Nu Delhi

Indian heavy metal group Bloodywood traffics in a distinctive style that combines crushing nu-metal and rap-metal with regional folk music. The band made waves in 2017 with the release of Anti-Pop, Vol. 1, a wide-ranging collection of covers (Linkin Park, Backstreet Boys, 50 Cent) delivered with extreme prejudice. Looking to avoid becoming a novelty act, the band followed up on the album's success in 2022 with Rakshak, a set of originals rooted in themes of socio-political discord and mental health struggles. In 2024, the innovative folk metallers teamed up with Japanese pop-metal group Babymetal on the dynamic single "Bekhauf."

Based in New Delhi, the project grew out of a series of parody metal covers of Bollywood pop songs uploaded by co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Karan Katiyar. After hiring Jayant Bhadula to handle vocals, the duo began operating under the Bloodywood moniker and quickly caught the public's attention with a brutal cover of Linkin Park's "Heavy." More eclectic covers followed (Ariana Grande, Nirvana), most of which made their way onto the group's 2017 compilation LP Anti-Pop, Vol. 1. The band enlisted rapper Raoul Kerr for their 2018 rendition of Bombay Rockers' "Ari Ari," which became a streaming hit thanks to Bollywood actress Ileana D'Cruz, who shared the track on her social media. The song's success encouraged Bloodywood to start penning their own songs, beginning with the mental illness awareness cut "Jee Veerey," which saw them partner with the online counseling site HopeTherapy. They took on bullying in 2019 with the anthemic "Endurant," followed by the rousing "Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)." Now operating as a trio with Kerr's membership having become official, Bloodywood began laying down tracks for their first set of originals. Released in 2022, the acclaimed Rakshak, which featured the sonically and emotionally potent singles "Gaddaar" and "Dana-Dan," became the first album by an Indian heavy metal group to appear on the Billboard charts. Two years later, Bloodywood inked a deal with Fearless Records and released a pair of singles, "Nu-Delhi" and Bekhauf," the latter of which featured Kawaii metal legends Babymetal. ~ James Christopher Monger