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  • IIT Bombay to announce headlining act for Mood Indigo

    Oct 15 • News • 6419 Views

    Mood Indigo, IIT Bombay‘s cultural festival continues to be one of THE highlights of the year end. Over the years, Mood Indigo has seen some of the best international acts and their epic performances at Livewire (MI’s semi-professional band event). Cultural festivals at educational institutions give listeners/fans an opportunity to connect with their musical idols. This year specially Mood Indigo is among the very few cultural festivals (if not the only one!) to be headlined by an international act. So now you have another reason to not miss Mood Indigo this year!

    Livewire

    Livewire

    For the past few years Livewire has been headlined by some of the best progressive rock/metal act , with the likes of Porcupine Tree, Karnivool, Neal Morse Band with Mike Portnoy having played. This year it seems the progressive overcast is shifting. The rumor mill has started churning and names are being thrown out. Of what we have heard it seems that this year the headliners are among the pioneers of the Symphonic Metal scene. If sources are to be believed, the six piece band is all set to make this year’s Mood Indigo another unforgettable experience.


    The core members of the Mood Indigo team were tight lipped when approached for comments on the topic.The festival will officially reveal their headlining act on October 16th, at 8:30 PM. We managed to catch up with Ishan Rakshit (Concerts head at this year’s Mood Indigo) about what is different and more exciting at this year’s festival – “Mood Indigo has had the best bands from Progressive Rock, Metal, Pop Rock and have always left other people amazed. This year, we just wanted to outdo ourselves and get something that hasn’t come to India at all. It’s surprising that the number of quality international acts in India is falling year after year. Mood Indigo was definitely not going to follow suit! There are lots of great things happening at Mood Indigo this year. With Livewire going international and so much bigger, we all have a lot in store for everyone!”

    Mood Indigo

    Mood Indigo

    Livewire is India’s oldest and largest semi-professional band event and it seeks out and provides a stage to talent across the country. The last edition of Livewire saw 850+ bands from various parts of the country and across several genres of music, such as rock, metal, punk, jazz and blues; compete for the coveted title of India’s best semi-professional band. The competition has been seeing the best of Indian bands coming up the ranks every year and making an impact with their music. Apart from the plethora of opportunities including a slot in Nouvelle Prague (Music showcase festival in Europe), the finalists of Livewire will be opening for the International Act at Mood Indigo, which we all are very eagerly waiting for. Find out what it is here

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  • Skyharbor release their music video of the track ‘Patience’

    Oct 15 • Indian News, News, Releases • 4481 Views

    In a time when prog rock bands lineup changes resemble a revolving door, Skyharbor are testament to some amazing commitment from people making music from five different cities in three different countries. While founder, guitarist and producer Keshav Dhar works from Delhi, Krishna Jhaveri (bass) is currently based in Mumbai. Currently studying music at Berklee, guitarist Devesh Dayal hangs out in the States at the moment, along with drummer Anup Sastry. Right in the middle of it all, more or less geographically, is Nottingham, UK-based singer Dan Tompkins. This is the lineup that has used the Internet for its original, two-decade-old intention – to share information quickly. Or like it is in their case, sharing song ideas and rough mixes for their upcoming second album, Guiding Lights, which will release worldwide on November 10th on Basick Records. The album was funded with help from a crowdsourcing campaign on PledgeMusic. Keshav said in an interview, “We are extremely grateful to our fan base for putting in the amount of support and funding they have. None of this would be possible if not for them.” While those lucky folks over in Europe have already got a taste of at least four new songs – from the single ‘Evolution’ to stuff like ‘Halogen’ and ‘Patience’ – India is lucky enough to get first dibs on experiencing Guiding Lights in all its album launch glory in November, with shows at NH7 Weekender in Delhi and Pune and Fireball in Guwahati, with a Bangalore show as well.


    Skyharbor are also prepping for the release of their second music video off Guiding Lights, ‘Patience’. Keshav has explained the band’s choice of song, saying, “It was the most realistic choice at 4 and a half minutes long (the rest of the album being mostly long songs). It’s also a vastly different song from anything we have ever done before, there’s no distortion guitars or pounding grooves or heavy bass lines in the song – it’s a delicate, emotionally compelling story, and what’s very interesting is that the feel of the song is quite positive and melodic, while the film is very dark indeed. It’s a great contrast. The lyrics and the story of course were the biggest reason. I won’t go too much into the details of the story though as we would prefer for people to draw their own interpretations of the film.” Skyharbor brought in UK animation director Jess Cope to create the video for

