Bloodywood release their sensational new album “Nu Delhi” on the day of their upcoming European and UK “Return of the Singh” tour- 21st March via Fearless Records.
Nine years into their career and Bloodywood continue to shake the world. Following on from 2022’s breakout release ‘Rakshak’, the Indian crew bring another titanic wave of metal shot through with traditional folk and rap stylings in the form of ‘Nu Delhi’. With global shows seeing them play in front of thousands and acclaimed performances on the main stages of Bloodstock and Download amongst others, the outfit brought their self-dubbed Raj Against The Machine power and energy in an unmissable wave.
Given this success, the temptation may have been to rest on their laurels a little, kick back and coast a little, but that certainly isn’t the Bloodywood way and ‘Nu Delhi’ is as angry and riotous as its predecessor. Still kicking down doors and tearing up the rules, Karan Katiyar, Jayant Bhadula and Raoul Kerr lead the band into battle once more, the eight tracks that make up the new album a testament to their groundbreaking soundtrack to the revolution.
Opener ‘Halla Bol’ starts gently, its traditional instruments building the atmosphere before everything explodes in a shower of razor sharp riffs and lyrics spit with venom, the effect like a punch in the face. With Katiyar’s snarling guitar melding with the vocals of Bhadula, it’s an intoxicating mix, Kerr’s rapping slamming home the street credentials of a band who actually walk the talk. For fans of the band already, this is very welcome return but the ante seems to be upped and sonically things are sharper than ever. In refining their sound, Bloodywood have brought a fresh sense of dynamics matched with fascinating arrangements and tracks like ‘Hutt’ bring both a wrecking ball heft and a space that makes it crushingly heavy.
In the same groove, ‘Dhadak’ is a bruising experience, eviscerating and full of sweetly melodic passages for maximum effect as Kerr intones “float like a butterfly, sting like a mother*cker” over its rambunctious chorus, their intent to be heard leaving no room for doubt. Along for the ride, Japanese sensations Babymetal (official video below) add their own twist to the headspinningly cross-cultural brutality of ‘Bekhauf’ and the following ‘Kismat’ is a mountain conquering triumph as the Indians soar. With a closing run of the absolutely face-melting ‘Daggebaaz’, irresistible ‘Tadka’ and the city block flattening title track, ‘Nu Delhi’ should see the band stepping up a league or two, their message, focus and musical assault stopping for nothing. Bloodywood manage in thirty-three minutes to make a record of more significance that most bands do in a lifetime. A magnificent achievement by one of the heaviest, most unique and vitally important bands on the planet.
Track Listing:
1. Halla Bol
2. Hutt
3. Dhadak
4. Bekhauf (feat. BABYMETAL)
5. Kismat
6. Daggebaaz
7. Tadka
8. Nu Delhi
Band Members:
Raoul Kerr – vocals
Jayant Bhadula – vocals
Karan Katiyar – guitars
Vishesh Singh – drums
Roshan Roy – bass
Sarthak Pahwa – dhol
