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In The Studio: Kolkata Metallers Yonsample Plot Debut Album

Out of the gigging circuit for more than a year, Yonsample take a break from recording their full-length album to perform in Kolkata this week

Sep 02, 2014
Members of Yonsample tracking guitars at RBK Studio in Kolkata. Photo: Margub Ali

Members of Yonsample tracking guitars at RBK Studio in Kolkata. Photo: Margub Ali

Just as American metallers Slipknot ”˜blacked’ out all social media communication [filling the spot for their profile photos with a black square] during the recording for their upcoming album, Kolkata metal band Yonsample seem to have taken a cue and replaced their band photo with white space. The social media updates about recording their debut have been scanty as well, with only sneak peek pre-production videos for fans.

Yonsample, formed in 2010, released their debut EP Paraphernalia in the same year, are finally kicking things into gear this month. Guitarist Soumik Roy aka Jojo says the band members have finished tracking guitars and are almost finished with recording bass tracks as well, for their as yet untitled debut album, which may include 12 tracks.

Yonsample combine everything from thrash metal to prog metal in their music, but Roy says the sound is “groove metal at its core.” In addition to the singles “Sundered Vicinity” and “Espial Abyss Afloat,” Yonsample are including two older untitled tracks, which they first wrote nearly four years ago. Says Roy, “One song was written by our keyboardist Anudhyan Chakrabarti. It was a little tricky going back to them. Since most parts were written back then, we had to make sure it fits with the rest of the new material.”

The band is currently recording at Kolkata’s RBK Studio while managing personal and work commitments. Roy says the band began pre-production in June this year with producer Rhitabrata Kar, who has previously worked with Kolkata funk rockers Gingerfeet and produced Yonsample’s EP and their 2012 singles “Sundered Vicinity” and “Espial Abyss Afloat.” Says Roy “We’re a team of six people, and this album, unlike the EP, is a complete team effort. Everybody was involved and it’s been fun.”

Next week, Yonsample fans from Kolkata will get a taste of new material at the second edition of metal gig series The Abomination. The band will play a headline set in what will be their first gig in over a year. Says Roy, “We last played one and a half years ago. It wasn’t a hiatus, and we’ve got no regrets about being inactive for so long.” The guitarist says the band would have played gigs more often, but they were tired of playing old material and had work commitments. But they began concentrating on writing new songs. Though not nearly forgotten in the Kolkata metal scene, which chugs its way through old school and new school camps, Yonsample hopes that they manage to make a mark with their music. Says Roy, “The next time we get on stage, I don’t know if someone might throw something.” When asked if projectiles came their way from angry fans who have waited too long for a gig, Roy jokes, “At least that’s better.”

Photos: Margub Ali

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Yonsample, What Escapes Me, Elemental and more perform at The Abomination Chapter #2 at Ahindra Mancha, Kolkata on September 9th, 2014. Entry: Rs 150. Event details here.

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