Bloodywood – Nu Delhi
Bloodywood – Nu Delhi
Fearless Records
Release Dat: 21/03/2025
Review by Beth Morait
10/10
Ok, I’m going to start this with a disclaimer. I bloody love Bloodywood! Not just for their music, but for their amazing message and ethos, highlighting the social causes, and individual issues and problems that so many around the world experience, and for their devotion to improving lives through charitable causes. So, this album, unless something absolutely catastrophic had happened, was always going to get a decent score for me. Thankfully, it’s another god-damn banger!!!
Opening with ‘Halla Bol’ we’re instantly treated to the unique, but now synonymous sound of Bloodywood, melding traditional Indian melodies and instruments with Nu-Metal hooks, that are so driven and well executed you just can’t help getting drawn in and banging your head to the fury.
Jayant’s heavy vocals alongside now-permanent-band-member Roal Kerr’s rap vocals are simply masterful and brilliant throughout the album, and they are the driving force behind the now-fully-cemented sound of Bloodywood. Tracks like ‘Daggerbaaz’ and ‘Hutt’ hold great examples of this, with the latter being one of my stand-out tracks of the album (although it’s a damn hard choice because every track is superb). It’s a brutal number about self-validation, and standing up to the negative noise, which literally everyone can relate to right now. Anything that sticks it to the man is a winner in my book. And when it’s done with the brutal force and power of this track, it’s a message that’s elevated to the next level.
Instrumentation-wise, on the front of it, most tracks sound like chunky Nu-Metal, full of riffs and powerful bass lines, backed up by thunderous drums, and some ambient synth sounds. But, listen carefully and you’ll hear traditional Indian Folk instruments sitting in the back of the mix, and occasionally getting their chance to stand out as the lead, for example, at the beginning of ‘Kismat’. ‘Daggerbaaz’ also has a chorus that follows a traditional Indian Folk melody line, which just works so well! Who knew Indian Folk and Metal was a marriage made in heaven, eh?
Roal’s rap vocals really get a chance to stand out on the next track ‘Dhadak’, along with the traditional Indian melodic vocals, which remind you that this whole wonderous sound was born from Folk Music. I really can’t stress enough how frickin pleasing, and groundbreaking this is, in my opinion.
The crazy brilliance kicks up another gear for the next track, too, with a guest appearance from Babymetal!! WTAF?! But it bloody works, and bloody brilliantly! Why? Because it’s Bloodywood and they can make anything they want into a damn masterpiece, that’s why! Like master potters, they take to their wheel, blending, pulling, and forming sounds into intricate works of art.
Like I said, it’s damn near impossible to pick out a favourite track from this album, but ‘Tadka’ is up there. Rap vocals, pacey, angry instrumentations, constant Folk elements, and a chant-a-long chorus that would have stadiums bouncing. Literally there is nothing not to like.
The only thing wrong with this album is that it ends. This album is yet another masterstroke from these boundary-defying legends from Delhi. If perfection had a sound, it would be this. And the feeling I have right now is like the feeling you get when you watch the season finale of your favourite show. The empty feeling of knowing it’s over for now, and you’re going to have to wait for ages to feel that dopamine-fuelled exhilaration again. I’m already planning my next binge-listen to the Bloodywood back catalogue. And unless something utterly mind-blowing happens, this will absolutely be my album of the year for 2025.
Before I go apoplectic with joy, I’ll leave you with this final, and profound statement (Jayant’s Hindi lyrics from the track ‘Bekhauf’):
“ना किसी िा ज़ोर, िदम बढ़ेंगे ठ़ोस, हर जंग फतहे िर दंगा मैं बेखौफ ”
(No force can restrain me; Every stride is firm and sure. I conquer every battle, Fearlessly)
TRACKLISTING:
01. Halla Bol
02. Hutt
03. Dhadak
04. Bekhauf (feat. BABYMETAL)
05. Kismat
06. Daggebaaz
07. Tadka
08. Nu Delhi
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Beth Morait and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
