10 INDIAN METAL BANDS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT!

He could be a geek with short hair, an old school leather wearing guy, a teenager in a black t-shirt with explicit graphics, a scary man with a long gruff beard or as a matter of fact a girl like me -The Indian metal head is likely to have an identity as diverse as the country, but today, his existence is a well-known reality.

Even two decades ago, things were a lot different. Millennium, credited with being India’s first heavy metal band, was formed in 1986. The band went on to open for international acts such as Deep Purple and No Doubt. At the same time, the North-East was witnessing the beginnings of a metal culture.

In Bangalore, another storm was brewing in the form of Kryptos. Formed in 1998, Kryptos is one of the longest-standing thrash metal bands of India. In Chennai, the 90s saw the rise of extreme metal bands Blasphemy and Bone Saw. In 2000, Demonic Resurrection, the popular symphonic death metal band was founded by four teenagers. June 2000 also saw Mumbai receive its very first extreme metal fest, Domination — Deathfest.

Since 2000, there has been immense growth in the scene — both in terms of audience and bands.
Let’s take a look at the 10 best Indian metal bands which are undoubtedly the pioneers of the Indian metal scene and are largely responsible for the growth of metal music in India –

10. Zygnema

From : Mumbai

Year of formation : 2005

They call themselves : A brutal Groove Thrash Metal band

Zygnema mainly focuses on the social/political scenarios and loves to dig deep down on riffs that are heavy and groove oriented. They have released two albums so far and are working on the next. Their aggressive ‘stage breaking’ performances and song themes are quite remarkable.

Best Track : Scarface

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, HOW LOW?

The title sounds familiar? If yes, this article is for you, Nirvana lover, if not, then there’s no better way to know about them, take a look.

BAND THIS WEEK – Nirvana

GENRE -  Alternative rock

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington, in 1987. Nirvana went through a succession of drummers, the longest-lasting being Dave Grohl, who joined the band in 1990.there were at least five different drummers in the band before Dave Grohl. Despite releasing only three full-length studio albums in their seven-year career, Nirvana has come to be regarded as one of the most influential and important rock bands of the modern era. With chartbusters like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Come As You Are, Nirvana has been one of the all time classic rock favourites for us music lovers.

Kurt Cobain is remembered as one of the most iconic rock musicians in the history of alternative music (Happens to be one of the favourite rock musicians of the writer herself). Most of Nirvana’s songs feature themes of depression and bipolar syndromes.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 songs by Nirvana :-


10. Something in the way ( Nevermind, 1991) – 

This is the kind of song which brings tears to your eyes. Kurt’s soulful voice and the acoustic guitar touches our heart. As stated by Kurt, he wrote this about his life. His living under a bridge when he was kicked out of his house. He expresses his feelings and emotions by saying "something in the way" - he thought everything was in the way every time he tried to feel better. A live version of this song appears on the 1994 MTV Unplugged in New York album which happens to be equally popular and amazing.


9. About a Girl (Bleach, 1989) - 

Cobain penned the track for his then girlfriend, using some of their disagreements for inspiration. Though it wasn't a hit when included on 'Bleach’, 'About a Girl' got a second life when included on the band's 1994 'MTV Unplugged' collection, which happens to be better than the original version. The Guitar solo that starts from the middle of the song is what keeps this song in the 9th position.

8. Rape me (In Utero, 1993) - 

Kurt Cobain conceived "Rape Me" as a life-affirming anti-rape song. This song got a ‘Teen Spirit’ feeling but with a deeper message. A wonderful combination of outstanding melody, meaningful and deep lyrics and heavy guitar riffs that makes you feel something you can't even describe in simple words, Cobain wrote this from the perspective of a victim replying to a rapist. The title and composition of this song raised quite a few controversies but that could not stop this song from being a hit, thereby deserving a place in this list.



