METALSPHERE VLOG: EPISODE ONE

Welcome to the first ever episode of the Metalsphere video blog. I am your host. Duhh.

Morning ka evening ho gaya, so forgive me. Rendering is a bitch.

The Metalsphere vlog features news related to the heavy metal music scene in India, Asia.
The episode covers recent news in India like Cultfest, Indian bands like The Down Troddence, Inner Sanctum who just played in Norway, Planet Radio City's new 24x7 Indian metal radio station, Domination -The Deathfest, etc.
I also spoke to Albatross about their upcoming album 'Fear from the Skies' scheduled to release very soon. I also visit Rock 'n' Roll nights in Belapur, the first of it's kind at venue 'Cult Lounge', a gig featuring Mindshift (Sweden), Hellwind, Albatross, etc.



This is a bedroom production.

Music
My Dying Prayer by Orion
Uncle Sunny at the Tavern by Albatross.

Disclaimer:
The video and opinions expressed in the media or comments on this channel are personal and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by this channel's broadcaster. The broadcast is meant for awareness and pure entertainment, with no offence to any viewers intended.
The broadcaster of this channel cannot be held accountable for the copyrighted content. The broadcaster gains no profit from broadcasted content. All materials used in this property are of their respective owners.




Contact me in the column to the right to help me out with some news, features, ideas, feedback, or just to say hi!



Cheers! \m/

GUITAR PLAYER WEEK: NISHITH HEGDE (ALBATROSS, REPTILIAN DEATH, DEMONIC RESURRECTION)

Nishith Hegde is the guitar player for Reptilian Death (yes, under that cloak there's a human), horror metal band Albatross and recently Demonic Resurrection. I remember this guy from back when he had a band called 'Kohram', playing around at college competitions, after which he was discovered for his immense talent.

Friendly as he is, this guitar prodigy hasn't been at it for more than four years, but he can still play practically anything you ask him to. Like, this dude will go all, 'Betcha can't play this' and all, like in this video:


He also looks South American sometimes. Nonetheless, he's young and he's doing some insane things with his instrument. Lets get to know this guy a little more.

Full name and age.
Nishith Hegde, 19


What is your favourite dish/cuisine?
Korri Rutti. Which means Chicken Curry with Rice Wafers.


Kindly tell us about all your precious gear! (guitars, processors, etc.,.)
I own an ESP GUS 200 as well as an Alex Wade signature model, the AW 7
Processor: Line 6 Pod X3 live


How long have you been playing guitar?
3 and half years now


What got you into playing guitar?
Well, my dad bought me a guitar on my birthday and I never thought I would ever play or do this professionally, but I did not realize, I loved it sooo much that I just couldn't put it down since.


Have you learned to read music as well, or do you just play by ear?
No, I haven’t learnt to read music. I just play by ear.


Electric vs. acoustic. What do you prefer?
Acoustic.


What thought goes into riff construction/is there any particular pattern you follow to make riffs?
Well, you know you’ve composed a good riff if you remember it or if it gets stuck in your head. I normally don’t really care about what people think of what I have written. If I like it, it stays.

What music projects are you currently a part of?
I play for Albatross, Demonic Resurrection and Reptilian Death.


Do you have a day job? What is it that you do? 
Yes I do. I work at Furtados Music as a Sales executive.


Your favourite musicians (Indian)

Guitar: Dhruv Ghanekar
Bass: Ashwin Shriyan
Drums: Viru, Gino Banks
Vocals: Biprorshee Das, Sunny, Vinay (BM)


Your favourite musicians (international)

Guitar: Andy James, Jeff Loomis, Marty Freidman
Bass: Evan Brewer
Drums: Alex Rudinger
Vocals: Warrel Dane


Can we expect a release from your band(s) any time soon?
Yes you can. We (Albatross) have been working on our new record “ Fear from the Skies” and hope to release it some time soon this year.
And of course, Demonic Resurrection will be releasing album titled 'The Demon King' as well.


Whom do you look up to, as a musician and a band? 
Sahil Makhija. Well, I first saw him at Palm Expo 2012, and I always wondered what it would be like to know this guy. To me he was someone who had done loads for the metal scene in India and of course was a great inspiration.


A message to all your fans (hello ladies!)
Thanks first and foremost! It would not have been possible without you guys. I really appreciate the support you’ve shown over the past few years and I hope you will continue to do so. Cheers and Stay heavy!

Go visit Reptilian Death on Facebook or Soundcloud
Albatross on Facebook or Soundcloud
Demonic Resurrection on Facebook and Soundcloud


Hit like to Metalsphere or subscribe to the blog here or to ME on Facebook for frequent updates.

More guitar players coming your way. \m/

EXTREME ENDS: ALBATROSS IN VASAI AND PARADIGM SHIFT IN SOBO!

