When you think about it India has the perfect heritage for bringing us innovative rock music. The 1990’s saw ‘Indus Creed’ break barriers, since then influences like Goa Trance, Bollywood and even Raga Rock have dissolved to create an Indian, ‘Folk Nu-Metal’ genre with bands like ‘Bloodywood’ leading the game. Their subject matter includes political and social themes, including bullying and rape culture. With Hindi rapping and heavy riffs, it’s a modern approach based on their culture and the end product is outstanding.
‘Halla Bol’ (Raise Your Voice) is the first of the 8 tracks and comes in with mesmerising static. It then builds into an unrelenting passage of dense and thumping chaos. The dual vocalising by Raoul Kerr and Jayant Bhadula, sustain unrivalled layers, ‘Hutt’ and ‘Dhadak’ (Heatbeat) are tracks that soak up this combined energy and this album is riding the crest after only 3 songs. I adore ‘Bekhauf’ (Fearless) that features ‘Babymetal’ what a mix, it’s dangerous and completely bonkers with verses bouncing off the walls. ‘Kismet’ (Fate) is less of a flurry and stabilises with metal rap and grinding guitar, overall, it’s an intriguing piece. A swirling riff on ‘Daggebaaz’ (Cheat) and pumping from the rhythm crew, including Sarthak Pahwa on dhol, makes this another with immense lushness. I like how the band have written about their love of food, ‘Tadka’ is a spicy addition as ‘Raoul’ raps, “…Because our food was made to win hearts like a wager… vicious and delicious.” The band hail from New Delhi, so pay homage with the album title and last track, playing on the word ‘Nu’ to signal their genre and delight us with a finale, that is simply storming brilliance.
‘Nu Delhi’ is an album that makes you sit up and absorb everything it throws at you. A hard-hitting pulse of metal that lunges towards a new era for rock music.
Review by Diane Davies
