Bloodywood - Rashak album review

Rakshak is the debut album by Indian heavy metal band Bloodywood, independently released on 18 February 2022. The album's music is a blend of Indian folk music and heavy metal, while the lyrics are sung in the English, Hindi and Punjabi languages.

The first single off the album, "Gaddaar", was released on 9 November 2021 and features political commentary, exploring "how politicians rely on dishing out hate in order to gain votes and raise their political standing, and how one can rebel to break the cycle" while advocating for the separation of church and state.

The second single and video, "Aaj", came out on 24 January 2022. The video was shot in Munnar, Kerala, and the band faced a handful of difficulties while doing it, including bad weather, denial of permission for shooting, leeches and accidents with drones.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Karan Katiya.

1. "Gaddaar" 4:44

2. "Aaj" 5:00

3. "Zanjeero Se" 4:11

4. "Machi Bhasad (Album Version)" 4:00

5. "Dana Dan" 4:54

6. "Jee Veerey (Album Version)" Hindi for "Live, Brave One"4:38

7. "Endurant (Album Version)" 4:46

8. "BSDK.exe" 4:55

9. "Yaad (Album Version)" 5:40

10."Chakh Le"4:25

Top faves

Gaddar

This song makes you uplifted due to this heavy riffs, drum plays and screams. The combination of the 3 instruments makes the song headbangable and keep you stay high in the music. It is hype and can make a moshpit starter. I commend Jayant on delivering the screams, his scream is like a monster screaming at you and all of the rage inside brings all out. You could feel the emotions delivered by the vocalist. The rapping also supports the screams and adds the hype on the song.

The lyrical content on this song, has more with the political side. It deals with corruption and dishonesty in the society. It is timely since most of the governments around the world experience this. The bands’ delivery of the song fits well on the lyrics. You will feel the anger of the subject towards to the corrupt officials. It kinda reminds me Rage Against the machines’ Killing in the name.

Aaj

This song makes you feel motivated, it tells about the hopes for tomorrow and better version of yourself than yesterday. I do appreciate the lyrics so much and it brings me hope for the future when I am listening this.

The flute is the heart of the song; it gives a unique sound to the listener and would surely appreciate. It balances the heaviness delivered the guitars, drums and the screams. Meanwhile, the heaviness displayed on the song is just right. You will surely make a headbangs on the chorus parts. I do also like the female vocals after bridge; it makes a perfect harmony on the song. It makes the track outstanding among the other tracks

Endurant

I made a reaction video on this song last year, you may check my video out there. Well my thoughts are still the same, but one thing I noticed is the quality of the song. The mixing and mastering is different. It is blunt rather than the single version that they have. I like the single version than this album version.

Honorable Mentions

Bsdk.exe / Chakh Le / Machi Bhasad

These three tracks offers heavy approach to the listeners. The aggressiveness of the band is evident in these tracks and I could say that they did well on delivering it. When I listen it, you will do is to bang your head all throughout the song. The riff displayed is ear satisfying alongside with the drum plays which is harsh and it s good.

Jee Veerey

IF the three tracks offers heaviness, this one offers lightness, it has more on folk / power ballad sound which I do appreciate. The flute plays gives an authentic folk sound and it gives the soul on the song. You will feel the emotion displayed on the song. Despite the song in hindi language, you will appreciate it on its translation.

Least Faves

Dana Dan

One thing that I am not a fan of this song is the speed rapping of the vocalist; I feel that the song is off track. The vocals and the instruments are not synching to each others. It is kinda mess up for me. The other instruments did well but I think they should lessen the speed rapping. It makes the song better.

Yaad

This song has the same vibe with Jee Veerey, it has a emotions and soul however for me what are lacking are three h things, first is the execution, I don’t feel the energy much they displayed comparing on Jee veerey. Second is the phasing of the song, it is slow that makes me feel bored to listen and lastly, the repetitive sound displayed.

Rating 4.5 / 5

This is a brand new NU METAL experience. Bloodywood formulate a new sound that listeners would surely appreciate. The combination of the FOLK and NU METAL brings a unique sound. The folk sound delivered on each song gives a soul that every listener would just not listen but would surely appreciate and relate on each song’s story. Meanwhile the screams, drums plays and the guitar plays gives a hype experience to the listener to dance, mosh and bring out rage inside of them. The tracks kinda reminds of limp bizkit tracks. They have the same vibe in terms of the aggressiveness that they had displayed. In fact the feelings that I had listening limp bizkit tracks has the same feeling that I had in this album.

I am giving praise to the screamer, Jayant. When he started this band, he is just doing this for a parody, but now they doing original tracks that every metalheads would surely appreaciate. His talent is unique and you could see him to grow and improve his skills. Likewise, the rapping vox, Raoul. His rapping skills is excellent. He has an impressive talent to deliver each song, it has clarity and precise when his doing it.

Overall the listening experience that I had in this band is great. India has a lot of great talents and no doubt that this band is now dominating overseas. I am hoping that they would tour asia as well and visit the Philippines. There a lot of nu metal aficionados are waiting for their music.