Bloodywood-Rakshak

Bloodywood, the name itself gets you to stand to attention.

A band who carved their way through an untrodden path through YouTube and the internet, bringing the strands of Indian and Western music together in a way that nobody else has done before. A way nobody else will ever likely do again. A band who has found their audience and their calling in a way that perhaps is fitting for the 21st Century and our confused and muddled times.

“Gaddaar,” starts things off. A middle finger to the rage of tyrants and politicians everywhere. A thumping rhythm that cascades into the snarling beast of Jayant Bhadula. The anger is blatant, and when Raoul Kerr comes in with bars to make Tupac bow in acknowledgement, the listener is hooked. The scene is set.

“Aaj,” is next. Bringing classical Indian music to the fore in the melody and intro, reminding this reviewer of his childhood, before turning into an absolute rager. Forget a clash of civilisations this a melding of culture and music toward something pressing and beautiful. A ricochet that brings the burning desire forward.

“Machi Bhasad,” a ripper and the song that first caught this reviewer’s ear. It rips just as good as it did back then. Filled with passion, power and precision. A snarling monster that immediately gets the listener’s head moving. Pushing inward and outward. Never forgetting where the tide turns.

“Jee Veerey,” meaning Live, Brave One, is melodic and soulful. A nod to something that plagues the best of us, lurking in the shadows. Serving as a call to stand and fight, the song is an anthem for never letting the black dog creep into one’s mind. A roaring masterpiece that will and most assuredly already has gotten audiences to roar the words from the rafters. Turn this one up loud.

“Yaad,” is another song that immediately leaps out and grabs the listener. A song that turns through a furnace of time, playing on humanity’s emotions and calling toward something more lurking within.

“Chakh Le,” snarls. A song that sums up everything that you’ve heard over the last hour or so and smashes it in the face. A ripper, a thunderous conclusion that tears through everything and anything. Be prepared to bang your head.

A debut album like this comes around only once every so often, it’s a rare thing. Bloodywood have released something that is a fierce competitor for album of  the year. Do yourself a favour, buy this record when it comes out on 18th February.