<p>With vaccines around the corner, metal bands of Bengaluru are ready to return to the pit in 2021.</p>.<p>The first post-pandemic metal show is slated for February 20 at Indiranagar Social by The Untitled One (by Drum and Bass India). The only dedicated heavy metal open air festival in the country-- Bangalore Open Air -- is also scheduled on December 4, 2021 at Ramada by Wyndham, Yelahanka.</p>.<p>By mid-March 2020 it was clear that Bangalore Open Air will be postponed. That left metalheads across the country in dismay.</p>.<p>In 2020, the city was all set to host Finnish metallers Kalmah, Swedish Black Metal Veterans Marduk, German metal band Beyond the Black, American prog metallers Intronaut, and Bengaluru’s own The Down Troddence.</p>.<p>Sibarshis Dutta of Antakrit told Metrolife the band could not jam during the pandemic months as its members were in different cities. However, from a creative perspective, he found the time to be productive.</p>.<p>“I could work on a side-project called Formidable Hate Machine with my band’s guitarist, and we could write songs for an upcoming album. And with our side-project we have already released two tracks so far,” says Sibarshis.</p>.<p>Many musicians tried live streaming during the pandemic, but low revenues, poor turnouts, and ropy logistics made them rethink that choice.</p>.<p>“While live streaming has its own market, it is no substitute for live shows. And one thing that people need to understand is that metal musicians primarily play and write music a lot for themselves. We don’t write music for people. If people connect, that’s an add-on. Also, metal is about loyalty, feel and the vibe, and that was one of the many reasons why we witnessed fewer shows during the lockdown,” says Shashank Bhatnagar of Soul Inclination from New Delhi.</p>.<p>The genre remains underground, but is forever abiding. Old bands fade out, new ones come up. It is a never-ending cycle, fans say.</p>.<p>“In a country like India art itself has no meaning. It is 2021 and we are struggling and quarrelling in the name of religion and caste, and we still don’t give importance to legit industries. You can look around you, the agriculture industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, and nobody cares! Now you are talking about art. Art is something which is not essential for living. It is only essential for a lifestyle, which is a choice which people make. Despite everything, the underground scene in India has grown massively in the last decade, with more opportunities than ever before,” says Shashank.</p>.<p>Sahil Makhija from Demonic Resurrection, Mumbai, says metal is a niche genre not just in India but even in the West.</p>.<p>“As a genre, it does not transcend all the various economic, religious, social, political barriers in the country. Something like underground rap music has broken those boundaries. So, perhaps metal is not out there and upfront in everyone’s face, but even during the lockdown, it has been pretty much as active as any other genre,” he observes.</p>.<p>People have been working throughout the pandemic. And live music as an industry has grown in India. Bands used to cover foreign bands’ music because those bands never toured India, he<br />says.</p>.<p>“We have seen quick evolution, but the audience hasn’t grown at the same rate.” he says.</p>
<p>With vaccines around the corner, metal bands of Bengaluru are ready to return to the pit in 2021.</p>.<p>The first post-pandemic metal show is slated for February 20 at Indiranagar Social by The Untitled One (by Drum and Bass India). The only dedicated heavy metal open air festival in the country-- Bangalore Open Air -- is also scheduled on December 4, 2021 at Ramada by Wyndham, Yelahanka.</p>.<p>By mid-March 2020 it was clear that Bangalore Open Air will be postponed. That left metalheads across the country in dismay.</p>.<p>In 2020, the city was all set to host Finnish metallers Kalmah, Swedish Black Metal Veterans Marduk, German metal band Beyond the Black, American prog metallers Intronaut, and Bengaluru’s own The Down Troddence.</p>.<p>Sibarshis Dutta of Antakrit told Metrolife the band could not jam during the pandemic months as its members were in different cities. However, from a creative perspective, he found the time to be productive.</p>.<p>“I could work on a side-project called Formidable Hate Machine with my band’s guitarist, and we could write songs for an upcoming album. And with our side-project we have already released two tracks so far,” says Sibarshis.</p>.<p>Many musicians tried live streaming during the pandemic, but low revenues, poor turnouts, and ropy logistics made them rethink that choice.</p>.<p>“While live streaming has its own market, it is no substitute for live shows. And one thing that people need to understand is that metal musicians primarily play and write music a lot for themselves. We don’t write music for people. If people connect, that’s an add-on. Also, metal is about loyalty, feel and the vibe, and that was one of the many reasons why we witnessed fewer shows during the lockdown,” says Shashank Bhatnagar of Soul Inclination from New Delhi.</p>.<p>The genre remains underground, but is forever abiding. Old bands fade out, new ones come up. It is a never-ending cycle, fans say.</p>.<p>“In a country like India art itself has no meaning. It is 2021 and we are struggling and quarrelling in the name of religion and caste, and we still don’t give importance to legit industries. You can look around you, the agriculture industry is one of the biggest industries in the world, and nobody cares! Now you are talking about art. Art is something which is not essential for living. It is only essential for a lifestyle, which is a choice which people make. Despite everything, the underground scene in India has grown massively in the last decade, with more opportunities than ever before,” says Shashank.</p>.<p>Sahil Makhija from Demonic Resurrection, Mumbai, says metal is a niche genre not just in India but even in the West.</p>.<p>“As a genre, it does not transcend all the various economic, religious, social, political barriers in the country. Something like underground rap music has broken those boundaries. So, perhaps metal is not out there and upfront in everyone’s face, but even during the lockdown, it has been pretty much as active as any other genre,” he observes.</p>.<p>People have been working throughout the pandemic. And live music as an industry has grown in India. Bands used to cover foreign bands’ music because those bands never toured India, he<br />says.</p>.<p>“We have seen quick evolution, but the audience hasn’t grown at the same rate.” he says.</p>