Blood & Iron, what’s the exclusive story behind the name?
Ø Ashish: We were all sitting around after our second jam session as a band and were wondering what we'd call ourselves. Ideas were being tossed about - we eliminated those names we thought were either too clichéd or too obscure and settled with "Blood & Iron". Considering the type of music we play, it seemed most appropriate. It's Bismarck’s phrase for what it takes for his nation to strengthen.
Please introduce yourselves, (with regard to names, instruments etc) What genre of music does Blood & Iron play ?
Mark Thomas – Vocals
Vivin Kuruvilla – Keyboards
Vikram Bains – Guitars
Ashish Shetty – Guitars
Arun Daniel - Bass Guitars
Manu "Vlad" – Drums
Ø Mark: It is a bit tricky to classify, genre-wise… So I’ll first tell you about our influences. It’s pretty diverse – Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Dream Theatre, Primal Fear, Hammerfall, Grave Digger, Kreator, pre-92 Metallica, Nightwish, Savatage and so many more. These bands cover a wide portion of the metal spectrum, and listening to our music one can easily say we’ve forged a new brand of metal – which is unique and hence, hard to classify. So we’ll just leave it at Heavy Metal. \m/
When was the band formed? How long have you known each other? (Mention previous band members)
Ø Ashish : It began as an idea on Feb14th, 2005. Krishna (our ex-drummer and present drummer of Blind Image) and I were in the same college and we were both die-hard metalheads. For the band: We got friends, and then friends of friends – including Vivin, our keyboardist. By the end of the year we got Mark and Arun, our vocalist and bassist. By August ’06 – We decided it’d be a good idea to get a second guitarist to play dual leads and harmonies – since our songs were screaming for ‘em, and we got Vikram Bains to do just that. He brought with him a rough, old school, thrash edge into the band.
Ø Vivin: After Krishna left we went through quite a few drummers – we finally got Manu in Dec ’07 and he’s made a huge difference to the sound. We’ve stuck with this line-up since then and it’s worked out pretty well for us. We’re all good buds, sharing a passion for metal – and having good fun playing it. The Ex-members list includes: Krishna – Drums, Darren – Guitars, Vikram Raymund - Bass and vocals, Bert – Drums, Praveen – Drums
In 2007, B&I released a self titled debut album. How has the band evolved since then?
Ø Vikram: The experiences we garnered from the first album taught us a lot, and this second album will be a testament to the fact that this band is anything but static. The songs are more powerful, they're catchier, Vivin absolutely shines with his keyboard and we've got a lot of dual guitar solos - all in all, it's a different experience compared to the first album
Ø Arun: As of now, we’re planning on naming the album as “Dynamite World”. It’s got about 6 songs in it: In Darkness, Dynamite World, Promised Lands, Altar Of Blood and Anarchy. It’s very different from our debut album – be sure to check it out once it’s out
Tell us about the concept behind the first album and the upcoming second album
Ø Vivin: The first album was a concept album. The tale of a Soviet soldier fighting in WWII in the bloody Eastern Front. It's about how pre-war euphoria gets twisted into despair through the bitter experiences and scars which only war can deliver. It's got twists in the story and it's intentionally a little ambiguous at the end. Was quite a lyrical effort to put it all together
Ø Mark: The second album tackles a wide variety of topics. From socio-political philosophy to prophetic promises, from dark epic fantasy to brutal stark reality – Dynamite World does not bother being politically correct. The track list for this album is Anarchy, Dynamite World, In Darkness, Kneel at the Altar, Unleash the Beast, Promised Lands
When will the second album be released? Any nation-wide tours planned for promotion?
Ø Arun: The album should be released by the end of June, or by early July. Hopefully the release coincides with the June Rock Out (JRO) festival, which is an annual music festival in Chennai and Bangalore.
Ø Ashish: As far as tours and shows are concerned, we've got our ears to the ground and are looking to play as many shows as possible to promote this album
You guys were judged by Opeth at IIT Saarang. What was it like? What were the thoughts running through your head while you were on stage?
