Tag Archives: Bruce Dickinson

Anaadyanta feat. Higher On Maiden at NMIT, Bangalore

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Photo Credits: Chandra Prakash

Higher on Maiden received what one would say, a sonorous Indian invitation, with the microphones and the drum kit decorated with the customary garlands and needless to say, thousands of screaming fans. This UK band has been officially labeled as Iron Maiden’s only tribute band and the night of 12th March validated that.

The setlist was dynamic and progressive, as the band opened with ‘Moonchild’. Pure, unadulterated Iron Maiden songs were covered with utmost precision. With Big Dickinson’s theatrics that kept him on a par with Bruce Dickinson in addition to his operatic vocals, and Adrian Muth’s incredible stage presence, the fans seemed to be unnerved by the intermittent pauses due to drummer Clive Blurr’s illness.

Anaadyanta feat. Higher On Maiden at NMIT, Bangalore

Apart from Swifty Harris’ galloping bass strumming, one did not fail to notice his striking resemblance with the Iron Maiden legend, Steve Harris. Guitarists Adriam Muth and Dave Hurry alternated with the lead solos, therefore producing a scintillating effect. Clive Blurr’s speedy single pedal drumming was impeccable despite the short breaks he had to take.

The fans had a whale of a time when the band covered Maiden’s most popular songs that were mostly taken from The Number of the Beast. With everyone screaming out “666, The Number of the Beast!” and going as insane during ‘Transylvania’, nothing could be compared with the audience’s response to the quintessential ‘Fear of the Dark’ and ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’.

Anaadyanta feat. Higher On Maiden at NMIT, Bangalore

As soon as the ‘The Trooper’ had begun, a pit was forming. Occasionally, Swifty Harris and Dave Hurry were playing against each other. The harmonizing guitars and the extended lengthy solos were just as impressive, with no glitches whatsoever. Songs like ‘The Trooper’ and ‘Run to the Hills’ that required a fast tempo bass was done exceptionally well.

Meanwhile, Big Dickinson knelt down to the enthusiastic audience, while Adrian Muth got the crowd roaring with laughter. With people shouting the lyrics out loud, crowd surfing, moshing, jumping to catch Dave Hurry’s plectrums and headbanging, the show was kept alive. The low sound levels and the five minute pauses did not drain their spirits, and in fact, the gig moved some people to tears. While the audience expected the band to cover ‘Dance of Death’, Higher on Maiden ended their performance with ‘Run to the Hills’, which was equally enjoyable. All in all, this was a perfect tribute on Steve Harris’ birthday, considering they played his best songs!

Kruthika Swaminathan

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Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

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Goethe Institut, Bangalore witnessed India’s heavy metal band, Kryptos’ extended 15th anniversary celebrations on the 25th of January. The Saturday was a tribute to old school heavy metal with Bangalore-based thrash metal band Theorized opening for Kryptos, and vocalists from Bhoomi, Dying Embrace and Witchgoat making appearances as special guests, to the delight of fans.

Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

The evening began with Theorized ripping the stage apart with Ankit Suryakanth’s shredding lead solos. Yash Kumar’s drumming served as the backbone of Theorized’s music. They had a fully fledged set list, with fast paced riffs, and tempo and count changes that could not allow the crowd to stand still. Soon enough, they began to grow brutal, in response to the Yash’s high speed double kick drumming. Ankit’s extraordinarily extended guitar solos was worth paying homage to. Though initial sound issues were an encumbrance for the band, what it lacked was powerful vocals contributing to the dark atmosphere.

Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

Less than ten people were moshing at first but later, an aggressive and brutal crowd filled the area, leaving gaps for none. Heavy metal clogged the air with Nolan’s raspy vocals, Ganesh’s bass, Rohit’s extended solos and Anthony’s powerful triplets and hammer blasts. Their songs ‘Nexus Legion’ and ‘The Mask of Anubis’ with its progressive riffs conjured a moshpit too ferocious for the place to handle. Rohit’s dexterity made people headbang at his feet, while Ganesh besieged his fans with his skill at the other end.

Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

Nolan kept the crowd mesmerized with the band’s Wacken tales, and soon enough, Kryptos was joined by vocalist Sujay Harthi from Bhoomi. The events that followed next were of pure metal consequence as the gig time travelled to the days of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Metallica. ‘The Trooper’ shook the place with Sujay ‘s vocals almost in lieu with Bruce Dickinson.

Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

As it ended, Dying Embrace’s Vikram Bhatt took possession of the stage. Bhatt covered Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, while enticing the crowd to sing along and headbang throughout.  Bharad Ravi from Witchgoat gave a neck–wrenching performance of ‘Creeping Death’ and ‘Seek & Destroy’. Anthony Hoover’s drumming was adrenaline- inducing and the covers were perfect.  Kryptos performed a final song, accompanied by Rohit’s complex solo. The clock struck 10 before the crowd knew it, and it was long before the blend of melodic metal and thrash metal music could leave them undeterred.

Kryptos’ 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore

Kryptos and Theorized  kept the evening going and Nolan’s conversations kept the audience engaged. The continuous technical issues which Rohit faced were the only things that did not go as planned. All in all, Kryptos made sure that its 15th anniversary was celebrated with a huge metal bang!

Kruthika Swaminathan

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