    Skyharbor - Guiding Lights

    Skyharbor – Guiding Lights

    ‘Patience,’ loosely based on a story Dan came up with. But let’s turn this around and make it less about hungry fans and more about what’s riding on Guiding Lights for Skyharbor. This is technically their first album together, considering all the members were not yet fully permanent when Blinding White Noise: Illusion and Chaos released in 2012. Keshav has mentioned Guiding Lights is a concept album of sorts, and all this sets up that challenge for fans to accept the band minus all their star collaborations and already-popular songs, like ‘Dots’ and ‘Catharsis’, which kicked off Keshav’s popularity as Hydrodjent. Speaking of other projects, another thing to factor in is Dan rejoining TesseracT, which most fans welcomed, although not necessarily indicating that they didn’t want Dan to keep going with Skyharbor. But there’s no place for such ill will among metalheads anyway. Even then, TesseracT being much more established than Skyharbor, it remains to be seen how the vocalist will prioritize when it comes to touring. However since we’ve seen a just-as-busy Anup Sastry handling Intervals and Skyharbor tours, perhaps it’s just a matter of scheduling.

    The decision to launch Guiding Lights in India is not so much convenient (since probably nothing is convenient if you have members in three continents) as it is an emotional one. Almost all publications consider Skyharbor an Indian band and their run of shows in the country is much required, since they last performed in Delhi in 2012. Keshav has always been open about the fact that they never get enough support from Indian fans and promoters, so here’s hoping at their Guiding Lights launch shows, Indian metalheads can show up in numbers and really make it count. Let’s give Skyharbor the homecoming they deserve for making what might become one of the most important albums in Indian metal history.

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  • Weedeater – Sixteen Tons (Re-issue)

    Oct 9 • Reviews, The Slumbering Ent • 4860 Views

    Dinesh Raghavendra reviews the re-issue of Weedeater‘s Sixteen Tons, out on Season of Mist.

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    Stoner metal seems to be enjoying a revival in the metal scene at the moment, what with Greenleaf starting off the year strongly with Trials and Passes. Season of Mist has wisely decided to re-release a few dusty old songs from the oeuvre of the self-anointed weed-metal band Weedeater. Sixteen Tons was originally released in 2002 by Crucial Blast Records, and has since disappeared into obscurity. If you already have the original, this review might not be of much use to you but if you are new to Weedeater give this reviewer a fair chance to explain his take on the album and the band in general.

    Weedeater play bluesy, sludgy metal that has that characteristic Southern flavor and on Sixteen Tons they strongly emphasize slow to mid-tempo riffs, there is none of the fast paced riffs that formed a chunk of ‘…And Justice for Y’all’ and ‘Buzzoven’s …At a Loss’, the previous albums. “Dixie” Dave Collins contributed bass and vocals to the former and he split vocal duties with Kirk Fisher for the latter. This approach falls into place in “Time Served,” a short three minute odd jam with two lines of lyrics that fuses blues to sludge. “Lines” has Black Sabbath influencing some of the riffs and the aggressive vocals make it a catchy track on the album. “Woe’s Me” is a pure blues number with acoustic guitar work by Dave “Shep” Shepherd and vocals by Collins, who manages to make it sound earthy and groovy.

    The blues and metal fusion idea works for a while but it quickly becomes monotonous, there is very little tempo changes and variation and the band turns into an automation. They overplay a lot of their own riffs. Consider the track “Bull” which is nearly eight minutes long, the song only has a few different riffs in it, and, while they’re groovy and fun to nod your head to, it overstays its welcome. It goes on and on and after the six minute mark you just wish it would stop. Vocal distortion is another trick the band tends to use a lot and it doesn’t help them on this set of songs. Collins is a good vocalist and his power is realized best in the basement tapes feel of the original album but with a lot of these effects that has been tacked on his vocal range just loses its appeal and sadly turns into a caricature. They should not have experimented with their strongest asset – their vocalist.

    Billy Anderson has produced this album and he coats it in a fuzzy, bass-heavy sound that gels with the songs and gives them a raw sound. The bass distortions work well with Shepherd’s guitar and give it a solid ending that makes the album finish on a high. Keith Kirkum’s drums are loud and loose, and sound live and not they are over-produced.  The band members are having a lot of fun on this album and you can feel it in the songs. The enthusiasm is infectious, it reaches out and grabs you by the throat and makes a foot tapper of the most reticent of listeners.

