himanshu.

himanshu is currently on a Pre-release tour across Southern India.
He’ll be telling tails with his songs at Art Forest – his 3rd stop on the tour.

See you at Art Forest – 5 pm.

Art Forest – OPEN MIC

A cozy evening, where voices meet through poems, music, stories or spontaneous sharing.
Come to perform, listen, or simply soak in the creative energy.

No stage too big, no story too small.
Just an open heart and an open mic.

Art Forest, near Fertile Community
Every Sat | 5:00 PM onwards

I’m so happy to share something very 

close to my heart — the release of my 

new album CAGE, this is the fourth album 

with my band Emergence. 

Thank you video by Krishna 

This album is a new direction 

for me, exploring fresh sounds 

and new collaborations. 

You can listen to this for free on Spotify 

But if you would like to support me 

www.krishnamckenzie.com 

This is where you can contribute for the album https://emergencemusic.bandcamp.com/album/cage 

Many of these songs were born here in the fields of Solitude Farm, shaped by the rhythms of the land and the creativity of the musicians I’ve been so lucky to play with. As I always say — music is my food, and food is my music! 

I truly hope you’ll enjoy these songs as much as we loved creating them. Please give the album a listen and, if it resonates with you, share it with friends and family. 

List e n t o o u r a l b ums 

Here I’m – 2008

Chosen by God – 2010 

Can You Record Me – CAGE – 2025 2017 

We’re delighted to announce that the Auroville Singing Festival 2025 will be held on October 4th and 5th at CRIPA Hall.

If you love to sing and feel at ease performing on stage, we warmly invite you to be a part of this celebration of voices!
We would especially love to hear songs in your native language, bringing the richness of your culture and spirit to our shared space.

The selection process begins in early August, so if you’re interested in participating, please sign up here:
https://tinyurl.com/AVSF25

We look forward to seeing you—and hearing your voice!

With joy and music,
The AVSF Team

As a yoga teacher, musician, and co-director of Shraddha Yoga, Matthew weaves yoga philosophy into his life and music in such a beautiful way. This will be his last Kirtan before he returns to the US, and a chance to soak in the knowing that everything is the Divine and fill our hearts with that truth.

He’ll also share soulful English songs from his newly launched EP, Usha, his offering of hope to the world. Join us on Sunday, March 16th at 6:30 PM for this special gathering.

Poster design by @uktopia_creations

We invite you to a Kirtan

Unity Pavilion
Friday, February 14
18:30 – 21:00

As part of the Art for Land exhibition, dedicated to art as a means of unity, Brotherhood Pavilion is organizing a special Kirtan – a spiritual musical meditation.

What is Kirtan?
Kirtan is the practice of chanting mantras and the sacred names of God, filling the heart with joy and peace. This evening will feature mantras in Sanskrit, as well as spiritual songs in Russian and Spanish.

Host:
“Satya” (Inna Volkova) – a yoga teacher and music festival organizer, who has been leading Kirtans every Friday for the past seven years.

Come sing with us and immerse yourself in an atmosphere of harmony and inspiration!

Tibetan Pavilion

Dances of Universal Peace combines simple steps with sacred songs from around the world. All welcome. No prior experience needed. Contributions to the Pavilion of Tibetan Culture are welcome

AT KALABHUMI MUSIC STUDIO

The Stills

Kalabhumi Music Studio Youth band

Yam. Gulli. Ishan. Lorenzo & Elmo

Blues Deluxe

The History of Blues Music in 20 famous songs

Swaha. Rando. Edo. Rolf. Sami. Sanlosh & guest musicians

April 7th, 6pm

Lily, who recently released her first EP after finding inspiration in Auroville 2 years ago, is excited to share her heartfelt songs with you for the first time.
With Hung Vi by her side, the duo will also showcase some of his own compositions and a brand-new musical project they’ve been crafting together.
You will be invited to sing along with them for some of the songs.
Get ready for a cozy moment with eclectic tunes and warm vibes

Daily Schedule:
9am-10:30am – Rabindra Sangeet with Aparajita
11am-1pm – Dhrupad with Niloy Ahsan
3-5pm – Rhythm with Roman Das
5:30-7:30pm – Dhrupad with Niloy Ahsan

Save the Dates: January 9-11, 2024
Where: A Sunlit Path
Register: +91-8870988843

Limited seats available, so secure your spot now.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Indian classical music with three very talented instructors!

