INTERVIEW with Multinational Corporations

 

Multinational Corporations aka MxCx is a grindcore/crust punk band hailing from Lahore, Pakistan, the first and the only of its kind in the country. The band comprises of Hassan and Sheraz who write unapologetic music laced around politically charged themes reflecting the problems of their region. Their debut EP “Jamat-al-Maut” was quite well-received throughout the world and its remastered version has recently been released by Transcending Obscurity. In an interview with Indian Metal Scene, Hassan talks about his perception of grindcore/crust punk, the debut EP, ideology and much more! Read the conversation here-

1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! Please introduce Multinational Corporations to us and tell us about how you decided to form the band.

Hassan: Multinational Corporations (MxCx) is a Grindcore band from Lahore, Pakistan. When we formed, we were the only Grindcore band in the country’s history. The band was formed in 2011 by me and Sheraz. We felt there wasn’t a single band in the country that played anything that resembled crust/grind that talked about politics and social issues. So far we put out a demo in 2011 called “Equality” and then our first EP “Jamat-al-Maut” last year which had a nice reception from grindfreaks, punx, hardcore kids, and metalheads alike.

2. The remastered version of your debut EP Jamat-al-Maut has recently been released by Transcending Obscurity, India. The EP, despite adopting a straightforward grindcore approach with in-your-face crust punk elements, is not merely another grindcore record with simplistic catchy riffs. Please tell us about your perception of the genre you play.

Hassan: We’ve always thrown in other influences from other genres in our music, Crust Punk and Hardcore Punk being the most, but also some Black Metal and Death Metal. We don’t consciously try to pigeonhole ourselves into one single style of grind – anything goes, as long as it makes you wanna rage the fuck out. The fact that a lot of bands today don’t want to fuck around with the basic template has made a lot of modern grind very stale in recent years. Early bands would throw in influences from all across the board, as long as it sounded aggressive. That’s what made the original slew of bands in the scene so spontaneous and fresh to the ears, as opposed to the standard sound you have today.

3. What is a Multinational Corporations song? Do you begin with riffs, or build upon a certain emotion? Do you believe in spontaneous songwriting?

Hassan: Sheraz writes the riffs, then we discuss how many parts they’re gonna have. Sometimes we’ll discuss the basic vibe too, like if a song’s gonna be a little slower or totally fast, or whatever. It’s very spontaneous to a degree since all the songs get written in maybe an hour or two, at the same time we do dwell on them too because nothing we make should sound boring.

4. How does Multinational Corporations assert its independent identity which distinguishes it from other grindcore bands?

Hassan: The fact that we’re from Pakistan sets us apart immediately, I believe. But we don’t use our place of birth as a crutch. We’re not some guys making trashy low grade shit and asking people to listen to us because we’re from a Muslim country, haha. We don’t exploit our origins – we just make hard, angry music that talks about specific things that affect our life here in Pakistan. At the same time, musically in terms of our riffs and compositions, we make sure that our songs feel like they’re MxCx songs. I think if someone was to hear a certain part of our song without hearing the rest of it, they’d know it’s those grinders from Pakistan.

5. Do you have any non-musical perception of grindcore as well- in terms of attitude or philosophy? What distinguishes the worldview grindcore/crust punk upholds from that of other music?

Hassan: I think there definitely is a non-musical tradition to Grindcore/Crust Punk, one that we hope to carry with our music as well, to the best of our abilities. The tradition of defiance, protest, social justice, humanitarian values as well as DIY ethics all are part and parcel of the Grindcore/Crust Punk experience, whether you’re listening to Brutal Truth or Agathocles.

6. Jamat-Al-Maut is absolutely unapologetic in terms of the music, theme and lyrical content concerning the political and social issues plaguing your country. What is your anger directed towards? What do you think is wrong with the society you live in?

Hassan: Pakistan is a multi-layered, multi-ethnic society where political, communal, sectarian and tribal/ethnic/linguistic values carry a lot of sentimentality with them. There are rights and there are wrongs. There’s good and there’s bad. Then there’s the 50 ton pile of merde in between that you cannot make sense of, and the best you can do is get the fuck away from that horrid stench as best as you can. But no matter how much you distance yourself from that stench – or the complex workings of society – it still affects you. The lyrics in Jamat-al-Maut deal with the fallout of those affects.

7. The themes of crust punk music hold importance, and are often politically engaged and question ‘accepted’ norms. How does Multinational Corporations assimilate such ideology, art and musicality?

Hassan: It’s not a question of assimilation, as far as I’m concerned, as a lot of the things we discuss in our music are things we already felt strongly about before the band formed. Everything is said straight from the heart, there’s no filter added to make it more palatable to certain audiences. A lot of it may be offensive to people, since we touch upon certain nerves. But that’s the way it’s always been done in this kind of music. If you don’t have a proper connection with the stuff you’re screaming about, then you’re in the wrong scene.

8. What do you think about political and social institutions? How do you agree or disagree with the inevitability of authority and organization in society?

Hassan: It’s a question I end up dwelling on myself, often for several hours. I humbly believe that everyone will have a different opinion on this subject, so whatever way a society is run should be through a common consensus based on basic humanist values. That’s all I believe in.

9. You’re also involved in other projects of different genres ranging from crossover thrash to industrial and experimental. Please tell us more about it. How has it been sharing your individual musical experiences with so many different musicians?

Hassan: It’s fun. It’s important to have a good chemistry with people in your band, so most of my band-mates are also comrades outside of the whole music thing. Sheraz from MxCx is the best musician I’ve ever played alongside and we hang out most days when we have nothing to do. Sheraz and I also have a Crossover Thrash band called Foreskin. Foreskin’s other guitarist and founding member Amar Ali has been a great guy to share the stage with as well. We formed the band together back in school, he’s been a great friend off the stage as well as on it – we’ve even worked on short films together. He also plays drums for MxCx live sometimes. My industrial/experimental/noise/grind band is an online project called Nihilist Holiday with Jeff Fischer. We share the same tastes in music to a large degree and if I recall correctly, we ended up working on these noise tracks quite suddenly after a conversation that started with D.R.I. and ended with a discussion on the philosopher Derrida. In that band, Jeff makes the basic tracks and I add my own noise effects and vocals on it. Another side-project is Kafir-e-Azam, mince/grind with my friend Asadullah in Karachi who I used to run a metal blog with when we were teenagers. But yeah. It’s great to be able to make music with people who share the same zest and zeal for the same things as you do.

10. What according to you constitutes ‘growth’ for Multinational Corporations? Do you want to evolve by experimenting or through one particular style of playing?

Hassan: We just want to make more music. There’s a lot of shit in us that needs to get out. Regression is out of the question, but the rest is up to the fans to decide when they hear our new shit.

11. Do you agree with the idea of commercialization of genres like grindcore and punk to a certain extent for survival? What are your thoughts on the generational loss of music in the sense that a lot of good music from the old school is forgotten and a lot of bands from that era that people still listen to are actually the ones who availed good advertising?

Hassan: That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, isn’t it? It goes for all art forms. Just as die hard painting collectors will find out everything there is to know about the painters they’re interested in, die-hard metal and punk fans still go around searching zines and websites for all sorts of obscure shit. If some unenthusiastic kids don’t feel the same passion, then it’s their loss.

 

12. What does metal/punk look like in Pakistan, in terms of bands, listeners, exposure etc. Is it in any way an artistic movement questioning societal standards, or are its values purely musical?

Hassan: The metal scene is purely musical. There are some bands that give importance to aesthetic value as well but for the most part it’s just people doing music. There are a lot less cover bands now than there were say, 10 years ago, so the scene is heading in a good direction. The punk circle is far smaller, mostly made up of metalheads who got into extreme side of punk like crust/grind/hardcore etc through metal. Bands such as Throttle Instinct, Bvlghvm, Marg, and some upcoming new acts use their music as a mirror to society, which is encouraging. A lot work needs to be done with underground music in general, however.

13. The remastered EP Jamat-Al-Maut has recently been released by Transcending Obscurity, India. How has it been received so far?

Hassan: The response has been pretty good so far. Our fans in India had been waiting a long time for the CDs but apart from that, new people are hearing our music as well. I keep coming across new reviews whenever I decide to google the band/album, which goes to show how well Transcending Obscurity has promoted the EP.

14. What’s next for Multinational Corporations? Is there new material written but not yet released? Do you have plans to go Live in the coming months?

Hassan: We’re recording a bunch of tracks these days. One of them will be on a vinyl split with Dutch Grindcore band Matka Teresa. Apart from that, nothing is defined for the future but we’ll let everyone know through our Facebook page. We also have a discography tape consisting of our EP, our Demo and Live tracks coming up, but we can’t reveal all the release info at the moment. As far as live performances go, as soon as we find a decent indoor venue we’ll put on a show.

