For a music video that lasts about three minutes, thrash metal band Chaos went through two days of heat, mud and well, as frontman Jayakrishnan aka JK puts it, “metal bonding”. Directed by friend and fellow metal vocalist Mithun Raj aka Munz from the Down Troddence in Kannur, Chaos’ new song “All Against All” is the title track off their upcoming second album, which is every bit as seething and destructive as it purports.
JK says, “It had to have maximum impact. For three minutes, a lot of work went into it. We wanted it to be the best advertisement for the album, not just in terms of sound but also the visuals. We didn’t want to compromise anywhere.” It has racked up about 20,000 views within a month, and it is a good feeling for the band, considering their first ever music video for ‘Game’, off their debut album, Violent Redemption , still stands at about 30,000 views over three years.
Their second album, All Against All , is slated to release on June 10 and raise the stakes even higher. So we are looking at a thrash metal band who are going to be even more ticked-off, playing faster and screaming louder than ever before. And although it is a few months off, fans are already pre-ordering and attending gigs non-stop to get a taste of new material. Ask JK what he chalks down the band’s following to, and his answer: the music. He explains, “We’re not too active on social media. I think a lot of it has to do with the music and with All Against All , we’ve got our fingers crossed that it will work again.”
There’s a lot of work and a lot of time that Chaos took with the album, one that was intended to be ready for release on Independence Day (as a statement) in August last year. JK explains that it is not so much about being perfectionists as it is about being happy with the music you put out. “We got so used to listening to the finished tracks that we took a break away from it and when we came back and heard it again, something would come up that sounded odd. We would find something lacking. I think now, it is sounding a lot more clearer and the wait has paid off.”
The Chaos Clan will gather again as the band takes to the stage on April 16 as part of metal gig series Bonded by Blood at Blue Frog, Church Street, alongside metal bands including Neolithic Silence and Piston. Chaos will be bringing their signature wrecking-ball energy, but don’t want to play too many new songs until the album is released. “We will play three or four songs off the new album and the rest will be from Violent Redemption . It always feels the best to play in Bangalore. A very passionate crowd comes in and they go crazy. It is awesome to see from the stage, as they mosh and sing along.”
Chaos performs at Blue Frog, Church Street on April 16. Entry: Rs 500 at the door.
