-
1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! Tell us about the inception of the band. Was it a planned decision or a result of experiments? What does the name ‘Fragarak’ signify?
Fragarak: Hails and Cheers for the interview!
Initially, Ruben(guitars), Sagar(drums) and Kartikeya(bass) were band mates from previous projects and knew each other well and had formulated the kind of music to be pursued with the initiation of Fragarak. Arpit(guitars) and Supratim(vocals) were the much needed addition to the line-up to fortify the intent with the musical ideologies going in the same direction for the band. It wasn’t planned initially, but all the 5 gelled in with the similar musical intentions, complimentary to each other’s part and thus the entity of Fragarak came into being.
The name depicts the musical theme. Derived from the Celtic sword “Fragarach” which is empowered to shatter the toughest of all shields, Fragarak aims at the unrevealed deceptions shielded by the system and hence the name!
2. What is a Fragarak song? At the outset, do you conceive of a song as melodies and riffs or as an abstract idea? How do you build on it?
Fragarak: A Fragarak song might be put as a piece of music rooted in the old-school Scandinavian sound, expressed with heavy aggression plus adorned with intricate layers of technical guitar playing.. tossed up with the elements of progression, alongside melodic shifts and acoustic passages.
The composition and structuring of song parts proceeds after the underlying expression and conceptual idea has been framed. Thus each song is built upon a set of emotions and is devised consequently with the expression of riffs, narrating the progress as a song proceeds.
3. Many are of opinion that young bands, inspired by established artists playing progressive metal, decide on playing the genre and end up presenting the result of some failed attempts at technicalities or odd time signatures. What are your thoughts? How audacious is the decision to play progressive metal which demands intelligent structuring and unconventional details?
Fragarak: Playing under the progressive label and keeping up to its repute does take more than simple efforts. However this style of playing is what occurred to us naturally, in order to put forth the music which we always wanted to create. Progressive structuring, time signature detailing are some of the insights which creeps inherently when we sit to write music, also to mention it’s something which we gladly include in our songwrtiting process. Thus all this progressive mould gives our music that shape with which we want it to be played, and we’re glad that this approach has delivered for us.
4. Fragarak’s music is well-thought and portrays the essence of old school death metal at times with aggression and a certain dash of melancholy. This speaks of the rich sources from which the band draws inspiration. Please tell us about the band’s musical influences.
Fragarak: We are chiefly inspired by the sound characterising the early ’90’s death metal scene, which comprised certain inherent black metal elements. To name a few bands would be Dissection, Unanimated. Besides Death as a direct influence, Cynic & Edge of Sanity also remain our main influences, considering the progressive elements they used in the realms of death metal sounds. Along with technical aspects from many modern death metal bands, it is worth to mention that classical music by J.S Bach and Richard Wagner also has an important influence.
Debut album ‘CRYPTS OF DISSIMULATION’ artwork
5. Through songwriting laced around lyrical themes that question orthodoxy, Fragarak seems to be establishing a strong ideology. What do you think about societal institutions? How do you agree or disagree with the inevitability of such ‘authority’ that your music questions?
Fragarak: Models of acceptance without justification, unquestioned conformity and orthodox obligations are the bottlenecks to healthy and logical thinking. As much as they are made unavoidable and inevitable by the throes of the social framework, one is sure to fall prey to such situations in every remote personal surroundings. Self insights are victimised, thus in order to taste that sole purpose of a meaningful existence it is better to do away with such invalid constraints. Fragarak’s debut album pertains largely to this ideology which we strongly believe in.
6. Progressive metal incorporates a good deal of musical diversity in terms of arrangement of the songs- at times a flowing narrative, and at times with rather abrupt changes in mood. How does Fragarak perceive progressive metal in terms of the emotions or thought process it seeks to establish? Does diverse musicality mean diverse emotions?
Fragarak: As mentioned earlier, the structuring and arrangements of Fragarak songs have a very progressive intent taking the listener through an array of emotions, all revolving around the central idea being expressed in a particular song. With the diversity in the riffing and compositions, a given song flows though different moods subjecting the listener to a whirlpool of introspective perceptions, at the end of which one would reckon a complete conceptual journey. Which is why, in the case of our album, it’s presumably the more you listen to one song, the better it grows on you.
7. Fragarak’s music has often upheld the glory of the old school. Do you think that in the present day there is a certain generational loss in heavy metal in the sense that a lot of excellent music from the old school is forgotten and a lot of bands from that era that listeners today appreciate are in fact the ones who availed good sources of advertising?
Fragarak: The fact is unfortunately true, that majority of the contemporary metal is devoid of the intent and soul of the glorious past that paved the proper way for this form of music. Trend infested counterparts are doing the rounds lately. However it’s equally inevitable, that they are hardly poised for sustenance. The past has been an evidence of survival, that the fittest form of music has always made its way through the ages, irrespective of temporal surges of few other forms. That which is best always gets retained and will always find its way through, as it is still being able to do today!
