The Score Magazine - Archive February 2009 issue! | Page 49

Just as Blood & Iron are all set to
release their second studio album,
we found out what keeps the popu-
lar metal outfit ticking
F
or over three decades the city has seen a
steep rise in the making of metal dons. From
the creators, MOKSHA, through a tremen-
dous array of talent that has come and long
gone, from what we’ve seen, and what we are ex-
posed to now, a lot of things have transcended into
more of a culture clash. Few have made a mark, even
less ascend into consistency.
Without further ado, that is the story of BLOOD and
IRON. A band that strived for over three years to
make a name for itself and through it all, managed
to survive, even with frequent line up changes. The
spirit shows in their music. Formed back in 2005, the
surviving members Ashish Shetty (Lead Guitar) and
Vivin Kuruvilla (Keyboard) conceived the band and
were later joined by fellow members Mark (Vocals)
and Arun (Bass Guitar). Their main influences en-
compassed everything from Queensryche and Iron
Maiden to Dream Theater and Hammerfall.
Early 2006 saw the release of their maiden self-titled
album ‘Blood & Iron’, which was a major boost for
their publicity status. Overnight, they were the city’s
luminaries! The fan following and increased gigs
soared with everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of
them, live. Their infamous numbers ‘Blood Oath’ ‘Sin-
ners & Saints’ ‘Stalingrad’ ‘POW’ and ‘Blood and Iron’
were inspired from books having the same title.
Manu, a much more experienced and highly ac-
claimed death metal drummer, used much of his in-
fluence from Lamb of God and Chimera to improvise
the otherwise melodic metal band into a predomi-
nantly power metal outfit. The varied influences of
the members form a unique blend that in their opin-
ion creates a faster, heavier and distinctively differ-
ent tone.
Even with just a single guitarist bearing the brunt,
the band finds it easier maintaining their sound. The
quality of their music, easily outdoes itself over a
certain level. Having a very versatile and exception-
ally talented keyboardist, who introduces kids to the
sounds of the piano, only adds to it. With the line up
in order, the band was finally set and over the last
music
year, the Blood and Iron that the crowd once knew
rose to a level so professional that it left many judges
awed at recent competitions. IIM Calcutta’s Arma-
geddon ’08 for starters and their prized accomplish-
ment of clinching Kingfisher’s Kerala Rocks (K-ROX)
that made waves within and beyond the realms of
the south.
Chennai has never really been one for a huge metal
following; one can barely find a handful of devoted
metal heads doting on their idols or having a go at
each other at the mosh pit; if it can be called one!
But when you seek to serve an audience that doesn’t
necessarily look for stage gimmicks, then, it’s a sight
for sore eyes when these guys take the stage. Memo-
ries of JRO 2008 come to mind, when they eclipsed
every other metal act with ease. Frontman Mark
knows how to get his way around the crowd and
gives them exactly what they need. His style differs
from the conventional (clean vox) and the contempo-
rary (growling), in fact it’s just good old heavy metal.
Infusing some sort of a ‘heroic tenor’, that adds to
the raw base it has, he never fails to impress. Which
only leaves the lithe man with a hint of Malayalam
in his accent; Manu got started with Blood and Iron
earlier in the year and has carved quite a name for
himself. He takes pride in playing alongside members
who play music from the heart, with lyrics that can
both inspire and speak to you.
They have stuck to their promise of delivering the tra-
ditional metal that has somehow taken a back seat in
the city otherwise, for when adding a dose of pro-
gressive with an orchestral touch, there is an advan-
tage over other metal bands; simple melody. On an
unbiased note if not the greatest of their kind, these
guys are definitely one of the better acts in the genre.
Blood and Iron have accomplished what other bands
can but aim at, and is certainly one to look forward to
as a representative of the limited underground metal
world. The band is focused on their future plans and
hope they achieve it all!
To summarize, It’s Blood and Iron, Come What May
(All the way)!