Bangalore Open Air 2019 - Steadies Itself With Early Edition

The Eighth Outing Of The Metal Festival Featured Unparalleled Performances By Black Metal Veteran Abbath And Death Metallers Suffocation.

- Anurag Tagat

It got a bit damp in the downpour that affect-ed a late winter day in Bengaluru, but you can’t say the same thing about the spirit of metal at G-Shock Bangalore Open Air. Last month, the eighth edition of the metal festival was held earlier than its usual date in July, but nonetheless delivered what it promised – some of the best artists in the world of heavy music.

With rain striking twice during the day-long metal melee, attendees were divided between retreating to the nearby tented areas and staying to witness an all-out aural assault courtesy of four bands competing to win Wacken Metal Battle – India Subcontinent and three international-standard heavy-hitters.

One way to look at Wacken Metal Battle playing out at BOA was the chance to see emerging talent from the subcontinent – from the technical prowess of Guwahati’s Nephele to pummeling energy from Colombo’s Mass Damnation and blazing Pantera-worship from Dhaka’s Trainwreck, followed by devouring death metal from Kathmandu band Krur. The other way, of course, was to see it as an easy way to resolve any programming quandaries by having new talent compete.