15. Do you agree that innovations are stalled when music is brought out to the mainstream which demands ‘standards’ and kills originality? How do you think it is possible to enhance the genre you play without distorting its intrinsic values?

Hassan: When you stop making music for yourself in order to cater to your label or a larger audience or your mom/dad/uncle/aunt/neighbour/milkman/etc, then you’ve lost the whole point. It goes for all sorts of music.

Check out Multinational Corporations here!

Interviewed by Debarati Das

INTERVIEW with Djinn & Miskatonic

Djinn & Miskatonic is a doom metal band based in Bangalore, India. The band has presented its superlative musicality in their EP forever in the realm and live performances. We interviewed them ahead of Transcending Obscurity Fest to be held in Thane this May. Read the conversation here.

1. Greetings! How are you doing?
Doom metal is known as a genre evoking a sense of gloom, generally with continual, low and droning music. What inspires artists like you to pursue such a melancholic genre? Is it an expression of emotions, passion and fears or is it a reflection of societal conditions?

Sriram: Greetings, mortals. Humanity is doomed anyway. It is pointless to dwell on mundane issues like society. Let’s leave the angsty hollering and bird-flipping-in-the-general-direction-of-“the establishment” to thrash metal and grindcore bands, shall we? I tend to find escape in weird and fantastic realms carved out in words and pictures and that hopefully translates into the music we play. The slow, crushing nature of doom metal provides the perfect musical soundtrack for the sort of themes that we like to write about.

GK: Doom metal is a form of release. We escape in doom and tell a few stories.

2. Djinn & Miskatonic has presented music which is a reflection of the rich sources which the band derives inspiration from- a desolate atmosphere with slow Sabbathian riffage, and sometimes even catchy and attacking! Please elaborate on the band’s musical influences.

Sriram: We all bring a few diverse influences into the band, really. Black Sabbath is obviously the holy grail of everything, along with ‘70s proto-doom bands like Sir Lord Baltimore, Blue Cheer, Bedemon and Pentagram. New wave doom bands like Electric Wizard, Sleep, Church of Misery and Reverend Bizarre in particular have influenced us hugely in wanting to tune low and play slow. JP and I also share a healthy love for traditional ‘80s heavy metal and thrash, and that shows through sometimes as well. GK (vocalist) listens to a crazy amount of music ranging from extreme metal to singer-songwriter stuff. Sid (drummer) is largely into superfast, technical stuff; (he co-founded and plays drums for a band called Nihilus that fast, technical death metal). Our songs allow room for incorporating a lot of different styles within the framework of doom metal. A good example of that would be the black metal-esque ending to Weird Tales.

3. How does the band perceive doom metal musically and non-musically- in terms of attitude and philosophy? What ideology or art distinguishes the worldview doom metal seeks to uphold, from the rest of heavy metal?

JP: Not a lot. We just prefer Conan the Barbarian, Vincent Price, Jim Thompson, the Silver Surfer and Barbarella to reality. Jane Fonda for the win!

GK: Doom metal helps me out. The crushing monotony of daily life is alleviated by the doom. I think it would be fait to say that we present our music in a doom metal framework because we like slow and heavy music but in terms of ideology and worldview, we’re not particularly bleak or soul crushing in our delivery. You could dance to some of it. So sometimes I’m not entirely comfortable with being called doom metal in the strictest sense. We need to be called something I guess and doom metal is close enough.

Sriram: Doom is not fundamentally different from heavy metal in ethos. It’s just the weird kid of metal that took being slow and menacing to an extreme. Same whine, different battle. *chuckle*

4. What forms the basis of a Djinn & Miskatonic song? Is it a concept fitted into a musical narrative or anything else? How do you build on it?

JP: A few stolen blues basslines, bang on the drums a lot, overdrive the guitar amp and get someone quiet to sing for a change.

GK: Am I the quiet one or are you getting someone else to sing?

Sriram: And drugs and alcohol, of course. Can’t forget those!

5. The band’s lyrical themes lace around occultism, witchery, alcoholism, etc. Are there any non-musical sources that inspire the band’s songwriting– literature, movies, graphics, etc.?

JP: I’m very fond of fonts. That helps a lot.

GK: Yeah. Book of the Fallen is based on Steven Erikson’s epic of the same name. The song Weird Tales pretty much lists out or literary influences. I think going back to your earlier question about ideology that pretty much is it. Playing the music we like and telling the stories we want to.

Sriram: A dash of fascination with the morbid, a pinch of penchant for the weird and drugs and alcohol. Lots of drugs and alcohol.

 

 

6. To what extent do you think are the despair-evoking sound of the genre and the values and ideas which the music expresses related? Or is there no pre-decided thought process as such that doom metal seeks to induce, and keeps it open to the perception of the listener?

Sriram: Oh, they are very much connected. You cannot go around singing lyrics about love and peace and puppy dogs when the music behind it is more apt for summoning an Elder god and pounding your head into the ground. (Let it be noted, though, that never has there ever been a more jaunty call to the end-times than “Doom Over the World” by Reverend Bizarre!).

7. Please describe ‘Djinn & Miskatonic’ and the idea behind naming the band so.

JP: It was a joke and now it’s gone too far. Only Gautham knows where the bodies are buried.

GK: It was a good joke. Totally worth the muddy boots, sprained back and blood stains on the backseat.

8. Djinn & Miskatonic’s music is quite entrenched in the ways of traditional doom. What do you think of incorporation of ‘stylistic novelties’ in metal, for example, incorporation of elements of Eastern music, like the droning essence of Indian classical music?

Sriram: We’ve never consciously thought about using eastern scales/progressions in our music. Slow doom metal is enough of a stylistic novelty in itself, I’d reckon.

GK: If it’s done well it sounds great Lots of potential for utter failure though.

 

9. Through what elements does the Djinn & Miskatonic’s music assert its independent identity which distinguishes it from other doom metal bands?

JP: We’re willing to take it down to funeral doom tempos, but we’re okay with a burst of death metal speed too. We wanna go, we wanna go hot rocking.

10. Djin & Miskatonic’s inception saw the band consisting of only drums, bass and vocals, yet firmly grounded in the essence of doom metal. How has the journey been since then and what changes has the band’s sound gone through?

JP: There’s more Steely Dan in the mix now, maybe a bit of Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare Earth. You’re going to hear a lot more Marvin Gaye in our songs from now on.

GK: Yeah. Sriram claims to like thrash and death and what not but this is what he’s actually brought to the band. Accessibility and women.

 

11. What are your thoughts on doom metal in India? In what ways do you think this sub-genre maintains its individual musical ingenuity? Or is it a mere continuation of the arc of metal?

Sriram: It is definitely a branch of the great big tree of metal, that’s for sure. But I think we’ve seen potential for doom/stoner/sludge to be a subculture in its own right. There are about 6 bands right now in Bangalore alone playing some derivative of doom metal and each one of them has something unique to offer with their sound. Bevar Sea’s style has a lot of ‘70s rock and proto-doom in it, Shepherd integrate Seattle/Washington sound influences (Melvins, AIC, Soundgarden) with southern sludge, Witchdoctor have a Scandinavian-by-way-of-funeral-doom sort of sound to them while Dying Embrace is more steeped in the doom-death liturgies of Celtic Frost, Asphyx and Autopsy. With Djinn there’s traces of traditional heavy metal, doom-death and . And of course, the one thread that connects all of us is the mighty Sabbath! As for the rest of India, Dormant Inferno from Bombay is definitely a band to watch out for. It’s still a very small movement, both in terms of the number of bands playing and the audiences, but there certainly is increased awareness, even if not acceptance, of the doomier forms of metal.

 

“Forever In The Realm” artwork

12. The band’s debut album was released by Transcending Obscurity India. How important has the record label proved to be for the band? Share with us the experience.

GK: It’s been great. I’ve known KC for a long while now. I think we were recording our first album when he decided he wanted to do an Indian sub of his label and things pretty much fell into place. It’s been a pretty peaceful, hassle free arrangement so far. KC on his own though is doing a pretty great job with his label. Can’t wait to come to Thane again for Transcending Obscurity Fest.

Sriram: It’s a huge plus, having someone to do the grunt-work for you. KC takes care of the ghastly chores like the shameless whoring, convincing people to buy our CDs and (*shudder*) shipping CDs out when people actually order the damn things. KC is a long-time friend of ours and I guess it just made sense to leverage his experience and network so we can chill out and focus on stealing ideas from Tom Petty songs. And do drugs and alcohol, of course. Can’t forget the drugs and alcohol!

13. How bold do you think is the decision to pursue doom metal in India? What do you think is the extent of acceptance by listeners, and what is the usual fan reaction at gigs?

