After Years in Limbo, Arunachal Pradesh’s Rock and Metal Scene is Seeing Change

It’s no ordinary day in June in Itanagar. It’s pouring in the Arunachal capital and the metal and rock mainstay venue Siddhartha Hall – inaugurated in 1988 – is letting in not just the expected sea of black T-shirt-clad metalheads, but also school children, public officials and of course, a few leaks of water. 

There’s a plastic chair propped up all the way up near an auditorium fan, which is strange but you don’t question it. After all, at a metal gig, you don’t question anything as long as the show goes on. Following online entries and a shortlist of 11 bands, the third edition of Overdrive kicked into gear and rumbled the battered old ceiling and walls of Siddhartha Hall. A battle of the bands format featuring artists from different parts of the North East, the day-long event was headlined by metallers Apostasy from Arunachal and Kerala/Bengaluru thrash metal heavyweights Chaos. 

As part of the judging panel, one could see an earnest effort among bands in Arunachal, Nagaland and other parts to genuinely keep the rock and metal band culture alive, but it’s easier said than done. Some were undoubtedly sloppy and unprepared, where others didn’t account for malfunctioning gear during their allotted 20-minute slot to plug in, sound check and perform original songs. 

Eventually, Assam metallers Eyes of the Martyr took home top prize (a cash reward of ₹1 lakh), followed by Nagaland’s Naga Incarnate in second place (with ₹50,000 to their name) and Arunachal’s own Follow The Moon placing third, winning ₹30,000. 

Overdrive 3.0 also remained important for Arunachal because event organizers Mio are trying to put the state on the national and regional map once again in terms of keeping live music going. It’s something you don’t see too many individual, privately-owned event companies trying to do, but they did invite Minster Sports & Youth Affairs, Mama Natung, along with youth leader Debia Muj as chief guests. It indicated a willingness for public officials to lend their support, but the road is clearly a long and uncertain one for heavy music in Arunachal. 

Overdrive 3.0 was funded privately, but put together in the hopes that they can gain government funding next time, or any kind of support that’s extended to cultural festivals, talent shows and even the likes of Ziro Festival of Music and Orange Festival of Adventure and Music in Dambuk. The infrastructure – despite the state of Siddhartha Hall – is very much there. Sponsors like pub venue 13 Old Spirit sponsored part of Overdrive 3.0, while the space itself is a cozy and welcoming one for karaoke and singer-songwriter open mics alike. 

While the much more recently opened and well-maintained DK Convention Hall might be out of bounds for rock and metal music in Arunachal just yet, government support could change that around as well. Bands from other parts of India, of course, are more than willing to come down if the logistics make sense, like Chaos did at Overdrive. The quartet made sure everyone was in a circle-pit and moshing about to songs off their albums Violent Redemption and All Against All, plus some roaring new material from their upcoming third album. 

The thing is, Arunachal may not always need to rely on bands from out of town to add heft to their events. After all, it’s produced the likes of singer-songwriter Taba Chake (who was a judge at Overdrive), multi-genre artist Takar Nabam, death metal band Sacred Secrecy, folk-rocker David Anguu, indie rockers Yesterdrive and more. More recently, singer-songwriter Chorun Mugli released his single “Abo Emru Dagena” via Warner Music India’s Maati regional/folk music initiative. Even the fully localized gig series Capital Chaos – held in December last year as a tribute to late vocalist Olik “Godshredder” from metallers Alien Gods – proves that the right lineup and spirit can draw a crowd. 

With emerging artists like Maylula, Follow The Moon, Anula Namshum, Te Chi and Carolina Norbu making waves and going strong on the releases front, the hope is that Arunachal Pradesh’s live music space grows as well, offering more spaces and more gigs to local talent beyond the rare gig that barely breaks even for promoters.