SundogProject’s New EP ‘1999’ Is Loud and Riotous

In 2016, New Delhi producer, guitarist and vocalist Rahul Das created “1999,” the heaviest, angriest SundogProject track yet. The principle emotion, as is evident with Das’ screams, is anger. “I thought about this emotion and felt like owning it for the first time as a young boy in 1999, daydreaming about setting an empty school structure on fire,” the artist says in a note with the track.

Previously known for industrial songwriting as well as more ambient, lightheaded music – plus IDM excursions with his project Oort – Das says he didn’t know what to do with “1999” when he wrote it. “I’d never screamed in my life before, except in a fight,” he says. During lockdown last year, he made three EPs, including one Oort EP and two Sundog EPs.

1999, as an EP, pulls together the rager of a title track and pairs it with more industrial, noise and electronic experiments which draw from the same energy. “I took my vocals and used it as a sample in these songs.” While “Destroy All Systems” bears a hint of euphoria towards the end with high pitched vocal samples, “Immolate Slowly” and “Burn Every Sick Tyrant” are aural bruisers, laced with commentary on “power structures and controlling systems.”

Das was helped by SundogProject’s regular collaborator, producer Anupam Roy, who in turn asked Mumbai-based Rahul Hariharan (from metallers Bhayanak Maut) to record live drums. Das mentions that he’s always used samples all the time, so “1999” becomes the first SundogProject song to feature live drums. Producer-guitarist Keshav Dhar took on mastering duties, making “1999” every bit the angry song that this pandemic needed.

The artist mentions we can definitely expect more angry music from him. “If I’m doing very well in my life, aggressive music will come out, because then I have my own space and I can be loud,” Das adds with a chuckle. That’s not to say this is a new direction for the project. He says, “No two releases are going to be the same with me. I have some EPs written. I’m not going to stop making music as long as I live.”

Listen to ‘1999’ EP below. Stream on more platforms here.