Auf Wiedersehen

Angry feet
even before break of dawn
one more light vanishes
out of our life it has gone.

sweat glistens off the brow
release of frantic fury
clocks deny the pause of time
and words misspell the agony in my rhyme

bright mind,
pride of the family
mutilated body
no eye wants to see

tears choke words
lamentations in silence heard
sleep does not come to the loving mother
a part of her heart is sheared

who is to blame
for lives these tragedies claim,
when the death knell sounds
nothing remains the same

Slip away in the sands of time
be one with nothing
your liberation it is we wish
and farewell to you we sing.

cant help my clenched fist
neither the helpless mind
looking at the horizon,
for any solace i can find.


R.I.P...........................................................

Consequence?

Why do you hesitate?
Why do your lips quiver,
To say the undeniable?


Why do you shy away?
Why does your hand tremble,
To nestle my soul???

In my darkest hour............

when i put the nib to papyrus,
the pen fails me
And the ink flows in vain

i look around, at people fighting
and my senses fail me
will the blood stop the pain

From the scroll of ancient stone
wisdom flows unwalled
words undeciphered

once discovered, views they twist
ordeals ordered and caused
chaos unleashed

signals from the brain
thoughts they converge into
character arise

enforced they cannot be
on a souls will
logic, this friction defies.

lines drawn over lands vast
barbs separate soul and heart
flowers wither in gardens

bullets fly across those lines
a gory testimony to someones start
metal pierces the very breast that pardons

fires for warmth and life
light shows the way
for us to march on

blazes from the fire torch
mould of the human clay
charring the shoulder you cry on

sky above you, same for all
faith you keep close to skin
strength in storms

but belief when blinded
tears open the sky within.
dismisses humanity's norms.

pictures we live with are
illusions needed for species to sustain
feet trudging on ether

to reality be the frames rooted
as true as the moist earth when touched by the rain
trust deep down may it aver.

Systematic Chaos

Alright, lets get things straight first!
I am not here to write a "review" of the album "Systematic Chaos", but merely to present the humble opinion i have about this latest musical precipitate from the solution called Dream Theater. A dumb ass like me could never write a review for the band of that talent and intensity in this life time at least. So, lets get started.

There are 8 tracks on this album 3 are over 15 minutes long. Yeah, that should not come as a surprise to any DT fan, why do i remember some song raging on for about 24 minutes...........:D. Point to be made is that DT's ways are intact. they have not changed one bit which is a very good sign.

What has changed, is the influences or rather the weight of influences their music shows. This record is more metal than progressive. The album openers, "In the presence of my Enemy" parts 1&2 are typical DT songs, very long and featuring lotsa virtuoso soloing. They are a pleasure to listen to, is what i can say at the least.

But the major change, or the weight of influence , which i was talking about earlier, is seen in the 3rd track "Forsken". The opening riff is very catchy, the music is more metal and straight forward. Of course solos are not missed here too, courtesy the genius known to us mortals as Jordan Rudess.

Which brings me to a very important point here. That being Jordan's musical influence over DT's music and his command of his instrument. The magic created by the keyboards is just inescapable, and rather than overpowering the song (which John Petrucci's guitar is sometimes known to do), it just intertwines beautifully with the track, providing a shade or texture to the track. Its more like Hans Zimmer dishing out the soundtrack of "Pearl Harbour". Amazing. Dare i say, that Jordan Rudess is the best keyboard player alive in our time??? Won't be too far fetched i think.

Next up, the track "Constant Motion". Here the thrash metal touches are even more evident. straightup riffs, and even growling, courtesy my favourite drummer , Mike Portnoy. Throughout the entire albums, Mike has ably backed up James La brie in the vocal section. James, a genius vocalist himself, more than justifies his place in DT. After taking a lot of potshots, i think he has done much more than enough to shut peoples mouth up. Sheer magic!


The next 2 songs, "The dark Eternal Night" and "Prophets of war" too have visible metal influences. But here the band is back in its own groove, progging what they prog the best!

But the absolute favourite, the piece-de-resistance, the coup-de-grace of this album, according to me is the last track "The Ministry of Lost souls". This is DT at its best. On top of its game. Justifying their place as one of the best bands around. The melody, vocals, keyboards all just come together real good. This song is to be heard to be believed!


So all in all i think, a very very good album from DT. Its my favourite this winter, thats what i can surely say.Enjoy!!!

