Make some noise

India's metal scene is lit. Bloodywood is playing Japan. There are women drummers and vocalists. Songs feature the sarod and dhol. Where do the headbangers go from here?

- Bhanuj Kappal

The YouTube comments section for a Bloodywood video is like the heavy metal version of the United Nations. The Delhi trio blends nu metal with Indian folk. Their wholesome, tongue-in-cheek vibe has earned them fans all over the world, many of whom delight in leaving them little love notes.

Guys, I'm an old aunt from Russia,” writes one fan. “Each of your songs and videos tear the soul apart.”

“I'm Brazilian, but we are brothers, guys!” writes another.

On and on it goes, with fans chiming in from Czechoslovakia, Chile, Japan and the US. It's a testament to how Bloodywood has put Indian metal on the global map. Bloodywood, which consists of Karan Katiyar, Jayant Bhadula and Raoul Kerr, was set up in 2016 as a parody band, recording metal covers of what they saw as “shitty pop songs”. The group has since released two critically acclaimed albums. Their 2022 debut album Rakshak peaked at #93 on the Billboard US Top Album Sales chart, and #10 on the US World Albums chart, the first Indian metal act to hit both those milestones. They've toured 90-odd countries, with gigs at festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Graspop Metal Meeting. The UK's Guardian newspaper recently called them “one of metal's most original bands”.

Bloodywood is overwhelmed. “We're just three boys from Delhi who wanted to play metal and have fun,” says Bhadula, ahead of the band's sold-out three-city tour of Japan, and a 24-city US tour in support of their sophomore album, Nu Delhi. “To not only get to do that, but also represent our nation—and Indian metal—on the world stage, is something very beautiful.”