Biography
Bloodywood, an Indian heavy metal outfit, fuses crushing nu-metal and rap-metal textures with regional folk traditions. Significant attention arrived in 2017 via Anti-Pop, Vol. 1, a broad set of covers—Linkin Park, Backstreet Boys, 50 Cent—executed with ferocious intensity. Eager to sidestep novelty territory, the band countered that release’s momentum in 2022 with Rakshak, an original album steeped in socio-political friction and mental health battles. Two years afterward, the inventive folk metallers joined forces with Japanese pop-metal unit Babymetal for the charged single “Bekhauf.”
Rooted in New Delhi, the project originated from co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Karan Katiyar’s string of parody metal takes on Bollywood pop numbers. After bringing Jayant Bhadula aboard for vocals, the pair launched under the Bloodywood banner and quickly drew notice with a savage rendition of Linkin Park’s “Heavy.” Further wide-ranging covers—Ariana Grande, Nirvana—were later compiled on the 2017 LP Anti-Pop, Vol. 1. Rapper Raoul Kerr joined for their 2018 reworking of Bombay Rockers’ “Ari Ari,” a streaming success propelled when Bollywood actress Ileana D’Cruz shared the track on social media. Heartened by that response, Bloodywood began writing originals, opening with the mental illness awareness piece “Jee Veerey” in partnership with counseling platform HopeTherapy. They addressed bullying through the anthemic “Endurant” in 2019, then released the stirring “Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot).” Now a trio following Kerr’s official induction, the group tracked their first collection of self-penned material. Issued in 2022, the acclaimed Rakshak—anchored by the sonically and emotionally charged singles “Gaddaar” and “Dana-Dan”—became the first album by an Indian heavy metal act to reach the Billboard charts. In 2024 the band signed with Fearless Records and unveiled the singles “Nu-Delhi” and “Bekhauf,” the latter featuring Kawaii metal legends Babymetal.
Rooted in New Delhi, the project originated from co-founder and multi-instrumentalist Karan Katiyar’s string of parody metal takes on Bollywood pop numbers. After bringing Jayant Bhadula aboard for vocals, the pair launched under the Bloodywood banner and quickly drew notice with a savage rendition of Linkin Park’s “Heavy.” Further wide-ranging covers—Ariana Grande, Nirvana—were later compiled on the 2017 LP Anti-Pop, Vol. 1. Rapper Raoul Kerr joined for their 2018 reworking of Bombay Rockers’ “Ari Ari,” a streaming success propelled when Bollywood actress Ileana D’Cruz shared the track on social media. Heartened by that response, Bloodywood began writing originals, opening with the mental illness awareness piece “Jee Veerey” in partnership with counseling platform HopeTherapy. They addressed bullying through the anthemic “Endurant” in 2019, then released the stirring “Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot).” Now a trio following Kerr’s official induction, the group tracked their first collection of self-penned material. Issued in 2022, the acclaimed Rakshak—anchored by the sonically and emotionally charged singles “Gaddaar” and “Dana-Dan”—became the first album by an Indian heavy metal act to reach the Billboard charts. In 2024 the band signed with Fearless Records and unveiled the singles “Nu-Delhi” and “Bekhauf,” the latter featuring Kawaii metal legends Babymetal.
Albums
Singles
