For a city that boasts of a teeming metal populace (we’re looking at you, fans-who-don’t-wanna-travel!), Mumbai’s been experiencing a near-drought of metal gigs like never before. But there seems to be some welcome change around the corner as Bombay Asylum, which promises to be a series of fortnightly gigs for metal bands, plans to set sail at club Escape in Andheri. Adding a further shot to the suburban arm after the recent Kino gigs (review here) revived something of a scene amidst the glitter of Bollywood, Bombay Asylum’s first gig shall play host to French progressive metal band Hacride, Maldivian metal band Nothnegal and city-based death metal act Reptilian Death. 

An idea that has been in the pipeline for almost two years, Bombay Asylum has been curated to provide a platform for new and upcoming metal bands across the country. Sudeep V. Nair, who is the co-founder of Culture Shoq (the people behind this endeavor), says, “We’ve been trying to do this for the past two years as it’s a space that’s grossly under represented. We feel that metal has the most honest and loyal fan base in India and there are many great bands that deserve a frequent and dedicated platform.”

The gig shall also double up as the Mumbai leg of Deccan Rock III, an annual festival that has previously hosted prog/metal bands such Textures, Sybreed and Amon Amarth. Sahil Makhija, the frontman of Reptilian Death is as excited about this news as some of us. “Mumbai has had no place to hold gigs ever since B-69 shut down. The only thing that happens is the Blue Frog Metal Nights and the odd gig now and then. So, yes, this is going to be a huge boost to the metal scene here” he says. Explaining that this would help upcoming bands to get more gigs, he informs us that “the people behind this, Aaargh, keep updating their facebook page regularly, so, bands should get in touch with them and make their way into the gig-circuit.“

For more info on the same, you could hop over to their facebook page.