Exclusive Premiere: Watch Moral Putrefaction Rip Through ‘Scum Of The Earth’ at Wacken Open Air

In early 2020 – before the pandemic hit – Chennai death metallers Moral Putrefaction took their first shot at international metal glory by competing in Wacken Metal Battle Indian subcontinent. The winner would go on to perform at Wacken Open Air, the German mainstay music festival for all things heavy.

While Covid hit the brakes even before the subcontinent’s final round took place in Bengaluru and gave Moral Putrefaction a chance, they geared up to give it another shot earlier this year, going on to win the band competition and travel to Germany last month. Vocalist-guitarist Shiva Moorthy says, “It felt like it was two years in the making. Sharing the stage with India’s finest, and then going on and representing the country at the holy grounds of heavy metal was a true honor… One that we’ll carry proudly through the rest of our lives.”

Formed in 2015, Moral Putrefaction brought a brazen, unshakeable sense of death metal to Wacken Metal Battle Indian subcontinent. Given that the playing field was now open to metal bands from Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the stakes were higher as well. While the last band from the subcontinent to travel was Bangladesh act Trainwreck for Wacken Open Air 2019, Moral Putrefaction were also tasked with gathering funds and ensuring visas came through for the band members in a short window. “Coming from a middle-class background, it was a huge leap for the band,” Moorthy says.

The band’s bassist Nithin James Peter was unable to make the trip due to “circumstances beyond [their] control,” so they modified their 20-minute setlist accordingly. Performing “Divided By Diversity,” “Scum of the Earth” and “Beneath Saffron Skies,” Moral Putrefaction introduced Wacken to their brand of socially-conscious metal which alluded to current affairs back home. In the process, Moorthy says the band’s perspectives widened and they saw beyond just the Indian metal community they had cut their teeth in. “We all start small here in India, but at some point, we should aim at going international. Massive respect to bands like Kryptos, Amorphia, Gutslit, Godless, Gorified, Bloodywood, Project Mishram, and Systemhouse33 for putting that kinda effort and money into going international! Even signing on to an international label can make a band go very far,” he adds.

That said, Moral Putrefaction are now working on completing their debut full-length album. Plus, they have shows coming up in September. “We do have plans to tour the country to support the album launch. There are cities we haven’t performed yet, and are looking forward to… cities like Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, and so on! But for now, putting out a solid record is at the top of the list,” the guitarist-vocalist says.

Watch Moral Putrefaction perform “Scum of the Earth” at Wacken Open Air 2022 below.