Ø Mark: The show at IIT-Saarang was pretty good. We were the only metal band to qualify to the finals. This band is cursed in one aspect – when we pick lots, we usually pick the #1 spot, and this time was no exception. We kick started the show and the show went quite well. The sound on stage was brilliant and the crowd was brilliant. All in all, a good show. I felt quite honoured when I was selected as the “Best Vocalist” by Opeth – we had quite a party after that show.
What is your most memorable concert so far?
Ø Manu: We’ve had so many – it’s really, really hard to point out one particular time. We’ve had a blast everywhere from Kolkotta to Kerala. I guess I answer for the band when I say that every time we play for a crowd of music lovers and metalheads – it’s a memorable concert right there. The feeling of being up on stage, playing the kind of music you love is special – and if the audience connects, it becomes so much more than that.
What songs do you perform most frequently? Do you play covers? If so, which ones?
Ø Ashish: We usually play only original compositions, and that’s been our modus operandi since our first show. But for shows which stretch beyond an hour we usually throw in a cover or two. We've covered Maiden, Metallica, Grave Digger, Nightwish, Kreator and Whitesnake to name a few, through the years.
Any anecdotes or stories about the band? From the jam room to the studio to the gigs?
Ø Arun: There's so many stories - and most of them are just scandalous! This band has given us all so many fond memories and experiences - it's been an awesome ride. The way I look at it, we're all good friends - we love playing our kind of music and partying pretty hard after that. Absolutely no politics within the band and that’s very important for a band's longevity. We've got good synergy on and off the stage, and that definitely helps too.
Who writes the music for B&I? Tell us about the song-writing process.
Ø Vivin: Ashish or Vikram usually come up with a few riffs they think go well together and they bring it to the rest of us. We build a song from that point. So, as far as the music is concerned the whole band is involved. Lyrics are handled by Mark and Ashish, and Vikram chips in with ideas from time to time. We follow absolutely no formulae as far as music or song structures are concerned – it’s probably the first thing one can notice when they listen to our songs. It’s not chaos, but it’s not rigid in any sense either.
What are the lyrical and musical themes behind B&I's music?
Ø Ashish: We place a great emphasis on quality lyrics – every song has an idea behind it. Substandard lyrics jus don’t pass muster as far as we’re concerned. I honestly believe one can put up the lyrics of this band and it would be as good as anything any other band on the international scene has to offer. Lyrical and musical themes are quite varied. The first album dealt with war and the psyche of a soldier undergoing that. The second album has a bit of everything... Except songs about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. :-P
How do the band members manage between work (and college) and jam sessions? How often does the band rehearse?
Ø Vikram: We're all working now, as opposed to some of us who were in college last year. And it is pretty hard to meet up and practice (or record). But we've managed with difficult timings right from the inception of this band - and we set aside weekends for band-related activities. We're quite strict while rehearsing as well, before shows it's as much as it's humanly possible.
What are the challenges ahead of the band right now? And what is the goal ahead?
Ø Ashish: We were all sitting around after our second jam session as a band and were wondering what we'd call ourselves. Ideas were being tossed about - we eliminated those names we thought were either too clichéd or too obscure and settled with "Blood & Iron". Considering the type of music we play, it seemed most appropriate. It's Bismarck’s phrase for what it takes for his nation to strengthen.
Please introduce yourselves, (with regard to names, instruments etc) What genre of music does Blood & Iron play ?
