Now in its 8th edition, G-Shock Bangalore Open Air, has always been an annual pilgrimage for metalheads from within the country and beyond. This year, headliners include death metal giants Suffocation. Formed in 1988 in Centereach, New York, the band is known for its raw style, deep growls and complex guitar riffs. Their 1991 debut album, Effigy of the Forgotten, popularised the death metal genre internationally. We speak to guitarist Terrance Hobbs about the band’s evolution, the line-up and what we can expect from the Bengaluru gig.
You are one of the pioneers of death metal. What are your thoughts on where the genre is today?
When we started out, death metal was still in its infancy in the late ’80s with a handful of bands from the US and Europe. Now it’s a completely different scene with young bands from every corner of the globe, which I think is just great. It’s a testament to the genre that over three decades later, it’s still fresh and innovative.
In the band’s early years, where did you draw inspiration from?
Bands like Sepultura and Napalm Death, certainly. What we play has evolved from grindcore and death metal to technical death metal which, you can say is a more intricate form.
Since you were on a farewell tour with vocalist Frank Mullen last year, what will be the line-up for BOA?
Frank just played his last show with us for a while. Though he is returning for a short burst of shows in Japan later this year. Ricky (Myers, vocalist) is again joining us for the show at Bengaluru.
Will things change for the band after Frank’s retirement?
The band is stronger than ever and we have been very fortunate to find Ricky as a replacement. We have a big catalogue of songs to perform and we just go and do
our thing. Write, record, tour relentlessly.
What can we expect from your set list?
It will be a nice mix of our classics and a few from our last album (...Of the Dark Light) which came out in 2017.
What are you expecting from Bengaluru and from the fest?
Loud and crazy is what I’ve heard from bands who have played in India, so expecting nothing less. I am really looking forward to seeing a few Indian bands on the bill with us at the fest.
Rs. 2,600 upwards. February 9, 2 pm.
At Aadya Farms, Yelahanka
anagha@newindianexpress.com
twitter: @anaghzzz