Sriram: Doom metal does remain a niche sub-genre with a small but dedicated fanbase. Metal still tends to be tagged as fast, aggressive music and well, doom is pretty much the antithesis of that. We still see quite a few baffled and quizzical faces in the audience and a lot of that is because the exposure to this kind of music, and particularly with Djinn’s type of bleak, long-winded doom, is still limited at best. And I’m not betting on that changing any time in the near future.

GK: The music chooses you. We had no choice.

14. Djinn & Miskatonic is going to be a part of Transcending Obscurity Fest. Do you have any message for those who are going to attend the show? Is there new material in store?

Sriram: There’s ONLY new material in store, I reckon. Of course we’ll have to play some of our popular songs (We heard KC and Riju have worked out an interpretative dance duet for “Book of the Fallen”). Quite looking forward to it. And also, hey Bombay, please don’t mosh to doom metal. It’s impressive, but kinda insulting.

GK: Yeah, maybe 3 new songs and one off the album. And ignore Sriram. That 30 second mosh pit last time was epic. Was a great crowd last time and hoping for more of the same. Looking forward to catching up with a few people and putting on a good tight set. We get to play alongside some great bands and Transcending Obscurity Fest should be a blast.

IMS: Thanks a lot for your time. See you guys soon!

 

You can buy the album “Forever in the Realm” here!

RSVP to the event “Transcending Obscurity fest” here!

–Image Credits – Danish R.D./Danz Photography

–Interviewed by Debarati Das

INTERVIEW with Orion

 

This band’s giant journey towards greatness has stretched across a span of four years. With rises, falls, conflicts, losses, redemption and other rock and roll documentary occurrences, Orion has forged itself to become the creature it is today. The sound that Orion is known for has always been a mystery to the band itself because every fan and enthusiast find a new way to express what they hear. We had a chat with them where they talked about their music, interests and the upcoming Transcending Obscurity Fest. Read our conversation below-

1. Progressive metal is known as music with very little or zero predictability. Orion’s music arrests the listener’s attention with uncustomary details like interesting time signatures, changing tempos and sometimes even clean vocals. How bold are such attempts of incorporating unusual aspects?

Orion: The purpose of our music is to flirt around with whatever possibility there is. For us there is nothing too extreme or out of place. If it feels right it fits.

2. What distinguishes an Orion song from other death metal music? How do you conceive a song- does your songwriting lace around the crux of a concept or narrative or is it solely musical with the best suited structure?

Orion: The lack of predictable structure definitely helps us stand out from other death metal music. Usually we have a loose theme in mind that we channelize to create riffs. They are brutal or soulful depending on what the concept is and how many beers we’ve had before getting to it. Post that comes the lyrics.

3. I came across an interesting quote on the band’s Facebook page- “The sound that Orion is known for has always been a mystery to the band itself because every fan and enthusiast finds a new way to express what they hear”. A genre like death metal is often expected to deliver conventional compositions in order to inspire a thought process typical to such a genre. Does an Orion song seek to trigger an emotion by itself or is it up to the interpretation of the listener alone?

Orion: People don’t want to be told what to think. Everything from the riffs, solos and even lyrics are kept open to interpretation so that the listener feels more involved. There’s something nice about figuring out what the person beside you hadn’t.

4. Orion’s sound which is endowed with a good deal of technicality seems to be drawing inspiration from a plethora of sources, steering clear from monotony– sometimes even reminiscent of a surprising edge like that of jazz! Please tell us about the band’s musical influences.

Orion: The band has gone through a rollercoaster of influencers. Each new band member brought with him a bag full of artists he loved and that became a part of Orion. With the current lineup we feel a strong connection to bands like Death, Opeth, Necrophagist and recently even Veil of Maya. Though all these bands have their own sound they always find a way to make you go “Fucck, I can’t believe they did that.” That’s where we hope to be….

5. What got you into death metal as fans first and as musicians later? Has the band been influenced by non-musical sources like art, literature, ideologies etc.

Orion: All of us have been metal fans for as long as we can remember. If we knew why then we’d be preaching that already. Most of our album concepts revolve around existential issues and conflicting theories in mythology etc. While the music is inspired by other legends the lyrics and album concepts always have a humanitarian root.

6. The embellishments that the band’s music incorporates (intricate melodies, grooves with odd time signatures, etc.) suggest a good deal of exploration and non-adherence to hard-and-fast rules. Have such features about the band’s music ever been compared to ‘standards’ of death metal and judged as ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’? What are your thoughts?

Orion: We don’t think there’s a right and wrong in music in general, not just metal. We love pushing our music and exploring more ways of playing it. That’s probably why it takes us forever to finish a new track. But it all pays off in the end.

7. The name ‘Orion’ is that of a celestial huntsman from the Greek mythology; also, the artwork on your EP On The Banks of Rubicon is quite unconventional. These features reflect the importance the band attaches to aesthetics. Do you believe that aesthetics are necessary to convey the ideology that a genre of music seeks to uphold? If not, can music stand alone as an absolutely independent conception?

Orion: The artwork is packaging of the music. That is the first impression a fan gets of your band. So it NEEDS to kick ass. The On “The Banks of Rubicon” cover took just as long as any of the songs on the EP.

8. Orion has stood strong for almost five years now. Of the past ten years of metal in India, what according to you are the major standouts? Also tell us if you’re influenced by any music from other genres in the present-day scenario.

Orion: Unlike five years back when there were only a few pro level bands and everyone else played in the semi pro league, lots of bands have started coming up now. BM, DR and Scribe are always going to be on the top. But now is the time for powerhouses like Albatross, Reptilian Death, Providence, Gutslit and loads of others.

9. Do you think metal in India is at all a culture that embraces an ideology and questions the stereotypical standards set out by the society? Or does it focus solely on the music, even seeking commercialization at times?

Orion: It hasn’t reached that point where it’s strong enough to question society. But it will get there one day. Right now metal in India is like new formed religion. No restrictions, no requirements, no agenda. Just pure love for the music. It might not help kids tackle life issues but it sure lets them escape it for as long as they’re in the mosh pit.

10. One of the most prevalent aspects of metal is the existence of a community or a ‘scene‘. Do you think such ‘scenes’ revolve around a set of expectations which deters a band’s growth due to little or no space for exploration? Or does it enhance music as a whole by congregating listeners and musicians who can appreciate a similar kind of music?

Orion: The scenes here aren’t about pushing one kind of metal. They purely focus on uplifting bands from that area by doing promotions, holding whatever shows they can; big or small and basically building fans. And God knows how much we need that right now.

11. Share with us memories from your journey as Orion. What do you think about the metal scene in Mumbai, in terms of gigs, organizers, exposure, contemporaries and listeners?

Orion: Like us the metal scene is forever growing here. Everyone has to do things like float themselves. We’ve had our share like featuring in Aashiqui 2, which definitely was the most fun nonmetal we ever did as a band.

12.  How has Transcending Obscurity India turned things around for Orion? Tell us about the experience of working with an unparalleled record label in the country.

Orion: First things first, it was a very big deal for us to be signed. It took a major chunk of the stress of our shoulders. The first EP was all us. From the recording, artwork, printing, distribution, we did it all ourselves. We’re relieved that now all we need to focus on is making more and better music. Kunal is one influential person. There’s a certain level of confidence that comes with being associated with a name like TOI.

13. Orion is a part of the brilliant line-up of the Transcending Obscurity fest. How do you feel about it? What should fans be looking forward to?

Orion: We’re really excited. The fans can definitely look forward to some new material that we’ve been working on.

14. What do you do outside Orion? Is there any passion that you pursue other than metal?

Orion: Luckily we’ve all managed to get jobs that help us stay close to what we do in Orion. I’m a copywriter, Vignesh is a brand manager with Furtados, Pritesh is slowly becoming one of the most sought out live sound engineers in the country and Ashwin kicks some serious butt as a studio mastermind.

15. Do you have any message for fans reading this?

Orion: Bring a pair extra balls to the TOI fest.

IMS: Thank you for talking to us. See you at the pit!

 

RSVP to Transcending Obscurity fest, here!

-Interviewed by Debarati Das

 

INTERVIEW with Chaos

Chaos, active since 2005, is known for sound that discharges awe-inspiring aggression and superlative musicality which successfully uphold the grandeur of old school heavy metal. The band has played and has been well-acclaimed for its outstanding live performances across the country. We had a chat with the band about their journey till now and what’s coming. You can read the conversation below –

1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! How are you guys doing?

Chaos: We’re doing great! Thank you.

2. Chaos has been active since 2005 and has gained a strong foothold in the Indian metal scene. What were the initial challenges the four of you faced after forming Chaos?

Chaos: The main challenge that we’ve faced in the initial stage was finding a stable line up for the band. It’s very difficult to find people with the same viewpoint as yours. We’re left with just 2 founding members of the band (Nikhil, JK). Apart from that, obviously, we had to work very hard to keep the band together because of the lack of resources at that time. What really helped us out at that time was the sheer number of competitions that were happening in and around the state.

