For anyone who is unaware, Bloodywood are a band from India who mix traditional of Hindi folk music and Nu-Metal. The thing is, although these two genres share the space, they are both incorporated 100%, leading to such a full platter of sound. Imagine a Bollywood film exploding into your room, complete with 11 Metal bands, and you get an idea of the sound on offer here. Having had the joy of seeing Bloodywood live, I can attest to this being as true live as it is on the recordings.
Bloodywood – Nu Delhi
Release Date: 21 March 2025
Words: Sid Kissinger
Nu Delhi is Bloodywood’s third album and comes straight from the heart, given the band lives and was formed in New Delhi. Members Karan Katiyar, Jayant Bhadula and Raoul Kerr have cooked up a storming set of eight songs for you to get your teeth into.
The mixture of Hindi and English lyrics alongside traditional Indian instruments and rhythms blended with ‘traditional’ Metal sounds feels unique and a phenomenal blast of heavy music. They are truly the torch-bearers of Indian Metal.
Even if you cannot follow all the lyrics, there is plenty of English to show how much these songs are from the heart. In the past, they have been very politically outspoken, and although that has not lessened, Nu Delhi brings in homely factors of the band. There are aims of positivity, such as incidents of historical importance in Halla Bol or the ideas of self-validation and standing up to the negative noise in Hutt, or even just the joy of Indian food with Tadka.
“We’re trying to push the limits of the impact that music can have on the world,” explains Raoul Kerr as he reflects on the message of the band, “Whether it’s the battles within or the fight for a better world, our sound is meant to bring everyone together and win.”
All the songs on the album work a treat as a whole, leaving you wanting more. Some standout songs include the Asian collaboration with Babymetal (singing in Japanese) for the song Bekhauf (meaning fearlessly). This song is a high-octane song fusing even more sounds together into a tight package to blow your ears off whilst lyrically giving such a passioned force for standing up to life’s challenges fearlessly.
Tadka is another song which feels so personal to the band and Indian culture. “Tadka is a Metal tribute to Indian food,” the band explains. “The word ‘Tadka’ is a cooking process in Indian cuisine where spices are heated in hot oil or ghee to create a more aromatic flavour… It’s about going the extra mile in the pursuit of a greater flavour.”
This song is definitely more phaal than korma, though, with a super heavy chorus of “tadka, tadka, tadka, tadka, tadkaaaaaa” alongside excellent lyrical homage to traditional Indian cooking.
Last but not least on the album is the title track, Nu Delhi, a song about their home and epicentre of Bloodywood’s international Metal explosion. The song is full of realistic but positive and passionate lyrics about New Delhi.”Every day’s a festival in Delhi; It’ll love you like it’s own (but if you fuck around, you won’t be found),” sings Jayant Bhadula.
Bloodywood are touring imminently, and the live shows are a real festival of sound, with the band and fans sharing a special bond and passion for the music.
“We couldn’t believe how much the band means to the fans,” Jayant told us. “They bring flags to the show, get our lyrics tattooed, give us personalised gifts and most importantly, share the hell out of our music.
“We are blessed to have such great supporters that not only do they connect with the music, but they also become one with it. They may not understand all the languages we sing in, but we feel their passion as they sing those words along with us.”
Nu Delhi is a fantastic album and will champion Eastern Metal to the world. You might need a raita side dish to help cool down after hearing this album.
Bloodywood release Nu Delhi on 21 March 2025 via Fearless Records, which can be pre-ordered from here.
