Exclusive Premiere: Hyderabad Metallers Hostilian’s Tantalizing ‘Legion’ Playthrough

As far as the two-facedness of humans go, Hyderabad metallers Hostilian are siding with the side that embodies all things dark and evil. It’s probably an obvious choice for the band, who have been around since 2016 and recently released their second EP Catalyst.

The follow-up to their 2017 debut EP Monolith, Hostilian describes their latest as a “study of the human condition.” In a statement released by the band, they add, “It’s about how, deep down, we’re actually like a virus, eating away the earth, even the other people and ourselves. All the good in people is just a face to show the world. There is a constant darkness in us just waiting for an opportunity to come out.”

Taking the idea of unending crime against fellow humans ”“ “raping, killing, greed is all just a manifestation of what we really are deep inside” ”“ Catalyst is about as crushing and brutal as the apocalypse it beckons out to. The four-track EP opens with “Legion,” for which the band has released a guitar playthrough video. Featuring axeman Roshan Mudunuru, “Legion” twists and turns with incisive riffs, including a solo and stomping beatdowns.

The release of Catalyst in January was marked by a set supporting German metallers The Ocean, followed by Hostilian winning the Hyderabad edition of Wacken Metal Battle India. Although they didn’t make the final cut, the metal band are going from strength to strength, with their Pune show coming up on March 17th, at the sixth edition of gig series Metal Brunch, alongside the likes of doom/death metallers Primitiv, Pune metallers Dark Helm and melodic death metal act Ragnhild and Mumbai metal act Sutledge.

Watch Hostilian’s guitar playthrough for “Legion” below. Catch them at Metal Brunch v 6.0 on March 17th, 2019 at Unwind, Pune. Event details here.