Indian metal bands in Oslo

While most Norwegians spent some quiet days during Easter vacation, metal fans from all over the world gathered in Oslo to enjoy black metal during this year's Inferno Metal Festival. Among those on stage were the Indian bands Scribe and Demonic Resurrection, primarily thanks to Concerts Norway's Indian network.

-Oslo has changed us. Inferno owned everything in its sight. And we can't believe we were a part of it! We are at an utter loss for words to describe our experience. It all started here. And we shall never forget that. Roaaaaaaaaaarrghh! the band members of Scribe wrote to Concerts Norway just after the festival.

Demonic Resurrection on stage in Oslo. Photo: Øyvind Rones/groove.no

10 years anniversary
This year The Inferno Metal Festival was held for the 10. time, with 45 metal bands on stage from March 31 to April 3. Main attractions were famous bands like the Norwegian Mayhem and Jarboe from USA. Among the audience was Concerts Norway's own Solveig Korum Manga.

-The first day I wore pink shoes. In a crowd of people dressed totally in black, my shoes quickly revealed that I was not a hard core fan, Korum Manga laughs.

Dead animals, crucifixion and bone instruments
Among the more spectacular things the audience could experience on the stage, was the throwing of dead animals, a "crucifixion" on Good Friday and the use of bones as instruments.

-This genre has its own aestethics, you could either like or dislike it. If this wasn't my profession, I probably wouldn't have been here, but it really is an interesting experience! One usually has a lot of prejudice against certain groups, that's why it is so good to be here and talk to completely normal and nice people, Korum Manga says.

Happy audience during this years Inferno. Photo: Mira/Metalshots.com

Indian visitors
This year the Indian bands Scribe and Demonic Resurrection were invited to the festival, a lot thanks to Concerts Norway. Solveig Korum Manga works as Head of International Projects with among others the responsibility of the cooperation Concerts Norway has with organisations and music life in India. She had an important role in the bringing of the Indian musicians to this year's festival:

-Last year a conference called Rock Connect was arranged in New Delhi. Here key people from the Indian and the Norwegian rock milieus met. Over the last 10-15 years metal has become very popoular in India. Jan-Martin Jensen in Inferno discovered several artists he would like to bring to the festival, and since exchange and cooperation between festivals are some of our goals, we agreed to invite the two bands, Korum Manga says.

And that the exchange was a success, this message from the members of Scribe to Concerts Norway reveals:

-This opportunity to travel across borders, genres and temperatures has changed us in a deep and profound manner. There cannot be enough said about how this chance has opened our minds to our band and our music. The Inferno Metal Festival was an unforgettable experience, one that we hope every Indian metal band can hope to achieve.

Demonic Resurrection on stage in Oslo. Photo: Øyvind Rones/groove.no

On the Inferno Metal Festival's home page, www.infernofetival.net,  the band members in Demonic Resurrection have expressed that they were happy with their Inferno performance:

- Thank you all for making this probably the best gig we ever had!

Concerts Norway on stage
During the festival Korum  was invited to present the Indian metal milieu as well as the cooperation Concerts Norway has with Indian cultural and music organisations.

-It was very important to be there. For us, it is important to build our skills in several fields. What's very inspirering, is the fact that the people in the Indian and the Norwegain metal milieus are so devoted to this new cooperation, Korum Manga says.

Indian Inferno
The development of an original metal milieu in India is quite new - only 10-15 years old, Solveig Korum Manga says:

-The independent, Indian music field within rock, electronica and pop is constantly developing. It is not an aim to create an Indian Mayhem, the Indians will have to do it their own way. What's good and important is that this cooperation can inspire Indian metal bands to create their own, genuin expression.

As a result of the contact between metal fans in the two countries, an Inferno kick-off is planned in India next year.

-One month before the festival here in Oslo, an Indian model of the Norwegian Inferno, will be arranged in India in March 2011. This Easter two Indian bands visited Norway and Inferno, hopefully we can send a couple of Norwegian bands to the Indian kick-off! Solveig Korum Manga says.