Inner Sanctum Announce Shashank Bhatnagar as New Vocalist
The Bengaluru metallers have brought in the New Delhi-based artist, formerly of Undying Inc after the release of their single “The Face of Evil,” the final song featuring outgoing frontman Gaurav Basu
Bengaluru/New Delhi metallers Inner Sanctum with Shashank Bhatnagar (second from left). Photo: Vishal Dey
Inner Sanctum find a powerful new vocalist in seasoned New Delhi-based artist Shashank Bhatnagar, who takes over from Gaurav Basu after the latter was part of the Bengaluru metallers for about 16 years. Among the first shows with the new lineup is expected to take place in early 2024.
Bhatnagar, who is currently part of the covers project Capital Metal and previously fronted Undying Inc, says he’s been waiting for over four years “to feel right about the musician in me.” He adds, “Not just an epiphany but for something extremely heavy, yet melodic at the same time. Somewhere I could truly pour myself into, reconnect with my past self. The self I lost in transition of the pandemic and then some more work and family life.”
The vocalist adds that he’s been a fan of Inner Sanctum’s music for years and also friends with the band since the start of their respective careers. “So when I was talking to Chintan on a call about something completely different, this came up! We both had doubts, then we laughed hard at the prospect of it, and then both of us got extremely serious quickly. Before we could think more, we jammed with the band. It felt so right. And here we fuckin’ are! Couldn’t have imagined it to work out any other way,” Bhatnagar says.
The Bengaluru band’s guitarist and composer Chintan Chinnappa says there were some occasional plans to work on a side project with Bhatnagar, but distance remained a deterrent. “When the frontman role was up for grabs, in all honesty, we couldn’t think of anyone else in the country who fit the role better than Shashank,” the guitarist says.
Hailing Inner Sanctum as one of the best metal bands emerging from India, Bhatnagar says they’re working on “some new, bone crushing music together.” He adds, “Sleep with one eye open guys. This one will hit you hard if you’re not ready.” Chintan says the band is “already stage-ready” and going to release new music soon.
Guitarist Arjun Mulky, for his part, agrees that the only name that came in mind to replace Basu’s no-holds-barred onstage intensity was Bhatnagar. “Anyone who’s seen him knows how he commands the stage. There could not be a more perfect person for the job,” Mulky says.
Inner Sanctum now comprises Bhatnagar, guitarists Chinnappa and Mulky, bassist Narayan Shrouthy and drummer Ujwal K.S. They recently bid farewell to Basu by releasing their final song with him, a condemning, anthem-like new song called “The Face of Evil,” with German-origin drummer Marco Minnemann as contributor.
