Melodic leap back to the glorious 80’s!

After enthralling rock lovers of the North East for the last two years, the new rock sensation from Upper Assam Filharmonix released their debut album ‘Hot n High’ in front of mediapersons in Guwahati last week. An eagerly awaited album by this hard rock band based in Upper Assam, with Hot n High the band takes you on a musical rollercoaster ride back to the times of the roaring and the glorious 80’s.

Nava Thakuria and Bala Bhadra Hagjer releasing the album

Veteran journalist and editor of News Network Television Nava Thakuria formally released the album in the presence of veteran harmonica player and Sales Tax Commissioner BB Hagjer. Talking about the band’s debut album, Thakuria appreciated the efforts of the band members and said that a society can develop only when it is able to imbibe influence from other cultures and musical genres.

Hot n High, which has been recorded, mixed and mastered at Lucid Recess Studios of Guwahati, can simply be termed as a straight melodic leap back to the glorious 80’s. Rock and roll at its very best, Hot n High has a bit of everything for everyone, providing lovers of 80’s music to relive their love with rock n roll once again. The first thing that strikes you about the album is its cover. Designed by Manabendra Narayan Dutta Baruah, it has a lot of 80’s feel to it, giving the buyer enough of an idea about what to expect from the disc inside.

Album cover

A heavy meal band from Jothat, Filharmonix was formed in 2009 when Purab (ex-Axes n Angles), K.K (ex-Stellar Core) n Anu, Ved n Avi (ex-Unison) decided to merge together to play their “kind of music”. With each member drawing inspiration from various genres, all the band members have brought their own influences and their experiences in the rock circuit into the band’s music which has resulted in the trademark Filharmonix sound – a melodic blend of the old school heavy metal,
glam metal and hard rock.

Hot n High begins with the track Heavy Metal Cowboy, which is also the heaviest number in the entire album. With pulsating drum rolls and stunning guitar riffs, this track provides the perfect start by letting the listener know what to expect from the album. The next track U’d Look Hot and No No are perfect derivates of a mixture of hard rock and old school heavy metal, followed by Anaa Inside – a sensitive rocksy-type ballad of love and longing. A definite thumbs up!

The band’s most well known track L.O.V.E. Machine follows next. Marked by the striking guitar interludes and highly energized vocals, L.O.V.E. Machine with its mixture of glam metal and hard rock is all about having a good time. Well, I surely did have a good time listening to this one!

While most of the band’s lyrics shift around enjoying life the rock n roll way, the album also has a few sensitive lyrics like For You and Daddy’s Girl besides Anna’s Inside. Daddy’s Girl dwells on the dilemmas faced by girls from middle-class families of the region who leave their homes aspiring to make it big in the world of fame and glamour, only to be greeted with darkness and despair. The high point of this track is definitely Purab’s vocals.

At a time when extreme metal has dominated the entire rock circuit, Filharmonix with its debut album has given rock lovers enough to cheer. I highly recommend this album to all those who grew up on a staple diet of hard rock and heavy metal.

Album of modern Assamese songs released

An album of modern Assamese songs Dusoku was released by Poet Hiren Bhattacharya at city-based Raj Studios recently. A number of eminent personalities were present in the album release function which also included noted designer Garima Saikia Garg.

Dusoku - album cover

The singers who have lent their voice to the album are Priyanka Bharali, Sarat Neel Borgohain, Nilakkhi Neog, Pranab Lukhurakhon, Monurom Gogoi and Pupu Molia. The music has been arranged by Uzzal Aarong and Bharat Saikia and the album has been mixed and mastered by Mintu of Raj Studios. Peter Basumatory and Arabindra Basumatory are the producers of this album which is being marketed by Suhag Electronics.

While most of the songs are based on themes such as life, love and longing, the album has a peppy feel to it. The album begins with the track Dusokute Dusoku – the title track sung by Sarat and Nilakkhi. This is followed by the beautiful Jibone Ki Goti Lole, sung by Priyanka. Pranab and Nilakkhi then pweform a duet in the form of Timra Mayale. Monurom Gogoi has lent his voice to three tracks namely Jaan Tur, Hou Torati and Kuheli Kai, while Jiboney and Tumi Aahiba are two tracks featuring Papu Molia.

Carnage launches debut EP

HEADBANGERS TRAIL

Bari & Rupert_Midnight Garden Factor

Two much talked about metal gigs were held at city-based pub Blues lounge recently. Both events were organized by Cybertree India in association with Rockarolla Events and Indian Music Mug.

The first show ‘Carnage’, which was held on July 12th, marked the launch of Launch of Guwahati-based Experimental metal outfit Dark Carnage’s debut EP- ‘Abominate. Annihilate’. Besides an enthralling performance by Dark Carnage, the evening also featured other local bands like Fatal Malice, Day 69 and Agnostic.

Girish Pradhan_ Silver Tears

The second show ‘Dawnbringer 2011’ featured one of the country’s best known bands and winners of Yamaha Asia Beats Regional finals Silver Tears. The evening also featured outfits like Dark Carnage and Rectified Spirit from Guwahati. Two of Shillong’s most well known metal outfits – Plague Throat and Midnight Garden Factor – also performed on the occasion.