It’s a first: Indian Metal awards

Here’s some good news for all metalheads in the city. India’s first ever metal music awards will be handed out on Sunday at Blue Frog.

Popular bands Demonic Resurrection, Bhayanak Maut, Scribe, Inner Sanctum, Infernal Wrath and upcoming bands Silver Tears and Guillotine are some of the winners who will bag the trophies.

The awards show, sponsored by Rolling Stone Magazine and Converse, will also feature live performances by Scribe, Undying Inc and Demonic Resurrection.

Metal music fans from across the country are flying in to Mumbai for the ceremony, which will be hosted by Pin Drop Violence bassist Rohit Pereira. 

Sonakshi Babbar, a die-hard metal fan from Delhi, does not want to miss the performances. “I won’t be rooting for Scribe as even though they are a good band, their onstage theatrics annoy me. Demonic Resurrection is my favourite, but Bhayanak Maut will win,” said Babbar.

However, Tejus Mathur, a journalist who covers music, feels that underground metal music should stay that way — underground. “Metal music awards turning in to a corporate production goes against the spirit of music. It’s about the fans!” said Mathur.

But, Mathur is quick to add that efforts of metal musicians should be recognised. “For example, Demonic Resurrection recently won the Golden Hammer award in London. Previous winners of the award are Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Megadeth. Demonic Resurrection is the first Indian band to win the award. This kind of
recognition is good because bands need money and the platforms to reach fans.”

Joseph, musician with a Mumbai-based metal band, feels the awards are a good way to promote Indian bands, who actually are very talented. “The problem with most Indian metal bands is that they don’t make their own brand of music.

They just copy their idols blindly. Metal fans in India complain that they don’t have enough local talent to support,” added Joseph.