Midhaven Return with New Lineup, Plot Next Album

Midhaven frontman Karan Kaul in Kolkata. Photo: Margub Ali

By their October show at Hard Rock Café, Mumbai metal band Midhaven were, by frontman Karan Kaul’s own admission, “falling apart.” He explains, “We had issues with timing and everyone’s dedication to the band.”

Guitarist Shreyas Rane and bassist Abhishek Sawant ”“ both founding members from 2011 ”“ left in the span of a week in January owing to personal issues within the band and other commitments. Kaul says he began looking for a session guitarist immediately, and met Aditya Mohanan (from death metallers Killchain and groove metallers Seth). “He was very excited about it and just seeing the passion Aditya has, I asked him to join the band.”

Although Kaul wanted bassist Jordan Veigas ”“ who produced the band’s debut EP Tales from the Tide in 2013 ”“ the latter recommended Jason D’Souza (guitarist for indie rockers The Koniac Net and Modern Mafia), who had also worked on the EP. Kaul says Sawant was a “fantastic bassist” who knew his way around grooves and growled for the band, but adds that D’Souza “knows the record inside out.”

The change in lineup comes at a time when Kaul, along with drummer Aviraj Kumar, have started the songwriting and pre-production process for their second full-length album, the follow-up to 2014’s Spellbound. “It’s got more complex parts. It’s the sound we’ve developed in our own head that’s now finally being expressed.”

In the meantime, they’re giving their new lineup a test run at yearly metal and rock gig showcase Show No Mercy at Atharva College of Engineering in Mumbai today. Spellbound best cuts such as “Seeking the Divine,” “Fall of Olympus” and “The Third Eye” find their way into the setlist. Kaul says, “It’s the old stuff in a very new way. And it’s an open-air festival at a college ground, I can’t wait.”

Show No Mercy ft Midhaven, Amorphia, Killchain, Punk on Toast, Dead Exaltation and Sutledge takes place on March 9th, 2017 at Atharva College of Engineering in Malad, Mumbai. Event details here.