7. Aneurysm (From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah, 1996) - 

A bombastic intro makes the song a winner even before it has actually started. Cobain wrote the lyrics to "Aneurysm" about his ex-girlfriend, musician Tobi Vail. Cobain's lyrics  makes fun of pop conventions and drug usage. With dark vocals, it also happens to describe how the break-up devastated him. The line "Love you so much, it makes me sick”, is a reference to when Kurt would throw up just thinking about the breakup.


6. In Bloom (Nevermind, 1991) -

 The song addresses people outside the underground music community who did not understand the band's message. Like many Nirvana songs, "In Bloom" shifts back and forth between quiet verses and loud choruses. Nirvana first made a music video for "In Bloom" in 1990 which is quite famous and played on all TV music shows at that time. With great guitar riffs, chords, a catchy chorus line and heart pumping drums, this is the kind of song which will definitely make you hit the replay button.


5. All Apologies (In Utero, 1993) - 

One of Nirvana's more introspective tracks is easily one of their best. The Song was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1995, and has since been included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". Curt’s painful, drained voice is haunting. There has been much speculation about the lyrics of this song, some think it’s related to his marriage, some say that this song is sort of a suicide note and the debate continues still now BUT WAIT, that doesn’t matter, the song is a treat for the ears.


4. Lithium (Nevermind, 1991) - 

‘I love you - I'm not gonna crack, I killed you - I'm not gonna crack’ – did you sing along too? Nirvana's 'Lithium' has it all. The track begins with Cobain noodling and Grohl keeping a steady beat, but by the end it’s filled with the furious instrument-smashing glory and it's a must for the 10 Best Nirvana Songs list. Cobain stated that lyrically the song, inspired by a relative, is about a guy whose girlfriend has died and turns to religion to give him a reason to live. Lithium peaked at number 64 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and is an all time hit by them.


3. Heart Shaped Box (In Utero, 1993) -

 Great lyrics, amazing guitar and Kurt Cobain's hauntingly depressing voice at its best is in this song. Even the short but mighty guitar solo is great. Lyrically, the track offers one of the most unlikely declarations of love, with Cobain exclaiming, "I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.", Cobain said the song was inspired by documentaries about children with cancer and so the song merges the theme of love with disease. The video for this song begins and ends with the band in a hospital setting watching an old man being administered medication through an IV drip. Nevertheless this song is for all the broken hearted people out there.



2. Come As You Are (Nevermind, 1991) - 

Yes, yes, that song with the epic Nirvana solo. When it comes to memorable riffs, Kurt Cobain's unaccompanied darkly moody intro to 'Come As You Are' is as recognizable as they come. Lyrically, the song is filled with contradictions throughout, leaving listeners with many interpretations over the years. However, Cobain said the song was about "people and what they're expected to act like". The song is is melancholic and subdued but Once the band reaches the chorus, the song reaches full volume. The video features the band in a dark room, where the appearance of falling water in front of the band distorts and blurs the band members' face. This song, undoubtedly, wins the heart of all the people who like heavier songs.



1. Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nevermind, 1991) - 

The obvious choice for number one, eh? Never has a single rock song changed the face of music as instantly as Smells Like Teen Spirit one did.  The song uses a verse-chorus form to create an alternating loud and quiet dynamic which is quite remarkable. This was Nirvana's biggest hit, reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 . The lyrics to this song were often difficult for listeners to decipher, both due to the gibberish and because of Cobain's slurred, guttural singing voice. "Teen Spirit" is widely interpreted to be a teen revolution anthem, an interpretation reinforced by the song's music video. Cobain came up with the song's title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Teen spirit was a deodorant) on his wall, Cobain interpreted the slogan as having a revolutionary meaning. Musically this song has all the things to make it great- good guitar riffs and Cobain’s amazing voice. This song can easily be stated as one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint (got the reference?) , which is,  only 10 songs are not sufficient to describe this band’s greatness, so the ‘special mention’ section for the other deserving ones.

