Initially started as a blog to document my personal escapades and experiences, Absurd History has now diversified into a professional web-zine that is teaming up with the best of record labels, artists, bands and organizers from across the globe. But, even today, all of this fails to silence the excited boy inside me (I turned 25 this year, and I’m loving it) who had hankered about attending some of the most massive music festivals out there, someday.
What was once just a passing thought that had vanished into thin air, is going to be a part of three day’s of my life, starting today. Decades down the line this post here would remind me that I was there at the tenth anniversary of one of the most acclaimed, celebrated, full-mouthed and crammed congregation of music lovers – The Download Festival.
2012’s edition would have more than 70,000 people participating in it, a total of five different stages, more than 140 bands spanning over a period of three days and don’t even get me started on the jillions of other attractions planned for the attendees. A virgin when it comes to camping, I wouldn’t ask for a better place to put up my first tent than Donington Park. So yea, here’s to a weekend full of muck, booze, sweat, torrential rains and heavy fucking metal. Don’t get your pets along, they’ll get crushed. Alright, I’m getting late now. See you all next week, when it would be you, me and the post-Download blues.
The last day of The Desertfest was looking the heaviest at The Underworld. The first half of the day had a lot of awesome rock n’ roll and experimental stoner bands on the lineup, and the second half saw some weighty metal bands that wasn’t for the weak. To sum it all up this was the lineup for day 3 at The Underworld –
throne
Wiht Throne Crystal Head Leaf Hound Gentlemans Pistols Zoroaster Black Cobra Corrosion of Conformity
For me the day started with the three-piece band Throne (from London). This was the first time, in three days, where I saw a female member in a band. But as the day passed by there were a lot of female musicians that showed their prowess in bands like Gorilla and Undersmile. Throne‘s versatility was very evident in their dark approach towards the doom genre. They took things slowly and that is where their strength lies. Throne has a long way to go, and if they continue to have a consistent approach then things look bright for them, even though the genre they choose to play condemns brightness…
Next up were Crystal Head (from UK). Psychedelic influences woven together with a lot of rock, and projected to defy the rules of gravity. Your head will spin to this three-piece package that is Crystal Head. Post Crystal Head suddenly there was a surge in the number of people wanting to get inside the venue. The reason being two crowd favorites were about to drown the place with loads of music of the highest class – Leaf Hound (from England) and Gentlemans Pistols (British band). Leaf Hound belted out classics, blowing air into the sweating crowd, who in return blew kisses and shouted on top of their voices in support. These mushroom growers were mesmerizing. Gentlemans Pistols took the route of solos and animated stage presence to make it a memorable gig. As is the case with any of their shows, even this one had the band pushing the envelope in terms of giving the audiences several reasons to be present at their gig than anywhere else. I got shot, by Gentlemans Pistols!
gentlemans pistols
Now was the time for some metal to scare the attendees. Three metal bands back-to-back were going to stir up a hurricane, and the only way to escape was to leave the venue. Quietly.
It all began with American band Zoroaster who came and scattered the masses from one end to the other. In the process, drummer Dan broke the drum-kit, of course it had to break since he was pounding it so fucking hard. Good times. Ferocious sludge doom came from this three-piece which obviously could not last forever. Wish it had.
Following up from where Zoroaster left, Black Cobra (again from the US) made it hard for the photographers to just stand and click. The fans ran helter skelter all over the venue, moshing and banging their heads like there is no tomorrow. The band was louder, faster and angrier than ever. Unique sludge sound. Loved them.
The last band for the day was Corrosion of Conformity from America again. They’ve been playing southern riffs since 1981, have gigged like no other band at the festival, but still they took this one as seriously as they would take any other. The venue was cramped during their performance, as the band opened bottles of sludge wine and it was raining cheers and whistles from all over. Corrosion of Conformity put up a great show, and guess what they all looked younger too.