Vasai greeted Mumbai metal band Albatross and the other competitions bands very well! The other two metal bands playing the competition also had a mostpit and some headbanging, as you can see in this Narkasur video below:

Albatross and friends were pretty killer. The special shout-out no. 1 goes to Dinosaur Rajan, as aptly titled by my buddy Anshuman. Trust me, you'd Bark at the Moon after hearing this version with growling vocals. Sorry, I was too amazed to take a video!

But then, we also had the lovely voice of Sid Raveendran on 'Holy Diver' (Dio cover)



This video ahead was a random moment at the end of 'Night Crawler' (Judas Priest cover) with Sahil on vocals and all the friends jumping around on stage.

I didn't know Sushan of Cosmic Infusion could sing man!

And the one moment no one could forget was the crowd shouting 'Sahil Sahil Sahil!' and then an equally powerful 'Makhija Makhija', asking for the demonman to come on stage!

All in all, the gig was great fun and the crowd went mad!

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Mumbai's six-piece fusion/rock/progressive band Paradigm Shift judged the band competition at Grant Medical College's festival 'Astitva 2014' and had an opening band 'Tatva' before they set the stage on fire with a heavy performance. Of course, my favourites were played so I was happy.

The Sobo peeps really don't get it haan? Basically, after vocalist Kaushik made them realise their set doesn't involve ghazal listeners sitting in the back, a few scared and obedient kids got up from their seats and went ahead. :P

The gig ended with a good 40-50min set including their incredible cover of 'Roja'.

.
Tomorrow, gig update and band interview!

\m/

SOBO: South Bombay

DINNER WITH ALBATROSS IN VASAI

People think having a gig in Thane near their houses is somewhat out of this world. United 21 has made all those dreams come true, but somewhere in Thane district, there lies a city called Vasai (I live here) and there's a gig that happens once a year at a festival called 'Zeal' in Vidyavardhini College of Engineering and Technology, popularly known as Vartak college. Yes bitches! Gig in my hometown!

The students of Vartak have this one opportunity to host the heaviest show in Vasai once a year. A part of their festival is 'Octaves', the band competition, comprising of a good mix of rock and metal bands from across Mumbai and Thane.

And it gets better. Horror/heavy metal band Albatross will be judging Octaves and headlining the 'All Stars' night on the 14th of March 2014. The college has had bands like Blakc, Hoodwink Circle, Sceptre, Zygnema, Workshop and Psyx (yikes!) headline this event in the past. The catch this time is, while Albatross lead singer Biprorshee Das will not be available for the gig, Albatross has arranged the perfect dinner for all of us. There are going to be four guest vocalists doing a good one hour set with the band. I've got a sneak peak into which vocalists the band will be playing with and the list of songs:

In pictures, from left to right:

Sahil Makhija (Demonic Resurrection, Reptilian Death, Workshop) - Kissing Flies, Night Crawler (Judas Priest cover)

Nitin Rajan (former Morticide) - Bark at the Moon (Ozzy cover), Among Cannibals

Sushan Shetty (Cosmic Infusion) - In the Court of Kuru, Dining Table

Siddharth Raveendran (Gaia's Throne) - In the Lair of Dr. Hex, Holy Diver (Dio cover)

and Albatross' very own Vigneshkumar Venkatraman (Orion) - Uncle Sunny at the Tavern

I am damn pumped man! Mazaa aayega. This year, the fest also has an entry from Pune thrash band 'Anarchy'. Vocalist Tabish Khidir (Tabby) is also waiting to play. Among other competing bands are the regular Mumbai competition bands like Narkasur and Orcus. 

One of the guest vocalists Nitin Rajan returns to Vartak after having judged a western vocals competition almost a decade ago when our very own P-man was a student there! Nitin, on being asked for a bite on the delicious lineup said he is 'mighty excited'. He said, "Guest vocals has always thrilled me because you get to add your own madness to an existing crowd favourite. This is an amazing limited edition lineup!" Yes, limited edition crowd also! x)

Organizer Malhar Mohite, third year student at Vartak says, "I haven't seen a thrash/horror metal band 

headline in all my years here. The college has experienced every other genre, so why not this?" 

Well, if you are close by, you can drop by for free. It's barely 25 minutes by train from Borivali and a two-minute walk from the station in Vasai West. The students are going crazy and so should you. 

In other news, Albatross are looking to release a full-length album this year titled 'Fear from the Skies'. I'll be there somewhere, probably nibbling off the judges' table and watching Nishith's lovely hair and guitar playing. See you!

For more details on the festival, contact Malhar Mohite: 9970780605 or Sameer Sajjan: 9960273285
CLICK for the event on Facebook

CLICK for Albatross on Facebook or Bandcamp

And you can listen to my personal favourite here: