BLOODYWOOD Album — Rakshak

BLOODYWOOD is an Indian folk metal band that, through its unique sound mix, advocates hope for a better world. Their message is about resistance, a call to confront our inner battles and rise above our darkest struggles.

Their music offers something new and fresh to listen to, a fusion of Indian folk-metal, packaged with hard-hitting messages that rapidly brought about positive changes in the lives of many across the planet.

According to BLOODYWOOD's Raoul Kerr, “the theme of this band is that it has to be something that adds value to this world,” rock music magazine Kerrang quoted him.

“Whether it’s about eliminating divisive politics, ending sexual assault, or holding corrupt journalists accountable, it’s about protecting that sense of hope.”

RAOUL KERR, RAPPER, BLOODYWOOD

So, along with brutal, heavy-metal electric-guitar tone in its 7-string drop-tuned riffs, accompanied by growling vocals, expect to also hear a mix of the Indian percussive power of the mighty Dhol, the melancholic Flute, the single-stringed Tumbi, and several other uncommon yet distinctively Indian sounds, all packaged with their fiery messages!

RISE OF BLOODYWOOD

BLOODYWOOD started their YouTube channel over 10 years ago as a parody band, uploading funny metal covers of mostly Western pop songs.

Their full-time mission was to “destroy” these pop songs and raise them back from the dead in their metal versions, with an adrenaline rush instead.

“I would say it’s metal with masala (Indian spice).”

JAYANT BHADULA, GROWLER, BLOODYWOOD

Jayant’s humorous description of their music even drew laughter from his bandmates. 

BLOODYWOOD © Prabal Deep Photography

BLOODYWOOD's story began back in 2016, when Karan Katiyar, the band’s founder, guitarist, woodwind player, producer, and composer, quit his job as a corporate lawyer. Together with Jayant Bhadula, the band’s vocalist/growler, they formed a two-piece band at first.

And then, a few years ago, BLOODYWOOD made a breakthrough when they were invited to perform in a European Tour: Wacken Open Air (W.O.A) W.E.T. stage concert.

BLOODYWOOD @ European Tour: Wacken Open Air (W.O.A) Wacken Entertainment (W.E.T) Stage concert © Killershots Music Photography

Two days after that, the band released their song Machi Bhasad (Hindi for “Expect a Riot”), intended for the Ubisoft video game Beyond Good and Evil 2, as well as announcing that a third new member, Raoul Kerr, the band’s rapper, would become a permanent member of the band.

BLOODYWOOD was then nominated for the Breakthrough Asian Band title at the 2021 Global Metal Apocalypse awards, finishing second.

Metal Hammer, a heavy metal music magazine also announced BLOODYWOOD as one of The Best Metal Albums of 2022.

After years of relentless hard work and painstaking dedication, after shedding much blood, sweat, and tears, they finally released their debut studio album, Rakshak, on Feb 18, 2022, featuring original material with lyrics in English, Hindi, and Punjabi.

BLOODYWOOD Album — Rakshak

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

BATTLING DEPRESSION

“Jee Veerey” (Hindi for “Live, Brave One”) is BLOODYWOOD’s powerful, inspiring song about enduring and braving through a highly overlooked yet rampant problem in the world — mental illness, specifically depression.

To add to their support for people who were suffering from depression, BLOODYWOOD continued their efforts to reach out to the vulnerable by partnering with an online counseling site, HopeTherapy, and coordinated a private therapy session for FREE!

“Walk this valley of death, head high. Say ‘I’ll be back, today I won’t die. Cause, try as we may, we can never deny. We can get back up if we’re still alive!”

RAOUL KERR ‘JEE VEEREY’ LYRICS

Raoul Kerr, BLOODYWOOD © Critical Mass Photography

“Only after enduring the tests of fire, iron is forged. Live, brave one! Fight those internal storms and… win, brave one! Weather those wounds and rise once again. Fly once again. For too long, you’ve lain in darkness...”

