If Bangalore Open Air were Valhalla, Demonic Resurrection (DR) would be the war-hardened veterans marching into battle once more, axes sharpened, fire in their eyes, and a brand-new army at their side. The Mumbai-based blackened death metal pioneers stormed the BOA stage on February 8, 2025, marking their first performance at the festival in over a decade—and the first proper show with their new lineup. And what a triumphant return it was.
Sahil Makhija, better known as the almighty Demonstealer, has kept Demonic Resurrection alive for 25 relentless years, through lineup changes, shifting trends, and the kind of obstacles that would have broken lesser mortals. This time around, he’s joined by a revamped crew: guitarist Aditya Swaminathan (Gutslit, Kill The King), bassist Swarnava Sengupta (ShredxXx), and Chennai-based drumming powerhouse Nikhil Rajkumar (Ksetravid, Godless). The fresh blood brought a renewed ferocity to the set, as they ripped through anthems spanning their vast discography, including mythological ragers from Dashavatar and crowd favorites like “The Unrelenting Surge of Vengeance” and “Apocalyptic Dawn.”
Returning to Bangalore after nearly ten years, and to BOA since 2013, Demonstealer was visibly overwhelmed by the experience. “I’m still shaking, I’ve got goosebumps. It was quite an exciting set; coming back to Bangalore after almost 10 years I think and BOA after our last performance in 2013 I think and my first time with the new lineup and properly playing after 5 years. So yeah, it was exhilarating, anxiety-inducing, nerve-wracking but had a great time.”
There was also plenty of metalhead humor backstage. On the latest addition to the band, he quipped, “Just needed a drummer and we found Nikhil. He’s the only one who can play this stuff now, he’s gonna be in every band soon.” Rajkumar has certainly been making waves in the Indian metal scene, and his blistering speed behind the kit added an explosive energy to DR’s performance.
As the band celebrates 25 years of sonic devastation, Demonstealer reflected on DR’s journey and evolution. “Music is an ever-evolving journey. It’s hard to sum up 25 years into a concise answer. The thing is you try and do better with each album, as a musician, as a producer, as a songwriter and you always try and find your own sound over the years, that’s pretty much what I’ve done and I’m still evolving and growing as a musician and will continue to do so.”
That evolution has been fueled by a deep understanding of modern music marketing, which he believes is crucial for up-and-coming bands. “These days you have to be a content creator as well as a band, and I think the thing you can do is look and see what your favorite bands are doing and take those ideas and make them your own. Steal like an artist!”
The gig itself was a blitzkrieg of guttural growls, electrifying guitar solos, and earth-shattering blast beats. The setlist pulled from across DR’s legendary albums A Darkness Descends, The Return to Darkness, The Demon King, and the latest Decades of Darkness EP, proving that their fire still burns as fiercely as ever. Fans who had been waiting years for another Demonic Resurrection Bengaluru show got their due, chanting, headbanging, and raising their horns skyward as the band delivered a masterclass in extreme metal.
Of course, no conversation with Demonstealer is complete without some battle-worn tour stories. Reminiscing about their past gigs, he recalled their infamous Goa show that never happened. “We had an anti-Christian name, so the gig got canned.” Then there was their surreal show in Anand, Gujarat, where the band performed on a wedding stage with ancient audio speakers. “There were all these wedding chairs around the stage.” A true sign that metal will find a way—anywhere, anytime.
With this monumental BOA show in the books, whispers of a potential 25th-anniversary tour are already in the air. If this gig was any indication, Demonic Resurrection is far from done—if anything, they’re just getting started again. Stay tuned, metalheads. The storm is far from over.
DR is all set to traverse UK and Europe for their upcoming tour, where they share the stage with Bloodywood, Calva Louise, and Midhaven.
Read More: Jinjer, Cynic & Necrophobic Reign Supreme at Bangalore Open Air 2025
Photo Credits: https://www.instagram.com/mohit.concertphotography/