Exclusive Premiere: Doom Metallers Dirge Launch Spiralling, Cathartic Second Album

Mumbai doom/post-metal band Dirge‘s self-titled album — the follow-up to their 2018 concept album Ah Puch — is now streaming in all its dissonant, anguished and fiery intensity. The 43-minute, four-track album takes a look inwards and at the world around us, journeying away from the myths and stories that populated Ah Puch.

Dirge call in guitarist and producer Apurv Agrawal (from post-hardcore band Pacifist, shoegaze band Honey’s Dead and his own project, Cowboy and Sailor Man) to add synth, as well as production flourishes for an eerie, tumultuous journey that aims to discomfort the listener. Bassist Harshad Bhagwat says, “The album is an attempt to evoke emotions that lie at the core of discomfort. The soundscapes have been designed to suit the ethos of each song and the lyrics are inspired from real-life experiences of anger, guilt, sorrow, and fear. We want to take the listener on a journey of self-actualization through this album, as our aim is to create a sense of catharsis through the experience.”

Bhagwat is joined by the stomping and intricate guitar work of Ashish Dharkar and Varun Patil, the standout vocal yowls and growls of Tabish Khidir and thundering drum work by Aryaman Chatterji, the latest addition to the band. Dirge called on sound engineers who have worked with their favorites in the heavy music space. Dirge is mixed by Sanford Parker (known for his work with post-metal bands like YOB, and Pelican) and mastered by Brad Boatright of Audiosiege (whose work behind the console includes stoner legends Sleep and post-metal stalwarts Neurosis). The release of the album (officially on March 10th) on streaming platforms was also preceded by the release of Dirge’s first-ever music video, for the song “Hollow,” helmed by filmmaker Smriti Thakur.

The greyscale music video and the artwork by illustrator Gaurav Basu aka Acid Toad all point to Dirge’s spiraling, psychedelic sound, which represents the causes of pain. A press release from the band states, “The album artwork – ‘the rings of crises’ is a metaphor for this very listening experience. The three layers represent the first three songs on the album and depict the imagery contained within it. In the center is an empty void, representing the fourth song.”

Dirge are slowly plotting out shows to promote the new album and are slated to hit Chennai on March 11th, as part of metal series Brutal Carnage and perform in Bengaluru on March 12th, for gig series Stress//Test, alongside drone/psychedelic act Megadrone, rock act The Earth Below and math-metal band Maneating Orchid. On March 26th, they head out to Hyderabad to perform at gig series Aggressive Tendencies, alongside Maneating Orchid and local metallers Apophenia.

Stream ‘Dirge’ below. The album is out on streaming platforms via Immersive Sounds on March 10th.