8. What are your thoughts about metal in India? Do you think metal here has any validity as an artistic movement which questions societal standards and norms? Or are its values purely musical?
Fragarak: Metal in India is growing through it’s faint scope from the underground. It had been tough and in an environment prevalent in our nation, it will always remain tough. But however small, the movement will survive. There has been phenomenal acts putting Indian metal on the global map, and there will be more in due time.
However, to evolve into a bigger scale, beyond the present status of purely musical/entertainment intent, the need is that of a surprising revolution which will emerge the small scene from the underground to the foreground. In years to come from now – unity, cohesion, sound marketing approach might forge the movement on a larger scale, with a promise of a sustained impact.
9. Do you think that metal as a form of art loses its ‘purity’ when brought out of the underground and exposed to the masses, many of whom might not be able to relate to the ideologies and the technicalities of the genre? Do you agree with the idea and the necessity of commercialization of heavy metal to a certain extent? Also, do you not think that it is difficult for metal to survive solely by being underground, due to a possible dearth of exposure?
Fragarak: The loss of ‘purity’ as you mention will only be when it is imposed on the masses. However, making your form of artistic music known to those who feed on intricate taste is a bonus. There are many out there in the more massive crowd who might not be fully satisfied with what the mainstream feeds them with. Selective commercialisation to such untapped audience, who are yet to come across this form and would gladly accept metal as their music, is the key. Commercialisation might not necessarily mean selling out your music to random population, but reaching out your music to proper ears, making sure no eager and interested ears are missed– which is the right way to do it.
And as far as survival is concerned, once the art takes the form of a real movement this way, it’s an ongoing process from there onwards – the fittest music survives and paves the way for the future audience.
10. Do you think that the best musical innovations exist only until the time such music is brought out in the mainstream which sometimes demands adherence to ‘standards’ and kills originality? How do you think it is possible in future to enhance heavy metal in India without distorting the values intrinsic to it?
Fragarak: It’s all a matter of priorities! An artist making music truest to his/her own beliefs will keep doing that. If popularity happens to chance upon, it’s because of what music was created in the first place. Then onwards it’s all whether one wants to express one’s own art in continuation, or rather one chooses to appease the audience with what they want. For originality and innovation to survive, we express music what we personally and artistically believe in, thus making the audience convinced with that. Never the other way around!
11. Quite a few present-day metal bands say that they do not have any ‘musical goals’ as such and make music solely for the passion. Such an outlook does not seem very sufficing for bands that show greater musical prowess. What does Fragarak seek to accomplish in the near future?
Fragarak: Musical intent driven by passion is a necessity, but musical ambitions tagged only by the name of passion sounds bleak. Our wish list of accomplishments would include – playing selected good shows to promote the debut record, availing the right exposure to reach out, while also working on the newer stuff to enhance the productivity of the band’s sound. Eventually carving out a characteristic niche in the realms of our genre through Fragarak’s signature sound and finally contributing to the scene and its foundation both locally and globally, if things supportively fall in place.
12. What are your thoughts on heavy metal in India in terms of artists, listeners, exposure and contemporaries? Who do you think have been the most influential bands in the Indian scene?
Fragarak: Heavy metal artists in India making a name for themselves are persistent hard workers, while listeners are relatively fewer but supportive. The exposure though emerging is yet not sufficient, and to a fair extent biased as well.
The most influential band in the Indian scene are those who have stuck to their stuff since the inception, contributing to their respective genres and have kept doing it untiringly over the years.
13. Fragarak is a part of the line-up of the Transcending Obscurity Fest to be held in Thane this May. Do you have any message for your listeners and fans attending the show? Tell us about your experience with the record label.
Fragarak: Well almost every one attending the show must have spun our record available with their passes. To them, you are in for a memorable gig. Witnessing Fragarak’s set will be a completion, if you enjoy the record and hope to relive your favourite parts from our live experience. To those few who’ll be hearing us for the first time, you can expect witnessing something new, the set might make you go back and enjoy the lingering fresh reverberations.
Well about Transcending Obscurity, it has been a much needed exposure for our music. And Mr. Choksi has always been majorly supportive! One of the few guys for whom purely the music has only mattered always. His efforts to selflessly uphold and promote deserving bands have earned him our respect and gratitude!
14. Congratulations on the Asian Metal Festival! How big a leap is China? Please share with us the memorable experiences.
Fragarak: Thank you, and yes! Asia Metal Fest was a huge success for the band and went down as an immense experience! After Nepal Death fest earlier this year, this being our first proper cross border tour, was special. The credit of sharing the same platform alongside the premium reputed acts like Narakam (China), Wolf Spider (Poland), Impiety (Singapore) etc. was an eventful turn early on in our career as a band. Also being the first Indian band to play China was an important collaboration of the mutual metal circuits. Signing off the one year anniversary of our record with international tour dates and an extremely supportive overseas audience was definitely fulfilling for us.
