JOIN USA death/ thrash metal band that started around a decade ago, ‘Inner Sanctum’ has made a mark for themselves in the music scene in the city.
Lineup changes notwithstanding, the band has gone on to win various accolades and fans ever since its inception. The group has also shared stage with giants like Metallica, Cradle of Filth, Slayer, Vader and Behemoth, to name a few.
Narayan Shrouthy from ‘Inner Sanctum’ takes time out from his busy schedule to talk to Anushree Agarwal about their unique sound, what sets them apart as a band and their future plans, especially this year.
How did you come up with the name ‘Inner Sanctum’?
Well, I wasn’t with the band when it was named, but I believe that the inspiration for this came from a 1991 film of the same name.
What sets you apart as a band?
I’d like to believe that the band works well because all of us believe in putting our hundred percent at every jam and every gig. The fact that we’ve been individually and collectively doing what we do musically for a long time makes it easier.
As a band, we believe that we need to consistently put out gripping live
performances to keep our audiences engaged and wanting more. Personally, I also feel the fact that the music has hooks that keep the listeners hooked.
Your most recent gigs...
We’ve played a few club gigs in the recent past at Indigo Live Music Bar, then at
blueFROG where we supported Jeff Loomis at the Twisted Metal Fest, and last week at The Humming Tree. What’s special is that each of these gigs has taught us a lot and have been a great learning experience. We have thoroughly enjoyed playing at each one of them.
What’s new on the cards for the band this year?
In 2017, we’d like to work on new music, obviously, and try and reach out to audiences in parts of this country we haven’t played at before as well as abroad.
What do you do when not playing music?
Everyone in the band has their own thing that they like to do. For instance, I play with three other bands — ‘Lucidreams’, ‘Neolithic Silence’ and ‘Bajaow’. I also have a full-time job as a content editor at Prime Focus Technologies.
What are your expectations for the metal scene in Bengaluru this year?
Last year, we didn’t play at too many shows in Bengaluru. We would like to play more in the city this year. We also hope that some of the newer bands in the
city put out some great music for us to learn from and for the metal scene to improve.
How do you place metal as compared to other genres in the city?
There is a very healthy crowd for metal in Bengaluru. The last few gigs we did were packed, even though it was a ticketed event and people had to pay money to attend. This shows that the local metal bands are getting recognition. That’s exactly what I feel — if a band in any genre is hardworking, people will come for their gigs and they will get their due worth.
If it was your last day on earth, what kind of music would you listen to?
Definitely metal, since we are lovers of metal and play that. For me, it has to be ‘Iron Maiden’. They are my inspiration.
An advice for aspiring musicians...
First of all, stop looking for favours from people and free deals. Work really hard and make things happen. It will take time, but in the end, all your dedication will pay off. Also, never be afraid of failure.