Metal is all around.............

This is one of those moments i cannot stop from putting my heart down. I just finished watching "Global Metal", the much awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed "Metal : A headbangers journey". Sam Dunn, in the curtain raiser has certainly put in the effort to show the world what metal is and getting the respect that the metal community deserves. Proud, mighty, young and true are words i most relate with metal. And Global Metal just showed the multiple faces that metal carries around the world. Most of the documentary carries one through third world countries like Brazil, Indonesia, China (??) , prosperous lands like Japan, war afflicted soils of Israel and the middle east. To the Americans and the Brits, this music maybe pure entertainment. But watch this piece of film, you come to realise what it means to metal heads like me who live in vastly different societies where freedom is like a daily allowance. Some countries more than the others.

Religious conflicts, death, brutality, injustice all being the topics-of-choice for metal are what these countries are going through. And metal heads here know what it is and have found an outlet for the hidden angst and rage in metal. I........I can't seem to find words to tell you what effect it had on me. Beg of you to go and watch that documentary. i was moved to tears, when an Indonesian fan echoed what i felt all the time, "metal is for life. Religion is my relation particularly with my god. it is for no one else to judge or decide." or when an Israeli musician from the band "Orphaned Land" (which is a band i have come to like. they are awesome!) said "There is plenty of darkness around us. So its important to sing about the light that we need. Create that light inside us." You will probably realize what i am talking about when you watch these humans rend their heart out on stage knowing that their music is going to be instrumental in bringing about massive changes. Their attitude just shouts, "yeah you have your guns and missiles and tanks. well we have guitars and drums and mikes and a legion of metal heads. we will earn back out rightful freedom." Fucking yeah!

There is a very good overview of the metal scene in India with some of the leading acts like "Demonic Resurrection" and "Bhayanak Maut " being featured prominently. What metal means to Indian kids and what they want to convey through it. My absolute favourite was a sentence, a bloody fact from the mouth of Anant Dwivedi, from the band Prakalp "In the band we follow one religion, and that is music. Its just like the sky above is. Its one for everyone." If Mr motherfuckin Raj Thackeray and his ilk can take some of this spirit with them, India would be much better off. And i mean it. None of my over-the-top cracks.

The heart of an Indian metal head inside me swelled with pride, at the tad end of the movie, when Iron Maidens appearance at Bangalore, the first gig by a major metal band in India has been showcased. The 25,000 strong crowd chanted to legendary tunes like "Fear Of the dark" and "Hallowed be thy name". Who can stop tears from streaking down, feet from jumping and heads from banging? We have arrived!

So please please please watch this film. download it , rip it off you tube, do whatever the fuck you have to. If neither works, contact me, i will burn it on a CD for you. But please do see this.

Festive Lights

I was a troubled kid. Troubled, by asthma that is. So, approach Diwali time and mom would announce, “Son, no crackers. Doctor’s orders.” Now, kids are not kids unless they are spanked. In this case I did not need one. Disobedience of the above mentioned “farmaan” brought with it a lot of dust on my clothes, an ambulance and a panic stricken look to my parents face. Writhing, coughing, almost choking on the smoke.

So that called for forced austerity. NO boom-boom-bang-bang when all the kids in the locality would be at it with all the enthusiasm they could manufacture. It would be eleven years before I would touch another (kids approved) explosive. I had to paint up all the reasons I could to explain my lack of participation in the celebrations, but today I think I am better off doing that. Realizing what that austerity helped me understand and really sink in this thick head, it just could not have come in any other way.

No, I do not want to be another Mr. Al Bore. No offense meant. He is doing his part for the environment and has been amply rewarded with a lot of money and the Nobel. No, I do not want to stand on that podium. I do not have any presentation, laser pointer and anything as such. Might sound hilarious, maybe is, but just me existing here as of now is something I would like to be grateful about. I could have died on that day, had it not been for someone’s timely phone call and a helping hand. Not just me, no. Hundreds of kids have the indignity of dying due the (frankly) unnecessary smoke. Some face familiar?

If light and prosperity is what this festival is supposed to mean, then a simple “diya” would suffice. It does, in the vast majority of India where people cannot afford the products of child labour from Sivakasi and other places. But why should we? We are not stricken for money? Yes we are not. Just remember that when you curse the loud speakers blaring during Ganesh Utsav. They are not the only sources of “noise pollution that harms the environment and troubles sane and sentient human beings.”