IMS : Thanks for your time and talking to us. See you tomorrow at the pit!
RSVP to the event ‘Transcending Obscurity Fest‘ here!
You can buy the Digipack of “Crypts of Dissimulation” here!
Purgation was formed in late 2010. With a change in their lineup as well as their sound, they decided to pursue all endeavors in the form of aggressive musicality. We had a chat with the band where they spoke about their latest EP, death metal, Forged In Fire II gig and more. Check out the conversation below –
1. Greetings! How have you been?
Purgation :Well pretty good, writing tracks for our next full length album and protesting against the false beliefs and system.
2. Why death metal? Why not any other genre?
Purgation : Evolution is the only thing true, metal has evolved a lot with time and has become more heavy and aggressive, we just love our metal that way. But at the same time evolution should be for the betterment and not for commercialization.
We just like to be true to our roots and at the same time make it heavy as fuck!
3. According to you, do bands who play extreme metal receive the deserved appreciation, like bands of other sub-genres?
Purgation : Not until you play cheesy death metal but then that is not death metal. It is high time people quit the adulterated form of metal and invest more time on the purest forms like Death metal and of course thrash metal. Metal which is supposedly not extreme is anything but metal.
4. Please tell us about your EP “Exterminated Malfeasance“?
Purgation : Well, basically this EP was planned in 2012 and we executed our plan successfully by the end of 2013. It was released in early December 2013. It comprises of 5 originals and an intro track. The concept is clearly portrayed by the artwork itself. It speaks everything against the system.
5. Please tell us about your influences. Has the band been musically influenced by any other genre of music?
Purgation : We are highly influenced by works of Old Suffocation, old Cannibal corpse, Immolation, old Cryptopsy, Autopsy and the list will go on.
6. Purgation Inc. has played alongside a lot of bands, both national and international. Please share with us your memorable experiences.
Purgation : Well, as you have mentioned Purgation INC I hope that you understand the reason why we kept it that way. But still want to elaborate it to the readers, our music talks about the false system and corporations are just a part of it, the Inc is just a middle finger to them. Anyway let’s get down to the question, we were really honored to share the same stage with some of the killer international acts such as Orator, Wormrot, Morbidity, Savage Deity, Kathgor, Nafarmaan, Nuclear Winter, Warhound and many more. The experiences have helped us grow as a band. We have learnt a lot from these big acts and we always try to match up with their level of professionalism as long as music is concerned.
7. What kind of themes are your lyrics generally wedged to?
Purgation : Against the system, morbidity and occultism.
8. What bands introduced you musically to the sub-genre of death metal? Tell us about our favorite death metal bands?
Purgation : The list is too big. We have no particular favorites. We get hooked to any band that we find is staying true to their sound no matter what the crowd demands.
9. How do you agree or disagree with the way metal is evolving?
Purgation : We were already talking about evolution lately. Talking about India I must say that organizations like KOSMA, Putrid Ascendancy and of course people/friends from Bangalore are really giving their everything for metal.
10. You are signed under Slaughterhouse Records. Tell us about the experience with the record label. Would your childhood self have had imagined such an accomplishment?
Purgation : JR Torina brother has been really supportive right from the very first day. It is because of him everything has been made possible. He has been relentless with his support. Slaughterhouse records is the right kind of breakthrough that any extreme metal band needs to keep their ambitions alive. A big Thumbs up to Slaughterhouse records. It is definitely a dream come true. Even Sevared records have kept it in their store which is quite an achievement altogether.
11. You have a quote on your Facebook page which says, “Support true death metal.” Could you elaborate?
Purgation : Metal is not another form of entertainment, it is a protest against the society and system, there are many legendary bands from USA but consumer based economic structure has really turned it into just some other commercial product. Europe is a very good example where metal is treated and metal and supported by people who don’t give a fuck to the society. Our message is very simple, do not misuse metal in the name of death metal. Autopsy is Death metal and Suicide silence is not. It is high time people understand the roots of metal.
12. What do you think of KOSMA and its initiatives? What could the fans be looking forward to from you at Forged in Fire?
Purgation : KOSMA has been brilliant right from the start. The best part of KOSMA is that they rightly justify the quote “HERE PASSION RULES”. These guys are really passionate about what they are doing. They know their music and they are contributing a lot to uplift the extreme metal scene in Kolkata. These people have the passion and will to shift metal capital status from Bangalore to Kolkata.
13. Do you have any message for the fans reading this?
Purgation : Fuck the false!!!
Hoping to see you guys at the Mayhem on May 3rd.
Listen/Buy Purgation EP “Exterminated Malfeasance”, here!