3. Many critics acclaim Chaos to be “a hybrid between Slayer and Pantera”. How do you feel about it? Tell us about your major influences.

Chaos: We take that as a compliment. We’re huge fans of both the bands. As a guitarist, I’ve always looked up to Dimebag Darrel. Our major influences are in fact Slayer and Pantera along with Metallica, Megadeth etc. We’ve never intentionally tried to sound different just for the sake of it. We play what we feel like playing and that’s just about it.

4. Please tell us about your songwriting. Do you begin with a riff or a concept or anything else? How do you further compose a song?

Chaos: We begin with an idea about the subject of the song. After a discussion on how to treat what we’re writing about, I’ll write the lyrics if and when I feel like it. The riffs and the structure comes after that. The composing process is mostly spontaneous. Most of the songs on the record took very little time to compose. The layers and guitar solos are added after we’ve finalized the song structure.

5. Your music generally focuses on aggression. Is this the idea behind the theme of mostly every song?

Chaos: Most of our songs deals with subjects that deserve an aggressive reaction. So, it’s only logical that the songs sound aggressive. Besides, the level of aggression is what makes a thrash metal song, a thrash metal song!

Chaos ‘Violent Redemption’

6. You have been associated with Transcending Obscurity. Has it helped you reach a bigger audience?

Chaos: In a big way! Yes! Kunal is one of those rare guys who’s brave enough to get into this bitch of an industry just because of his intense love for this kind of music. And the most incredible thing is that he’s making a huge difference. From an artist’s perspective, he’s very understanding and easy to work with. Our association with Transcending Obscurity has been absolutely delightful so far!

7. Your debut release “Violent Redemption” gained a huge amount of attention. It was really heavy and raw. Can we expect the future releases to be similar sounding or are we in for a surprise?

Chaos: Like I’ve mentioned in one of the earlier questions, we’re not really trying to make our songs sound like anything in particular. We’re just taking one song at a time and trying our best to make it sound as good as we can. And as far as the next album is concerned, we’re already done with the composing process and we’re planning on recording it soon. Is it going to be raw and aggressive? Hell yeah!

8. How would you best describe the sound of Chaos?

Chaos: We play what comes to us naturally. We’ve never intentionally tried to sound like anything or anyone. It’s inevitable that the styles of music that you’ve been listening to over all these years would have an influence on your song writing.

Chaos at Thrashfest, Thane

9. You guys played Thrashfest earlier this month. Please share the experience with us.

Chaos: Thrashfest was amazing. It was one of the best shows that we’ve played till date. It was well organized, the sounds were top notch, the crowd was amazing, and the line up was absolutely insane. Hats off to Kunal for making it happen.

10. What was the idea behind the ‘Game’ song video?

Chaos: The entire credit to the music video of ‘Game’ goes to our good friend Kiran N S. The song revolves around how money and power corrupts. Pretty cheesy for a thrash song,  still, that’s what’s happening around us.

11. When can we expect any official release from you guys?

Chaos: We’re already ready with some good stuff. Hopefully by the end of this year you’ll get a taste of what’s to come.

12. You guys have been around since quite sometime now. What are your thoughts about the present-day and upcoming bands? Also, many underground bands spend a lifetime in exposing their music to a larger audience. Would you like to give any pointers to them?

Chaos: We’ve seen a lot of bands come and go. The most important thing when it comes to keeping a band together is to make sure that the drive to move forward is never lost. Over a past few years, social media has become an integral part of the industry and we’ve seen lots of band aggressively taking advantage of that! Although we’re not very good at it, those who are doing it, are doing it right!

13. Share with us memorable experiences from your journey as Chaos so far.

Chaos: The entire ride from the moment we’ve formed the band till answering this interview as been amazing!  Picking ones out of them would be a really difficult task. However, getting our first album has been our greatest moment and the biggest achievement so far.

14. Here’s your space for anything you want to say to your fans.

Chaos: Do show up in numbers for the gigs! Support the local scene! Stay metal!  Cheers!

 

Buy/Listen to Chaos ‘Violent Redemption’ here!

-Interviewed by Aditya Bali

INTERVIEW with Devoid

Formed in 2005, Devoid is one of the stalwarts of thrash/death in India, known for delivering virulent thrash/death assault. Devoid’s music is perfectly balanced with a strong dash of originality, glimpses of death metal and at times the retro-essence of thrash metal. We had a chat with the vocalist/rhythm guitarist ‘Arun Iyer’. Read our conversation below :

1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! How are you guys?

Arun : Good.

2. Quite a few present-day metal bands are part of the crusade that aims to restore the glory of thrash/ death metal of the 80s, often by seeking to incorporate the aggression and elements of sound that characterized 80s’ thrash/ death. Does Devoid seek to ‘revive’ thrash metal? If yes, how?

Arun : We don’t seek to revive anything. We write music that appeals to us and it so happens that thrash, death metal is our common interest. Our objective is to in the end of the day write music that has a Devoid signature.

3. What constitutes a Devoid song? Does a concept form the base of it, or is it riffs fitted into a narrative? What according to you renders the band’s songwriting distinguishable?

Arun : Usually the riffs make the backbone of our songs. This then goes through a series of changes and upgrades and you have the rest of the body. Well with more releases I think I will myself be able to answer your last question. Till then I rely on what others feel is distinguishable.

4. Devoid’s music assimilates the retro essence of thrash/ death with a prominent dash of originality. Which generation and bands are the band’s major musical influences? Please tell us about your non-musical influences (society, literature, etc.), if any.

Arun : My influences are the thrash, death bands from 80s – 95s. The other guys in the band have their own influences. They range from Morbid Saint to the Faceless. Sanju, if you didn’t know also plays in bands that play alternative funk, jazz blues post rock dub step fusion Bollywood stuff. The things one does to make a living being a musician.

5. Some of the biggest stalwarts of thrash/ death metal have experimented a good deal with their manner of songwriting and playing through the years. What according to you is ‘growth’ for Devoid? Do you aim to evolve by experimenting or by upholding a particular pattern of playing?

Arun : When you have a sound that is truly your own and not by just naming yourselves as a particular genre; if people can instinctively pick up on your sound as distinct as you do THEN and only then do you uphold a particular sound. And I’m from the school of thought that even then no one has the right to demonize you for experimenting every now and then. As for devoid my hope is to keep digging, musically speaking, till we find our pot of gold. The growth will be experienced when people can reflect, positively or negatively, on our music. It should be something that they can take to their grave. I guess then we would have shown some ‘growth’.

6. A good musician is born out of a good listener. What aspects of a song do you look for in your interpretation of it in the first listen?

Arun : Since we are talking metal I will restrict this answer to just that. I like my metal dark as fuck or joyful as when drunk. Both work for me. If the music takes me to either of these two places I am satisfied. I usually like my music to be appealing without resorting to complex writing techniques. Usually the seeming simplicity of a song trumps over more complex structures.

7. Devoid’s music is often laced around lyrical themes concerning ‘anti-establishment’. What ideology or experiences do you aim to communicate through such themes? Can society survive without ‘establishments’?

Arun : Well, a coffee shop is an establishment. I don’t think we are anti coffee shops. Over time I have seen things, experienced things that have shaped my world view. Not all things I held dearly can be anymore. Having said that there are things that have solidified even further. One of those things is my sentiments against established or otherwise religious systems. I would need an entire day and two quarters of alcohol to expound on this. And even that wouldn’t result in an absolute solution to any of the presented problems. Shit isn’t that cut and dry.

8. Some opine that metal as an ideology is concerned with individualism, often by escaping the standards set by society, while according to some; heavy metal does not escape but rather questions. What are your thoughts?

Arun : I think it is both. You question the standards and practices of the world and through that you escape into your own world where metal reigns supreme and metal heads are world leaders. It starts individualistically and then you find that these black sheep of the society are everywhere and then poof you are in a global tribe.

9. Devoid’s EP “The Invasion” entwines around a concept. What according to you does a concept seek to accomplish? Does it want to stir a desired thought process in the listener, or act as an embellishment?

Arun : Story embellished is a story people want to read. Case in point every medium of news we have in today’s world. And yes, it does delve the reader into a world the writer wants. It is a hit and miss considering how well the story is put together and written. So yes a story or a concept needs to accomplish both; be assertive and be immersive.

10. Where does Devoid stand in the stretch between the two poles of opinion—one, that metal should mostly remain underground; and, two, that metal should be commercialized for its own growth.

Arun : Metal cannot and I stress cannot become mainstream. It is by and of the underdog. I think that’s what you meant. I’d love metal to be commercial. God knows I need new strings buddy.

11. Are there any Indian metal bands that you enjoy? What do you think of your contemporaries?

Arun : I love and look upto bhayanak maut. They are to me the most sincere and serious bunch of metal heads. The contemporaries of the now scene are way more poignant in their approach to their music. They don’t hiss and whine. They put out quality products in various forms and they back it up with vigorous practice. This is the only way the scene becomes an industry.

