Metal Bands Inner Sanctum, Mutiny and Goatsmoke Join DJs Watashi and Chan in Bengaluru This Week

When Bengaluru-based promoters Mikey (from electronic-centric company Junket) and Vishwas Nair (a founder of his company, Residuum) met up at a party, they took stock of where live events stood as the world was shaking off pandemic-induced jitters about going out.

“We feel there’s a need for people to keep heavy metal alive because we feel it is a genre that kind of defines a lot of us here in Bangalore — rooted, grounded, humble but ready to rumble if there’s a need for it,” Nair says, speaking on behalf of his co-organizer as well. It led to them creating a new gig series called Redemption, with the debut edition kicking off in Bengaluru on December 16th.

With Junket mostly inclined towards electronic music, a plan was drawn up to include DJs alongside metal acts. Favorites such as Inner Sanctum, rising sludge/stoner act Goatsmoke and old-school death metallers Mutiny join DJ-producer Watashi and DJ Chan at Fandom at Gilly’s Redefined. “The intent was plain and simple; a gig doesn’t need to just have one genre or one main act to steal the show, but the whole package is what counts because it obviously comes with a message. Extreme genres have always had an underground following and we’re trying to bring it to the masses,” Nair says.

For Inner Sanctum, it’s not just a chance to perform on home ground after nearly a year, but also a way to be a part of something diverse. Guitarist Chintan Chinnappa says, “I think it’s high time someone reinvents the wheel. We’re always picking up ideas from promoters of different genres. If it allows us to access a new audience, then why not? We want to give it a shot.”

Sanctum will perform their regular set but also a new song they’ve been working on. “It’s got a guest artist on the track, an international drummer. It should be out early next year,” Chinnappa says. Gigs like Redemption are also a way for Inner Sanctum to show promoters they’re very much active, the guitarist notes. “We’ve done pre-production for an EP and figuring that out for next year,” Chinnappa adds.

As for Redemption, Residuum and Junket plan to put together a show every three months and travel to different cities as well. “We also plan to bring in bands and artists from across the country because as a whole, heavy metal is way larger than what it seems to be as a genre and we feel that’s the only one that can save the future of music and live performances,” Nair says.

Redemption ft Inner Sanctum, Goatsmoke, Mutiny, Watashi and Chan takes place on December 16th at Fandom at Gilly’s Redefined, Bengaluru. Get tickets here.