You can RSVP to the event “Forged In Fire II”, here!
Mumbai’s very own extreme metal concert, Entombed Metal Fest is back with its 5th edition and as promised, is all set to present Mumbai with Extreme Metal bands from across the country, many of whom will be playing for the first time in the city! The concert is set to take place on 22nd March, 2014 at Crazy Blue (Raghuleela Mall, Vashi) and promises to be a gut wrenching encounter with 7 bands on the bill!
-BANDS-
SHOCK THERAPY(Brutal/Slamming Death Metal from Hyderabad)
Making their way to Mumbai for the second time will be Shock Therapy from Hyderabad. They enthralled everyone present at Meat Feast the last time and this time they promise much more!
REPTILIAN DEATH (Death Metal from Mumbai)
Reptilian Death is one of Mumbai’s oldest Death Metal outfit and have been in existence since 2001. RD will be making a comeback of sorts at EMF V and are all set to put on a mind shattering performance coupled with their mysterious stage act!
ESCHARIFIED (Death Metal from Hyderabad)
Hyderabad based Death Metal outfit have been getting rave reviews for their live performances in their hometown and more recently at shows like Undergrind & Dis-Organized in Bangalore. The band is now all set to sodomize Mumbai with their live Warfare for the very first time.
GRIMMORTAL (Deathcore from Mumbai)
EMF 5 will mark Grimmortal’s comeback to the live scene with their very new lineup! Get set to witness the band in a whole new avatar with a lot of surprises!
WIRED ANXIETY (Groove/Death from Mumbai)
Wired Anxiety from Navi Mumbai will play at EMF 5 after nearly 5 months since their last live show. The last time they played was incidentally in Vashi itself and they literally destroyed everything that came up that day!
PRIMITIV (Stone Age Metal from Mumbai)
Mumbai’s newest Doom/Death Metal act will be playing their second show in their hometown at EMF 5. Get set to get a taste of “Stone Age Metal”
ELEMENTAL (Groove/Death from Indore)
Elemental from Indore have in the very recent past have been creating waves across the college competition scene across India and are all set to do the same at EMF 5!
Shades Of Retribution, a skull crushing death metal band from Duliajan, Assam recently played at “North East Death Metal Fest” which was held at Guwahati.
They have officially announced their new drummer “Angaraag Phookan” who also plays for Aughad and Reverse Xtinction.
The band has released an official statement on their Facebook page –
“We are proud to welcome our new tribesman ‘Angaraag Phookan’ as the new drummer. It is always a pleasure to address new talent and his faithful co- operation with the band. However, ‘Devartha Goswami’ has left the band. We wish him all the luck for his future, stating that he will always remain a part of the tribe and heartily welcomed.”
We’re sure Shades Of Retribution has found the perfect replacement and hope that Angaraag’s unmatched aggression destroys!
Formed in January 2013, this five-pieced Death Metal band from Pune is one of the few upcoming bands playing this genre from India. With ShardulKadam on rhythms/backing vocals, NiranjanDeshpande on drums, Rahul Dhake on lead guitars, Kailas Joshi on vocals and HarshadPawale on six-stringed bass, these musicians pack a punch enough to satiate an extreme genre fan. We recently had a chat with them. Here’s the conversation :
1. Hello folks, how are you doing today?
Cruoris : Hey man, we are doing great. Pretty much busy with jamming and working on some new stuff.
2. The first question that comes to my mind is the name, what is the meaning of the word Cruoris? How did you come up with it? I suppose it is Latin, am I right?
Niranjan : Yeah you are absolutely right, it is Latin. Kailas and Shardul came across this term. It means bloodshed. We thought it was apt for the genre we play.
3. What are the band’s musical influences? Are your lyrics wedged to any particular theme?
Kailas : All of us have very similar influences like Death, Pantera, Porcupine Tree, Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus etc. Lyrics generally revolve around the concept of urban deterioration of the human society, superstition, politics and religion.
4. A common question most of the fans have is the process of creating a song. What order of actions do you follow?
Niranjan : Firstly Shardul and Rahul brainstorm for the song structure and riffage, and then I come in for the drum patters. Finally Harshad sets the bass-line, Shardul and Kailas then write the lyrics and lays out the vocal patterns. Lastly, when we jam final changes take place.
5. There have been a few changes in the line-up since the formation of the band due to musical differences. Has it affected the band in any way and how did you guys overcome this situation?
Kailas : It did affect us initially, since, the music was demanding and very few people are able to understand and play extreme music but we found perfect replacements for vocals and bass. Now we hope for a stable lineup.
6. Being in a Death Metal band, do you feel it is difficult for your music to be liked by people than that of the bands of other genres?
Kailas : Yes, it can be, but that is a matter of perspective. There are always people who like Death Metal, like you, who support us. We want this genre to be more socially accepted, and not frowned upon as much as it is now. Death metal always has been an underground than other genres, as the lyrical themes we write about can be controversial.