It will be 8.15-9.45pm on the 6th Wed.
Everyone is welcome~

Prior registration is required to the number on the poster, as there will be limited seats.
Please register when you can come on time and stay until the end. As we are planning to lock the door when we start, for the energy and flow of the space.

• Theme: “Singing hearts of Auroville”.
• Open to all nationalities.
• Sing your native songs with us.
• Support available for accompaniment.
• Register: https://tinyurl.com/avfestival

Avsingingfestival@gmail.Com

30 plus singers , 20 plus musicians, 20 plus languages , a deepening experience in unity in diversity : exclusively live music , 1 month of rehearsal .. a magical adventure that we would be glad to share with you ! Come see us: 2 days, 2 very different shows

Dances of Universal Peace combines simple dance steps with sacred songs from around the world.

By donation

A showcase of stories, songs and martial arts.
Language: Tamil | Hindi | Marathi | Himachali
Duration: 45 mins

About Veera Naadam
‘Veera Naadam’ is an artistic showcase by the Indianostrum Repertory, Pondicherry. The showcase is an endeavour to present the training, the repertory received during past year in Therukoothu, Lavani and Kalaripayattu. It is knitted along their diverse cultural backgrounds with the existing material from the learnt forms, placed at the centre. Emphasising on that, various arrangements emerged during their musical process and gave birth to this amalgamation of songs and stories that is called ‘Veera Naadam’.

Donor Passes available at the venue.
For further details contact: +91 8700273612
More https://indianostrum.org/veera-nadam-2/

Parvathy Baul will teach and reflect on the inner meaning of songs of 15th century poet Chandidas, one of the foremost devotional poets of Bengal. His devotional fervour is unsurpassable.

All are welcome to join, no prior skills needed.

Apply: parvathybaul.com/class

Tamizh songs performed by BINDHUMALINI

• When: 18 Feb 2023 12pm
• Where: A Sunlit Path center for art and healing

• Open Night for All: Friday 21st October 5:30 – 7:30pm in the Pavillion of Tibetan Culture
• Workshop: Saturday 22nd 9am – 5pm & Sunday 23rd October 9am – 1pm in the Anitya Community
• Please reserve your place for both Open Night and/ or Workshop at: joianitya@gmail.com

Avenged Sevenfold are an American heavy metal group from California, formed by 5 highschool students. Since then, the band has grown to become one of the largest music groups in the world. Their song ‘Welcome to the Family’ is the second track off of their acclaimed album ‘Nightmare’. This album was the first album the band had recorded without their drummer and primary songwriter Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, and would be the last album Sullivan would write on before his passing in 2009. The song is about the universality of the struggles and sorrows of life. According to the band, after The Rev’s passing they were in a state of incredible grief and pain. During the time, they were listening to the music they had been writing at the time, and came to realize that the hardship they were going through was something that everyone faced. They began writing lyrics to one of the songs The Rev had written for the album, singing about how the suffering we all feel unites us as one big family.

If I had to describe what Avenged Sevenfold sounds like in a few words, I would say that Avenged Sevenfold sounds like slowly losing your mind and loving it. Welcome to the Family is the perfect example of this, and perfectly sums up the Avenged Sevenfold sound. The contrast of vocal styles within the song highlight the message while making the song all the more enjoyable to listen to. This, paired with incredible guitar work by the legendary duo of Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance creates the perfect concoction of captivating and thought provoking music. All of this sits snuggly on top of the mighty percussive foundation created by the drumming of Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, the only person The Rev said he would allow to sit behind his drum kit.