12. The band’s journey seems to be a slew of experiences since you have toured major cities and shared stage with bands like Cradle of Filth, Decapitated and Sybreed. Share with us Devoid’s dearest memories and the experience of Wacken Open Air.

Arun : Long list of memories and experiences buddy. Wacken Open Air set standards for us and gave us an insight of what it means to be a band in this global scene. It gave us perspective, the one we desperately needed. The most exciting moments of Wacken Open Air were the ones when we met our heroes of the scene. That was rewarding in itself. The other was seeing a packed, predominantly white crowd, and a bunch of Indian flags held high in the midst of that while we belted our shit. These are things that stick with you till the end of time.

13. Devoid is part of the amazing line-up for Thrashfest which surpasses the old school- new age divides. What do you expect from Thrashfest and what should fans be looking forward to?

Arun : The audience become fans only by the end of the show, till then they are people who have paid money to enjoy & be entertained. I expect only that they come in numbers which is a strong indicator of support and that gesture should be rewarded in every possible way. The people that come for the show should look forward to a bill that is unrelenting in its ability to entertain and lift the spirit of metal above the muck that the internet has made it out to be. This Thrashfest is meant to revel in who we are and keep aside our prejudices for a night of absolute debauchery. Having fun is the motto and thrashers know best in the art of having fun.

14. What is happening in the jam room? Is there new material written, but not released? Please tell us about your gigging plans for the coming months.

Arun : We are currently writing newer songs and we have a few ready. Lyrical themes and such have to be established and then we will be in a position to play it live or release them. We have the Inferno show in Delhi that is confirmed but that is just the tip of the iceberg. A bunch of shows are in the process of being lined up and if shit works out it will hit you like a ton of bricks. All thanks to our manager Roydon.

15. Please share with us Devoid’s goals, if any, beyond delivering superlative music (upholding a worldview, travelling, etc.).

Arun : Well, our goal is to make more albums and to play international festivals. We would also like to fuck hot groupies on a daily basis. What’s the harm in dreaming right?

16. Here is your space for anything you want to say to your fans.

Arun : Hello readers and fans alike, we are grateful for your patience, love and affection. We are also grateful for your brickbats and criticism because we grow through you. So be vocal and be loud and be thrash!

IMS : Thank you guys for your time. We wish you all the best for the future and see you at Thrashfest!

 

Pick up a copy of their new EP titled ‘The Invasion‘ from Transcending Obscurity.

Catch Devoid Live at Thrashfest on 9th February. RSVP here!

Read our Thrashfest Preview here!

-Interviewed by Debarati Das

INTERVIEW with Threinody

Formed in 1996, in the South Indian city of Bangalore, when three individuals got together to play music inspired by their favorite metal bands. Having weathered a slew of personnel changes, Threinody consists of the present line up of Premik Jolly [Guitar], Siddharth Naidu [Bass Guitar and Vocals] Shreyas Kamath [Drums]. They are going to perform Live at Thrashfest with a couple of bands which is happening in Thane on 9th Feb. We had a little chat with them. Read our conversation below:

1. Hey how are you guys doing? What has the band been upto lately?

Threinody : We’re doing just fine, thanks! We have been rehearsing in preparation for Thrashfest in Mumbai. We’ve had to depend on Shreyas’ brother, Siddhart to fill in on rhythm guitar following Josh’s departure. It’s coming together well, we’ve been working with him on the Thrashfest setlist. We also have been recording tracks for our upcoming album, at Premik’s Area 51 Studio. Going forward, we’ll be recording as a 3-piece, with Premik nailing all the guitars. We also just released our band shirt, based on our new song, “Surrender to the Blade”. It’s come out killer. You can check it out on our Facebook page, and order them while stocks last!

2. What was the idea behind naming your band ‘Threinody’ and what does it means? How did the band come into existence?

Threinody : We named the band “Threnody”, but a few years later, when the internet became more widespread, we realized that there 2-3 other bands called Threnody, so we altered the spelling slightly, and made it “Threinody” to avoid issues that might crop up. Threnody means a song of mourning or lamentation, and is derived from the Greek. It’s a song that is heard when the bodies of soldiers are brought back from the battlefield. We came across the word in a dictionary.

3. When did you form your band? What inspired you to make music together?

Threinody : We formed the band in 1996. We were all in the 17-20 age group, angry young men, who strongly identified with the speed and aggression of thrash metal. But I’m the sole remaining founder member left in the band. We were heavily into bands like Black Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Sepultura, all the really heavy sounding, fast metal from the 70’s and 80’s. We just wanted to emulate the speed, power and heaviness of these bands by covering their songs, as well as putting together our own songs.

4. Please tell us about your influences concerning music.

Threinody : We are inspired by American thrash like Slayer, Metallica and Exodus, German thrash like Kreator and Sodom, and Brazilian thrash like older Sepultura. We are also into bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Motorhead and Iron Maiden. When we formed the band, we were heavily into Metallica, Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Sepultura, and even some old school death metal. Individually, we have our personal faves, bands which did not necessarily influence our music as a band, but influenced us personally. Premik is into Death and Carcass. Shreyas digs Dying Fetus. Siddharth likes Rush.

5. What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

Threinody : We’ve faced a lot of challenges, but the most recent challenge was resurrecting the band in 2012. Our drummer Satish had settled in Goa, and could not continue in his role in the band. Satish was a tight, fast, skilled drummer, and his playing was a big part of our sound. Fortunately, we approached Shreyas, he agreed to audition for us, and Premik and I felt he was a good fit for Threinody, and knew he would bring in a bit more musical intensity from his death metal drumming background.

6. Please share with us your memorable experiences from past performances.

Threinody : Too many to mention. But the one thing I think Premik and I will never forget is the time when we were playing at Razzberry Rhino, a club hosting metal gig, Mumbai, circa 2000. I announced the next song “Disemobodiment”, and some kid in the front row goes mental and bangs his head on the stage (So you see, that line from Metallica’s “Whiplash” does ACTUALLY happen…”Bang your head against the stage”!). Then there was this time when we played at an Engineering College in Shimoga. The crowd was having a good time, and during the last song, a section of the crowd turned violent, and one of them pelted a stone which unfortunately hit Premik. We had just 10 seconds of our last song to complete. Premik completed the song while staggering across the stage. Then there was the time we played to 15,000 people in Mysore. Again, a section of the crowd turned violent, rushed forward and broke the barricades, climbed up on stage, headbanged and jumped around, and had to be chased away by the cops. A lot of stories, no time to cover any more here!

7. Who writes lyrics for the band? What are the main lyrical themes?

Threinody : Siddharth writes all the lyrics. Our lyrical themes vary. New song “Surrender to the Blade” is about a disgraced doctor, a psycho who will do anything with his scalpel to earn a quick buck. In the past our lyrics dealt with topics like war, propaganda, death, reincarnation, isolation / rejection, the human condition, just about any topic that we find thought-provoking. We are working on a song Called “Soul Eater”, which is about the “Suicide Forest”, a place in Japan called “Aokigahara”. It is a forest where people go to end their lives. Basically, our lyrics deal with “what is”, “what might possibly be”, but never “what isn’t (there)”. This would mean that we don’t have any heavy-duty fantasy-type lyrics.

8. What are your rehearsals generally like? Do you have a set time each week in which you practice or are rehearsals more spontaneous?

Threinody : We usually rehearse Friday, Sat and Sun evenings. We usually have a fixed setlist that we rehearse. Unless we are working on a new song.

9. You guys have been on a 5-year long hiatus and recently got back. Could we know the reason for both, the ‘break’ and also the re-initiation? (Dicy one, upto you if you’d like to put this question with the band)

Threinody : Around 2007, we all had various challenges in our personal lives. There was a lull in the live metal shows, and we just weren’t getting any shows. We never broke up, we just became inactive. In the mean time, our drummer Satish decided to settle down in Goa. Sometime in the first half of 2012, when Premik and Siddharth were trying to get the band back together, Satish realized he would no longer be able to continue playing in Threinody. We decided to start playing again as we were really frustrated and missed the metal mayhem. Many people were telling us “We want to see Threinody back!”. And so we started playing again with Shreyas on drums.

10. Threinody is part of the brilliant line-up for Thrashfest to be held in Thane this February. What should fans be looking forward to?

Threinody : Thrashfest is going to be intense! I think there’s going to be some crazy moshpit action! So much hi-octane thrash metal at one place is going to burn the place down! We’re really looking forward to playing in Mumbai after 12-13 years, Mumbai’s metal crowd was intense back in the day, we want to know if they’ve gotten more intense over the years!

11. What are the ultimate musical goals Threinody seeks to accomplish?

Threinody : We just want to keep playing and recording music, and putting it out there. We are keen on playing on an international stage in the near future.

