When metal meets shamanic sounds

Serpents of Pakhangba is transforming the genre often associated with rebellion into a spiritual experience, writes Prilesha Pisupati

Mumbai-based Serpents of Pakhangba is redefining metal by blending it with shamanic sounds, transforming the genre — often associated with aggression and rebellion — into a spiritual experience. The band describes their sound as shamanic art metal, heavy witchcore, or experimental folk.

Founded by Vishal J Singh, the band’s music balances the “divine masculinity” of metal with the “divine femininity” of shamanic and folk elements. This duality is evident in their second album, ‘Air and Fire’, which fuses heavy, dissonant metal with folk string instruments like the dotara, erhu, and pena. It features lyrics in Japanese, Manipuri, Goalparia (spoken in Goalpara region of Assam), and English.

The album tells the story of an endangered shamanic tribe under attack by a corrupt political force. In response, exiled monk warriors are summoned by a godmother priestess to protect the land and its sacred knowledge. Tracks like ‘A wounded leader’s last stand’ explore compassionate leadership, while ‘Carnivorous’ delves into the destructive forces of war. ‘North of Koubru’ pays tribute to the Meitei god Koubru, the keeper of sacred underground wells.

Singh’s Assamese, Punjabi, and Manipuri heritage deeply informs his artistry. The handwritten texts on Meitei shamanic traditions, preserved by his family, have left a lasting impression on him, shaping the foundation of the band’s musical and spiritual philosophy. Even the band’s name comes from the Meitei dragon deity Pakhangba. While some
Meitei purists resist blending traditions, Singh believes in bridging multiple spiritual paths.

This reverence for ancestral traditions is shared by all the band members, each of whom found their way into the group through serendipitous encounters at live shows. The current lineup includes vocalist Hinoki Skymoon, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Akash Skymoon, violinist and vocalist Tamara Mayela Kazziha, drummer Varun Sood, and Singh, who is also a vocalist, sound designer, guitarist, and dotara player.

Formed in 2019, the band initially began as an avant-garde metal act but has since solidified its identity in shamanic metal while also exploring various folk music traditions. Their single ‘The silence of day’, for instance, features Phuningding, a folk singer from the Karbi tribe in northeast India, as a guest artiste. The 2021 track served as the soundtrack to a documentary on the uncertain future of humanity, co-created by Singh and Bengaluru-based filmmaker Niranjan Raghu.

For Serpents of Pakhangba, shamanism is more than just a musical experiment — it is a way of life. Both Hinoki and Skymoon are trained in Tai Chi and Qigong, conducting healing and sound therapy workshops. Singh, who identifies as an oracle and astrologer, uses music as a tool for spiritual guidance, while Tamara incorporates sound therapy into her meditative practices. According to Singh, their performances often move audiences to deep emotional release. Even their merchandise, like handmade incense sticks, is designed to foster meditation and spiritual connection.

Though shamanism is often met with skepticism, Singh notes that their concerts attract a diverse crowd — from metalheads to filmmakers, LGBTQ+ supporters, astrologers, scientists, and spiritualists — reflecting a global shift in consciousness.