Bloodywood – Return Of The Singh Tour. It is the greatest irony in music that the alternative and Metal scene, which is so outspoken on the injustices in society, has historically had such a difficult relationship with diversity. In the formative years of the genre, the bands that we came to love were largely of white, male, western identities and, whilst their music is absolutely valid and appreciated, it felt incorrect that the community that made so many feel heard was not lending its voice to the rest of the world.
Bloodywood – Return Of The Singh Tour
O2 Forum Kentish Town – 27 March 2025
Words And Photography: Matt Pratt
Thankfully, with the passage of time, Metal has found its way into the hands of a vast span of identities. Artists such as Skindred, Alien Weaponry and Babymetal have stormed into the scene with their unique sounds, incorporating their own cultural identities alongside the musical styles we all recognise and adore.
It’s appropriate that my musical introduction to Bloodywood was at the hands of Babymetal. The foremothers of Kawaii Metal changed the scene forever with their controversial yet addictive brand of rock that fuses the familiar Metal with J-pop elements.
Since breaking down the barriers of the scene for themselves, they have also forged a path to entry for a number of other bands from under-represented backgrounds, such as Hannabie, Lovebites and tonight’s headliners, Bloodywood.
The Metal community in India is, as Bloodywood have admitted, very much underground. So much so that the band identified early in their career that they would need to gain notoriety outside of their home country if they wanted to make their dreams a reality. No small feat for an outfit which began as a Bollywood cover band.
Despite the niche nature of their performance, the band has remained true to their vision and heritage and are now reaping the rewards of their integrity. Through the magic of the internet, the six piece gained huge international traction in recognition of their unique take on the folk music of their country.
Their newfound fame culminated in their 2019 Raj Against The Machine Tour which found its way to the iconic Wacken Open Air festival, to be greeted with a horde of dedicated new supporters.
Five years, one global pandemic and two albums later, the boys are back for their Return Of The Singh world tour and the last show of their European leg at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town.
The sextuplet exhibited a much more communal approach to the spotlight than the traditional frontman-lead dynamic we are accustomed to. Every member of the band, other than the instrumentally pinned drummer, lined up on the front edge of the stage, passionately delivering their hard-hitting Metalcore songs. 
While all the typical ingredients of a rock performance were present, with drums, guitars and vocals all featured on stage, the unusual inclusion of the Dhol, an Indian percussion instrument, was a standout. The sound of the Dhol is the backbone of Punjabi folk music and was played with such ferocity by Pahwa that it left me wondering how it has not found its way into Metal music before now.
The band has seen a number of avenues of exposure for their work, including their opening song, Dana-Dan, being featured in the Dev Patel and Jordan Peele Hollywood hit film Monkey Man. Their mainstream visibility goes to show what an excellent job of making their music accessible to a wider audience despite the alternative and underground nature of the community that they find themselves a part of.
With a short setlist, there was no room for filler or any drops in energy levels. There was seldom a quiet moment in the set, which featured Nu Delhi, Tadka, Aaj and Bekhauf. The rare moments in which there was a break in proceedings were used wisely, giving thanks to all who made their rise possible.
This is a rise which has seen them soar from the O2 Academy 2 Islington, a meagre 250-person capacity venue, to tonight’s sold-out crowd of 2,300 loyal fans. 
The show featured a return for our favourite cliche, the encore. Taking their triumphant second bow with heavy-hitting favourite Gaddar, the whole show seemed to defy time. The short hour the band was on stage felt like an eternity with the rich sound and undying energy of the Indian Metalcore machine reverberating in the mind for hours after the matter. 
Every so often, a band comes along that influences the direction of music forever, and it truly feels like Bloodywood is having its ‘Babymetal moment’, opening the door to all of the untapped potential of the Indian subcontinent.
With their new album Nu Delhi fresh out of the studio, there is no better time to add Bloodywood to your playlist and start making plans for their next visit to a town near you.