SPECIAL MENTIONS  -

The Man Who Sold the World – With a mesmerizing guitar piece, this song is written and performed by David Bowie and covered by nirvana which became an instant hit.

Breed - With Great riffs and intro, the band developed this song during live performances in 1989 when they toured Europe. Each chorus begins and ends with the line "she said," implying that the song was meant to capture spoken dialogue, which is often overlooked.

Silver  - The song about a fussy youngster longing for his parents, ‘Sliver' is the perfect blend of melody and aggression that Nirvana built their career on.

Negative creep - The song was written by Kurt Cobain about himself, and how he claimed that he always saw himself as a negative person. The song has been described as "creepy" which works quite well with the title. Musically this song is described as grunge.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR :- 

Medha Bhattacharya is a music aficionado, a proud metalhead and an avid follower of "SHERLOCK HOLMES". She is pursuing her B.TECH from B.P.PODDAR INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT and is the music-columnist for ExPRESS Magazine. Some of her other articles are :- 

http://express5515.blogspot.in/2015/12/heavy-metal.html

Heavy Metal

 Originated in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Heavy metal turned out to be one of the most creative and important genre of music. England’s West Midlands, Birmingham to be exact, in 1968 was where heavy metal was born. The curators none other than Black Sabbath. Four decades later, heavy metal thrives as a highly diverse, ever-evolving musical genre.   Heavy metal has more than 30 major subgenres, each further divided into many subgenres. As already stated it's ever evolving,new subgenres are created everyday.While there are many nuanced and technical differences between the ever-expanding subgenres of metal, in the end, it’s all heavy metal.

  Heavy Metal music involves guitar-and-drums-centered sound characterized by the use of highly-amplified guitar sound distortion. Heavy metal performances are characterized by flamboyant, pyrotechnical guitar solos ( come on, guitar solos are we metalheads live for). 

  Coming to heavy metal bands, at first, forefathers like Black Sabbath , Led Zeppelin ( yes they too have a huge contribution in the creation of heavy metal music) and Deep Purple dominated. But as metal began to take hold in the mainstream – and then began to diversify – bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Motley Crue, Slayer, Pantera made their presence felt among new fans.

 This week, let's give a tribute to the undeniable forefather of this genre, Black Sabbath.

BAND THIS WEEK - Black Sabbath

Formed in Birmingham in 1968,Black Sabbath set the standard as the first proper heavy metal band. Black Sabbath forged an entirely new and unique musical path, marked by Tony Iommi’s brooding guitar riffs, Geezer Butler’s intelligent lyrics and thundering bass, Bill Ward’s pounding drums, and Ozzy Osbourne’s, well, amazingly haunting vocals.

 Black Sabbath's music mostly dealt with the supernatural and afterlife though they also composed songs dealing with social instability, political corruption, dangers of drug abuse, etc. They released nineteen studio albums out of which Paranoid is the most popular,containing masterpieces like "War Pigs," "Iron Man" and "Paranoid", which are the band's three most famous works.Paranoid is the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. It is often regarded as one of the most important and influential albums in heavy metal history. Black Sabbath was active from 1968–2006 and then again from 2011 to present.

Let's take a look at the 10 best Black Sabbath songs so far-

• 10. 'Sweet Leaf' (From 'Master of Reality' , 1971) 

The beautifully trippy song for all the stoners out there.The song begins with a tape loop of guitarist Tony Iommi coughing from a joint he was smoking with bandmate Ozzy Osbourne. This ode to marijuana got some awesome riffs thereby securing a position in this list.

• 9.'Symptom of the Universe' (From 'Sabotage', 1975)

This song made thrash metal.The band cranks up the tempo a bit beyond their traditional pace, and as a result provides yet another vein of inspiration for future generations. Ozzy's vocals along with the change in tempo in the middle of the song is what makes it so great.