    Sixteen Tons is an old album and stoner veterans would have definitely come across this one in their past.  For the people who are just getting into stoner, Sixteen Tons isn’t a bad album to begin with but it is far from Weedeater’s best material. There is a lot of evenness that make the album a bit boring overall and I prefer their other work to this one any day of the week. That being said, credit has to be given for the band to explore their sound as much as possible in the albums that came after Sixteen Tons. They grew as a band and you can easily make out the intricacies and the complex arrangements that radiate off the later songs.

    My suggestion for the first time listener is to take this album for what it is. Do not keep a lot of expectations out of it and it ought to be a good time but if you expect a lot of fireworks this album sadly does not deliver it. It is better for you to move on to their later albums but for what it’s worth, this album is a solid beginning for a band that was just trying to find its element and the cheer makes up for the shortcomings. I would not mind spinning it a few more times but I don’t expect it to be memorable in the long run. Weedeater had a lot of space to get inventive on this album but they sadly take a lot of missteps and the result is a tepid album that can quickly fade into mediocrity.

    RATING: 2/5 (Ye will neither hate nor love this; ignore or consume at will.)

    Stream the entire album on bandcamp below:

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  • From Sweden With Riffs: Freak Guitar Camp India

    Oct 9 • Articles, Events, Indian News, Interviews, News, Tours • 6391 Views

    Guitar guru Mattias Ia Eklundh, frontman of Swedish progressive metal band Freak Kitchen, is all set to come down to India all the way from Sweden and house the ‘Freak Guitar Camp’ for the first time in India. Presented by Bajaao, the Freak Guitar Camp is a week-long program dedicated to the zealous guitar players of the country. The camp which will take place from the 13th – 19th of October, 2014 at Jal Srushti Island Resort in Mulshi, a serene location situated a few kilometers from Pune.

    Mattias is widely known for his unique style of guitar playing and song-writing. He has always had a soft corner for India, Indian music and Indian musicians. This time, he will share his bit with us in our very own country! During the camp, Mattias will sink his teeth into odd time signatures, tons of poly rhythm techniques, licks and tricks to spare, how to make a guitar sound anything but a guitar, song writing process tips and talk about how to use synthetic modes and unorthodox scales.

    We had an incredible time sitting with the Guru sharing his creative ideas and plans behind this guitar camp.

    Freak Guitar Camp India

    Freak Guitar Camp India

    Metalbase India: 15 years is a long period of time. How did the idea of Freak Guitar Camp take birth and how are you pulling it up in all these years?
    IA: Believe it or not, but it’s been no less than 16 summers in a row of pure craziness in the woods of Sweden with players from all over the place. I am simply addicted to the experience as it makes me grow; never stop, always looking for what is hiding around the corner. Progress is a lovely thing. I need to get my butt together to do this and I am grateful and honored that so many dedicated guitarists from basically everywhere are interesting in learning unorthodox, challenging, stuff.


    MBI: Give us a brief tour of the whole Freak Guitar Camp- its basic motives, techniques and lessons, schedules of days of the camp, deals and activities, etc.?
    IA: We hook up for six days and play for hours and hours every day, squeezed into a room way too small for its own good (in Sweden, that is). Coffee and sugar breaks plus excellent veggie food is served when you need it the most. I have a stunning cook making stunning food. There is too much material for anyone to comprehend in such a short time but it is a little bit of what the Freak Guitar Camp is about: a genuine overkill, a tremendous vitamin injection (for me as well) in order to move forward, to force yourself to the next level.

    MBI: What are the must-haves for enrolling in the Camp? Is it applicable for amateur guitarists also, or is it just for those who are already skilled and professionals?
    IA: Basically anyone who really, really wants to learn can come. It is not about speed or technique. Sometimes the less experienced players are better off since they don’t carry a lot of musical luggage and are stuck in routines. You have to be able to read music, at least tablature. We give everyone a beefy booklet with notation that corresponds with the many, for the camp especially written, backing tracks.

    MBI: In a guitarist perspective, which one has been more challenging yet soulful to you on personal front, teaching lessons or being in a band?
    IA: It’s two quite different things and I adore both. Being in a band like Freak Kitchen, one for all, all for one, is naturally a great kick. Bjorn and Chris are my brothers. Doing the camp is equally rewarding, but in another way. The best of both worlds. My job never gets boring for a second.

    Mattias IA Eklundh

    Mattias IA Eklundh


    MBI: Which other places in the world have you travelled to house Freak Guitar Camp so far? And, how has been the support from the people and the fans?
    IA: Thanks to Sidharth Kadadi and Bajaoo along with our sponsors this is the very first time we take it outside of Sweden. I have had numerous invitations to set it up in various countries but that never fell into place until now. There have been tons and tons of workshop set ups, some longer, some shorter, all over the place but no camp… until now! Proud and happy we are doing this!

