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By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Bangalore-based old-school death metal band Dhwesha are like a breath of fresh air when it comes to the extreme metal scene, not only in India, but anywhere in the world for that matter. There are just too many bands out there that sound exactly like each other, and have lost the essence of what death metal was when it started out. Dhwesha’s uniqueness was evident to me when I first saw them perform at the Riff52 gig in their hometown last Saturday. Having started out in 2008, the band has developed quite a decent fan-following, based on the strength of their live performances and the 6-song demo tape “Yuddhabhumi”, which came out earlier this year. So besides enjoying their killer performance, I was also glad to see the kind of response they were getting from the fans. As soon as their set was done, I made it an immediate goal of mine to interview the band. And earlier today, on April 3rd 2012 at a pub called Spiritz, I sat down with vocalist/guitarist Ajay, guitarist Somesha and bassist Adarsh for a detailed chat about the Riff52 gig, their influences, demo tape and lots more. Read the conversation below, and do yourselves a favor by checking out Dhwesha’s facebook page. Continue reading “Interview: Dhwesha Discuss Influences, Demo Tape & Death Metal Scene”

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Bangalore-based stoner doom outfit Bevar Sea is a band I knew about for the past year or so, and I was pleasantly surprised by the purity in their old-school approach which is evident from the original material they released through YouTube and other online platforms. With them there’s no bullshit, just pure heavy music, and that’s what makes them one of the most promising bands in the Indian metal scene. But I never got a chance to see them live, until now. The opportunity finally presented itself, and my decision to attend last Saturday’s Bevar Sea-headlined Rif52 gig at the B52 lounge in their hometown was instantaneous. I wasn’t disappointed by what I saw, as they succeeded in creating an extremely strong first impression on me, as a live band. The day after this memorable gig, on April 1st 2012, I met up with frontman Ganesh Krishnaswamy at the Guzzlers Inn to talk about the gig, the band’s upcoming debut album, his hugely impressive vinyl collection, and a few other things. I can honestly say that this was one of the most enjoyable interviews for me, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading the conversation below. After you’ve done so, make sure to check out the Bevar Sea facebook page for more info on them. Continue reading “Interview: Bevar Sea Frontman Talks About Riff 52 Gig, Debut Album & Vinyl Collection”

By Aniruddh “Andrew” Bansal

Based out of Mumbai, India, horror-themed heavy metal band Albatross have been an intriguing entity for me ever since they released their debut EP “Dinner Is You” in 2010. I found their presentation of traditional heavy metal quite unique, and it drew me towards them instantly. From that point on, I kept in touch with their activities through online social networks. Now, the band has completed their second EP, “The Kissing Flies”. It comes as part of a split release with US-based occult heavy metal band Vestal Claret, out now on Roadcrew Records. Albatross is currently on a 5-show EP launch tour, which kicked off last night, March 30th 2012, at the Star Rock in Chennai. I had the opportunity to sit down with the band and have a detailed chat with them about this new EP, their history, the Indian metal scene, and other things. Enjoy the conversation below, and visit their facbook page for more info on the EP and the tour dates. Continue reading “Interview: Albatross Discuss New EP, Band’s History & Indian Metal Scene”

By Andrew Bansal

Australia’s disEMBOWELMENT were at the forefront of the funeral doom scene back in the early 90’s, but they split up soon after the release of their only full-length album “Transcendence Into The Peripheral”. Now, two of the original members, guitarist Matthew Skarajew and drummer Paul Mazziotta have reunited with a new line-up to form Inverloch. The band’s debut mini-LP “Dusk…Subside” will be released on April 10th via Relapse Records, and offers 22 minutes of what I’d describe as one of the darkest, most haunting and beautiful pieces of heavy music I’ve ever heard. I caught up with Paul (abbreviated below as PM) and Matt (MS) to talk about this release and much more. Enjoy the conversation below, and check out the band’s official facebook page or their Relapse Records artist page for info on the mini-LP and their tour dates. Continue reading “Interview: Inverloch Guitarist And Drummer Talk About Debut Mini-LP”

By Andrew Bansal

Based on the strength of their growing fan-following in the Philadelphia DIY hardcore punk scene wherein they’ve been performing actively since starting out in mid-2010, Cop Problem are about to release their self-titled debut EP, on March 29th. To those who’ve never heard of the band, this three-song EP is the first taste of what they sound like, and also a great indication of what to expect from them in the near future. The furious 8-minute effort not only exemplifies the hardcore D-beat style, but also presents other elements you wouldn’t normally find in bands that are part of this type of scene. Continue reading “Interview: Cop Problem Discuss Debut EP”

By Andrew Bansal

Recently at the Whisky A-Go-Go in Hollywood CA, I caught up with Scale The Summit guitarists Chris Letchford & Travis Levrier for a GuitarWorld.com interview. Check out the audio at this location.