12. What advice do you have for people who look up to you guys and would want to follow your footsteps?

Threinody : Well, firstly, don’t look up to us! Ok, if you want to play metal, focus on playing as clearly as possible, and maintain strict time, preferably with a metronome. Practice as much as you can. Listen to the great, timeless metal bands so you always know where you come from.

13. Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?

Threinody : Yes, we’d like to thank Premik’s family for putting up with the sound of the band rehearsing!

14. Thanks for talking to us. Any message would you like to convey to your fans?

Threinody : Pleasure is ours, Kailas! For our fans, we are working on the album, and will have it out this year. And don’t forget to get your Threinody tee while stocks last. Cheers!

 

Catch Threinody Live at Thrashfest on 9th February. RSVP here!

Read our Thrashfest Preview here!

-Photo Credits : Danz Photography

-Interviewed by Kailas Joshi

INTERVIEW with Sceptre

Pioneers of Indian thrash metal, Sceptre celebrated the completion of 15 years in December 2013. This is a very big achievement for a thrash metal band in a country like ours. Ever since its formation in 1998, Sceptre has been through a lot – From winning the Independence Rock festival in 2003 to the disbandment of  former members. With a big fan base all across the country, Sceptre has released its second full length album “Age of Calamity” in the early months of 2013 and after all the different line-up changes and hiatuses, this band still stands strong and defends heavy metal. We had a chance to speak with the drummer ‘Aniket Waghmode’. Read our conversation below :

1. Hello! Sceptre has been defending Thrash Metal for 15 years now, could you give us a brief description on how has the journey been so far?

Aniket: The journey has been nothing less than more dramatic in more ways than one. We’ve experienced happiness, disappointment, band mates parting ways, fraudulent organizers disappearing into thin air, bleeding on stage during a gig, physical injuries threatening the future of the band… I could go on and on!! It surely has been worth the effort.. and we’re proud to say, we ain’t done yet!

2. It has been almost a year since Sceptre released its second full length album “Age of Calamity”. Can you tell us about how the audience response has been?

Aniket: After our first album, the band had almost reached a dead-end. We had to look for a new vocalist and decide if we wanted to really continue with the band. The band was plagued with a lot of problems at that time. In times like these, we came out with an album which was as heavy as it could get. Every song, every note of that album reflects our thoughts about everything around us, what we’ve been through. The response has been truly spectacular! People have in fact loved it more than the first one.

Sceptre – Age Of Calamity

3. So you guys are back again doing gigs all around the country after all the line-up change procedures and hiatuses. How do you feel about it?

Aniket: We feel fucking proud and vindictive, if I may say so. We are respectful of each other more than ever and there is a certain renewed vigor in the band, at present.

4. Sceptre has been around for a very long time. Do you guys have any plans to play on foreign lands?

Aniket: I’ve said this many a time, I’ll say this again. We are giving it our all for that first international gig. It’ll be premature at this stage to reveal anything, though.

5. Tell us about the lyrical theme of the band and what inspires you to write such lyrics.

Aniket: Our lyrics, like any other responsible band, talk of the shit that surrounds us in many forms. We have now started taking a lot of things seriously, which we initially thought were a waste of time. For eg: politics, women’s safety, high-handedness of the minions of the law etc. This is what basically drives us to write songs.

6. Mumbai has a lot to offer to the upcoming metal scene in the country. Accordingly, what’s your view regarding the Mumbai metal scene?

Aniket: The Mumbai metal scene is in a state of transformation, with various bands, with their own methods, are adding to the madness. I would just say a few more good venues to play will take things to a different level altogether.

7. Can you tell us about the song writing procedure?

Aniket: Song-writing is very simple. Gilroy, comes with a riff (out of the 10,000 that he has!) After listening to it for a while, we record it on whatever we can… go home.. keep our parts ready and jam. Then it’s just like joining parts in a jigsaw. Once that is done, I or Samron write the lyrics, depending on who’s got more clarity.

8. Are you associated with any record label? If yes, tell us about how it has been. If no, why aren’t you guys interested?

Aniket: We’ve been once bitten, twice shy in that department actually. Of course we would love to work under a record label, provided it doesn’t have a set of pre-conceived notions about us. That’s where Kunal Choksi, founder of Transcending Obsurity steps in. A guy without any musical bias or prejudice. Smell something cooking, do ya?!! haha

9. You guys have stated that a 15th anniversary special edition release of the album “Age of Calamity” is going to take place at the Thrashfest in Thane next month. Can you give us a hint about what it is?

Aniket: It’s our 15th anniversary! We are coming up with a new artwork for ‘Age of Calamity’, giving away free Sceptre tees, playing a few songs from our first album… we tried getting Sunny Leone to make a guest appearance on one of our songs, but she wasn’t available.. hahaha… jokes apart… we are going to have a fucking ball and make sure our fans do too! You’d have to be a dick to miss this gig.

10. What was the highlight of 2013 for the band?

Aniket: Meeting Kunal Choksi- the true savior of Indian metal.

11. Are you guys working on new material?

Aniket: hell yes..we are!

12. A lot of upcoming bands in the country look up to you guys. Do you have anything to say about this?

Aniket: Patience and perseverance!!

13. Thank you so much for your time! We hope Sceptre still have a long way to go after all these years and we wish you good luck to your future! Any last words to the fans and the readers?

Aniket: Thank you for all the faith and support. We’ve come a long way. Let’s raise a toast to 15 more years, at least! Cheers.

 

Listen to ‘Age of Calamity‘ here!

To order ‘Age of Calamity‘, click  here!

Catch Sceptre LIVE at Thrashfest sponsored by Transcending Obscurity. RSVP here!

Read our Thrashfest sponsored by Transcending Obscurity gig preview here!

-Interviewed by Reeshav Gohain

 

INTERVIEW with Deadbolt

Deadbolt formed in 2013 is a four-piece ‘in-your-face thrash/ death’ band which espouses the essence of bands like Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Morbid Angel and Death. Deadbolt broke through in their debut gig at Hard n Heavy Open Air, Kolkata and have asserted themselves as one of the best live acts in the city. Deadbolt’s recently released their power-packed single City of Rot! We had a conversation with them. You can read it below:

1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene! How have you been?

Deadbolt : We’ve been good/bad/ugly, you know. Thanks for having us!

2. Please introduce Deadbolt to us. What led to the inception of the band? Have you carried experiences from previous projects into Deadbolt?

Deadbolt : Well, basically Rakesh and Nilabja met up in a dingy old bar and after a few beers, decided to jam. There was definitely a need for another guitarist so we got this guy called Sourav, but he left after a few months and Soumick came along. And Bob has been there since the inception.
Yes, experience definitely matters!

3. Please describe ‘Deadbolt’ in a line. What was the idea behind naming the band so?

Deadbolt : Thrash/death maniacs who don’t give a fuck anymore.
‘Deadbolt’ is a kind of metal lock. The name was suggested by Nilabja’s dad, and yeah, we thought it was pretty ‘metal’!

4. What forms the base of a Deadbolt song? Is it a riff, or an abstract concept, or an emotion or anything else? Please elaborate on the manner in which you further construct a song.

Deadbolt : Every song starts off with an idea and a structure following it. The lyrics are mostly written by Nilabja, then Soumick and Rakesh sit down with the riffing and usually we never stick to the original structure intended! And drums and bass and you know how it goes.

5. Why has Deadbolt embraced an old-school approach and what aspects of it does the band’s music embody? Do you seek to establish anything unique around the essence of old school heavy metal?

Deadbolt : Well the whole band is basically old-school followers, so it’s kinda obvious that we’d end up doing an old-school setup. Considering the approach, we like to play relentless no bullshit thrash bordering around death metal, and yeah, deadbolt is definitely unique, ‘cause none of us know how to play shit!

6. Heavy metal is known for upholding a strong, distinctive worldview which often questions ‘accepted’ norms. Has any ideology shaped Deadbolt’s music? If yes, how does the band assimilate art, ideology and musicality?

Deadbolt : Contrary to popular views, none of us consider heavy metal to be an escape. Rather, everything else you do in your daily life turns out to be an escape. Metal brings you right down to reality and tells you exactly what’s going on around you and how fucked up the system is. Deadbolt’s music is a war against the system, and we got shitloads of ammunition!
Art, ideology and musicality should be considered synonyms. One without another cannot exist.

7. Please tell us about your influences- what has Deadbolt learnt from bands like Kreator, Sodom and Slayer? Are there any non-musical influences (literature, society, etc..)?

Deadbolt : To not give a fuck about what they say about your music, and keep doing it ‘cause you love it. And to put on a good show, ‘cause at the end of the day that’s what they want, and if you can’t deliver, go fuck yourself.
Influence is all around you, you just gotta have an eye for it. Yeah, literature and society do play a serious role in our musical concepts.

