G-Shock Bangalore Open Air Returns Early This Year

Metal fans in Bengaluru and across the country (and subcontinent, even) anticipate every forthcoming edition of G-Shock Bangalore Open Air for the best in heavy music. The metal festival’s eighth outing comes earlier than expected ”“ moving up to February 9th from their usual July date ”“ but maintains its promise of a noteworthy lineup.

Bangalore Open Air (BOA) will host American death metal veterans Suffocation and Norwegian black metal band Abbath for their respective India debuts. Anyone looking out for metal from the subcontinent, there’s three countries being represented; Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. The band’s include Colombo metallers Mass Damnation, Kathmandu death metal act Krur and hardcore/thrash metallers Trainwreck from Dhaka. Support also comes from Hyderabad death metallers Godless  on the back of releasing their second EP Swarm last year.

Suffocation ”“ who are considered contemporaries to death metal legends such as Cannibal Corpse ”“ make their way to India for a special show, considering it will be their first since they formally bid farewell to vocalist and founder Frank Mullen late last year. Although the Farewell Frank Suffocation shows have been added for Japan in June this year, the band will be fronted by vocalist Ricky Myers, who has previously stepped in for Mullen in 2015 and 2018.

Perhaps the real show-stealer at BOA might be Abbath, considering the eponymous frontman is known not just as the erstwhile driving force behind Norwegian black metallers Immortal, but also his wild and often humorous stage antics. Abbath launched his own band in 2015 and there’ll be no dearth of terrifying metal and rock ”˜n roll swagger alike during their set.

G-Shock Bangalore Open Air takes place on February 9th at Aadya Farms, Yelahanka. Entry: Rs 2,600 onwards. Get tickets here. More event details here.