    MBI: The fans here are in huge anticipation about the upcoming camp, so what can they expect from the camp? And on the reverse end, what surprises do you have in your bag for the guitar freaks in India?
    IA: We will sink our collective teeth into so much music everyone is going to return with a serious headache, including me (laughs off). I just sent the 50 page booklet away for print. Can’t wait to get out in the wilderness outside of Pune and start working on it!

    MBI: Head us up a bit about your upcoming plans in future.
    IA: There is going to be quite a lot of travelling around this particular planet in both 2014 and 2015 due to the release of the new Freak Kitchen album ‘Cooking with Pagans’. So there will be gigs, gigs and more gigs plus clinics in between. Next summer it’s, of course, Freak Guitar Camp time in Sweden which is an annual highlight and, should the Freak Guitar Camp India do as well as we expect, we are hoping to set it up again in 2015! Spread the word!

    Check out the video Mattias made on Freak Guitar Camp India:

    Also, check out Jal Srushti: www.jalsrushti.com

    On Freak Guitar Camp from those who have been a part:
    Mangesh Gandhi (Coshish):
    “The Freak Guitar Camp is the best experience I had as a guitar player. IA is simply amazing and I basked in his awesomeness for a week in the Swedish woods. Beware, the musicality quotient takes a massive leap and might turn you into a musical zombie by the end of the week” he said.

    Sidharth Kadadi (Zygnema):
    “Freak Guitar Camp is truly a surreal experience, a must for all guitar players. Mattias is a living genius and he knows how to condition his campers. I learned a lot under IA’s guidance and am looking forward to be a part of this again. You have to be a part of it to experience it. As our guru says -Once a camper, always a camper.”

    Brief Details:
    The registration fee of camp is kept at Rs. 43,000/- which will include all the course material, luxurious beds, nutritious and lip smacking meals cooked by the Jal Shrustri Resort cooks, above of all the lessons and fun activities. All you have to do is carry the instruments, learn new creative guitar techniques and just have a great time.

    For registrations and further details, visit the official Freak Guitar Camp India website: www.freakguitarcamp.in

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  • Occultation – Silence in the Ancestral House

    Oct 6 • Reviews, The Slumbering Ent • 4694 Views

    Anoop Bhat reviews the latest LP from Occultation titled Silence in the Ancestral House, released via Profound Lore Records / Invictus Productions.

    0003611991_10The absolutely gorgeous artwork by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustration)

    Like it or not, retro-metal is a thing. This particular bunch of ’70s proto-metal revivalists from New York joined the movement in 2012 but this is my first time listening to them. What really caught my eye is the excellent Adam Burke artwork, a painting that has a lot going on and has a story to tell.

    Apart from the usual slew of influences that dominates this template, what perhaps gives this band an edge is that it borrows a good deal from Black Hole’s brand of doom that dabbles in Italian prog-rock, the kind that was heavy, dark and grand. An interesting direction, I’d say, but not fully realized.

    The album takes off in fine fashion with a delicate intro piece which would’ve made a great Dario Argento movie score. ‘The First of the Last’ is basically a Candlemass song, soaked in the drama and ominous character of Mercyful Fate – a decent opener. By now it is clear how highly the band regards atmosphere – it is lush, it is eerie, it is echoey and it is loud. ‘Laughter in the Halls of Madness’ begins with thisalmost hypnotic riff which builds steadily until the organ takes over and makes it its own. That’s as interesting as it gets. From there on the album is marred by plentiful references to early-Sabbath, the occasional organ takeover and some unrealized opportunities. What really saves the album is the 8+ minute epic closer – a song the band can call its own. This song sees the band bring together all its influences in great revelry and harmony. Edward Miller (of Negative Plane fame) really shines on this one.

    The music is evil,glorious and direful enough to lend the album that occult vibe. I can understand the kind of cacophonous horror arrangement the band is going for but one can’t let that shadow the song-writing, which here is affected by the garish production. The guitar is unnecessarily loud, the organ segments are overbearing, AnnuaLilja’s terse bass-playing doesn’t get enough room and the soaring, choir-like vocal-lines are sometimes all over the place.

    What the album ends up being is a mishmash of a few good& some not-so-good ideas, with very little to offer. The band has found its niche, one that can help entrench their identity, but sadlythat alone won’t cut it.

    RATING : 2.5/5 (This metal firmament is infested with screeds no better nor worse than this one.)

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