Pics: Workshop, Bhayanak Maut

Mumbai metal act Bhayanak Maut launched their second studio album at the Hard Rock Cafe, Mumbai on Tuesday, August 4. They were supported by alternative act Workshop. We were there, for one of the most exciting gigs of the year.

Notes

1. This was the first time we’d checked out Workshop after their gigs at the Channel V Launchpad eliminations, and immediately the effect of the additional guitarist was visible.
2. The band’s sound is much fuller, and their alt-rock trappings much clearer.
3. These sensibilities, combined with the band’s penchant for camp humour, make for an entertaining show.
4. The pièce de résistance of the night however, was Bhayanak Maut‘s set.
5. The Mumbai metal act played the entirety of their new album, for which this gig served as a launch.
6. While the new material is pretty solid hardcore (did someone say Lamb Of God?), what’s instantly impressive is the band’s brutal energy. Hard Rock Cafe was left battered and shocked.
7. Had this gig been at one of Mumbai’s old guard venues like Razzberry Rhinocerous, half a dozen kids would’ve suffered minor to major moshpit related injuries.
8. The dual vocal assault of Vinay Venkatesh and Sunneith Revankar is terrific, hampered only by Hard Rock’s ill supporting PA.
9. The band announced a special edition package of the album, one that included a bunch of additional stuff like drum sticks used in the recording of the album. Here’s a trick more Indian bands need to tie-in with their album releases.
10. Like Scribe did last year, Bhayanak Maut have taken the crucial jump from Indian metal also-rans to hardcore heroes.
11. We cannot wait for the band’s next gig in the city.

We took a bunch of pics at the gig. Here are a few.