JAYANT BHADULA ‘JEE VEEREY’ LYRICS

Jayant Bhadula, BLOODYWOOD © Critical Mass Photography

PROTECTING ANIMALS

BLOODYWOOD also extends its big heart to the humane treatment of animals. They even used their earnings from the European tour to donate a new ambulance after hearing that the POSH Foundation, a Delhi NCR-based NGO active in animal welfare and awareness, no longer had a working-condition ambulance.

BLOODYWOOD @ Posh Foundation

Karan said to metal music news publication, Metal Injection, “You will find a homeless animal everywhere you look. Dogs, cats, cows, donkeys — all struggle to survive the concrete jungles of Indian cities like our hometown, New Delhi.

Accidents, diseases, and starvation are a very common sight. Given that the vehicle (ambulance) will last at least five years on the road, the new ambulance would potentially help save 27,375 homeless animals.”

“Why are we doing this? This ties closely with our next song (Yaad), and we hate just singing about things and not doing anything to actually help.”

KARAN KATIYAR, FOUNDER/GUITARIST, BLOODYWOOD

“Yaad” (Hindi for “remember” or “in memory”) takes to heart the deep bond between a man and his dog even after they are long gone...

Just in case you missed it, right after that song ends in the video above, Karan takes the opportunity to reach out to all of us on behalf of dogs and other poor animals with a really important message he doesn’t want you to skip. Do spend some time to hear him out...

EXPOSING DIVISIVE POLITICS

“Gaddaar” (Hindi for “traitor”) is BLOODYWOOD’s first new release since the 2020 single “Yaad,” which I’ve shared the video in the intro of this story above, and it states:

“It’s a song that’s aimed at a complete separation of religion and politics across the world. Everyone deserves equal rights and equal treatment at the hands of their governments, no matter who and how they worship. We’ve seen the use of religious and divisive politics globally in recent years, and it needs to be spoken about,” Maximum Volume Music publication quotes BLOODYWOOD as saying.

The video also begins with a message that states: “This video contains heavy political commentary. It is aimed at divisive leaders, parties, and political mindsets. In the face of fascism and communalism, we cannot remain politically neutral...”

Karan Katiyar, ‘Gaddaar’ music video, BLOODYWOOD

And with that, the brutal, heavy-metal rhythm guitar distorted sounds, along with a fierce growling throat, hammer BLOODYWOOD's message across the globe!

BLOODYWOOD’S SUCCESS AS A FOREIGN METAL BAND

After listening and watching BLOODYWOOD perform, Finn McKenty, an American marketing strategist, Director of Marketing of URM Academy + The Punk Rock MBA writer and music commentator had this to say about BLOODYWOOD’s success as a foreign metal band…

Facebook @ BLOODYWOOD

“It’s hard for foreign bands to break out, and I think what a lot of foreign bands want to do is pretend to be American bands.

They think that’s the way they’re going to become successful in the way to market themselves to Westerners or to Americans.

And I don’t think that’s true. BLOODYWOOD is a great example of that.

Doing something that’s definitely metal, and it sounds like metal, and it’s familiar to an American or to a Western audience, but still it’s very Indian, so I think it’s pretty interesting.

… you can just feel that genuine emotion these guys (BLOODYWOOD) have going on…

... and it’s the reason why it works because unlike the rest of these bands that are just doing it because you know it’s trendy and everyone else is doing it, they (BLOODYWOOD) have got something to say, and you can feel that.

Finally, something interesting in metal that isn’t old… bands like this make you realize how dry your playlist is. You know they’re doing stuff that nobody else could do. 

BLOODYWOOD © Elina Kankaisto Photography

The lesson is that there’s sort of this idea that Western audiences won’t pay attention to anything unless it’s basically a carbon copy of Western music. It’s just not true. This (BLOODYWOOD) is a great example of it. It does not matter what language something is in.

I think it’s awesome to see that they’ve had this much success, specifically by not trying to be a Western band. They’re not trying to be an American band, either. They’re doing what is authentic to them. They are an Indian metal band, and I think it’s really cool. So shout out to BLOODYWOOD!

I’m excited for their new song, and I’m excited to see where they go from here.”