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largest metal festival is back with it’s second edition! This time it promises to be faster, heavier and louder! Organized by Infinite Dreams and supported directly by the world’s biggest metal festival, Wacken Open Air, Bangalore Open Air 2013 brings you 2 of India’s biggest metal acts sharing the stage with 6 of the world’s biggest, spanning a variety of genres. So let that head bang and let those bodies mosh to Demonic Resurrection, Millennium, Animals As Leaders, Leprous, Ihsahn, Dark Tranquillity, Sodom and Iced Earth. Read on for more about the bands and do check out the official website for more details.[/tab]
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A household name in Indian metal, Mumbai’s Demonic Resurrection plays a unique symphonic combination of black, death and power metal styles. Led by Sahil ‘Demonstealer’ Makhija’s dual vocal style, the band has boasted of such past festival appearances as Brutal Assault (Czech Republic) and Bloodstock Open Air (England). After three full-length album releases, including the highly-acclaimed ‘The Return to Darkness’(2010), the band is now recording its fourth studio album, set for release later this year. If you haven’t already witnessed them live, Bangalore Open Air is the perfect place to do so!
When Tosin Abasi released his debut solo album under the moniker ANIMALS AS LEADERS in 2009, few would have predicted the band’s meteoric rise over the next two years. Although Abasi earned acclaim as the lead guitarist in the Washington, D.C.-based metalcore act Reflux, it was still a long-shot that an instrumental album of progressive metal with jazz, electronic and ambient flourishes would develop anything more than a cult following. Now, 4 years later, the band has become a household name in progressive metal/djent after 2 releases that have acquired a niche legendary status. Don’t miss them live at Bangalore Open Air 2013!
3. Leprous:
Having gained fame as the live musicians for Ihsahn, Norwegian progressive metal act Leprous released their debut full-length ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’ in 2009, garnering a fan following that touted them as a fresh perspective to progressive metal. The band has grown from strength-to-strength since then, releasing 2 more albums, the latest one named ‘Coal’ seeing the light of day this year. Why is their appearance at Bangalore Open Air 2013 so special? Because thanks to the presence of Ihsahn in the line-up, you will get to catch these musicians live twice on the same day!
4. Ihsahn:
After attaining nearly legendary status as the frontman of Norwegian black metal titans Emperor, Ihsahn released his debut album as a solo career, ‘The Adversary’ in 2006. His music continues from where Emperor abruptly left off, with a heavily progressive and ambient take on black metal. His songwriting is highly fearless and experimental, mixing vocal styles, shifting timbres and even involving the use of a saxophone in many songs. After a 4th successful full-length release ‘Eremita’ (2012), Ihsahn is all ready to unleash his radical style of progressive music on India at Bangalore Open Air 2013.
Known worldwide as one of the three pioneers of melodic death metal, Sweden’s Dark Tranquillity make a return to Indian soil this year at Bangalore Open Air 2013. With a new release this year titled ‘Construct’, the band continues to be the ultimate word in their genre till date. Combining tasteful palm-muted notes with haunting keyboards and sound programming, you would do well to take the opportunity to see them live at Bangalore Open Air this year!
6. Iced Earth:
Hailing from the US, Iced Earth are a legendary link between dark and uplifting music. With their brand of dark power metal, Iced Earth have been reigning champions of the genre for over two decades. The band suffered a few vocalist issues between 2010-2011 but made one of metal’s most legendary comebacks with their last offering ‘Dystopia’ in 2011. Featuring ex-Into Eternity vocalist Stu Block as frontman, Iced Earth will unleash, not hell, but purgatory at Bangalore Open Air 2013.[/tab]
[tab name=”Venue”]Jayamahal Palace Hotel
Address: No.1, Jayamahal Road,
Bangalore 560046,
Karnataka
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Garima Goel
17/07/13
Not proudly, I am ignorant to these artists and their music, but quite taken by the personal moments shot here. Keep up the pictures!