Iconic Indian metal musician Demonstealer streams new single ft. members of Kataklysm and Ne Obliviscaris.
Demonstealer, India’s premier metal musician Sahil Makhija’s (of Demonic Resurrection) solo venture, is streaming “Monolith of Hate”, the first single from his upcoming fourth album, The Propaganda Machine, out 31st March via Sweden’s Black Lion Records digitally and physically (CD, cassette, and vinyl). The track features Anabelle Iratni (Veile, ex-Cradle of Filth) on keys, Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, Triptykon, Blotted Science) on drums, and Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe (First Fragment, Augury, BARF) on bass.
Speaking of “Monolith of Hate,” Anabelle Iratni comments: “There’s a beautiful duality in this track, as often seen in the human condition. It was a very natural process writing the keyboard parts, they lend themselves well to the umbra throughout.”
States Demonstealer: “Musically this is one of the fastest songs on the album and yet also the most melodic. Lyrically the song talks about the current state of the world and how hateful the world is. The political and social divide, the hate in particular. I live in India which, like most countries, is experiencing a wave of hate. It’s always politicians and religious leaders riling up hate against minorities. We’re being consumed by it and everyday we see horrific news and crimes. In India, ever since the right-wing Hindu nationalist party came into power, there has been a surge in crimes against minorities, there have been attacks on students, journalists and activists being jailed and so on. They have employed hundreds of people into their IT cell and their only job is to spread propaganda and hate online. Not even Bollywood is spared. It’s a real sh*t show and this song is a reflection of the hate we are seeing in the world today.”
The single “Monolith of Hate” is now available on all digital/streaming media.
PRE-ORDER The Propaganda Machine on CD/cassette/vinyl/digital HERE or HERE (includes PRE-SAVE on digital platforms).
Black Lion Records is also issuing the back catalog of Demonstealer; PRE-ORDER them on CD/Digital RIGHT HERE.
Featuring a stellar line-up of metal musicians across the globe, The Propaganda Machine is another chapter in the story of one of heavy music’s most tenacious underground legends. The album is a brilliantly wicked 40-minute ride featuring the likes of Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, Triptykon, Blotted Science), Martino Garattoni (Ne Obliviscaris, Ancient Bards), and Ken Bedene (Aborted). Technical symphonic death metal at its finest — no-holds-barred, full-throttle heaviness. Relentless in its brutality, triumphant in its melodies. Vocally the album is also hard-hitting, marking a lyrical turn to reality and escape from fantasy — an eviscerating take on the polarised world today, and a record that fully speaks truth to power.
The Propaganda Machine was Mixed and Mastered at Hertz Studio in Poland; Artwork by Daemorph Art.
Track Listing:
1. The Fear Campaign
(Hannes Grossmann, Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe, Anabelle Iratni & Dean Paul Arnold)
2. Monolith of Hate
(James Payne, Martino Garattoni & Anabelle Iratni)
3. The Propaganda Machine
(Ken Bedene, Stian Gundersen & Anabelle Iratni)
4. The Art of Disinformation
(Sebastian Lanser, Kilian Duarte, Alex Baillie & Anabelle Iratni)
5. Screams of Those Dying
(Hannes Grossmann, Dominic ‘Forest’ Lapointe & Anabelle Iratni)
6. The Great Dictator
(James Payne, Martino Garattoni & Anabelle Iratni)
7. The Anti-National
(Sebastian Lanser, Kilian Duarte & Anabelle Iratni)
8. Crushing the Iron Fist
(Ken Bedene, Stian Gundersen, Sanjay Kumar & Anabelle Iratni)
Sahil Makhija, better known as Demonstealer, has long been one of the pillars of the heavy metal scene in India. From being at the vanguard of a fledgling metal scene to becoming one of its most visible and respected proponents today, Demonstealer is integral to the growth of the Indian metal community.
In 2000, Demonstealer formed Demonic Resurrection, one of India’s best-known and biggest metal bands. Over the last two decades the band has become one of the most recognizable faces of Indian metal, nationally and internationally. Also in 2000, he established India’s first recording studio dedicated solely to metal — a home to all of the country’s top metal bands.
Five years later, he launched Demonstealer Records — India’s first metal record label. The label included the best in India’s burgeoning metal scene on its roster and licensed internationally renowned acts, including Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir. Demonstealer also founded and ran Resurrection Festival, alongside Demonic Resurrection bassist Husain Bandukwala. For years it was India’s only dedicated extreme metal festival. Needless to say, Demonstealer’s impact on the national scene cannot be overstated.
Aside from the success of Demonic Resurrection (5 studio albums, Metal Hammer Golden God award, multiple tours and festivals across the UK and Europe), Demonstealer’s solo career is notable. From his debut album And Chaos Will Reign (2008) to 2021’s The Holocene Termination, Sahil has been blazing a thunderous solo trail.