Personally, this song sums up why I love this band so much. They are able to create powerful, emotionally charged music that is also incredibly technical. Every member of the band sounds completely unique from any other musician in their discipline, and these sounds blend together perfectly to create a sound that is somehow incredibly mainstream yet completely unique and impossible to replicate. Welcome to the Family is the song that showcases exactly why Avenged Sevenfold is one of the most successful bands in the world.

Listen to the track here: song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ-WsnaYDCg

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

Avenged Sevenfold – Welcome to the Family
Lyrics:

“Welcome To The Family”

Hey kid (hey kid), do I have your attention?
I know the way you’ve been living
Life so reckless
Tragedy endless
Welcome to the family

Hey, there’s something missing
Only time will alter your vision
Never in question
Lethal injection
Welcome to the family

Not long ago you’d find the answers were so crystal clear
Within a day you find yourself living in constant fear
Can you look at yourself now?
Can you look at yourself?!
You can’t win this fight

And in a way it seems there’s no one to call
When our thoughts are so numb and our feelings unsure
We all have emptiness inside
We all have answers to find
But you can’t win this fight

Hey (hey kid), I have to question
What’s with the violent aggression?
Details blurry
Lost ’em too early
Welcome to the family

Hey, why won’t you listen?
Can’t help the people you’re missing
It’s been done
A casualty rerun
Welcome to the family

I’ll try and help you with the things that can’t be justified
I need to warn you that there is no way to rationalize
So have you figured it out now?
So have you figured it out?!
You can’t win this fight

And in a way it seems there’s no one to call
When our thoughts are so numb and our feelings unsure
We all have emptiness inside
We all have answers to find
But you can’t win this fight

Gunning for you
And all mankind
I’ve lost my mind
Psychotic, rapid dementia
I won’t be fine

I see, you’re a king who’s been dethroned (been dethroned)
Cast out in a world you’ve never known (never known)
Stand down, place your weapons by your side (by your side)
It’s our war, in the end we’ll surely lose but that’s alright (you’ll surely lose to me)

So have you figured it out now?
So have you figured it out?!

And in a way it seems there’s no one to call
When our thoughts are so numb and our feelings unsure
We all have emptiness inside
We all have answers to find
But you can’t win this fight

Deep inside
Where nothing’s fine
I lost my mind
You’re not invited
So step aside
I lost my

Deep inside
Where nothing’s fine
I lost my mind
You’re not invited
So step aside
I lost my

• When: 7:30 p.m.Duration: 1hr, Wednesday, 31st August. 
• Where: Venue : SAWCHU (Bharat Nivas) 

Fellowship is a power metal based in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2019, this band is one of the few pure power metal bands to emerge over the last few years. In recent years, the general trend in the genre has been to lean towards gimmicks and stand out aesthetic elements to draw in fans. Not that there’s anything wrong with gimmicks. But it is refreshing to hear a band that just plays power metal, nothing more and nothing less.

The band’s debut album, The Saberlight Chronicles, released on July 15th 2022. Featuring cheesy fantasy themed lyrics, absurdly fast and melodic shred guitar, punchy up-tempo drums, and high, soaring vocals; this album is 12 tracks of stereotypical power metal remade for the modern era of music. The bold decision to do something new, by doing something old has resulted in an album that is an absolute delight to listen to. And on this stellar album, the most outstanding track of all is Glint.

The song is about self worth and realizing your capability, but the way this theme is presented is not only unique, but very well done. The song presents the concept of destiny and worthiness as unnecessary, you are already worthy and your destiny is yours to decide. It is perhaps one of the most organically inspirational songs ever written, with a brilliant symphonic atmosphere enveloping soaring vocals and mesmerizingly melodic guitar. This song is more than the average uplifting metal track, it is the very essence of what inspires us as people. The ability to defy any rule that seems set in stone. The power to decide what we do with ourselves. And the idea that we can choose our own path, in defiance of what anyone tells us. It compels the listener to abandon any standard to which they hold themselves to, anything that makes one feel like they need to achieve something to prove their worth. Because they’ve “always been worthy”.

