The third installment of Modern Machines, curated by HoldStill Records, descended upon Bengaluru’s White Lotus Club on March 23 delivering an electrifying night of modern/prog metal, metalcore, djent, and (the latest iteration of) post-post-hardcore metal. Following the success of previous editions featuring acts like Space Is All We Have, Ksetravid, and Sapien Error, Vol. 3 proved yet again why Modern Machines is a must-attend for fans of forward-thinking heavy music.
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The lineup was a carefully crafted blend of emerging talent and seasoned veterans, each bringing their own flavor of modern metal. From the atmospheric magic of thevoidwecreate to the groove-laden thrash of Zygnema, the night was a relentless showcase of some of the best Indian metal had to offer.
Opening Acts
An act that seamlessly blends post-hardcore anguish with ethereal soundscapes, thevoidwecreate, played songs off their recent debut EP, Outer Rings of Heaven including tracks like Bitterflies and the title track, shimmered with crushing melodies and haunting heaviness. Antimatter LR brought their signature prog-metal precision, delivering a mix of original material like the single Self Blame. Showcasing their knack for intricate riffing and dynamic vocal contrasts, while their takes on Periphery and Architects had the crowd moving.
Hope Awake, the dark djent/metalcore outfit, plunged the audience into a musical abyss with Mortality and some unreleased tracks like Monarchy, Secret Sun which stood out. Some great visceral energy out there. The bands also did some covers of their dreamy, ferocious musical ancestors like Sleep Token, Invent Animate, and the like. Very enjoyable, especially when coupled with some fresh tunes off the DAW.
Headliners
If there was one band that truly owned the night, it was Within Ceres. When their track ‘Terminal‘ set in, it was some sweet proggy bliss! The Goan progressive metal act has been holding our attention since their 2020 EP Skyless, and their live performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. With an on-point live sound that merged futuristic soundscapes, some sweet low-tuned riffs, and a perfect balance of clean and harsh vocals, they were a brilliant to say the least.
Closing the night were Mumbai’s groove/thrash titans Zygnema, a band that needs no introduction. Having conquered stages like Wacken Open Air and Inferno Metal Festival, they brought their signature intensity to Bengaluru. Tracks from their latest EP, Iconic, including the blistering Grind were met with roaring approval along with some of their old hits like Theory of Lies & Negation. Their effortless crowd engagement and razor-sharp musicianship proved why they remain at the forefront of India’s metal scene.
If you missed this one, keep your eyes peeled, Modern Machines is a gig series you won’t want to sleep on.
Fun Facts!
One of the pioneers in modern metal in India Goddess Gagged (which is at least more than 15 years old now, not so modern huh?) had this brilliant track named Modern Machines off their seminal album Resurfaces. But did you know Goddess Gagged itself is a song by the Canadian prog metal band Protest The Hero. And what’s the opposite of Protest The Hero? Hail The Villain! Another awesome Canadian band, do check their awesome 2010 hard/alt rock album Population: Declining. On an unrelated note, Veil Of Maya was a song by Cynic, who were one of the headliners at the recent edition of Bangalore Open Air.
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