8. Deadbolt’s single ‘City of Rot’ portrays unequaled aggression. The anger seems to be directed towards social organization/ government which prompts me to ask what according to you, is wrong with the society we live in.

Deadbolt : What’s right with it? Does a single day go by when you don’t wake up to the news of a rape or a murder? And there always is some political leader/organization using them to secure vote banks. If people are too blind to see, we’ll do the job of screaming into their ears!

9. Did the band kick off with any set goals in mind, or merely for the love of it? What best defines ‘success’ for Deadbolt? How important is commercial success?

Deadbolt : For the love of playing! Success is a bunch of bleeding happy faces after a gig.
Well if we ever get an album/EP out, and if people do buy it, we don’t mind. But not to the extent of changing our sound!

10. What according to you sets good music apart from bad? Is it the ability to stir the desired emotion in the listener, or the technique and expertise, or anything else?

Deadbolt : Any form of music that strengthens your slavery to the system is bad music. Any music that stands for something to believe in, is good music.

11. Please share with us your memorable experiences from your journey so far as Deadbolt.

Deadbolt : Too many. Well once the whole band met in a bar and some drunk guy knocked over Rakesh’s glasses and all of a sudden a brutal brawl broke out! So basically the first instance of the band doing something together, was a bar fight!

12. Is the band armed with new material for Thrashfest? What should fans be looking forward to? How excited are you about this major gig?

Deadbolt : New compositions are being cooked! We heard Albatross will be playing some Megadeth, well someone’s gotta maintain the balance of the universe!

13. What is your opinion about the scene in Kolkata speaking in terms of exposure, support from contemporaries and the organizers, the listeners, etc.? Does good music receive the deserved appreciation in the city?

Deadbolt : The scene has come a long way, and it still has a long way to go! If it did not before, it surely is being appreciated now.

14. Fanaticism or love for a particular kind of music does not mean imposing one’s choice on another. What do you have to say about all the negativity involved in the old school- new age divide, something very prominent in Kolkata?

Deadbolt : There are always people leading the newer members astray. It’s not tough to be a metalhead and be polite at the same time. But atleast be polite to another metalhead.
Our drummer is quite a big new age fan, so the divide doesn’t really matter I guess!

15. What is happening in the jam room? Do you have any studio releases planned?

Deadbolt : New OCs, new covers, new chicks, beer, rum, weed, yeah that’s pretty much our jam room! No studio releases as far as now, but if some record label decides to make us an offer we can’t refuse, why the hell not! But we should be releasing a few more demos as of now.

16. What do you all love to do outside Deadbolt?

Deadbolt : Nilabja: Politics, Rakesh: Teaching, Soumick: Sound engineering, Bob: Jesse Pinkman (Breaking bad)

17. Do you have any message for your fans?

Deadbolt : Stay raw, stay metal. Don’t do stupid shit, but yeah burn any criminal (read political) banners you see around you, and throw shit at the cops!

IMS : Thank you for your time. We look forward to seeing you in Thane this February. All the best!

Catch Deadbolt LIVE at Thrashfest sponsored by Transcending Obscurity.

-Interviewed by Debarati Das

UPCOMING GIG: Thrashfest Sponsored By Transcending Obscurity

               Thrashfest Sponsored By Transcending Obscurity

On February 9, Thane will celebrate Thrashfest where a number of accomplished, dominantly thrash metal bands will uphold the glory of the sub-genre. The brilliant line-up also aims to gather bands from across the country, surpassing the old school- new age divide.

                                                                               –THE BANDS-

DEVOID (Death/ Thrash Metal, Mumbai)

Formed in 2005, Devoid is one of the stalwarts of thrash/ death in India, known for delivering virulent thrash/ death assault. Devoid’s music is perfectly balanced with a strong dash of originality, glimpses of death metal and at times the retro-essence of thrash metal. The band has shared stages with renowned international bands like Cradle of Filth, Decapitated and Sybreed and has showcased its prowess and excellent musicality on prestigious platforms.

Discography:

A God’s Lie; Full Length; 2010
The Invasion; EP; 2013

 

CHAOS (Thrash Metal, Kerala)

Chaos, active since 2005, is known for sound that discharges awe-inspiring aggression and superlative musicality which successfully uphold the grandeur of old school heavy metal. The band has played and has been well-acclaimed for its outstanding live performances across the country.

Discography:

Violent Redemption; Full Length; 2013

 

ALBATROSS (Traditional Heavy/Thrash Metal, Mumbai)

‘Horror’ metal band Albatross braids ‘bone-chilling stories with bone-crushing metal’ within well-planned concepts. Albatross’s music is unexampled especially when it comes to exploring sound and their adherence to themes of horror. The band’s sound invokes nostalgia and often reminds the listener of late Judas Priest and King Diamond.

Discography:

Dinner is You; EP; 2010
The Kissing Flies; Split; 2012

 

THREINODY (Thrash Metal, Bangalore) 

Drawing inspiration from the 70s’ classic metal and the 80s’ thrash metal, Threinody was formed in 1996. Threinody is known for their excellent live performances and vivacious sound. The band plays in the veins of bands like Slayer, Kreator and Black Sabbath and writes songs entwined around lyrical theme of war, reincarnation and aspects of life and death.

Discography:

Live at AMC College; Live Album; 2004

 

HALAHKUH (Death/ Thrash Metal, Pune)

Halahkuh, formed in 2011 is a four-piece band that has gone from strength to strength showcasing 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.

Discography:

Desecration; EP; 2013

 

SCEPTRE (Thrash Metal, Mumbai) 

Sceptre formed in 1998 will be celebrating their 15^th anniversary at Thrashfest. Sceptre is one of the flag-bearers of extreme metal in the country. The band boasts of having two full length releases to its name, a rarity in the Indian scene. Sceptre’s sound portrays a powerful mix of thrash, some intense rhythms and vocal work with a measure of a death metal approach.

Discography:

Sceptre; EP; 1999
Now or Never; Full Length; 2008
Age of Calamity; Full Length; 2013/2014 (15^th Anniversary Edition)

 

ARMAMENT (Thrash Metal, Kolkata) 

Formed in 2011, Armament is a four-piece old school thrash metal band that upholds the early European thrash sound. Armament derives inspiration from bands like Kreator, Sodom, Slayer and Death. The band has impressed with their studio work and live performances- aggressive, musically adept and memorable!

Discography:

Hammer Of God; Single; 2012
War Machine; Single; 2012
Gas Chamber; Single; 2013
Wings of Death; Single; 2013

 

DEADBOLT (Thrash/ Death, Kolkata) 

Deadbolt, formed in 2013 is a four-piece thrash/ death band which embraces the splendor of the old school. Deadbolt’s undeniable aggression and musicality have established them as one of the best live acts in Kolkata. Inspired by bands like Slayer, Kreator, Sodom, Morbid Angel and Death, Deadbolt delivers ‘in-your-face’ thrash/ death attack!

Discography:

City of Rot; Single; 2013

 

SYSTEMHOUSE33 (Experimental Thrash Metal, Mumbai)

SystemHouse33, the first metal band from Nagpur was formed in 2003 and eventually shifted its base to Mumbai. The band’s sound is rendered exclusive by an intriguing mix of thrash and groove and an atmospheric essence with a good deal of experimenting and also drawing influence from ‘extreme’ sources like death metal.

Discography:

Discernment; EP; 2006
Join the System; 2008
Thrive Live; 2011
Depths of Despair; Full Length; 2013

                                                                           -THE ORGANIZER-

TRANSCENDING OBSCURITY, formerly known as Diabolical Conquest formed in 2005, initially worked as a webzine and later branched into a renowned record label based in India, which has signed bands like 1833 AD, Albatross, Devoid, Chaos and Djinn & Miskatonic and many others on its Indian sub-label.

                                                                                  -THE VENUE-

 

Hotel United 21

29, LBS Marg

Gokul Nagar

Near Castle Mill Circle

Thane 400601

RSVP here!

-Preview by Debarati Das

INTERVIEW with Albatross

Image Credits – Kushal

“Old-school metal sounds coupled with some awesome guitars, screechy growls and classy drumming — that is Albatross for you.” – Bangalore Mirror
“The ‘Kissing Flies’ EP is conceptually more interesting that its predecessor, and the entire band’s hard work has really come good.” – Headbangers India
The Mumbai-based traditional heavy metal quintet Albatross is a band that combines bone-chilling stories with bone-crushing metal and we have them with us today to talk about music, horror, Australia and more music! Here’s the interview –

1. Greetings from Indian Metal Scene guys, we hope all of you are well and in robust good health! For your recent fans, could you briefly introduce the band.

