Sycorax - Darjeeling-based band to participate in Wacken Open Air Germany

A Darjeeling-based band has left for Germany to participate in Wacken Open Air, a well known heavy metal competition, after spending more than a month here to pool in funds for their trip.

Sycorax is the only band from India to be selected for the event. They will perform in Germany tomorrow.

"Our family pooled in to buy our flight tickets but it was difficult to get the funds. We had approached the state government but they said they could not finance such events, but Bimal Gurung, the GTA chief gave us Rs 2 lakh and has promised to pool in further once we return," said Trivesh Subba, the vocalist of the band.

"We first sent our song demo to the organisers and we were then invited to participate in a competition at Guwahati on May 14. After we won the competition, we had to compete with other bands from across India at Bangalore on June 5. On winning the Bangalore event, we were selected to perform at the Wacken Open Air competition," said Subba.

The festival was first organised in 1990 and Sycorax is the fifth band from India to participate in the event.

"It is a dream come true as every band involved in heavy metal aspires to participate in this competition," said Subba.

Apart from Subba, the band includes Ribesh Gurung on the drums, Gautam Singh as the lead guitarist and Ravi Singh on the bass.

The band has christened their music as "Pavitra Gorkha Metal" which blends Nepali folk songs with heavy metal.(TT)