7. What do you have to say about the support from the people for extreme genres of music?
Kailas : Extreme genres have always received less support, but in the past few years turnout for extreme metal gigs has been wonderful. We hope it continues to be the same, as we are trying as hard as we can to raise the bar for extreme music.
8. Does the ongoing political/social issues influence your music in any way?
Niranjan : It has been the center of our lyrical themes since the band’s inception. We have written about the things that affect the youth as whole in our songs, “Fuck The Government”,”Punch.Bleed.Kill.”, and “Shit Theory”.
9. Having played a variety of OCs, what are your plans for the band’s future? Can the fans expect an EP/LP soon?
Kailas : We are in the process of recording, but as of now, we are concentrating more on playing live. That’s why we aren’t even doing merchandise as of now, except the stickers and some posters which will be out in January. As for the EP, we will be out with it soon.
10. Which are your favorite bands from India and with whom would you guys like to share the stage?
Kailas : We have had the honor of sharing the stage with mighty Gutslit and Cosmic Infusion. We would like to share the stage with Plague Throat, Shock Therapy, Undying Inc., Bhayanak Maut, Atmosfear, Insane Prophecy, Spiked Crib, Dark Desolation and the likes.
11. Of late, Pune is playing host to a number of gigs, a boon to the local metal scene. Being a band from Pune, what are your thoughts on the metal scene in the city?
Kailas : That is surely a relief as we actually had a draught-like situation as far as gigs are concerned and I think we started at the precise moment when the gigs actually happened last year. We have an amazing lot of talented bands in Pune, and the scene as a whole is evolving. Let’s hope for the best.
12. I recently saw you guys play at Stormfest in September, the signature Death Metal heaviness reeked from every track you played. Any upcoming gigs that fans can expect to see you play?
Niranjan : Thank you for your kind words bro. We are playing at IndiaFest- Launchpad in Goa in January. We are also planning for some more gigs, follow our band’s updates on Facebook for more details.
13. And lastly, any message for the fans?
Niranjan : Attend the gigs, support the live scene. Bands and the organizers take tremendous efforts for the listeners, buy the band’s merchandise and support them, keep up the metal spirit alive.
IMS: Thank you very much for talking to us and we wish you the very best! Cheers!
Halahkuh, formed in 2011 is a four-piece band that has gone from strength to strength illustrating their musicianship, ferocity and professionalism at prestigious events. Halahkuh draws inspiration from bands like Slayer, Sepultura, Pantera and Decapitated. The band won a surfeit of competitions leading up to their debut EP Desecration which received rave reviews. We recently had a chat with the band. Here’s the conversation –
1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! Hope you guys are doing well.
Halahkuh: Hey! We are doing absolutely fine.
2. Even though identified as a thrash/ death metal band, Halahkuh’s music often deviates from the stereotypical thrash/ death metal sounds, thus being symptomatic of a wider range of musical and (maybe) non-musical influences. Please describe your sound and such influences.
Halahkuh: To put it in the best possible way, we would say that you yourself have answered this question. The word ‘Stereotypical’ describes it all. We prefer being versatile when it comes to the song writing process, thus adding interesting elements while keeping the original essence of the genre intact. The band relates to a lot of things in day to day life which is laid down and showcased in our music very precisely. Be it the style of writing, content, ferocity and anger, these add up to what we perceive as death/thrash metal.
3. What forms the base of Halahkuh’s songwriting? Do you begin with a riff or by visualizing a concept or with something else? How do you build on it?
Halahkuh: Since all four members of the band have distinct influences, it is pretty much fun to discuss new ideas when we sit to compose. Though the common goal is to make aggressive music, imagine something like a speeding power ball coming right at you to break your jaw, that’s the way we like our music, fast with extensive drum and guitar work. Well, that’s how we try to think when we are in the framing the songs. Also, we try to incorporate melodies, something that we all relate to and can be witnessed in our tracks.
4. The Intro to your debut EP Desecration creates a delicate and ethereal impression which is a contrast to Halahkuh’s usual sound. How bold was an attempt like this one for a ‘destructive’ thrash/ death band like you?
Halahkuh: LOL! We prefer a silence before the storm! If you get what we mean.
5. Many are of opinion that sub-genres like thrash and death metal revolve around ‘customary’ compositions with elements of sound conventional to them; that most Thrash/ Death Metal bands inspire similar emotions. What are your thoughts? Do you seek to stir a particular emotion or is the songwriting without any such goal and solely up to the interpretation of the listener?
