Groovy riffs from The Down Troddence often inspires a dance more than headbanging. But they do bind that western groove metal backbone with some exotic elements. Even though these extraordinary and exotic strands originate several time zones away, everything they have conjured sounds coherent. This magical coherence of groove thrash with Indian classical or with that of local lore and folklore, or with regional dialect feels inexplicable. Unsurprising their roots reside in the land of looms and lores, a popular name for a small town in Kerala. Braiding Malayalam language and the surrounding cultural references, The Down Troddence weaves an enchanting hand crafted harmony, something which sounds familiar and yet remains foreign.
The song “Forgotten Martyrs” is a smoldering testament to all these qualities. Layering a Carnatic melody meets Jimi Hendrix like blues on a groove train, with precision vocal modulation, and sheer propulsive force of drums, The Down Troddence crafts an uncanny symphony. The track simply binds together an otherwise exploding album with diverse ideas. These influences range from groove, to folk to death metal and alternative. A track this rich, vibrant and well produced transports this elegant melange of an album to a new class. The tier where fine talent, production engineering, and refined aesthetic sensibilities converge, forging the subtle and exquisite ungodly metal we all adore.
Indian experimental project Ioish, formed by songwriter Vaibhav Bhutani, has just launched a new single taken from the upcoming release. Bhutani talks for Progarchy about new music, challenges, and more.
You are to launch a new full-length album entitled “In Waves”. How do you feel about the release?
Thanks for asking! Well, I am too excited for it as this I the first time I am making something as big as this, in terms of collaborations with other musicians and producers.
Where does the new record stand comparing to your previous releases?
Well, its more organic in terms of the instrumentation of the whole track. This song is based more on “real” instruments whereas the previous one was more inclined towards this electronic space but still inclined towards the progressive music space.
How much of a challenge was it to work on the newly released single “What You Need It For”?
It was not a challenge but more of a rush, a feeling of being nervous in the starting as the whole line up was new but as things unfolded I started realising what my expectations really should be so I started focusing on that and that is when the fun part started. It’s like you wake up just to do that not because you have to but because you want to.
Speaking of challenges, have you set any in the early phase of what has become the final result?
Well, The past decade has been hard. I had unreal expectations out of music, especially the kind we make, in a country like India where listening to music is a luxury to be honest. Doesn’t matter if its Bollywood or if its western. If you can choose what music you can listen to in this part of the world, I am sure you’re doing pretty well. So making a space and getting accepted by the people here was obviously a challenge but now I don’t see music as a service that I am providing to everyone but I rather see it as something that I can use to let my train of thought out. Apart from that, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis about a decade ago when I was 20 but that actually helped shaped the sound of the band so I is it really a problem?
What is your opinion about the progressive rock/metal scene in 2022?
In India? I haven’t heard many progressive bands that I can personally relate to, rather there are some other bands that sound HUGE. Overall around the world, well we have bands like The Ocean who we got to share stage with which is a band that I love. I got to watch tool at Download Festival 2022 which is an experience I cant ever forget. I mean music in its nature should be progressive in my opinion the verse chorus-formula is for marketing.
Let me know about your influences—the artists that in a way shaped and continue to shape the music of Ioish.
Oceansize, Vessels, 65daysofstatic and Toe mixed with a lot of pop music ranging from Kanye West to Taylor Swift, I love sounds. Everything is inspiring if the intent of the sound resonates wtih you and I believe if you listen properly, and pay attention, there is no way it wont resonate with you until your ego is holding on to something that’s not letting you be a part of that space. That is my belief. For example some people hate bands like Coldplay but they don’t even know why. Maybe its not the band but the memories you keep locked away in their music
What are your top 5 records of all time?
Oh wow! The top position is shared amongst two bands. Here it goes:
10,000 days, TOOL / Frames – Oceansize
Meteora – Linkin Park
Graduation – Kanye West
Crack the Skye – Mastodon
Colours – Between the Buried and me / Continuum – John Mayer
Besides the release of the album, are there any other plans for the future?
We plan to take this live! I am working on a visual part of the songs too. I am also a huge fan of Amon Tobin and VR/AR stuff so I am trying to incorpate technology and arts like no one has ever done before. Starting off with a projection mapping set which would include some AR elements, fingers crossed!
Indian instrumental experimental act IOISH has launched a new single from the forthcoming album “In Waves.” The music video for “What You Need It For” is streaming now. You can watch it below.
