NEWS: Rudra new album soon

Rudra is a veteran extreme metal band from Singapore. They have a new album coming up on December 17, 2016, and some songs are available now. The new album is called Enemy of Duality and the band has worked hard at creating an album that stands out for its quality and for the songwriting. The music can probably be broadly categorized, more than anything, as black metal, but the band's emphasis on incorporating some cultural elements (they call it "Vedic metal") and melodies contrasts well with the otherwise harsh nature of the music. For these reasons, if quality matters to you and you are seeking metal music that is real metal, but that also can grab your attention, Rudra is music to give some serious consideration.

OFFICIAL: 'Vedic metal' pioneers since the early '90s return this year with their most ambitious album till date. Having worked hard over the years to forge a unique sound that's a sublime blend of Indian classical music rooted in ancient spirituality and extreme metal encompassing death metal, black metal and thrash metal music, Rudra have influenced many and more importantly, have set standards. Unheralded overlords of Asia, Rudra have a cult following that remains mysteriously loyal, as they hone a sound that's probably unparalleled. Their latest album, again founded on the principles of Vedic spirituality, extemporizes on the conventional extreme metal template and achieves hitherto unknown sonic effects. Indian classical instruments such as sitar, flute, tablas (Indian percussion) and even a didgeridoo are used for this album, along with female vocals and ritualistic chanting to emanate a genuine, spiritual expression. 'Enemy of Duality' is destined to be a landmark from the Orient, one that doesn't abandon the ancient roots and blends the traditional sounds and philosophies seamlessly into music that's at once challenging and hypnotic.

Biography: The world was introduced to the exotic sounds of Vedic Metal from Singapore in 1998 with the release of the self titled debut album. How ironical that Vedic Metal originated in a tiny island in South East Asia instead of India, the land of Vedic Mysticism and sacrifices. Although the band has been alive since 1992, it was in 1998 that the world finally got a taste of what this legendary outfit had to offer the world of Metal. The debut album was a revolutionary and unprecedented statement in extreme metal at the time. The good production in spite of it being recorded with a shoestring budget and its unique songwriting amazed reviewers around the world. The lyrical theme being the ancient Vedic philosophies made RUDRA really the founders of this genre.

2001's ‘The Aryan Crusade’ cemented RUDRA’s reputation as truly innovative and visionary composers by pushing the boundaries of their previous offering further. Till date many fans around the world consider this album to be definitive Vedic Metal album. 'The Aryan Crusade' retained the extreme metal sound along with their exotic sound that had become their trademark and took it to another dimension.

With two groundbreaking albums behind them, the band had become a force destined for recognition further outside of the ever evolving metal community. In 2003, they started to put out concept albums and ‘Kurukshetra’ was released with the theme taken off the famous battle featured in the Indian epic Mahabharata. 'Kurukshetra' proved that RUDRA can also be fine Death/Black Metal musicians. 2005 marked another turning point for the band. This time they pushed their craft further by releasing the first of a Trilogy entitled ‘Brahmavidya: Primordial I’. With this album RUDRA was perceived as a band that ever-evolved to become a reality far beyond comprehension. Till date the song ‘The Pathless Path to the Knowable Unknown’ of this album has become the Anthem of Vedic Metal.

2009 saw the release of the second chapter of the Brahmavidya trilogy, ‘Brahmavidya: Transcendental I’. This was another masterpiece with longer songs and trance inducing interludes. Soon after this release, the band produced an epic video for the song ‘Hymns from the Blazing Chariot’ which was nominated for an award in the local film industry.

In 2010 RUDRA made another breakthrough by incorporating traditional and contemporary dance into their performance. This was staged at the Indian Arts Festival in 2010 with rousing reviews.

The phenomenal artistic achievement of a band hidden in the tropical forests of South East Asia has been missed by many but not the musicologists. Several papers have been published about RUDRA and Vedic Metal, making them a band for both metalheads and academics.

2011 brought the final chapter of the Trilogy entitled ‘Brahmavidya: Immortal I’. The band is currently doing a world tour and planning to stage a full length Metal Dance fusion performance.

New album- Enemy Of Duality to be out via Transcending Obscurity- Asia- 2016.

Rudra (Singapore) - Ancient Fourth (Vedic Metal)

www.rudrametal.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/RudraBand/