Halahkuh: Personally we feel it varies from band to band (death/thrash). Definitely there are some guidelines that are needed to be followed. More than guidelines it is how you define the compositions adding a pinch of your own sound to it. With the new wave of death/thrash metal coming up in the world, it is safe to experiment with the conventional sound to an extent which makes the listener believe that he is listening to the particular genre, only to figure out later that it is something different from what is usually served on the table. As our tracks revolve around society issues, hardships etc. we try to instigate the same feeling amongst the audience. Though we don’t mind their personal interpretations as it is the least expected out of them as a result of a band actually deviating a little from the conventional music arousing different emotions in them.
6. Do you agree that heavy metal is not only music but also a movement? If yes, what according to you are its musical and ideological grounds?
Halahkuh: It’s hard to say as to how many people believe in this ideology given the society we live in, but there are people out there in the scene who take it up as a cause to survive amidst the daily chaos. This has been a movement in the western countries which is majorly highlighted in documentaries like to get thrashed, a head banger’s journey etc. Though the movement in the west has greatly evolved into what it is now i.e. hosting huge open air festivals where Asian bands dream to play, India is catching up with the same trend and hopefully what was ignited a few years back in this country may become the next hotspot for bands to showcase their talent and have a good time.
7. You have worked with Shashank Bhatnagar from Undying Inc.. What memories has the experience left behind?
Halahkuh: We respect him as one of the finest vocalists in the Indian metal scene. It was a collective decision amongst the band members to feature him on one of our tracks. He boosted the song’s brutality to a new level altogether, which was very well received by the audience. It was a wonderful experience to work with him. His constant encouragement has motivated us to work even harder than usual.
8. Halahkuh has witnessed a few line-up changes. How has the sound of the band ripened through such events? Have the line-up changes affected the working of the band in any way, speaking of exchange of ideas between the members etc.?
Halahkuh: Few line-up changes don’t make a difference as long as there is a common goal to pursue.
9. Many present-day bands when asked about their musical goals say that they are simply pursuing their passion and enjoying it. Such statements are not very satisfying when it comes to bands who show a greater acumen. So what does Halahkuh aim to accomplish?
Halahkuh: We would like to thank you for the compliment. Definitely it’s our passion and we are having a blast. Indeed, we have a lot of things planned and things that we need to accomplish and only time will tell how things shape up in the coming future.
10. Halahkuh draws inspiration from the likes of Slayer, Megadeth, Sepultura and Pantera, which prompts me to ask if according to you, the values intrinsic to metal music have changed in any way since the 80s and the 90s? Also, what values does Halahkuh add to present-day metal?
Halahkuh: Bands like Slayer, Sepultura, Megadeth, Pantera etc. are considered to be the pioneers of thrash and groove metal. Imitating them would be a futile attempt. One should look up to them for inspiration. Things have definitely changed since the 80s and the 90s in terms of diversions, subgenres, musicality etc. and now people are diving into different areas. Thus, it makes it hard to deliver new material to keep the audience intact. We play for our own satisfaction, but constantly thrive to test our own limits. If people are appreciating our music and turning up for all our gigs, then that itself is an indication that we are adding value to the current scenario and moving on the right track.
11. Your debut EP has been done in very good taste and appears to lace around a concept. What according to you is the significance of a ‘concept’- an element of art? Is it an embellishment or does it seek to connect the listener with the artist?
Halahkuh: There is no concept as such. It is the common belief of the band members that has been penned down as lyrics through a medium or a ‘concept’ if that’s what you like to call it, for the listener to interpret it in his/her own way. The EP elaborates the repercussions of a man’s action in the society, his struggle to voice his opinions against the unjust acts concluding it with a message to never give up even in the toughest of the times as these efforts do not go in vain.
Debut EP ‘Desecration’ released on 9th Feb, 2013.
12. What follows the well-acclaimed debut EP? What are your gigging plans? Is there any new material in store for Thrashfest to be held in February?
Halahkuh: We have a lot of new material that we are currently working on and there are other things in the pipeline as well. We are exploring the depths of our genre to compose music that is different from what is there on ‘Desecration’.
13. What are your thoughts about ‘scenes’ or ‘communities’- a prevalent aspect of heavy metal? Do such ‘scenes’ successfully bring together people with identical tastes in ideology and music or do they aid the stereotypes attached with heavy metal music and lessen the scope for innovation?
Halahkuh: As long as you deliver what is good and different, you will have genuine fans. These fans may like different genres or maybe a part of some so called ‘community’ but if you are innovative and are putting something new on the table each time you perform or release something; it will always help you to fetch more people. We personally do not encourage the formation of communities. Music is universal. We are confident about our music and in no way do we feel that it hinders innovation.
14. What best describes the metal scene in Pune, speaking in terms of exposure, listeners, bands, local support etc.? Does Pune lack anything?
Halahkuh: Pune has a lot of good bands thriving to make their mark. The scene is shaping up well though it lacks pace. A prime reason for this is lack of venues and gigs. Bands rely on college fests which do not happen on a regular basis. Thus there is a little bit of a struggle.
