Pentagram, India's biggest and most popular band announces the release of their highly anticipated fourth studio album Bloodywood. Jim Beam, the world's No.1 bourbon whiskey, owned by Beam Global Spirits & Wine, returns to the rock circuit this summer, and will be hosting Pentagram LIVE, a 5-city album launch tour across the country. Fronted by the inimitable Vishal Dadlani, and produced by one of the most prolific guitarists in Indian music, Randolph Correia, this 14-track album sees long time drummer Shiraz Bhattacharya provide the backbone with bassist Papal Mane completing the foundation of a veritable tour-de-force.
The Jim Beam tour for Bloodywood at Hard Rock Cafe
Mumbai - 22nd March
Pune - 23rd March
Hyderabad - 31st March
Bangalore - 7th April
Delhi - 14th April
Mr. Harish Moolchandani, CEO and Managing Director - India Business, Beam Global Spirits & Wine (I) Pvt. Ltd, said, "We believe that the Indian rock scene has become a melting pot of influences and this is where they have an edge. Pentagram is one of India's biggest and most popular bands and we are happy to present their highly anticipated studio album, Bloodywood. This multi city tour with Pentagram is the first of the various activities planned for Jim Beam this year. This is just the beginning and we are sure to bring more such lively experiences with Jim Beam for all our customers."
Why the name Bloodywood?
Bloodywood represents all the non-mainstream artistic expression that's silently bringing about a cultural revolution and changing the way India is seen and heard across the globe. Vishal Dadlani, vocalist, Pentagram, talking about choosing the title for the album, says "Bloodywood. Strange name. Catches the eye, no matter where you're from. Which is sorta why we chose it. More than that, through all the thought we've put into it, and through all the chats we've had about it, it's come to mean the exact conceptual counterpoint, or even antidote, to the overwhelming mainstream."
Bloodywood is the unique voice of urban India, which is raring to break the bounds of the conventional concept of India known across the world. As a people, we're only just starting to develop our own, unique, indigenous urban edge. That edge is Bloodywood. It's razor sharp, it's fiercely innovative and it's beautiful. It's not related in any way to our more famous film industry and its infamous nickname. In fact, it's the very antithesis. It's art for the sake of art, for the sake of love, even.
For Pentagram, Bloodywood encompasses all their friends. Everyone we know who works in music, or film, or television, or theatre or art, who is looking to do something unique, individualistic and expressive. From the heavy metal bands, to the alt-rock bands, from the indie bands to the punks, from the dubstep and house djs to the electro-fiends from the event promoters to the journalists who write about our world with passion, insight and knowledge. It's people with an irresistible passion, and a hunger for change. It's a pretty widely inclusive term. And it's got a nice ring to it. Bloodywood.
The direction and sound of the new album:
The 14 track album ranges from the intensely personal (Nocturne, Human Failings, I Get You, This Could Get Ugly, In My Head), to the fun, jumparound-vibe (Lovedrug Climbdown, Mental Zero, Nutter), to the socially relevant (Must I, Tomorrow's Decided, Identify). This is an album that is both back-to-basics and extremely edgy.
Lyrically, and sonically, Pentagram has taken the steps the band has been meaning to. Sonically, it's the electro-heavy edge Pentagram is known for, with huge beats and big, hairy guitar and synth tones and riffs. Lyrically, it's far more personal, driven and open than the band has ever been. Most importantly, in terms of songwriting, Bloodywood is a genuine progression.
Pentagram's biggest influence on this record has been the city of Bombay, their surroundings, lives and the people that inhabit their world. Songs like Mental Zero and Tomorrow's Decided could only be from Bombay, they could not have come from anywhere else in the world. And yet, they can all be played to audiences anywhere in the world, giving them a taste of Pentagram's energy, city and identity.
The album is a sonic slice of the other side of Bombay, India, or as we like to call it, Bloodywood.
PentaTV launches its second season
The band has documented parts of the writing, recording and performing of Bloodywood through PentaTV, their very own online show. Produced by Babble Fish Productions, PentaTV, is the first venture of its kind for an Indian band. The second season of PentaTV releases in March 2011 on http://pentagram.in/ just in time for the launch of Bloodywood.
PentaTV covers everything from studio sessions, live gigs, behind-the-scenes coverage of music video shoots, planning and following the band on the launch of Bloodywood and just hanging out with the band. The show gives viewers a vibe of the band member's personalities as well, exploring Papal's obsession with chai, Randolph's quirky wardrobe, Shiraz's love for bikes and Vishal's pithy sense of humour.
Pentagram with Vishal Dadlani (vocals), Randolph Correia (guitars), Shiraz Bhattacharya (drums) and Papal Mane (bass) is easily India's biggest and most popular band. Since they formed in 1994, Pentagram have played countless live gigs leading to an almost cult like fan following. Pentagram have released three studio albums before Bloodywood, breaking new ground with each one. We Are Not Listening (1996) was listed by Rhythm House as India's fastest selling rock album. Up (2002) went on to become one of India's highest selling rock albums with over 15,000 copies sold and a string of awards followed including winning Best Live Act at the June Rock Out Awards in 2003 and winning the reader's poll for the Bes Indian Band Award by Rock Street Journal twice. In 2007, Pentagram released It's Ok, It's All Good and the album spent 6 weeks on the national sales charts, again a first for any Indian band. The first single off the album, Voice, won Song Of The Year at the Jack Daniel's Annual Indian Rock Awards while Vishal Dadlani was awarded Vocalist Of The Year. They've consistently been at the forefront of the Indian music scene, and have had numerous achievements including being the first Indian band to play at Glastonbury in England.
The band is managed by Only Much Louder, India's pioneering artist management company which also develops and executes live music properties across genres and cities in India.
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