• 8. 'Children of the Grave' (From 'Master of Reality' 1971)

"Revolution in their minds the children start to march" this should be the anthem of every kid in the world.This song,does indeed promise revolution and marching in the streets. But it's peace, not chaos, that they are insisting on here, with parents being warned to "show the world that love is still alive" rather than instilling their children with fear.The song has been featured on several greatest hits and live albums as well as being performed by Black Sabbath in concert, in its various incarnations.

• 7. 'Black Sabbath' (From Black Sabbath, 1970) 

THE COVER

The song that started it all. After this band had found their identity, a whole new genre of music was founded, and the rest was history. This song got quite an interesting story behind it. This was inspired by an experience that Geezer Butler had related to Ozzy Osbourne. Geezer Butler painted his apartment matte black, placed several inverted crucifixes, and put many pictures of Satan on the walls. Osbourne gave Butler a book about witchcraft. He read the book and placed the book on a shelf beside his bed before going to sleep. When he woke up, he claims he saw a large black figure standing at the end of his bed. The figure disappeared when Butler went to get the book. The lyrics speaks about this incident.Scary and atmospheric with great guitar, this song happens to be very Satanic.

• 6.'Heaven and Hell' ( From Heaven and Hell, 1980)

"The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams." - Still remains one of the greatest Sabbath lyrics, taken from this song.It’s got one of Iommi’s great riffs, married to the sort of vocal performance that shows why Dio, is often regarded as one of the finest hard-rock vocalists of all time. Dio stated that the song is about the ability of each human being to choose between doing good and doing evil, essentially that each person has "heaven and hell" inside themselves. This song has been widely performed by them.

• 5. 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' (From 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' 1973)

The title track of Black Sabbath's fifth album remains one of metal’s greatest anthems. Musically it used the loud-quiet-loud formula which is currently very popular but wasn't so back then.Ozzy laid down the most stunning, original and haunting vocals ever. With kickass riffs and angry lyrics , this song remains on every true metalhead's playlist.

• 4.'N.I.B.'(From 'Black Sabbath' 1970)

The song is about the devil, but in a nice twist, it's about Satan changing his ways and falling in love.People think this song title is short for 'Nativity in Black,' especially since a pair of star-studded tribute albums to Sabbath bore that name about a decade ago. But actually, the title referred to a nickname for drummer Bill Ward, based on his beard, which they somehow felt resembled a pen nib. The song is famous for its great guitar intro and riffs.

• 3.'IRON MAN' (from paranoid, 1970)

One of the deepest songs lyrically, 'Iron Man' tells the tale of a man who travels to the future and sees an apocalypse brought on by our own behavior. As he travels back to warn us, he gets turned to steel, and becomes unable to communicate. Naturally, we mock him, so he gets cynical and instead decides to speed up our pending destruction.It has one of the greatest guitar rifts of all time.

• 2.'WAR PIGS' (paranoid, 1970)

This anti-war anthem that’s become one of the band’s most enduring standards.It relies on atmosphere as well as heaviness, and it succeeds in both points. With the anti - war theme standing out, The song's iconic guitar riff largely inspired all guitarists around the world. True to life, it almost makes you feel like your in a war.

• 1.'PARANOID' (from paranoid, 1970)

One of the most iconic heavy metal songs of all time,"Paranoid" was the first Black Sabbath single release.It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. The song stands out for the riffs and Ozzy's amazing vocals."Paranoid" perfectly defines the themes of a true heavy metal song: death, depression, demons, and darkness. This one is undeniably the best Sabbath song so far.

Special mention - 'Into the void' ( Master of reality, 1971)

This song got killer Bass, badass Lyrics, astounding Drums and the Riff Of Doom. Not to mention the fact that it's heavy as hell! Easily one of the doom metal songs ever created this one happens to be Metallica vocalist, James Hetfield's favourite Sabbath song.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR :-

Medha Bhattacharya is a music aficionado, and an avid follower of "SHERLOCK HOLMES". She is pursuing her B.TECH from B.P.PODDER INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT and is the music-columnist for ExPRESS Magazine.