Albatross : Hey! I am actually not keeping very well. Thank you for asking. And my health issues aside, I’ll try introducing the band as briefly as I can.
Riju ‘Dr. Hex’ Dasgupta: For the lulz
Vignesh: Catering Department
Nishith: Hairstylist and self worshipper
Jay: Bartender
Bipro: Paid fan

2. Albatross has a diverse musical influences from the heavy metal heavy weights like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate, etc to the progressive titans like Dream Theater, with this mix of musical influences within the band your song-writing process must be very different and interesting, tell us about that.

Albatross : Right! Apparently, I can’t troll this interview anymore because I am not a very funny man and Riju just threatened to open an ask.fm account if I even tried.
And hence, so serious (See what I did there?)!
Well, the song-writing process is very interesting indeed considering the last session involved the guitarists wanting to chill post gig in a dirty hotel and Riju saying, “No! Finger on your lips. We will write songs”. The vocalist was armed with a phone and Instagram and the drummer was nowhere around. Believe me, two new songs were written in the next hour.
(No, Riju, not the ask.fm account. I’ll behave.)
Anyway, so, the whole bit about varied influences initially was something unique to all of us with very different ideas coming in from each of us while we were writing Kissing Flies. However, it is something that is very natural now. Maybe because the five of us pretty much understand where each is coming from. It actually has made the writing process for our upcoming full length a lot easier and smooth. So far, so good.
Although, Riju and I still can tolerate only so much of Karnivool in the car and the playlist must surely and definitely blast Priest or King after the guitarists have had their share of fun for 3 minutes.
Also, the hotel story is true!

3. In 2010, Albatross released their critically acclaimed ‘Dinner is You’, a concept EP about cannibalism and the Kuru disease, which was mastered by Grammy nominated Swedish producer Andy LaRocque from the legendary, King Diamond. Back in 2010, with the lack of steady resources as opposed to what we have today, how was the experience like and what were the challenges you faced back then?

Albatross : Back in 2010, we were better off than how things were in 2009, which was more awesome than 2008. The idea is to know that you have the best of what you’ll ever have at any given point. You could only try and push the envelope a bit. When Riju was playing me King Diamond songs while we were toying with the Albatross idea, we never thought we’ll ever be working with Andy someday but we found an opportunity and it happened.
I would like to think that Albatross is one of the most ‘disciplined’ bands around. Yes, that is important. Plan and follow the plan very strictly. So, when it came to available resources, we knew what we had on our plate and we knew we had to make the best use of it.
‘Dinner Is You’ was recorded in its entirety in a hostel room in IIT Bombay. We couldn’t afford anything better then. We didn’t do badly, did we?
We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the band’s career than beginning with an Andy LaRocque stamp of approval on our debut CD. He has had a huge role to play in defining and sharpening the Albatross sound. Yes, the experience was the absolute best!

4. Personally, how would you best describe the genre of Albatross?

Albatross : HEAVY METAL!

5. The lyrical themes of your songs until now revolve around different themes of horror which goes hand-in-hand with your heavy metal style of music, would there be a possibility of a horror themed ballad from Albatross in your future albums?

Albatross : We did give it a thought but it completely depends on the concepts and songs Riju writes. If the situation in a story needs a ballad, why not?
Personally, I am a sucker for ballads and I will be more than happy to try one for the band. At this moment, we have nothing wherein we could fit one though. Hence, I am listening to Meatloaf and being very sad indeed.

Albatross with their tour manager, Andy Dowling from Dominus Entertainment.

6. What are the tracks from Albatross you would personally suggest for a new listener and why?

Albatross : We have only 2 CDs out that has a total of 8 songs. Please listen to all of them and be patient. We write very long songs. And the vocalist is annoying!

7. Albatross has toured most of the cities in India and the fans just cannot get enough of their energetic stage performances and they recently completed their “Wings Down Under Australian Tour 2013” a tour where the band played in 3 different cities across Australia in support of their latest split EP ‘The Kissing Flies’. Tell us all about it, from the beer to the kangaroos to playing LIVE to the new audiences.

Albatross : Dude, “most of the cities in India”? Nope! I want to go to Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Shillong and many more places. We have barely begun.
We did Hyderabad and Goa this year and it was awesome. Surat is another city we will be heading to for the first time. So that should be fun.
Australia, like I love to say, was a blessing, a revelation. We were very lucky to get the opportunity so early in the band’s career.
I could tell you all about how beautiful the country is but this is not about tourism, is it? We loved the ciders. Surprisingly, kangaroos do not wait at Australian airports to welcome you with garlands. They are shy like that. Cigarettes are expensive. Most of the cabbies are Indians. Chicks like guitarists there too.
The 3 gigs in Melbourne, Sydney and Wollongong opened an absolutely new world of metal to us; one that the rest of the world must discover and appreciate.
Bands like Vanishing Point, Darker Half, Hobbs Angel of Death and the others we had the good fortune to play with are incredible. Take my word for it. Look up their songs online and you’ll know what I am talking about. To be playing with these bands was intimidating for me, to say the least.
And I have absolutely no words for the people of Australia. From the ones who came to check us out, loved us to the kind old man who helped us on a tram in Melbourne; it has been an experience to cherish.

8. This year Albatross played many local shows. According to you guys which was the best local gig? And how does Albatross decide the set list for a show?

Albatross : Actually, we played more local gigs last year. We just made more noise around us this time. 😛
Speaking for the band, I think we enjoyed the Blue Frog gig earlier this year the most this year. We loved the sound, we had a lot of people coming to an Albatross gig for the first time and thankfully, being kind to us, we played new songs for the first time. It was beautiful.
Personally, I loved Goa. It was a new place for the band. The audience was a pleasure to perform for. I had an open air stage to run around. And trust me; nothing excites a Bruce Dickinson worshipper more.
When it comes to the set list, it isn’t that we have a huge library to pick and choose from honestly. But we try and shuffle the set every few gigs the best we can.
For example, we recently released the ‘Among the Cannibals’ t-shirt. So, we brought that song from our first EP back after not having played it for a while.
I’ve wanted to retire ‘Holy Diver’ for good for a while now but for very personal reasons, I can’t.
A refreshed set should happen soon. I love going to the nearest band member on stage to ask, “Abey! Next gaana kaun sa hai” between songs.

9. Your Motörhead cover of “God was never on your side” was an absolute treat to listen to from the Motörhead India Tribute CD, what made you decide to choose that particular song?

Albatross : Thanks a lot for the kind words. I still think I could’ve done a better job on the song; more so because it was my idea to choose it over the other options.
I chose it for two primary reasons –
a. (Going back to your earlier question on ballads) I knew Albatross wouldn’t write a song like this anytime soon and this was my only chance to sing something that is close to a ballad.
b. We kinda knew a song such as ‘God Was Never On Your Side’ wouldn’t be the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a Motörhead Tribute Album. Hence thought, ‘Chal! Kartey hai.”

10. Apart from heavy metal, what are the other things that intrigue the band?

Albatross : What else is there in the world to love?

11.December Demolation is a few weeks away. How are preparations going on? Anything special for the gig this time?

Albatross : We’ve not been to Pune in ages. Our last appearance was in Symbiosis College, Lavale, almost two years ago. So this is the first time we debut stuff from Kissing Flies/Fear from the Skies in Pune! I’ll try and make a guest appearance happen, but it’s doubtful, at this stage.

12. Transcending Obscurity, spearheaded by Kunal Choksi (who does a phenomenal job of not only managing different bands and a record label but also is an active supporter of the local scene in India) has also signed Albatross into the camp along with many others, tell us about your expectations and maybe, in a nutshell something about the new album which is scheduled to be out in 2014?

Albatross : We have welcomed KC into the band and he has put a lot of our worries when it comes to merchandise and our upcoming full-length to rest. We have never wanted to burden him with our set of expectations. We are sure KC knows best how he is going to take Albatross’s music everywhere.
Moreover, I think we have a fabulous strategist in Riju, which will only usher in good news coupled with KC’s network.
The full-length has been due for a while now. We have most of the material written. We are looking forward to more dirty hotels to challenge our creativity and to times when the vocalist will have some work to do on this “much awaited new album”.
Seriously, I am very excited for this release. We took one step forward since Dinner Is You with The Kissing Flies polishing some rough edges, we hope to do something even better with this one. I don’t want to be talking too much yet except that this will be another sincere effort by the band.

13. Here is your space for a shout out to all the fans :

Albatross : For loving us or not, thanks! We tried to be awesome. We’ll try more.

14. Thank you very much for talking to us and we wish you the best of luck! Cheers and beers!

Albatross : And rum!

 

Listen to Albatross – The Kissing Files here!

Listen to Motörhead Tribute Album here!

Catch Albatross LIVE at December Demolation. RSVP here!

Read our December Demolition gig preview here!

You can book the December Demolition passes here (early bird till 7th Dec) or call +919967771992.

-Interviewed by Mondeep Bhattacharjee and Jacob John