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j0oE6RiWng

Glint
Led by the fire of a thousand burning lights
To a hillside of heroes who welcome me there
Am I lost to ambition, or might it be right that
Before the light can burn another quite so bright…
I’ll
Storm through the gates to the strength that I hold inside
By the might that’s burnt into my skin by birthrite?
Blaze, in the pyres of a destiny that calls to the
Warriors who never needed destiny at all!
Request of the moonlight, that the sun sees my face
Let the gleam of my reflection all these doubts resign
I’ll go where the light goes, be it throne or be it cage
So my life reflects the truth that these words imply
So
Storm through the gates to the strength that I hold inside
By the might that’s burnt into my skin by birthrite!
Blaze, in the pyres of a destiny that calls to the
Warriors who never needed destiny at all!
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I know that you know me!
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I know…
If I aspire along the way, to make amends
To forge a home in the memories of long forgotten friends
I only ask you’ll help me find – amidst the coil of harder times
A reason it’s worthwhile!
Storm through the gates to the strength that I hold inside
By the might that’s burnt into my skin by birthrite!
Storm through the gates to the strength that I hold inside
By the might that’s burnt into my skin by birthrite!
Blaze, in the pyres of a destiny that calls to the
Warriors who never needed destiny at all!
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I know that you know me!
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I’ve always been worthy
I know, I know!

WITHIN PINK SHEETS

A bubble of warmth under falling skies. 
She listens, 
Plugged into the round sounds of consoling songs, 
Within a crisp cascade of water walls. 

Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band formed in 1985. One of the giants of the genre, they are known for their unmatched compositions and ability to tell a story through intricate melodies and well crafted lyrics. Elysium, the title track of their 2011 album is the band’s magnum opus. At over 18 minutes long, the song is practically a symphony. It features 3 movements following the overarching theme of the search for paradise.

The release of the album Elysium followed the departure of guitarist Timo Tolki, ending a rather turbulent relationship with the rest of the band. Tolki being a favourite among fans meant that the band had to pull out all the stops with their next album to show that they were in fact better off without him. The theme of moving forward and arriving at a better place spawned the theme for their next album: Elysium. To really drive home the point, they decided to have the title track be an 18 minute long display of the unfathomable musical and compositional talent of their new guitarist, Matias Kupiainen. Beyond the compositional brilliance, the song features a tremendous display of vocal stamina by singer Timo Kotipelto and awe inspiring keyboard and guitar solos by Jens Johansson and Matias Kupiainen.

I personally love this song for many reasons. The exquisite composition, the beautiful melodies and motifs, the assortment of different grooves and rhythms perfectly blended together, the completely unrestrained display of virtuosity, et cetera. But perhaps my favourite thing about this song is that it’s never boring. There are far shorter songs that I struggle to get all the way through. Dare I say, I sometimes struggle to get through all 6 minutes of Bohemian Rhapsody. But Elysium is 3 times as long, and yet I can listen to it over and over again. And each time I listen to it, I find a new aspect to enjoy.

Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIlOh2zl7Lw

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

Elysium

[Part 1]

I’ve never felt like this before
Am I awaken or drifting?
There’s a hole in the sky
Am I alive? Did I survive?