Shots from the performances of all the bands that you’ve read about on this article. To enlarge, click on them –
With day 1 behind me, time management had become an important aspect for the remaining two days. In any kind of festival holding the schedule and using your time effectively would help you catch maximum number of artists which would not happen if you go to one venue, hold a bottle of beer and keep appreciating the taste of the drink. I had a lot of running around to do on Day 2. Not only between the handpicked Desertfest venues, but I also had to visit HMV Forum. Boltfest was happening there on the same day. Wrong timing, and even though I was sad about missing out on bands like Orange Goblin, Church of Misery, Truckfighters, Slabdragger, Black Pyramid and the like, Boltfest was exclusive with names on the bill that are institutions of death metal. More on that another time, but this is how the line-up looked for day 2 at The Underworld –
Zippo Shrine ’69 Roadsaw Sungrazer Valient Thorr Truckfighters Church of Misery Orange Goblin
Italian progressive sludge band Zippo looked prepared to take the audiences on a journey and sure they did! The sound, feel and texture had me standing in the first row and focusing on the trippy trail they were leaving behind with each moment on their songs. The vocalist Davide was not in the same world as us, he was conversing with some creatures from another world and we were all watching him with undivided attention. Great band.
shrine ’69
By now I had no doubt about the choice of bands for The DesertFest. The event was on it’s way to being a perfect success with an impressive line-up. Shrine ’69 were next. Hailing from Suffolk, the four piece band had several plus points. Firstly they balanced gentle music and energetic instances with ease, and secondly they also had a unique style that also brushed blues. All in all a band I’d want to watch again!
Roadsaw came all the way from Boston, US and brought rock n’ roll gushing with southern riffs along with them. It was only a matter of time before they unleashed a raw sound that occasionally tilted towards the groove side of things. The smoke filled venue had it’s mood lifted by these four like-minded musicians who also carried the attitude to go with their music. One of the best half an hour I dedicated to a band at this year’s DesertFest.
The rest of the bands could not be captured, nor enjoyed since I had to get going for Boltfest.
Here’s a gallery that talks about everything Zippo, Shrine ’69 and Roadsaw did on stage.
Three years of associations with the people from the music fraternity, selflessly writing and promoting all that is underground and more than two years of friendship with me. This is all it took Santhosh Lobo (owner, IndianRockMp3) to make a family away from his own. When the site completed two years there came Indiean Volume one, so on account of his website turning three we have part two of the compilation.
The compilation contains nine tracks, touches upon as much as seven genres and sub-genres combined together. Not something that happens all the time. Well, I think it’s a wonderful idea to join acts from across the country and merge them on a single playlist. And, then give it out for free download just to make sure everyone listens to it. You can get it here.
1. As Soon As it is Over by Barefaced Liar – This varied band from Delhi is taking giant steps towards acceptance on an altogether different level. This track As Soon As It Is Over is kind enough to touch you, but there are slippages which go unnoticed.
2. Jihad by Motherjane – This track somehow makes me go, ‘dude, I really love old-Motherjane man‘. Those first two albums by this above par band traveled through my senses, very slowly. Jihad, for that matter, did not live up to my expectations.
3. Polymorphic Infection by Amogh Symphony – Bands make music, but Amogh Symphony adds several dimensions to their songs. State of the art production with the most intricate musical values imbibed together make up tracks from this band. Polymorphic Infection is from their second album, The Quantum Hack Code.
4. Visionary by Goddess Gagged – Progressive Post-Hardcore is what Bombay-based Goddess Gagged has been committed to. But, before they got to this genre there was something else they played which too was welcomed with arms wide open. A band to watch out for with a debut album and a music video scheduled.
Goddess Gagged, Bombay
5. Need for Sleep by Noiseware – Holy mother of all! Noiseware is loud and they have every reason to feel proud. Their jam laboratory would be equipped with every complexity there is and they aren’t wrong when they call their music experimental metal. This is what avant garde stuff is made of!
6. De Engineer by Eccentric Pendulum – I have always maintained that if a band can write a track like Cut Through the Light, they are capable of everything. Well almost. De Engineer is not one of the best ones by the band but it has its signature Pendulum moments.
7. Dear <Name> by Bhayanak Maut – Metastasis was a dangerous Ep that was give out by Bhayanak Maut for free, because it was so brutal, so metal that it’ll chase you till you accept your defeat. They are established, they know what they are doing, so only good things coming our way now. I had fun penning down my thoughts about Metastasis.
8. All That Is by Exhumation – Whether it is writing riffs that nobody else around can, or playing death metal with vigor, Exhumation has been doing the right things for eight years. Consider This was a laid back effort, yet had death metal content with accuracy and speed.
