CHENNAI: They may be the first city-based metal group booked to tour internationally but for Chennai’s popular thrash-metal outfit Blind Image, it’s been a long and head-banging journey to the top. Next month, they have to face the challenge of going on an Australian tour with a relatively new line-up, with Noble Luke on vocal duties and VG Pranav on the guitar. The better known faces of the group include founding member Sri Krishna (drummer), Shricharan (lead guitarist) and Siva (bassist). With the added honour of being the first Asian band to be signed by The Flaming Arts in Europe, it seems 2011 is set to be a year of unpredictable prospects for this band. “We are really looking forward to headlining the Whiplash Fest in Canberra, Australia. It’s a big deal,” says Srikrishna. Three months earlier, the metal outfit got to open for Cradle of Filth at the Palace Grounds, Bengaluru. The event also gave them an opportunity to share the stage with Travis Neal, the vocalist of Divine Heresy. Guitarist Pranav says, “We were driving with him in the car the previous night when he heard the title track of our second album, More Than Human. He then said he wanted to sing it with us.” The next day, all it took was five minutes backstage, listening to the track and he was ready. “There was no jam session and he didn’t ask us for the lyrics. But when he did the song, he was spot on, a real pro,” Pranav adds. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the tracks of their debut album, Psychobabble (2008), followed by More Than Human (2009), you might want to listen to tracks such as Axioms of Synergy and a rather rapidly-paced Deciphered. Plans for the band’s third album, to release in January next year, are underway as well. Krishna informs, “There will be a seven-string guitar on this one. So, our music will be the same but a whole lot heavier.” Just like their previous album, this one will also be produced by Rahman protege, Lakshman Chandrasekharan. The recording is slated to begin later this month. Ask them how they have been preparing for the tour, and Krishna answers ruefully, “Paperwork.” Are there any stunts that Blind Image may be planning to pull off abroad, while on tour? “I’m definitely going to take off my pants at some point,” reveals bassist Siva, with no hint of uncertainty whatsoever. “They’re going to put this in the paper, da”, the rest of the band cautions. “What? I’m going to do it. At least, I’ll pull the zipper down,” he insists indignantly. That’ll be one for the shutterbugs.Also, with the announcement of the band’s upcoming tour plans online, there has been a spike in the number of their out-of-India fan followers. “The market in the West for our kind of music is really huge,” explains Krishna. “But just like it is in India, an established name like say Iron Maiden always makes the big bucks, while others play for taxi fares.” So, after months of planning, with the backing of the band’s manager, Jon Knight, Knock knock knocking on heaven’s door, appears to have finally transcended from the lyric to real life. Undoubtedly, this ain’t no taxi ride.
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