Broken pictures on my wall
A story of fallen heroes
Now stare ahead with their blind eyes on
Lost horizon

Sometimes the traces of life with you
Are clearer in my mind than ever
I’m reaching this feeling
It’s misleading me away from you

Tonight I’ll find what I’ve been searching for
You can rip off my wings once more
I’m not afraid anymore
I’m not afraid anymore

[Solo ‒ Matias / Jens]

Sometimes the traces of life with you
Are clearer in my mind than ever
I’m reaching this feeling
It’s misleading me away from you

Tonight I’ll find what I’ve been searching for
You can rip off my wings once more
I’m not afraid anymore
I am ready to fall
I’m not afraid anymore

[Part 2]

I am lying on the frozen ground alone
I’ve got lost on my way, my time is up
I’m done

I need to find the key
To eternal life and see
The joy, the smile,
The overwhelming love of your heart
Is what I need

Give me a sign, and show me the way
To the sacred place

I can hear you calling my name
From the distant skies
I am holding a falling angel
In my arms

Your shadow lurking in the corner of my eye
I’m losing sense of what’s real
and what’s a lie

I need to find the key
To eternal life and see
The joy, the smile,
The overwhelming love of your heart
Is what I need

Give me a sign, and show me the way
To the sacred place

I can hear you calling my name
From the distant skies
I am holding a falling angel
In my arms

How all began?
Your faith was not mine
Remedy this fallen life

I feel it burning with me ahead
The earth is turning to red
I’m staring at the flaming skies
Too tired to figth, I just close my eyes

[Solo ‒ Jens / Matias / Duet]

I can hear you calling my name
From the distant skies
I am holding a falling angel
In my arms

I am holding a falling angel
in my arms

[Part 3]

This life has been too long
There’s hope everywhere I go

Do you believe in hope and faith
Or eternity?
In the end, you will see
Let this soul be free

Eternal light
Blinded my eyes

Feel no sorrow
Joy will follow
Now lay down
And rest in my arms

[Solo ‒ Jens]

Do you believe in hope and faith
Or eternity?
In the end, you will see
Let your soul be free

Be afraid no more,
Just take my hand,
I’ll guide you through the storm
We’re finally home

Do you believe in hope and faith
Or eternity?
In the end, you will see
Let your soul be free

Be afraid no more,
Just take my hand,
I’ll guide you through the storm
We’re finally home

We’re finally home

In a beautiful descent. The grand finale of our accomplishments

Dynazty is a Swedish metal band known for their catchy melodies and well crafted lyrics sung by mesmerizing voice of Nils Molin. The Smoking Gun, a ballad from their 2016 album, Titanic Mass, is no exception to this.

The song is about a relationship doomed to fail. The song is not only lyrically brilliant, but is also some of their finest work from a songwriting perspective. It is structurally unique with no real chorus, just a slow build of energy that follows the singers journey from pain to acceptance and a sense of catharsis in realizing that he must move on. Upon arriving at this moment of clarity the song reaches its climax with a moving guitar solo that ends the song.

As an enormous Dynazty fan, this is easily one of my favourite tracks from their entire discography. Much like with most of their songs, I don’t particularly relate or connect to the song from a thematic perspective. But I still find the lyrics deeply moving. Not because I can particularly relate to them, but because of how well they’re written. For me, my favorite thing about this band is how well they can convey complex thoughts and emotions with well crafted metaphors and analogies. The line “the smoking gun was always you and me” perfectly captures the atmosphere the band is trying to create, and does it in just a few words. Dynazty is a band that I never get tired of listening to. They use the same old formula that so many successful bands have used, but do it in a way that is not only better, it feels brand new. They don’t just write catchy hooks or good lyrics, they make complex melodies look simple, and brilliantly crafted lyrics look like normal language, and convince you it’s the same old catchy music you’ve been listening to your whole life. They essentially trick you into thinking you’re listening to easy-to-digest music, and only after listening to the entire thing, do you realize that you’ve been listening to pure genius. It’s essentially the auditory equivalent of ‘here comes the airplane’ and it’s the reason I love this band so much.

Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azmqm7sxugE

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

The Smoking Gun

Standing by the fire. We burned ourselves again
I take your hand and walk you through the rain
I know that you can see the world in color
Yet paint it your own way
The guiding hand of a child in need to play
And the road goes ever on

Stumbling in the water. I barely see my feet
It won’t take long before we’re in too deep
The house of cards has crashed down like thunder
In a beautiful descent. The grand finale of our accomplishments

Take me back so I can see
‘Cause I find it so hard to believe
We were ready, we were ready
Now the road goes ever on
Showing what we have become
And slowly we will come undone
Like wanderers in the desert sun
And the road goes ever on

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, it shouldn’t be hard to see
That the smoking gun was always you and me
Now there is a shadow in the distance looming our way
The phantom of the debt we never paid

Take me back so I can see
‘Cause I find it so hard to believe
We were ready, we were ready
Now the road goes ever on
Showing what we have become
And slowly we will come undone
Like wanderers in the desert sun
And the road goes ever on

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, it shouldn’t be hard to see
The smoking gun was always you and me
I’ll learn to change my mind, I’ll adapt if we would try
But the sun has burned out
I stumble in the dark reaching for the sun
And a life that’s just begun
For you and for me
Take me back so I can see
Was it always meant to be
The finale draws near
And the road becomes clear
The future’s gone but the road it goes forever on

In a beautiful descent. The grand finale of our accomplishments

Dynazty is a Swedish metal band known for their catchy melodies and well crafted lyrics sung by mesmerizing voice of Nils Molin. The Smoking Gun, a ballad from their 2016 album, Titanic Mass, is no exception to this.

The song is about a relationship doomed to fail. The song is not only lyrically brilliant, but is also some of their finest work from a songwriting perspective. It is structurally unique with no real chorus, just a slow build of energy that follows the singers journey from pain to acceptance and a sense of catharsis in realizing that he must move on. Upon arriving at this moment of clarity the song reaches its climax with a moving guitar solo that ends the song.

As an enormous Dynazty fan, this is easily one of my favourite tracks from their entire discography. Much like with most of their songs, I don’t particularly relate or connect to the song from a thematic perspective. But I still find the lyrics deeply moving. Not because I can particularly relate to them, but because of how well they’re written. For me, my favorite thing about this band is how well they can convey complex thoughts and emotions with well crafted metaphors and analogies. The line “the smoking gun was always you and me” perfectly captures the atmosphere the band is trying to create, and does it in just a few words. Dynazty is a band that I never get tired of listening to. They use the same old formula that so many successful bands have used, but do it in a way that is not only better, it feels brand new. They don’t just write catchy hooks or good lyrics, they make complex melodies look simple, and brilliantly crafted lyrics look like normal language, and convince you it’s the same old catchy music you’ve been listening to your whole life. They essentially trick you into thinking you’re listening to easy-to-digest music, and only after listening to the entire thing, do you realize that you’ve been listening to pure genius. It’s essentially the auditory equivalent of ‘here comes the airplane’ and it’s the reason I love this band so much.

Listen to the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azmqm7sxugE

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

The Smoking Gun

Standing by the fire. We burned ourselves again
I take your hand and walk you through the rain
I know that you can see the world in color
Yet paint it your own way
The guiding hand of a child in need to play
And the road goes ever on

Stumbling in the water. I barely see my feet
It won’t take long before we’re in too deep
The house of cards has crashed down like thunder
In a beautiful descent. The grand finale of our accomplishments

Take me back so I can see
‘Cause I find it so hard to believe
We were ready, we were ready
Now the road goes ever on
Showing what we have become
And slowly we will come undone
Like wanderers in the desert sun
And the road goes ever on

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, it shouldn’t be hard to see
That the smoking gun was always you and me
Now there is a shadow in the distance looming our way
The phantom of the debt we never paid

Take me back so I can see
‘Cause I find it so hard to believe
We were ready, we were ready
Now the road goes ever on
Showing what we have become
And slowly we will come undone
Like wanderers in the desert sun
And the road goes ever on

