Exclusive Stream: Hyderabad Metal Band Godless’ Seething New Single ‘Infest’

Hyderabad death metal band Godless. Photo: Deezeetography/Courtesy of the artist

Hyderabad metallers Godless are relentless on their upcoming debut EP Centuries of Decadence. The first single, “Infest”, has been reworked from its original demo release in mid-2015, when they roped in New Zealand vocalist Sean O’Kane Connolly to add his vocals to the track in hopes of finding an Indian vocalist. In September last year, the year-old band recruited Kaushal LS [from Bengaluru metal bands Eccentric Pendulum and Orchid] and the result is as crushing as it gets.

Based out of Hyderabad, founding member and bassist Abbas Razvi says it’s tough finding dedicated musicians in the city. Says Razvi, “We wanted musicians who were really committed because we want to take this [the band] places.” Godless currently comprises Razvi, vocalist Kaushal LS, guitarists Rohit Nair and Ravi Nidamarthy [Razvi’s bandmate in prog/death metallers Skrypt] and drummer Aniketh Yadav [from brutal death metallers Shock Therapy].

Artwork for ‘Centuries of Decadence’ EP

Centuries of Decadence, which releases on May 7th via Transcending Obscurity Distribution, is death metal through and through. Razvi says, “We’re not reinventing the wheel here. We’re just putting our influences together. It’s got everything from brutal death to old school and modern death metal influences.” The four-track EP was recorded in February, and sent off to guitarist-producer Joe Haley [from Australian tech-death metallers Psycroptic] for mixing and mastering. The band even got Haley to add his own touch with a blistering guitar solo on the second track “Ossuary.”

Although Razvi has been a part of the metal circuit with Skrypt since 2006, the bassist doesn’t have any qualms about playing college competitions. He says, “We play competitions for practice. It’s like a warm-up gig.” Godless’ brand of grim death metal did win them second place at the Indian Institute of Management [IIM] Bengaluru’s festival Unmaad’s band competition. While there are shows being planned in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai as part of a launch tour, Razvi says the band will also continue writing new material. He adds, “We’ve found our direction now and a nice comfortable sound.”

Listen to “Infest” here