Couple of thousand more on the clothes and food won’t be as bad I think. I mean, in my puny brain I just displaced the allocated cracker budget to some other items on the list. Old clothes can be given away. Leftover food too. Will that not bring a million buck smile to some face? It adds up to the festival, I think. Makes it brighter. Or if you are so stuffed up on the top floor, just put that money in the bank and use it for your kids future. Two blessing in one, bank (recession, you see) and child.

Diwali for me, is a time to re-unite my family and the values it lives. The physical distance between you and them just makes it sweeter. Not for fire gutted huts, ambulance sirens blaring and people trying to cope with their tears. That is the main course for the lunch we live everyday.

Well, personal opinions anyway (I heard someone saying bullshit? That’s ok. Happens.)
Sanity hath its downfall and hospital ride. While that is being bandaged and taken care of, madness can run amok. But I know for sure that the run will be quite short. Happy Diwali.

I love Rock N Roll

This below is the foreword for the the Blender magazine by their editor , Sam Lal. Needless to say, rock fans will agree with this.

"Its the easiest thing in the world to misunderstand rock music. There is something about the intensity, the passion , the volume and the attitude , which makes it almost comparable to an ancient ritual and there are quite a few souls out there who are not too keen on pagan rites. Rock music , therefore, becomes an easy prey for rumours about devil worship , bestiality and generally everything that is wrong with the moral fibre of the modern society.

Of course this is all hogwash! If there is one style of music that comes absolutely stuffed with positive messages, it is rock. Even if the genre' s brand ambassador happens to be the bat munching Ozzy Osbourne. "Rock and Roll - the music of freedom" is how one Salman Rushdie looks at it and as a Booker prize winning author, he should know.

Rock music and all its sub genre's are about talent, honesty of expression and celebration of life. It may inspire some people, it may scare others, but it is always true to itself and the vision of the people creating it! "

Nothing else matters.........\m__m/!

Maula mere.............

no, i haven't become a believer or become "enlightened" or anything like that. Just that music has some other worldly touch to it, it often moves you to tears. This track from the movie Chak De!, manages to do the same. Soulful. Especially when you watch the movie. If you are not moved when u listen to this, you are not human.

teeja tera rang tha main to
teeja tera rang tha main to…
jiya tere dhang se main to
tu hi tha maula tu hi aan
Maula mere le le meri jaan
Maula mere le le meri jaan…….teeja tera rang tha main to
teeja tera rang tha main to….
jiya tere dhang se main to
tu hi tha maula tu hi aan
maula mere le le meri jaan
maula mere le le meri jaan…..

tere sang kheli holi
tere sang ki diwali
tere angano ki chaya
tere sang saawan aaya
pher le chahe tu nazrein chahe chura le
laut ke tu aayega re shart laga le
teeja tera rang tha main to
teeja tera rang tha main to…..
jiya tere dhang se main to
tu hi tha maula tu hi aan
Maula mere le le meri jaan
Maula mere le le meri jaan…….

mitti meri thi tu hi
wahin mere ghee aur churee
wahin raanzhen mere wahin heer
wahi savaiyaan wahin kheer
tujhse hi rooth na re tuzhe hi manana
tera mera naata koi dooja na jaana
teeja tera rang tha main to
jiya tere dhang se main to
tu hi tha maula tu hi aan
Maula mere le le meri jaan…….
Maula mere le le meri jaan…….
Maula mere le le meri jaan…….

Be Reminded

Came across this poem, penned by none other than Adolf Hitler himself!
Read to your own chagrin!

Be Reminded...................

When your mother has grown older,
When her dear, faithful eyes
No longer see life as they once did,
When her feet, grown tired,
No longer want to carry her as she walks,
Then lend her your arm in support, escort her with happy pleasure—
the hour will come when, weeping, you must accompany her on her final walk.

And if she asks you something, then give her an answer.
And if she asks again, then speak!
And if she asks yet again, respond to her, not impatiently, but with gentle calm.

And if she cannot understand you properly, explain all to her happily.
The hour will come, the bitter hour, when her mouth asks for nothing more.

Changing Perceptions..............

An incident from the not so distant past. Makes me laugh every time I remember it. Without fail.


