Demigod is a metalcore band that descends from the ‘Pink City’ Jaipur and draws its dark energies from the likes of Rabbit is Rich, System Of A Down, Black Tide, Pantera, Six Feet Under, Seether, Lamb Of God, etc. The wide spectrum of influences may seem intimidating at first, but they have meticulously blended all the different shades together into a flavorful colour of their own.
The current lineup sports faces both new as well as old – with Ravneet Singh roaring in the mic, Ayush Sharma riding the drums, Rishab Upadhyay strumming the guitar, Sanskriti Mathur smashing the keys and Ayush Saxena on bass. The quintet has bagged medallions of fame at countless local music fests and has been runner-ups & headliners at several other gigs throughout the past. Demigod recently lifted the curtains off their new lyric video for ‘Whiplash Motif’, a quirky name for their newest metalcore track that lands right over the 7-minute mark.
The hammering beats progressively grow intense pick up the weight with each passing minute and release just the right amount of tension when the vocals demand it. The vocals themselves take sharp unforeseen turns from soothingly poppy to bloodcurdling screeches so fast that it practically turns into an orchestral orgy of emotions at times, like my 9 am coffee (just the way I like it). Demigod has outdone themselves with the consistently crisp guitar riffs, sporting a bass to match. Mercurial and omnipresent. Transitioning from methodologically sweet & melodic to hard as a ball of lead when the moment calls for it.
All the set pieces have got so much going with them yet they all move together cohesively. Each section is intelligently placed which ups the rhythmic appeal by several notches. The transitions are mostly smooth, but a few jagged edges could’ve used more polish. And on the lyrical side of things, I found the song slightly lacking, and the words feel kinda half baked & unimaginative at times.
One thing I truly loved about ‘Whiplash Motif’ is that even though several styles and concepts have been toyed around with, at no point did the song try to stray down the path of cheesy ‘in-your-face’ showmanship. It treads carefully & frolics around with gentle grace, upholding its class. This tranquil fluidity in seething chaos is something that the fans of the genre have grown to like over the years and is a great joy to see it in action.
The uncertainty kinda kept me on my guard at all times, but not once was I able to stop my tapping feet. The part I loved the most? The tactical pause halfway through offers momentary relief from all the buildup, which then transitions into a fairly exciting penultimate guitar solo.
On the visuals side, Sonicspawn Studios has done a spectacular job on ‘Whiplash Motif’. The effects are top-notch not just in terms of sheer aesthetics, but also thematically – which add to the overall appeal of the song. Don’t just listen to it, but witness the track in its full glory – with its zappy zoom-ins, the sassy screen shakes that mirror the tempo, coupled with feisty fade-outs and shimmering sparks that flare up in the background.
Though the said effects are limited in scope and diversity, their permutations with varying intensities keep the stench of repetitiveness at bay. At the same time, an invisible guiding hand is ever-present to keep the minimalism under tight reins, lest the entire affair doesn’t accidentally cross into the realm of edginess.
While I am on with the review of a song, I often take notes, pausing at times to slice up the sections & jot down interesting highlights. But often the most truthful way to judge a piece of music is to look at how your own body is subconsciously reacting to it. The goosebumps never really lie. Straightforward answer? Totally recommended. And not just to the fans of Demigod or their genre, but to anyone who cares to listen (in my opinion… and consequently the song). Alternately, ‘Bohot hard, bohot hard’.
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