15. Halahkuh will be soon performing at Thrashfest to be held in Thane. What are the plans? What should fans be looking forward to from Halahkuh?
Halahkuh: We could not ask for a better start to the year. Thrashfest is a brilliant initiative and we’ll deliver our best at the event. The band is at work, and you should be watching out for good covers, originals and probably some new material.
16. Tell us about your extra-musical interests or passions outside music, if any.
Halahkuh: Apart from the band, Chinmay and Prakhar are busy with college while Shubhro is an Engineer. Prasenjit is a full time drummer and has been playing sessions with different artists. Honestly, metal is a part of our everyday chores and is inevitable. But then there are other things that make us happy like shubhro’s passion for gym and workout, Prakhar is into football and social college groups, Chinmay is a gaming freak but spends most of his time with guitar which he calls his wife and watching cricket matches. It wouldn’t be wrong to term ourselves as ‘Foodies’ hahaha. So we make sure to catch up every weekend, watch cheap hindi movies with beautiful female actors and those clichéd item numbers and hang out at restaurants. We are all superhero fans and do not miss any Marvel productions!
17. Here is you space for a shout out to all the fans :
Halahkuh: Our previous experiences in Mumbai were overwhelming! We’re very happy about being part of an amazing line-up and are looking forward to putting up a good show alongside other great bands!
IMS: Thank you very much for talking to us and we wish you the very best! Cheers!
Buy/Listen to Halahkuh’s debut EP ‘Desecration’ here!
Ragnhildare the flag-bearers of Pagan Death Metal in India. Drawing inspiration from bands like Amon Amarth, Finntroll, Eluvetie and Ensiferum, Ragnhild’s sound steers clear from undue aggression with melodic riffage, intense growls, considerable speed and loaded grooves with a dash of ‘Old School Death Metal brutality’. We recently had a chat with them. Here’s the conversation –
1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! How are you guys doing?
Ragnhild : A bit tired as well as feeling relaxed after the terrible exam season of October and November. Now we are all excited for December Demolition to be held on 14th December.
2. Let’s start with the questions. Ragnhild are the flag bearers of Pagan death/ Viking metal in the country. How audacious was this decision of pursuing such a sub-genre; do you see any hurdles in the path? What do you think will be the extent of acceptance of such music in the Indian metal scene?
Ragnhild : As a band, our concern is limited to music only. Hence, we have not faced any hurdles yet. We never thought of this decision as audacious. The reason being, we love to play metal and to be precise, death metal. Viking/Pagan death metal is something we all enjoy and since we all have the same level of interest, we decided to take this step of forming Ragnhild. About acceptance of such music, the Indian metal scene has always had Pagan Metal fans. We often came across many fans of bands like Amon Amarth, Eluveitie, etc., which made us wonder, why not give our Indian Metal fans their own Pagan Death Metal band too! We aim at living up to the expectations of our fans from us as a Pagan/Viking Death Metal band and we believe that it will help us spread our music in the Indian Metal Scene.
3. Good Viking metal bands are essentially good storytellers. What stories does Ragnhild’s music illustrate? Are they braided with fantasy based on ancient cultures or do they depict fact?
Ragnhild : We have come up with an idea of choosing one theme for one entire album. So for the start, our first album is completely themed on warfare and battle heroes. Obviously we don’t want to take away the originality of Pagan Culture, so indeed, based on our studies regarding the culture, our lyrics are being written. We try to keep it as generalized as possible, based on various facts all over the world and our study about the Pagan culture.
4. Enlighten us about the manner in which you conceive of a song. What forms a ‘riff’ in a Ragnhild song? Are riffs composed in adherence to a pre-decided ‘image’ essential to the sound?
Ragnhild : We first decide a topic before starting with a new composition. Then the guitarists do their work of creating a framework based on what kind of feelings can be covered up with music about that particular topic. Once the framework, i.e., the rhythm part is ready, then the drums and the bass are filled in. Vocals and lyrics are done at the end and then, the band jams together to give a final touch-up to the image they decided for the song.
5. What according to you is a good manner of songwriting? Is the participation of the entire band essential from the very outset in terms of exchange of ideas etc. or should it rather be one individual’s vision worked upon by the band?
Ragnhild : A band is a team, and where there is a team, there comes the team work. For every band, the process of song writing is different. It honestly cannot be generalized. All we can say is the bands must follow what suits them the best.
6. Please describe ‘Ragnhild’ and the idea behind such a name.
Ragnhild : Finding an appropriate name for the band was a real challenge for us.. We were forming a Pagan Death Metal band. So we decided to adopt as much originality as we can in the music as well as in the band. Thus, we chose the name Ragnhild, which is extracted from the Old Norse dictionary that stands for Battle Advice in English. Although, the name has various other meanings too, like, Strong Army (Swedish meaning), All-knowing Power (Teutonic meaning), Warrior (Norse meaning).
