dies

Tag.

Delhi mourns the loss of COLOSSAL FIGURES vocalist Govind Marodia

 

 

Delhi’s most prominent progressive metal outfit COLOSSAL FIGURES lost their bandmate and vocal powerhouse Govind Marodia today, on June 8th, following a brain haemhorrage caused by a road accident. The following excerpt from Rolling Stone India sheds more light:

Govind Marodia, the vocalist and founding member of Delhi progressive metal band Colossal Figures, passed away on July 8th following a brain haemhorrage caused by a road accident in Delhi. Marodia, 24, was admitted to a local hospital following the accident on Sunday night, and was in the intensive care unit on July 6th and 7th.

The band’s drummer Rijul Victor told us that Marodia’s condition had improved on the night of July 7th, but succumbed to injuries the next day. Victor, who joined Colossal Figures in 2010, a year after the band members got together, posted on his Facebook page today, “Govind Marodia is no longer with us and has rested in the Lord! Pray for his soul and his family in the grievous hours!”

Marodia, who studied law and was also a theater actor, played his last show with Colossal Figures at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards in March in Mumbai, although there were plans to perform in Bengaluru. The vocalist will be best known for his dynamic range of vocals, exhibited on their 2014 debut full-length album Clockwork Dilation – from the crisp clean vocals to the harsh growls that perfectly fit into the prog metal sound of Colossal Figures. Marodia led the band through some of their biggest performances, including the Hornbill International Rock Contest in 2013 in Nagaland and at NH7 Weekender in Delhi NCR in 2014. Vocalist Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, formerly of Mumbai hardcore band Scribe said in an online post, “I met him just once right after Colossal Figures got off stage after playing a blistering set at Blue Frog, Bombay earlier this year. I can’t get over what I’ve just read. I just cannot imagine what his brothers and family must be going through. Peace be with you, brothers. The indie metal community stands with you. Farewell, Govind Marodia. You were one of the finest vocalists in the scene.”

Delhi tech/groove metal band Undying Inc.’s frontman Shashank Bhatnagar also mourned Marodia’s passing. On Facebook, Bhatnagar said, “Met him quite a few times, he was a gentle and kind guy, with a great voice. This is such a horrible news [sic].. Can’t even imagine how people will cope with such a young & talented loss. More strength to his family & bandmates. Music scene’s lost a gem today.”

While the band was in the process of writing new material, it is still uncertain whether Colossal Figures will carry on as a band.

All of us at Headbangers India are with  Marodia’s family, friends and fellow bandmates in these darkest of hours. It is certainly a sordid moment in the metal scene for the entire nation and we hope for everyone associated to be able to make it through it.

Century Media Records co-owner passes away

Oliver Withöft, co-owner of one of the most prominent heavy music labels in the world, has passed away at the age of 49. He had been fighting a serious illness that forced him to withdraw himself from daily management duties at Century Media Records.

Withöft has been memorialized by many industry veterans along with musicians such as Nachtmystium‘s Blake Judd, who called Withöft’s death “a real tragedy” and that he was “way too young.” Øystein G. Brun of Borknagar also paid tribute by writing:

This is a utterly sad day for everyone assosiated to the Century Family and it is a day of great loss for the music business in general, but first and foremost we want to express our deepest condolences to his closest family! A great man has fallen!

The label is known throughout the world as the one responsible for the success of acts like Iced Earth, Nevermore, Shadows Fall and Lacuna Coil since its establishment in 1988 by Robert Kampf. Withöft joined the label a year and a half later. He is survived by his wife Judith and his three daughters.

Headbangers India and the Indian metal community would like to express their deepest condolences to them and to the entire Century Media Records family for suffering such a great loss.