Dispellers of darkness
Hyderabad-based metal band Sword has been chosen to compete with eight finalists from other cities in a nationwide battle of the bands.
With an objective to battle depression through music, six youngsters — Neerav (vocalist and keyboard), Ravi Teja (vocalist), Nithin (guitarist), Nischal (base guitarist), Rajiv (drummer) and Sammuel Chinta (guitarist) — all childhood friends who are passionate about music, formed a metal band, Sword (an acronym for Soulfully Worshipping Our Redeemer Daily) in 2013.
After being crowned as the city’s best team in a Nationwide band hunt by an energy drink company, Sword will now compete at the national level along with other bands who are the winners of their respective cities.
“Around 15 bands participated in the regional round and to be topping as the city’s best band is a great feeling. It has given us the required impetus to push ourselves further,” shares guitarist Sammuel Chinta, adding, “The win couldn’t have come at a better time.
This is a great opportunity and platform for us to be heard Nationally. Performing at an All-India level will give us insight into how metal music has been evolving and what the youth want.”
For the final round at the National level, the band recorded a music video titled Andhera, which has been uploaded on the company’s website. It took them nearly a month to write the lyrics, compose and record the number, they say.
“Since Andhera means darkness, the lyrics explain how people should come out of darkness,” explains Nithin, adding, “Since most of the members in the band have battled various depressions and came out of addictions like drugs, alcohol, break-ups, etc. we feel music is a great tool to give hope and transform lives of people who are struggling with depressions, addictions, abuse and anxiety.” The winning band (through online voting) will get the opportunity to record a full-length album for the company, apart from an insightful interaction with industry experts.
Although the band’s earlier songs were a hit, the members feel that metal music is still in the nascent stage.
“In India, we don’t generally encourage metal bands because it is difficult to understand the lyrics,” shares vocalist Ravi Teja, adding, “But we play the music in nu metal where the lyrics of the songs are clean and can be heard. So our focus is not on drums and guitar, but on inspiring and soulful lyrics that people can understand.”
HT04