7. What aspects of the ancient Viking ways of life do you identify with in your lifestyle?
Ragnhild : Most important one is the attitude to never give up and keep fighting. Secondly, living a fun life with clear goals and thirdly, we are always interested in learning new things and exploring different aspects of the music world with lot of experimentation in the band.
8. Ragnhild’s sound as evident from ‘We Will March’ aberrates from undue aggression and the band seems to be emerging as one of the few who can be distinguished from others as being ‘heavy’ as well as ‘spirit-elevating’. What have been your inspirations for such a manner of composing?
Ragnhild : Famous musicians like Alex Webster, David Gilmour, Kurt Cobain, Johan Hegg, etc. and their documentaries have been of a great inspiration for us. One common thing that we all learned from them is, to do what we love and enjoy. About the song We Will March; when the song was being written, we just happened to google about the Indian war heroes. We realized that those soldiers who died in defending our country, are not at all famous. They didn’t even make flashing news compared to TV stars, about whom even their sneeze and cough is highlighted in the news. So we decided to write this song as a token of respect to them. Not only Indian, but also the number of war heroes who died serving their nation and their stories have been one of the sources of our inspiration behind such music.
9. The metal scene in India has remained the least exposed to Viking metal in comparison with its exposure to most other sub-genres. Keeping this in mind, what musical goals does Ragnhild aim to achieve? What are your thoughts about the significance of commercial success?
Ragnhild : We look at it as an opportunity to create something new. In the field of music, India now has a Pagan Metal band which is a little unexpected by the world outside. For starters, we aim towards spreading our music in the country and eventually, outside globally. While trying to achieve this goal, we will always make sure to keep up with the originality in our songs with respect to Pagan culture and living up to the fan base expectations. Commercial Success is indeed important for every band in every corner of the world. Although, it’s like shuffling a deck of cards. We don’t know how it will turn out; we will do our job of keeping in touch with the fans through our music.
10. Does Ragnhild seek to uphold Viking metal as being narrative of ‘rebellion’ or is there some other significance?
Ragnhild : Rebellion can be one of the various topics. We are in the early stage of understanding and composing Pagan songs so at the moment, it’s like we have an entire ocean of topics yet to explore.
Live at Grillopolis Cafe, Mumbai
11. Formed only in 2013 and being the first band to pursue this sub-genre which was unexplored in India, Ragnhild is a perfect example of a present-day metal band with good insight. Many are of opinion that certain aspects of metal have turned wayward with new bands wanting to make a mark with unduly explicit lyrics, being politically incorrect etc. What are your thoughts?
Ragnhild : Every band has a different theory about the way of making a mark among the fans. We as a band believe in sticking to the originality and the actual meaning of the sub genre that we have chosen.
12. What have been your major musical and non-musical influences? How does Ragnhild assure to enrich heavy metal in India?
Ragnhild : Musical influences are international bands like Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Eluveitie, Wolfchant, Finntroll, Nordheim, Ravenblood, etc. which are some of the popular Pagan metal bands out there. Non musical influences are the study of Pagan culture as well as ancient stories of brave war heroes in & outside India. Ragnhild has given rise to a music that was loved by many but composed by none in our country. Our compositions will neither stop nor degrade in the originality towards our sub-genre and we hope that people playing their respective genres, will continue to do the same.
13. Ragnhild has no precedent or parallel (as of now) in India concerning this sub-genre. What according to you is an ‘ideal scene’ for the band’s growth as musicians? Is the absence of contemporaries from the same area of music in any way a hindrance?
Ragnhild : For the band’s growth, the ideal scene would be playing more and more live gigs in our hometown as well as outside the hometown. Recordings are something we can have a control on. As mentioned earlier, we are indeed looking forward towards getting more recordings done. Absence of contemporaries from the same area of music is not at all a hindrance in any way, as we mentioned before too, there are many fans who actually enjoy this sub-genre, but we never had anyone playing it for us here in our country.
14. Most listeners in India are still unexposed to ‘live’ Viking metal. What are your plans for December Demolition? What is your perception of a perfect fan reaction?
Ragnhild : “SING-ALONG” is a perfect fan reaction that we are hoping from our fans in December Demolition. Nevertheless, we plan towards playing our entire set of 5 songs depending on the event schedules and our set list will indeed include a cover song from the famous Vikings, none other than, Amon Amarth.
15. What is in store in Ragnhild’s artillery? Is new material being written?
Ragnhild : Yes of course. Our next recording will soon be up on the page.
16. Any message for fans who will be seeing you guys Live at December Demolition, Pune?
Ragnhild : “Sing Along with the band and enjoy the winter this December with beer and with Ragnhild”
IMS : Thank You for your time. We will see you soon!
Catch RagnhildLIVE at December Demolation. RSVP here!
Indian Metal Scene 