Mark Thomas – Vocals
Vivin Kuruvilla – Keyboards
Vikram Bains – Guitars
Ashish Shetty – Guitars
Arun Daniel - Bass Guitars
Manu "Vlad" – Drums
Ø Mark: It is a bit tricky to classify, genre-wise… So I’ll first tell you about our influences. It’s pretty diverse – Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Dream Theatre, Primal Fear, Hammerfall, Grave Digger, Kreator, pre-92 Metallica, Nightwish, Savatage and so many more. These bands cover a wide portion of the metal spectrum, and listening to our music one can easily say we’ve forged a new brand of metal – which is unique and hence, hard to classify. So we’ll just leave it at Heavy Metal. \m/
When was the band formed? How long have you known each other? (Mention previous band members)
Ø Ashish : It began as an idea on Feb14th, 2005. Krishna (our ex-drummer and present drummer of Blind Image) and I were in the same college and we were both die-hard metalheads. For the band: We got friends, and then friends of friends – including Vivin, our keyboardist. By the end of the year we got Mark and Arun, our vocalist and bassist. By August ’06 – We decided it’d be a good idea to get a second guitarist to play dual leads and harmonies – since our songs were screaming for ‘em, and we got Vikram Bains to do just that. He brought with him a rough, old school, thrash edge into the band.
Ø Vivin: After Krishna left we went through quite a few drummers – we finally got Manu in Dec ’07 and he’s made a huge difference to the sound. We’ve stuck with this line-up since then and it’s worked out pretty well for us. We’re all good buds, sharing a passion for metal – and having good fun playing it. The Ex-members list includes: Krishna – Drums, Darren – Guitars, Vikram Raymund - Bass and vocals, Bert – Drums, Praveen – Drums
In 2007, B&I released a self titled debut album. How has the band evolved since then?Ø Vikram: The experiences we garnered from the first album taught us a lot, and this second album will be a testament to the fact that this band is anything but static. The songs are more powerful, they're catchier, Vivin absolutely shines with his keyboard and we've got a lot of dual guitar solos - all in all, it's a different experience compared to the first album
Ø Arun: As of now, we’re planning on naming the album as “Dynamite World”. It’s got about 6 songs in it: In Darkness, Dynamite World, Promised Lands, Altar Of Blood and Anarchy. It’s very different from our debut album – be sure to check it out once it’s out
Tell us about the concept behind the first album and the upcoming second album
Ø Vivin: The first album was a concept album. The tale of a Soviet soldier fighting in WWII in the bloody Eastern Front. It's about how pre-war euphoria gets twisted into despair through the bitter experiences and scars which only war can deliver. It's got twists in the story and it's intentionally a little ambiguous at the end. Was quite a lyrical effort to put it all together
Ø Mark: The second album tackles a wide variety of topics. From socio-political philosophy to prophetic promises, from dark epic fantasy to brutal stark reality – Dynamite World does not bother being politically correct. The track list for this album is Anarchy, Dynamite World, In Darkness, Kneel at the Altar, Unleash the Beast, Promised Lands
When will the second album be released? Any nation-wide tours planned for promotion?
Ø Arun: The album should be released by the end of June, or by early July. Hopefully the release coincides with the June Rock Out (JRO) festival, which is an annual music festival in Chennai and Bangalore.
Ø Ashish: As far as tours and shows are concerned, we've got our ears to the ground and are looking to play as many shows as possible to promote this album
You guys were judged by Opeth at IIT Saarang. What was it like? What were the thoughts running through your head while you were on stage?
Ø Mark: The show at IIT-Saarang was pretty good. We were the only metal band to qualify to the finals. This band is cursed in one aspect – when we pick lots, we usually pick the #1 spot, and this time was no exception. We kick started the show and the show went quite well. The sound on stage was brilliant and the crowd was brilliant. All in all, a good show. I felt quite honoured when I was selected as the “Best Vocalist” by Opeth – we had quite a party after that show.
What is your most memorable concert so far?
Ø Manu: We’ve had so many – it’s really, really hard to point out one particular time. We’ve had a blast everywhere from Kolkotta to Kerala. I guess I answer for the band when I say that every time we play for a crowd of music lovers and metalheads – it’s a memorable concert right there. The feeling of being up on stage, playing the kind of music you love is special – and if the audience connects, it becomes so much more than that.
What songs do you perform most frequently? Do you play covers? If so, which ones?