It had just been a month or so after I was safely employed. Nothing to do with my job though. But with something called heavy metal music. Especially in Pune. Got to know about a gig through a friend. I had to go . How can I not. Especially when Brute Force were performing? So that hammers out any creases on the surface. Just the timing of the gig might present a bit of a problem. But determination hath its say. Nothing doing. Rocking means rocking. Lolz.


Actually my office bus reaches back at 5:45. the gig was scheduled at 6:30. so I would not have the time to dress up (!!) for the gig. Yeah yeah. Those were the days when I still had something in my wardrobe that wasn’t black in colour. Now it’s a different story. Or the same colour. Well, so I had to change (!!!) and then catch a ride to the venue. But if punctuality was to be observed (eggheads, that is very important to me, even if it doesn’t even feature in the top ten list for the organizers) then there would be no chance of me changing my attire.


You know, at times I wish I had never known of something called Murphy’s Law. That way I could have cursed luck or fate or something else. But things not changing things started going wrong on gig day. We had an audit , and so, I had to wear formals (holy sacrilege……….i know). Now not only am I completely uncomfortable in formals but also look like a complete dork. But then Mr. Murphy makes sure that you commit suicide once in a while. Without shedding a drop of blood. Painful.


So there was the dork. Spent a normal day in office. The audit came and went by. I wasn’t close to it by miles. Yeah. Stop chuckling to yourself. I WENT TO THE GIG IN FORMALS!!!!!! A HEAVY METAL GIG!!!!


Let me tell you how embarrassing it can be. Have you ever been through that experience where you try a karate kick on your mate and your trousers rip open to reveal the not so pleasant parts of your body. Take that feeling, multiply it by 100 and then square it. You are getting close. There wasn’t a single eye which went by without staring at me. Not a single lady who did not snigger at me. Not a single dude who did not call me names, albeit silently. Cause whatever might be the case, I still weight quite a few pounds and that does matter. Even mates who got passes for me, kept a safe distance. “we are not with him.” Yeah . Right.


Well, nevertheless, after making a joke of my appearance and my punctuality, the gig did start. Bands playing their hearts out. This one particular band had a female lead vocalist. And she was damn good , looking and sounding. But she did not find any fans. Any except one. Me. Imagine screaming for someone in support and in return have the whole place stare at you. Even the technicians and the judges. But she was good. And I did not stop screaming. Do what you feel is right. Yeah. Right.


More salt to the wound, everyone had drinks in their hand and smokes up their asses. Cause one of the organizers was a brewery and was giving a couple of drinks free with every entry pass. And yeah. As you probably guessed. I did not have a glass in my hand. I do not like whiskey. Better keep that reason to myself I thought. Or get thrown out.


Last of all bands, and my favourite, was Brute Force. This is one band I have enormous respect for and I love to mosh and head band when they tear the place apart. So when they came on, I knew the evening would be worth it. Cause all this time I was just standing there, alone in the crowd , not making any movements. Alienating myself from everyone else. Sober against drunk. Neatly parted hair against head banging induced dishevel ness.




And did BF have something up their sleeves. First track, Brute Force. From the moment the first riff hit the amps, The gears which link my neck to the rest of the body, went into over drive. I was amidst a head banging high. “……..brute Force……..yeahhhhhhhh”. for a better part of half an hour, my posture could be roughly described as “everything shaking and moving except for the mano cornutas raised above my head.” I was loving it.


The real surprise came when the band was about to hit the last song “”Opportunity denied.” A guitar string broke and there was a brief silence. And I just happened to open my eyes and put on my specs (pocketed them while head banging). People around me……..their jaws were about to drop and their eyes were about to come out of their sockets and dance on the floor. To them I was a man who was never capable of anything else other than shouting and the occasional devil horns. How did he get into the head banging frenzy? How did he jump into the mosh pit? All I could do was smile. And wink at the girls who had sniggered at me earlier. I could see them returning the favour. Boy, do I love shocking people!


Completely drenched in sweat and smoke after the gig, I was spent. Couldn’t even stand straight. But I was happy. Brute Force won. and I had people coming upto me and apologizing, offering me rides back home and have a drink with them. They had mistaken me for someone who would not be metal, just because I was wearing formals. Appearances can be deceiving. \m__m/


Even today, when I meet dudes from that gig (of course I made a lot of friends in this process) , we have a good laugh about it. They did learn something from me. But since then, I have never been to office in formals.:D.