Posted on Oct 28, 2009 under International |
GIR XIII Bangalore leg – bands, crowd and everything in between.
GIR has become one of those very few yearly gigs which i look forward to, and this year’s edition has already left me wanting for more. Thanks to Mr. Amit Sehgal for getting Enslaved, Satyricon and Sahg to perform for us. Respect.
Attending a gig with ur mind fvcked over personal issues takes away the really-looked-forward-to feel but nevertheless i started off from this place where I’ve forcefully put up myself in Bangalore to the mother of all venues – Palace Grounds. It brought back memories of Maiden gigs but when I entered the venue the memories blacked out coz I saw only close to 50 people around me as opposed to what I’ve seen at this venue. Maybe i was early or the gig wasn’t publicised well.
Anyways i saw some of the organisers smoking inside the venue whereas the bouncers hired by them were personally going to each one smoking inside and trying to be loyal (read violent). Even I was a victim but then it was fun.
The gig was supposed to begin at 5 pm but on 25th October exactly at 5 pm the drummer of the opening band – Parachute XVI is late. This was bound to happen?? They opened the gig with their blend of psychedelic rock which did please my ear. It was ok till the last track which was a 2-part song abt media and it was long and boring enough to allow me do everything I usually do when Sceptre is playing live, by which i mean take a leak, smoke, drink, stroll, basically do everything to discourage the band. The dead-song ended and on came the same old – You are the best fvcking crowd ever – comment. Comeon. Not the best way to end their set.
I went around checking the stalls when the next band – Inner Sanctum was gearing up. After watching them at this year’s iRock, I wanted to see them again thanks to them sounding so metal. They came, they conquered – the stage, crowd, bitches, air, trees and everything in the vicinity. There was also some crazy moshing during their set with some damn-i-need-facial-hair school kids ready to kill each other. The band had a monstrous presence and complete control over the crowd. Does playing at home help..? YES IT DOES. Tight band.
Everyone was recovering from the Inner Sanctum-syndrome and warming themselves for my favourite Indian band – Kryptos. I envied Nolan’s Celtic Frost tee but the moment they began it was all behind me. The set list included a mix of songs from both the albums with 1 new track – The Mask of Anubis. This track was new to me and i can safely say I am buying their 3rd album too. They ended with the crowd favourite – Descension.
By this time the best was over and the crowd had steadily increased from 50 to 400-500 maybe.
Now it was time for the last 2 international bands and so they obviously (wtf?!) need time to setup so i strolled around and picked up a copy of Inner Sanctum’s Ep Provenance. I could hear Motherjane playing ‘Chasing The Sun’ at the adjacent venue where Kingfisher October Fest was on.
Next up were Solstate from New Zealand and i didn’t like them. I couldn’t relate to what they played. They also did a NIN-cover and without much noise made an exit.
Benea Reach from Norway was the last band for the day and they were a big band i suppose, what with the band taking around 45 mins for the setup. Huh fvck ! They were tight and had everything in place. They did make an impact. I liked them. I do like progressive metalcore sometimes. But not always.
And thus the curtains were drawn. This year’s editon of Great Indian Metal came to an end. Yes it was Metal up everyone’s arse. I happened to interact with some so-called Bangalore metalheads and all seems to be well. Being from the Bombay scene it was a pleasant experience. And considering Bombay was not even a venue for GIR, i wouldn’t have wanted to be there.
So in the end, you get some, you lose some and you tag along.
Posted on Oct 28, 2009 under Music |
Ok to begin with this album has trounced every other Indian album in terms of recording. Actually, coming from DSR this is not surprising considering the experience. And ofcourse the man himself The Demonstealer (in this band also) loves challenges because its not all the time that the frontman of an extreme metal band does vocals for a band that sounds like Workshop.
The album Khooni Murga (Murderous Cock tht is) is packed with 10 tracks which define the gamut to which talented musicians can go when they come together. That is Workshop for you providing brutality and humor at the same time.
Musically the album is rich with guitar solos by Raj, insane drumming by Hamza, jumping bass by Riju n cute vocals by Sahil. He is such an adroit person that u connect to whatever he makes, whether its music or Demonic Omelet.
The album begins with She Folked Up My Jazz and its a perfect song right from where it starts to the end, complete with every musical element that u want to hear. Song-wise its a hit, because the melody it carries is addictive, to an extent that i end up humming it all the time.
Next song on this naughty album is Pudhe Sarka. Its about a guy who is one of us travelling in a BEST bus and how he ends up hearing pudhe sarka and maage sarka from the dictator on the bus – the conductor. I Don’t know about others but i do not know marathi at all, but i sure do know little bit of what is part of this well-constructed song. And that is all thanks to my experiences in BEST.
So lets Pudhe Sarka with the review now.
Tracks 3 and 4 are interchanged on the album (but that is a gimmick i suppose). You are expecting the track Chhati Ke Saath Panga to begin and bang comes the soothing intro of I Came. Anyways moving on I Came is a track which you are bound to hear more than once, as it vulpinely explains the subtle art of masturbation and how nimble you are when indulging in the same.
Next up is a song about one horny Patel lusting for a chick whilst his favourite festival is on – Garba and hence the name Garba Gandu. Because he sure is a Gandu. This song has everything in place and you expect some gujju beats and yes it follows. Hamza goes on to try everything, including these beats.
How To Make A Demonic Omelet is the weakest track of the album for me, followed by Chhati Ke Saath Panga which is a somniferous track.
Next up is Bunty Aur Malika Sherwath, the track which got 15000 hits on youtube and still counting. I went about understanding exactly why people liked the track so much, and I feel its not only because its controversially funny but also because its the first Indian track that talks about sandas and bable. yay ! we Indians get turned on, u-know-how ! The high point of this track is the drumming with Hamza playing triplets. It instantly catches your attention. Overall I liked the track. If not then atleast the lyrics.
naughty foursome
Cookie Monster is the next track and The Demonstealer himself claims that this track is not metal (recalls him saying tht during the launch gig). I like the track. Its nice. But it took time for me to figure out the riff that got nominated for some best riff award. There are other songs by the band with better riffs.
The title track is the last one on this album and hence this short and hilarious album comes to an end. I do want more of Workshop.
Also i would like to mention Sahil’s effort to bring in that multiple vocals effect. Seriously brilliant. Its most notable in She Folked Up My Jazz and I Came. It beautifies the song majorly.
About the dvd that comes along, I have not checked it yet but I am sure it will be killer. Though i heard video for the bable song is not present.
Next obvious thing to mention is the detailed album artwork tht explains the concept and the band through sketches. Every song has its own customised work n its not loud. Its just there and fits perfectly.
Great work by Saroj Naidu and Sahil.
Also liked the WFC (Workshop Fan Club) thing.
The cd is accompanied with a poster and sticker which is something new. So yeah why not !
All in all this album is worth a buy coz its nefarious, bawdy and brutal too.
Buy it and play it. It fulminates from track 1 itself.
Posted on Oct 28, 2009 under International |
…a boorishly Cursed Evolution…
ingenerated with a Satyr like Face…
Descension amidst hybrid din…
infuriated by Clandestine Elements…
an Expediton to Abnormalia to tarnish the (Forgotten) Land of Ice…
crestfallen due to Altered Destinies…hankering for a Spiral Ascent…
basking In Twilight’s Grace…
Forsaken unto eternity…