News of the actually interesting:

They are regarded as the pioneers of Vedic metal. And their fans across south east Asia and the Indian subcontinent are of the opinion that there is no better way to learn about the Mahabharata than by listening to this trio’s death metal-influenced renditions of shlokas. Singapore-based band Rudra is now all set to round off the year by playing on the final day of the Times of India Strawberry Fields 2011 on November 27 at the National Law School of India University.

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Kathir says that the responses to their music, especially the Sanskrit lyrics, have always “been positive”. “In fact, we found that people love the exotic sounds of Vedic metal and the vibes of Sanskrit chants. It is, of course, a weird combination, given the fact that Sanskrit is a liturgical language. However, such a fusion can create an aesthetic experience if one were to suspend judgment and listen without prejudice. And that is exactly what has happened in all our shows,” he says. But how relevant is Vedic literature today? “Very relevant to me, especially the philosophical aspects of it. I’ve been a student of Vedic literature for about 18 years. And over the years, I’ve discovered so much that has helped me deal with life’s challenges. Of all the Vedic texts, I love the non-sectarian perennial teachings of the Upanishads,” he reveals. It’s been 10 years since the band released their landmark album, The Aryan Crusade. Since then, there have been several lineup changes – Rudra started out as a quartet, but is now a three-member outfit – but that doesn’t seem to have affected the band’s evolution. “We have released albums since then. More importantly, we have pushed the boundaries of being a metal band by fusing Indian dance with our performances,” says Kathir. – Times of India

This is epic pagan metal!

Tags: rudra