Ayodhya Burns

-------Originally written for: www.demrockritic.in ------

One of the trickiest things in today’s age of heavy metal is to be original. The need for this stems from the fact that there is a huge number of existing bands in a particular genre and more importantly, heavy metal is now a global phenomenon and a band’s nationality always creates a certain psychological expectation from the music. Unfortunately, the case usually is of music that may sound fresh and exciting, but has nothing original in terms of ideation.

Heathen Beast, Mumbai’s latest black metal sensation though, manage to break the aforementioned ideological shackles to quite an extent. Ayodhya Burns, their debut EP, manages to maintain the dark and ambient qualities of black metal but also sounds distinctly Indian. The EP has just 3 tracks but as an introductory release that number suffices quite well. The album begins with ‘Blind Faith’, signifying the very obvious anti-religion approach that the band has. While many may consider this an ode to the cliché, the lyrics are not locked up in the anti-Christ box but are a commentary on the religious riots of Ayodhya and the story of the hatred between the fundamentalists of the 2 religions. Musically, the first comparison that comes to mind is with Anaal Nathrakh, especially the digitally distorted vocals. However, there is a subtle hint of subcontinental touches to the music that go a long way in making the sound original and in context to India. The riffing style is also quite fresh, in the sense of mixing melodies and the tremolo mathematics themselves.

The next track ‘Religious Genocide’ is similar in style and mood to the previous one. My personal favourite from that album though is the final track, the title track. ‘Ayodhya Burns’ begins with a heavily flanged melancholy riff that bleeds of subcontinental conspiracy soon to become this barrage of doom-drenched riffs as vocalist Carvaka screams ‘Ayodhya…BUUUUUURRRRNNNS!!’. Lyrically, the song is beautifully simple and makes the point and the band’s ideology extremely clear: religion is a tool that the weak use for power and to divide and conquer.

This band overall sounds very promising and fresh. For the first time, India is throwing an INDIAN black metal band the world’s way, and for the first time, the word ‘Indian’ is not just an adverb, but an adjective. If you’re looking for a nice, dark time full of controversy but in an entirely Indian style, definitely give this band a listen. Disappoint you, they shall not.