Latest news with #Meshuggah
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Bengaluru band Ksetravid take their sound, story and fury on four-city tour
After a moderately successful crowdfunding campaign last year, Bengaluru-based tech-death/prog metal band, Ksetravid, have been quietly plotting the release of their debut album, God Playing Dice. Now, the band comprising vocalist Siddhanth Sarkar, guitarist Pritam Middey, drummer Nikhil Rajkumar and bassist Arunav Bhattacharjee will preview their album with a four-city tour called Hisaab Barabar that began in Mumbai on June 5 and travels to New Delhi on June 7. From there, they play in Kolkata on June 8 and wrap up with a homecoming gig in Bengaluru on June 15. About finally being able to execute a year's worth of planning, Siddhanth says, 'It feels like a long-held storm is finally breaking. We've been working on the album and building this tour quietly for over a year, navigating venues, line-ups, funding and logistics. For us, hitting the road is not just about performing; it's a way to bring to life the stories, themes, and energy we've buried into this project. We've missed that visceral exchange with live audiences.' Known for their pummeling, mind-bending style of modern metal that draws from the likes of Meshuggah, Car Bomb and more, Ksetravid played in Mumbai and New Delhi for the first time. 'It's been challenging coordinating with venues and local promoters without any centralised backing, but we've had tremendous support from the community, and fellow artistes,' he adds. For those who have never been to a Ksetravid show, the band promises a 'narrative-driven, intense' setlist that delves on 'inner conflict, collapse and catharsis,' according to the vocalist. 'It's immersive — equal parts sound, story, and emotion. We focus on atmosphere, transitions, and visuals that match the weight of the music.' Formed in 2021, the band has so far released four singles, starting with 'Man-made Crisis' in their first year and most recently putting out 'Anamnesis' in September 2024. With the album, God Playing Dice, in the final stages of production, their songs shine a spotlight on topics such as 'societal dogmas, personal reckoning and the human cost of imbalance.' There is another reckoning taking place with Hisaab Barabar, an intent to push back against music industry norms such as gatekeeping and influential forces. Siddhanth says, 'This tour is a breakthrough moment for us as an independent act; we are not waiting for permission or validation. We are creating our own path, curating our own spaces, and taking our music directly to listeners on our terms. Hisaab Barabar is us reclaiming balance — artist to audience, message to medium.' Ksetravid's album will release on streaming and physical formats soon after the tour and they do have something special planned for Bengaluru. Siddhanth says, 'Bengaluru is where it all began for us. This show will be the most expansive and intimate. We are planning a special set with deeper cuts, extended sections, and a few unexpected twists in both sound and visuals. It will be part celebration, part closure, and a full-circle moment for the band.' Once that is done, Ksetravid are planning everything from performance art pieces around the album's themes to global shows and collaborations. 'This is just the beginning of a much larger conversation we want to have with the world,' says Siddhanth. Ksetravid will play at Flo on Church Street on June 15. Tickets on Skillboxofficial
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Swede melodious sounds of mayhem
Just what is it with Sweden and melodic death metal? Not only did the Scandinavian nation give birth to this kick-ass subgenre but has consistently produced premium quality outfits that continue to elevate the metal landscape. Following in the esteemed footsteps of Entombed, Dismember and Dark Tranquility, the latest line in the seemingly never ending production line of fine Swedish metal exports is LIK. Formed in 2014 in Stockholm, LIK is armed to the teeth with all the necessary weaponry required to rise above the mediocre - killer tunes, fantastic riffs and a true love of classic heavy metal. The latter element can be heard with the twin guitar attacks that is reminiscent of Iron maiden and Judas Priest which give the band's albums a distinctly old school feel. After recording and releasing their critically acclaimed third full-length, 2020's Misanthropic Breed during the pandemic, the band headed back into the studio with a clear sense of purpose. While Misanthropic Breed was recorded at the quartet's rehearsal space where the band produce all their demos, when it came to recording Necro, LIK upped sticks to record at NBS Studio (a.k.a. Necromorbus Studio) in Söderfors, two hours from their home city. Once again using uber-producer Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, High Parasite, Decapitated), all the music was recorded live over a three-day period, before Tomas Akvik headed to Uppsala to record his vocals at Rorysound Studios. Make no mistake, album number five sees the band scaling new heights with weighty chunky riffs that are executed to near perfection. Following on the template laid on previous albums, LIK concentrate of songs that are full of dynamics and tunefulness that will have fans of this particular subgenre headbanging in orgasmic delight. Yes, it is that good. Recalling the heights of classic long players such as Entombed's seminal debut Left Hand Path, LIK take a similar route when it comes to sheer brutality with metal that is designed with one intention in mind - to completely pummel the listener with heavy yet tuneful songs. This marriage of the heavy and melody is no easy feat but Necro makes it seem so, stocked as it is with prime examples of the finest cuts this subgenre has to offer. Truly an album that fits the 'all killer, no filler' category, Necro will certainly delight fans with its supreme collection of songs. One thing that needs to be noted though is that the band's massive thunderous sound is best enjoyed on physical formats. The streaming version just does not do it proper justice. If you were to invest in a copy, rest assured it would be money well spent.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Album number five from LIK continues band's fine run of long players
Just what is it with Sweden and melodic death metal? Not only did the Scandinavian nation give birth to this kick-ass subgenre but has consistently produced premium quality outfits that continue to elevate the metal landscape. Following in the esteemed footsteps of Entombed, Dismember and Dark Tranquility, the latest line in the seemingly never ending production line of fine Swedish metal exports is LIK. Formed in 2014 in Stockholm, LIK is armed to the teeth with all the necessary weaponry required to rise above the mediocre - killer tunes, fantastic riffs and a true love of classic heavy metal. The latter element can be heard with the twin guitar attacks that is reminiscent of Iron maiden and Judas Priest which give the band's albums a distinctly old school feel. After recording and releasing their critically acclaimed third full-length, 2020's Misanthropic Breed during the pandemic, the band headed back into the studio with a clear sense of purpose. While Misanthropic Breed was recorded at the quartet's rehearsal space where the band produce all their demos, when it came to recording Necro, LIK upped sticks to record at NBS Studio (a.k.a. Necromorbus Studio) in Söderfors, two hours from their home city. Once again using uber-producer Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, High Parasite, Decapitated), all the music was recorded live over a three-day period, before Tomas Akvik headed to Uppsala to record his vocals at Rorysound Studios. Make no mistake, album number five sees the band scaling new heights with weighty chunky riffs that are executed to near perfection. Following on the template laid on previous albums, LIK concentrate of songs that are full of dynamics and tunefulness that will have fans of this particular subgenre headbanging in orgasmic delight. Yes, it is that good. Recalling the heights of classic long players such as Entombed's seminal debut Left Hand Path, LIK take a similar route when it comes to sheer brutality with metal that is designed with one intention in mind - to completely pummel the listener with heavy yet tuneful songs. This marriage of the heavy and melody is no easy feat but Necro makes it seem so, stocked as it is with prime examples of the finest cuts this subgenre has to offer. Truly an album that fits the 'all killer, no filler' category, Necro will certainly delight fans with its supreme collection of songs. One thing that needs to be noted though is that the band's massive thunderous sound is best enjoyed on physical formats. The streaming version just does not do it proper justice. If you were to invest in a copy, rest assured it would be money well spent.