The single, mixed and mastered by Brett Caldas Lima, marks the 10th anniversary of IOISH.
Commented the founder Vaibhav Bhutani: “I always had a vision to make an audio-visual themed album, but I did not have the resources for it. Now that I am done with my degrees, I can just go for it. For this album, I got some of the best people in India and around the world, like Shantanu Sudarshan, whom I’ve known since more than a decade, and I’ve always considered him as the best drummer in the country. On the bass is Nikhil Rufus Raj, a veteran in the local music scene. I’ve looked up to his music since I started playing. He’s a brilliant musician and a great guy! On this particular track we have Meredith Moore who plays for giants like Paul McCartney, Mumford and Sons, Robbie Williams, and Josh Groban to name a few. I came up with the basic structure of the song and send it to other musicians to add what they can to it. I believe that collective effort is what makes something grow! Also, we have Brett Caldas Lima on the mixing/mastering duties, he’s just an overall legend.”
As a sound therapist Bhutani realized the importance of music in its purest form which is to be instrumental in its existence.
He goes on saying: “I believe that as there is nothing or rather no one else that can distract one from their thoughts while listening to music without lyrics. Interestingly enough, I noticed how many people are actually scared to feel something and use certain type of music to escape. I just want people to know and acknowledge what they are feeling as that awareness can help us grow a lot as humans, as a collective group of individuals.”
Bhutani already plans on the next single.
He admits: “As I earn from my day job I do need some time in between releases to earn back the investment. The next song is almost ready. Also, this album is divided in three parts (three songs each). This part of the album deals with the emotions that I had to let go of. The next part will be of the emotions I hold on to, and act up in the moment. And the final one will be about the stuff that makes me want to get up and do something with this thing called life. I am working on the projection mapping material for the live set. As I am a huge Amon Tobin fan, you can expect something along the lines of what he does combined with Sigur Ros.”
The new single “What You Need It For” is streaming now. Watch the video below, or stream in on SoundCloud, Spotify or Apple Music here.
IOISH’s sound is a mix of soulful guitars layered with atmospheric textures that are soaked in melodious grooves and riffs evoking a progressive rock feel. The combined elements make for an immersive and moody trip for the audience. One that they can immediately engage with.
Over the years IOISH has played alongside bands like Tides From Nebula, I Am Waiting For You Last Summer, The Ocean Collective, Intervals and As I Lay Dying during their Indian tours.
Indian prog rockers Rainburn return on November 7th with the release of a new album “Insignify” (read our review here). In an interview for Progarchy, singer and guitarist Vats Iyengar tells us about the meaning behind the band’s name, their working process, new songs, and more.
Hello! Thanks for responding to this interview. How have you guys been lately?
Thank you for hosting us! We’ve been good. Gearing up for the album release, and also starting rehearsals for the tour soon.
How might you introduce yourselves to new potential listeners?
I’d say our music covers a lot of ground and touches upon many different styles without sounding forced or gimmicky. We also have a nice mix of the old and the new, some modern music and some classic influences. If you like emotionally-heavy music that is creative and diverse, you should check us out.
What inspired the name of the band — Rainburn?
We wanted an oxymoron, to suggest that we cover a wide spectrum of music, from soft to heavy, moments of light and darkness – and everything in-between – in our music, so we went with this name. Our drummer, Praveen, came up with the name. It’s a pretty established tradition as far as band names go. Like Black Sabbath, for example.
How did Rainburn initially form as a creative unit?
We had a keyboard player in the beginning and only one guitarist (me). It was actually his idea that we form a band together. We added a bassist and a drummer soon after, played quite a few gigs with that lineup, even recorded a couple of demos. But as we started finding our sound, we decided two guitars worked better.
You are about to release a new album titled “Insignify.” Where did the inspiration for it come from and how did you go about the whole process of writing and recording it?
‘Insignify’ has been a two-and-a-half-year labour of love that started as a seed in my head. It took a long time to take shape and form fully but once it did, the music was created very quickly, because the concept was so clear and detailed. I think it’d take a few listens, at least, to fully digest and “get” the album. The record was mixed by Thejus Nair, a brilliant young engineer who operates Eleven Gauge Recordings in Bangalore, our hometown. Mastering was done by Tony Lindgren at Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios, where so much good progressive music comes out of these days.
What can be expected from the upcoming album? Would you say the released singles (“Suicide Note” and “Mirrors”) are accurate samples?
