The Down Troddence, Demonic Resurrection and More Set for Grand Mammoth Festival in March

Bengaluru folk/groove metallers The Down Troddence at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards pre-show Insurrection 6.0 at the Humming Tree. Photo: Sairaj Kamath

After a gap of over two years, The Grand Mammoth Festival (TGMF) returns at Mumbai venue Antisocial on March 26th, featuring bands from across the country. The festival, which started out with sponsorship by a co-operative bank and jewelry store in 2013, is now hosting its final fifth edition featuring the likes of Bengaluru-based folk/groove metallers The Down Troddence, who will return for their first show since going on a hiatus in April 2016.

The Down Troddence guitarist Advaith Mohan says, “This gig came as a surprise to us as well.” On a break while drummer Ganesh Radhakrishnan is on a work assignment in Minneapolis in the U.S. and to give themselves “breathing space,” the guitarist says the band was still writing and recording new material often. He adds, “Everyone’s been in a space where they want to play live again. We got Manu [Krishnan, drummer from Kerala thrash metallers Chaos and prog metallers Escher’s Knot] to cover for Ganesh. I’ve always wanted to play a gig with him.” Advaith says there might just be a new song ”“ the first since their 2014 album How Are You? We Are Fine, Thank You ”“ being tested at the gig.

Co-organizer Jeff Dani from Moonlight Entertainment says the lineup was originally quite different until as recently as last week, but “miscommunication” meant “everything went for a toss.” He adds, “I never thought of organizing one after a long break but it just happened. We made sure that we have a different lineup which TGMF has ever witnessed.”

The lineup also features a headline set by Mumbai extreme metallers Demonic Resurrection, who will launch their fifth album Dashavatar ahead of the show. They’ll be joined by Bengaluru prog metallers Eccentric Pendulum, Bhopal death metallers Elemental and Mumbai heavy metal act Hellwind. When asked why this is the final edition of the metal festival, Dani cites personal commitments and other professional work.

This time around, Dani is moving the event out of Navi Mumbai and setting up at Antisocial in Khar. Dani adds, “We first thought about doing it in Marine Centre but dropped the plan because we wanted some changes as it is the last one, then thought about Cult [Lounge, Belapur venue] but TGMF’s concept doesn’t fit there, so dropped the plan again. Then ultimately, we approached [music gear retailers, gig organizers] Bajaao and as usual they helped us with the venue.”

The Grand Mammoth Festival 2017 Lineup

Demonic Resurrection

The Down Troddence

Eccentric Pendulum

Elemental

Hellwind

The Grand Mammoth Festival takes place on March 26th, 2017 at Antisocial, Mumbai, from 6 PM onwards. Tickets: Rs 300. Event details here.
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