Rudra (band)
Rudra | |
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General information | |
Genre (s) | Death metal , folk metal |
founding | 1992 as Rudhra |
Website | http://www.rudraonline.org/ |
Founding members | |
Kathir | |
Bala | |
Shiva | |
Current occupation | |
Vocals, bass |
Kathir |
Drums |
Shiva |
guitar |
Vinod (since 2009) |
guitar |
Devan (since 2007) |
former members | |
guitar |
Selvam (2000-2009) |
guitar |
Canaan (2000-2007) |
Rudra is a death metal band from Singapore . The name is derived from the Vedic deity Rudra .
history
After the band was founded in 1992 under the name Rudhra by Kathir, Bala and Shiva, the trio, supplemented by guitarist Selvam, recorded the demo The Past (1995) two years later . After a break of almost a year, Rudra (in their current spelling) became active again and recorded their first studio album with Rudra in July 1997. The album was released in July 1998 by Candlelight Productions and Sonic Wave International. A re-release took place in 2006.
The following albums ( The Aryan Crusade 2001, Kurukshetra 2003, Brahmavidya: Primordial I 2005) were recorded with the guitarists Kannan and Selvam, who had since left the band. In March 2007, Kannan left the band and was replaced by Devan. The two albums Brahmavidya: Transcendental I (2009) and Brahmavidya: Immortal I (2011) followed. On this album played for the first time Vinod, who replaced Selvam in July 2009.
style
Rudra play fast death metal influenced by traditional Indian music , whose lyrics are inspired by the Veda . Accordingly, the band calls their music Vedic Metal . Although comparisons with Nile and Orphaned Land are often mentioned because of the same approach, these bands are not an inspiration, according to Rudra. The style was developed independently of these groups and was based on the amalgamation of metal music in general, with different representatives such as Slayer , Death , Sepultura , Bathory , Obituary and Kreator , but also Glam Metal , with influences from folk and world music artists such as Ravi Shankar , Loreena McKennitt and Krishna Das . While only Indian raga and melodies were represented on the first albums , traditional instruments and choral singing in Sanskrit were increasingly used .
The albums Brahmavidya: Primordial I , Brahmavidya: Transcendental I and Brahmavidya: Immortal I are a trilogy that deals with an ancient yoga teaching from India. The other texts also contain themes from Indian mysticism. The album Kurukshetra refers to a battlefield in the Mahabharata .
reception
Along with Impiety, Rudra are one of the few metal bands from Singapore that have become internationally known. Due to their origins they occupy a special position in the metal scene, as it is hardly possible for them to tour internationally. Therefore appearances only took place in neighboring countries ( Thailand , Malaysia and Indonesia ) and a few appearances in India and the United States . In their homeland they are, according to their own statement, perceived as “one of the more popular bands. Even compared to pop acts in [their] country. "
The band is repeatedly asked about the title of their second album The Aryan Crusade . In this context, the volume refers to the original word meaning of the term Aryans , which was taken from Vedic and Buddhist texts and was misused by the National Socialists . In this context, Rudra distances himself from any racist ideology and from the National Socialist Black Metal , who is known for using the Aryan term in the National Socialist context.
Discography
Demos
- 1994: The Past
Studio albums
- 1998: Rudra (rerelease 2006)
- 2001: The Aryan Crusade
- 2003: Kurukshetra
- 2005: Brahmavidya: Primordial I
- 2009: Brahmavidya: Transcendental I
- 2011: Brahmavidya: Immortal I
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Biography. (No longer available online.) Official website, archived from the original on July 16, 2011 ; Retrieved May 24, 2011 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b Discography. (No longer available online.) Official website, archived from the original on July 16, 2011 ; Retrieved May 24, 2011 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ a b c EvilG, Lord of the Wasteland, and Los Muertos: Interview with Kathir from RUDRA. Metal-rules.com, accessed May 24, 2011 .
- ↑ a b Jens Groh: Interview with Kathir. Rock Times, November 15, 2009, accessed May 24, 2011 .