They’re fairly good samplers but as to whether they’re completely representative of the album – not by a long way. Apart from what’s in those songs, we have moments of funk, fusion, a bit of jazz, even a vocal fugue on the record. No two songs really sound alike.
What’s your songwriting process like?
It’s usually me writing and making demos at home that I then present to the band, and they tailor or modify their parts according to their style. But for some stuff, we changed the formula. Like, ‘Someone New’ started with Praveen composing an entire drum track that I then wrote riffs and melodies over. That was a very interesting way to write!
What are your ultimate hopes for Rainburn as a band?
To be an internationally touring band, to make some great records so we can leave a musical legacy behind and – the holy grail – to be able to sustain ourselves, financially, with our music.
Do you have any bigger plans for the future?
Well, we’ll be going on a national tour early next year – our second one. And hope to play some gigs outside India next year as well.
The last words are yours.
To your readers – If you’ve somehow managed to read this far, I hope you’ll check out our album when it’s out (November 7th). Listen to the two singles for a taste, and also to the snippets we’ve been posting on our Facebook page of various songs from the record.
To Progarchy – thank you for supporting our music.
Indian progressive rockers Rainburn are a band who sit firmly within that region of emotive music which crosses the line between the plaintive sound of Porcupine Tree and the bluster of cinematic indie. Now on their second release, Insignify out on November 7th, they return to the age old trope of the concept album with a narrative, which feeds into the at times explosive music.
Telling the story that deals with issues of existentialism, the significance of human life, narcissism, craving importance, insecurity and the search for reason, you may consider it all a bit convoluted. At nearly 50 minutes long it does test your patience and you may find yourself drifting away from the main theme. Give it some due listening though, and you’ll find a concept which works to keep your attention.
Although thematically it’s difficult to keep up, within the music you find a way to enjoy this album. Cinematic in not just scope, but in drive, the peaks and troughs of a film are recast within some wonderful playing. Particularly good are the plaintive guitar solos, feeding off a classic sound developed by masters of prog, and given new life here. They are moments which lift the album to another level and become moments of transcendent emotion.
Rainburn can do heavy too and on the tumultuous end of “Suicide Note”, the devastating centrepiece of the album, they bring a new heaviness to prog rock which only the metal maestros dare explore. Unafraid to raise the tempo, it’s fascinating to listen to the way the band use their music as a kind of soundtrack of emotion, rather than a classic style of songwriting. They may veer on the more predictable side of prog, but at least they do it well.
There is plenty on Insignify to excite prog fans. It’s always difficult to deliver emotional music such as this without veering into cloying territory and with a concept verging on the slightly pretentious, you’re edging towards dodgy terrain. All dues to Rainburn for pulling this off in the main though, and if you’re willing to give it the time you’ll find plenty to keep you coming back. Pour yourself a drink, stick your headphones on, and lose yourself in the story for a while. You’ll enjoy it.
Like Rainburn on Facebook and stay in the loop for more from this great group.
Vikrit is a progressive metal band from India influenced by variety of different styles. The band has been together for over seven years, but earlier this year they put out their debut EP The King in Exile.
It could easily be said that Vikrit plays progressive metal with elements of heavy metal/hard rock and extreme take on the prog metal genre, and fans of likes such Lam of God, Pantera, Periphery, Mastodon, and Opeth are apt to find something familiar in their sound. Tracks generally consist of simple dominating metal chord patterns with more complex underlying melodies. Instead of focusing on technical musicianship, each track of The King in Exile attempts to evoke a certain mood or feeling – and it does this quite well. Most tracks revolve around a central musical theme, but they manage to repeat themselves without feeling repetitive. Though the music is never too heavy or too relaxed, it still manages to span a wide range of musical styles, with tracks that are equal parts dark, calm, angry and passionate. It is vibrant with emotional quality, and the music is very refined – The King in Exile certainly has a high production quality, and the members of Vikrit know how to complement each other well.
That is, in fact, the album’s greatest strength. The music and the vocals suit each other very well, and combine to create the emotional experience that is the album’s best quality.
Ultimately, The King in Exile is very well made for what it is. While those who prefer more complex melodies won’t find it enthralling, it is clear that Vikrit’s members are quite talented, and the simple nature of the music is more of a stylistic choice than an indicator of poor musicianship. The King in Exile left quite a good impression on me. It is subdued but expressive, with little technicality but a lot of feeling.
Progarchy 