What do you get if you smash together groove filled heavy metal with the pomp and annoyingly catchy frills of Bollywood music? Well, obviously it’s Bloodywood or I wouldn’t be asking an otherwise daft question. If you’ve somehow managed to miss the Indian group’s rapid rise onto the world stage, then you’re not too late to jump on the ride and thoroughly enjoy it.
Starting off as a covers band, like so many, the internet really took to their song “Ari Ari” which featured, at the time, guest vocals from the wonderfully angry Raoul Kerr. By the time the video for “Machi Bhasad” rolled around, Raoul was very much a part of the band and sound. Ten million views later and the band were invited to play at Wacken, the journey for which is documented in their Raj Against The Machine documentary. For the record, they were one of the best bands on show that week – and that’s saying something when you look at the lineup.
Rakshak, then, is their debut album. It features new material as well as album versions of some of their earlier songs – though not “Ari Ari” which you’ll have to grab separately. “Machi Bhasad” is on here, as are “Jee Veerey”, “Endurant” and “Yaad”. If I’m honest, without sitting the versions down side by side I can’t really tell a difference between the versions on YouTube and these ones, but I don’t care. The mix is good and it’s nice to have them all in one place.
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Opening track “Gaddaar” and track two “Aaj” (below) have both been released as singles, the latter being their first use of the Indian flute with electronic elements. Don’t ask, just listen. It works. It’s a belter of a song and the video is the usual Bloodywood fare, showing off their home country at its beautiful best.
“Zanjeero Se” is different. A more plaintive cry than an angry roar, it’s possibly the gentlest song they’ve done alongside “Yaad”. It still rocks, especially as the rap section builds to a climax, but overall it’s far more laid back than the songs with which we’re familiar. You can still sing along to it until your throat bleeds, even though the majority of people listening to it probably don’t understand the Hindi lyrics!
Now, I don’t know what “Dana-Dan” means, but the song kicks off like you’d expect if the words were sounds (that’s “onomatopoeia”, kids!) with some nice tub-thumping. It doesn’t take long until you find yourself being assaulted by what I reckon is Bloodywood’s heaviest and more mainstream metal track to date. Holy crap, it hits hard. Sure, it has a little widdly electronic break in the middle for all of ten seconds before jumping on you like a herd of war elephants.
With a rather interesting title, “BSDK.exe” perhaps unsurprisingly starts off with quiet an electronic overtone. Thirty second in, though, and the usual tones blast at you. Another heavy number, it makes for interesting listening with so many different sounds throughout. If I had to label a song on the album as “experimental”, it would be this one though that’s by no means a bad thing. It still had me banging my head well before it was finished.
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Wrapping up the album is “Chakh Le” which is back to the classic formula, mashing the Bollywood twangs with the belting drums and rap/harsh vocals. A great way to end the album after letting the band stretch their legs a little with the previous couple of songs.
While it’s maybe a teeny bit disappointing not to be getting a whole ten new songs, this is a superb release especially for those new to the band. The six new songs are easily on a par with the music we’ve become familiar with and it means their upcoming live dates will have a bigger setlist to choose from as well. Rakshak is essential for fans of the band, and if you’ve not given Bloodywood a chance yet… why the hell not?!
Rakshak is out on February 18th
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