Bloodywood is a “street metal” band from India that mixes modern metal riffs, rap + screamed + sung vocals, and various traditional Indian instruments (especially the dhol, ektara, and Indian style flute). Karan Katiyar and Jayant Bhadula started the band by recording covers of various pop songs, but then morphed into a band that does originals. The metamorphosis seemed to occur after they released “Ari Ari,” which is technically a cover of the Punjabi folk song “Baari Barsi” that is about fighting for unity (“despite all our differences, we are one”). I say “technically” because about 70%+ of their version of the song is original to the band – the riffs, the rap vocals, the way the various instruments play together, etc. But after this song, it seems that they started doing all original songs.

The video to “Ari Ari” is also an excellent place to start with the band, as it mixes in scenes from the streets of India with a local Indian dance group (Master Academy of Dance) they found that was able to come up with some great choreography for the song. Note that the rapper Raoul Kerr was not a part of the band at this time, but a guest on this song. He worked out so well in the mix that he is a member of the band now. Their new songs are awesome as well, and I will probably write about them here in the future. Follow them on Facebook or YouTube, and for now enjoy the awesomeness that is “Ari Ari” (FYI there is some language in here in case you are listening at work):