Barefaced Liar, Delhi
9. Xenophobe by Undying Inc – Delhi-based metallers have their own story to tell, are merciless when it comes to making the speakers feel attacked and the listeners feel harassed. All for a good cause, and Undying Inc bless you with a lot of metal. If you think this is exactly what you look for in your metal then they have a full-length that was out this year, go get it.
The compilation even has an album art for the front and back cover, and I think I have a thing for this art. It is apt, and if you look closely, it is detailed too. Done by Akhila Shankar who handles most of the things at IRMP3 now.
Here’s wishing the entire crew of IRMP3 (which includes me, but I have no hand in this compilation) the very best of everything. After all, trolling got a new meaning through this website. Jests aside, even I write and doing this apart from the normal shit you do is tough. Balancing is one of the things we humans are definitely bad at, and if IRMP3 has been doing this for three years and still continues doing it then there is a better tomorrow for the ‘scene’.
Rating : 4/5
I’ve said what I had to, now you vote for your favorite tracks –
The flaming skull troupe does not include superhumans, but they still do not get tired of being innovative and seeing their inspiring ideas turn into a reality. All of that to promote good rock and metal music. After smooching success with their previous ideas of The Flaming Skull Podcast followed byThe Flaming Skull Rockcast, both doing well, you will see the launch of an online magazine that will obviously be called The Flaming Skull Zine in a week’s time from now.
final flaming skull logo
Also a news that is no longer breaking and is another reason for you to wait for the zine even more are my cum-inducing articles on it. Yes, everyone at the flaming skull thinks I am good-looking and have a sense of humor that cannot be matched so they wanted to extend their friendship by having me in their team. Seriousness apart, I am glad to be doing this. An opportunity to work with friends and doing something you enjoy is not bestowed upon everyone.
The zine aims at a monthly release. Hold on a little more to know what is in store. Rest assured it will be something that has not been done before, around you. And most importantly stuff that will make you wait for the follow-ups, for various reasons. By the time you have finished reading this, you are a little more closer to the launch, which reminds me its time to celebrate. But then we don’t have anything that is named the flaming skull alcohol. That in no way means I’m not going to drink.
When was the last time you went to some forums and found like minded people around? When was the last time you felt like visiting a website to find out about a gig that is happening in town? Here your thinking would not help as you do not have many. And what makes me use the term many is the fact that there were places promoting the metal/rock scene in India, where I made sure I logged in atleast once a day to keep myself updated.
Now a couple of them that instantly remind me of the times I spent keeping the above mentioned intentions in mind would be demonstealerrecords website, gigpad, emusicpost site and rsj forums. Whereas I was dependent on gigpad for gig updates, I visited rsj forums to have some metal fun and share my metal thoughts. And then something went wrong. I am still active on demonstealerrecords forums but I can count the number of active members on my fingers and I know all of them personally. Or atleast most of them.
Now a forum in the wider sense is meant to gather people from all diverse fields and give them a platform to express themselves. Ofcourse metal in this context. And when I say I know most of them it directly implies that the place is not happening. Adding not happening anymore would explain better. It is not anyone’s fault here as it is a task in itself to keep any forums alive, and analyzing the situation would lead us nowhere.
The flaming skull podcast or tfsp that was started in July last year to promote the Indian scene saw many metalheads across the nation throng their website for whatever reasons they had. But a significant fact to note here is that their website got 17000+ hits in a short span of time, and considering it was a website providing listeners with podcast episodes to download its a large number. A small shoutbox present on the site had everyone trying to shout out the obvious things about what band kicked ass on the released episode, or what band should be featured next and why. The discussion was never-ending.
this is what awaits you
At this very juncture the people behind the podcast felt the need of introducing the forums. With their intentions being to constantly diminish the gap between them and the listeners, launching the forums could only improve things. Lets face it, we all need a place we can relate to and be part of.
So after the ninth metalcast episode and the first rockcast one, you are provided with forums. Visit it, and explode the place. Be it metal or rock, you can speak out and most importantly share. In a life that cannot get busier, wherever you are you can come here and chill. The flaming skull forums is easy to access and like any other community website you will spot a register option, and it all ends with you filling your email address. So you have no reason to complain. And before you say you do not have the link to the forums, here you go The Flaming Skull Forums
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