Metal mantra

Breaking out from the underground

by SUBEL BHANDARI

FROM ISSUE # 122 (February 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE
	REFER TO FRIEND		PRINT THIS ARTICLE

ANUP PRAKASH

They are loud. They scream, howl and growl. They are vocal about politics and current issues. They are the first metal band to break out from the underground scene to the mainstream.

X-mantra was formed as a rock band because these boys wanted to participate in the Shikhar Music Beat Contest. When they were kicked out in the very first round, they decided to take music seriously and start a new trend in Nepali music. It was 2001 when Rajan, the drummer, jammed with Puru, the bassist, vocalist Rojesh, and guitarist Pawan to become the first metal band in Nepal.

The four young musicians had played with other bands before. Rajan with The Gokhtays and The Revive, Rojesh with Kicha, Puru with Nima Rumba's first band The Peace, and Dead Soul. The Dead Soul is still a popular hard rock band which performed tribute gigs to Metallica and Iron Maiden, which are landmarks in the English-listening Nepali music scene.

X-Mantra released their first single Salik in Tik and Tok's hard rock collection album Music Isles: I. The song was a hit and the band followed it with their debut album Crying for Peace, produced by Tik and Tok. Rajan reminisces about their 2PM to 10PM practice hours for their first album. For their second album, Rajan's younger brother Rakesh joined them. Titled Kurshi, X-mantra had a hardcore metal sound with political lyrics. Once Kurshi was released, Pawan left for UK and Puru for Malaysia. Still X-mantra has produced their third album, X-mantra, a commercial breakthrough, with just Rojesh, Rakesh, and Rajan. Piyush joined them as bassist but only after the album had been recorded. Now, they are working on their fourth album, which they say is rap metal, featuring commercial rap artistes.

X-mantra works closely with lyricist Om Lal Akela. They tell him the subject then compose the song. "We don't want to compromise," says Rojesh. "We want political and social messages in our songs because it gives us power and energy. Every time we sing, play or compose such songs, we feel satisfied."

X-mantra is influenced by bands like Sepultura, Pantera, and Slayer. "We try to help new Nepali bands so they don't have to struggle as much as we did," say X-mantra members. They speak very highly of underground bands Cruentus and Antim Grahan. "Playing in the underground scene was fun but later, we wanted to do more" they say. Even now, because we are a pure metal band, we have a limited market. Record labels still want us to play soft music."

X-mantra wants to take Nepali music to the next level. "We want to get into the international mainstream market," says Rajan, "but we have a long way to go. As X-mantra, we have a niche market here, a good fan-base and now just need to convince record labels that metal can also thrive."