Where there’s smoke there’s fire, it shouldn’t be hard to see
The smoking gun was always you and me
I’ll learn to change my mind, I’ll adapt if we would try
But the sun has burned out
I stumble in the dark reaching for the sun
And a life that’s just begun
For you and for me
Take me back so I can see
Was it always meant to be
The finale draws near
And the road becomes clear
The future’s gone but the road it goes forever on

• When: 5:30 to 7pm, 15 April 2022
• Where: Badrinath House, Auroville Rd. Edayanchavadi

You are invited to join for a Singing Circle to open up the Throat Chakra and let the voice gently come through

The Throat Chakra is the symbol of truthful and genuine communication, but also of Active and Authentic Listening.

We will warm up our vocal chords and our voices and sing songs and mantras from different traditions

Songs will be in Sanskrit, Tibetan, English, and Spanish

No contribution required. Just bring an open heart and mind, and a tea candle to go through the evening rising

Please come with your own song or Mantra to share at the end of the session

RESTLESS SKY

Tossed her bulky duvet on,
Of blacks and shades of grey.
It’s lumpy hems and burst through stuffing,
Are clouds from where we lay.
Her vivid dreams cause kicks and screams
That pound and split our drums.
This restless night so memorable,
Will birth songs to which we’ll humm.

All our lives are on the line
We need a hero – Hero!

Beast in Black is a groundbreaking 5-piece power metal force of nature. Based in Finland, this band is known for its powerful and melodic music often inspired by Anime. Their song, Cry Out For A Hero from their second album, From Hell With Love, is inspired by the beloved classic: ‘Fist of the North Star’. The song, while inspired by the anime, is only slightly tied to the source material. This makes the listening experience enjoyable for everyone, even if they have no knowledge of the original tv shows. This hard hitting anthem tells the story of a dystopian wasteland where the people are waiting for someone to come save them. While there is little resolution to the theme (we never really find out if the hero shows up), the song is overwhelmingly hopeful and powerful but in a very interesting way. Unlike a lot of cliche songs about this theme, the lyrics are not hopeful because there is a reason to be hopeful. Instead, they are hopeful for lack of a better option. Making the theme of hope all the more powerful.

Musically, the song is a weird hybrid between Judas Priest and ABBA. The heavy and catchy melodies give the song a pop feel, while Yannis Papadopolous’ overwhelmingly powerful vocals give it that metal kick that will make you want to bench press your house. Pair that with some badass anime lyrics and you have the perfect concoction to make you feel invincible.

As a massive Beast in Black fan, this song has been a favourite of mine for a while. To me, it is the pinnacle of what the band is. A perfect blend of catchy, heavy and unique that gives me a rush of adrenaline every time I listen to it.

Listen to this track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCJooj3hdzQ

Submitted by Prashant Srinivasan Sarkar

Cry Out For A Hero

On this godforsaken planet
Smoke and death in the opal mines
Nuclear war-torn cities fill your sight
Oh, it’s a world of sadistic killers
Men are tortured as they die

Is there a savior
Who can turn the tide

All our lives are on the line
We need a hero – Hero!
Unknown avenger from afar
He’s the chosen one
The savior of the people – Hero!
From sorrow’s land our bleeding hearts
Cry out for a hero

In the heat of revolution
Blood runs everywhere
For a brighter future’s sake
We dream and dare
It is the hour of retribution
End of dark despair

Godsent avenger
Electrifies the air

All our lives are on the line
We need a hero – Hero!
The seven scars and fists of fury
He’s the chosen one
The savior of the people – Hero!
From sorrow’s land our bleeding hearts
Cry out…

All our lives are on the line
We need a hero – Hero!
Unknown avenger from afar
He’s the chosen one
The savior of the people – Hero!
From sorrow’s land our bleeding hearts
Cry out…

All our lives are on the line
We need a hero – Hero!
The seven scars and fists of fury
He’s the chosen one
The savior of the people – Hero!
From sorrow’s land our bleeding hearts
Cry out for a hero