Ø Ashish: We usually play only original compositions, and that’s been our modus operandi since our first show. But for shows which stretch beyond an hour we usually throw in a cover or two. We've covered Maiden, Metallica, Grave Digger, Nightwish, Kreator and Whitesnake to name a few, through the years.
Any anecdotes or stories about the band? From the jam room to the studio to the gigs?
Ø Arun: There's so many stories - and most of them are just scandalous! This band has given us all so many fond memories and experiences - it's been an awesome ride. The way I look at it, we're all good friends - we love playing our kind of music and partying pretty hard after that. Absolutely no politics within the band and that’s very important for a band's longevity. We've got good synergy on and off the stage, and that definitely helps too.
Who writes the music for B&I? Tell us about the song-writing process.
Ø Vivin: Ashish or Vikram usually come up with a few riffs they think go well together and they bring it to the rest of us. We build a song from that point. So, as far as the music is concerned the whole band is involved. Lyrics are handled by Mark and Ashish, and Vikram chips in with ideas from time to time. We follow absolutely no formulae as far as music or song structures are concerned – it’s probably the first thing one can notice when they listen to our songs. It’s not chaos, but it’s not rigid in any sense either.
What are the lyrical and musical themes behind B&I's music?
Ø Ashish: We place a great emphasis on quality lyrics – every song has an idea behind it. Substandard lyrics jus don’t pass muster as far as we’re concerned. I honestly believe one can put up the lyrics of this band and it would be as good as anything any other band on the international scene has to offer. Lyrical and musical themes are quite varied. The first album dealt with war and the psyche of a soldier undergoing that. The second album has a bit of everything... Except songs about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. :-P
How do the band members manage between work (and college) and jam sessions? How often does the band rehearse?
Ø Vikram: We're all working now, as opposed to some of us who were in college last year. And it is pretty hard to meet up and practice (or record). But we've managed with difficult timings right from the inception of this band - and we set aside weekends for band-related activities. We're quite strict while rehearsing as well, before shows it's as much as it's humanly possible.
What are the challenges ahead of the band right now? And what is the goal ahead?
Ø Mark: The challenge is publicity and getting our music out there. Not just to the Indian audience, but to a much wider international audience as well. Our goal is to get signed on by a reputed international recording label, and all our efforts are directed there.
Are you signed on to any record label? Or looking for one?
Ø Ashish: No, we aren't at the moment. We've got a few offers from some minor labels here but we thought it'd be best till we wait till after the second album to see what our options are. So we've got our options open.
How fans can access your music online ?
Ø Arun: We've got our music put up on Reverbnation and Myspace. Check them out and support us.
http://www.reverbnation.com/bloodnironx
http://www.myspace.com/bloodnironx
Is there someone you’d like to give a shout out for all the support?
Ø Vivin: Our families - first and foremost. They have been beyond supportive and then we'd also like to thank our fans who've stuck with us and have faith in this band. Bands from Chennai hardly get any publicity, but we've been fortunate enough to garner some really die-hard fans from all over the country.
Special message to your fans?
Ø Blood and Iron: Stay Metal \m/
Are you signed on to any record label? Or looking for one?
Ø Ashish: No, we aren't at the moment. We've got a few offers from some minor labels here but we thought it'd be best till we wait till after the second album to see what our options are. So we've got our options open.
How fans can access your music online ?
Ø Arun: We've got our music put up on Reverbnation and Myspace. Check them out and support us.
http://www.reverbnation.com/bloodnironx
http://www.myspace.com/bloodnironx
Is there someone you’d like to give a shout out for all the support?
Ø Vivin: Our families - first and foremost. They have been beyond supportive and then we'd also like to thank our fans who've stuck with us and have faith in this band. Bands from Chennai hardly get any publicity, but we've been fortunate enough to garner some really die-hard fans from all over the country.
Special message to your fans?
Ø Blood and Iron: Stay Metal \m/
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