Bengaluru band Ksetravid take their sound, story and fury on four-city tour

Vocalist Siddhanth Sarkar of tech-death/prog metal band Ksetravid talks about the release of their debut album, God Playing Dice, and ongoing four-city tour

After a moderately successful crowdfunding campaign last year, Bengaluru-based tech-death/prog metal band, Ksetravid, have been quietly plotting the release of their debut album, God Playing Dice.

Now, the band comprising vocalist Siddhanth Sarkar, guitarist Pritam Middey, drummer Nikhil Rajkumar and bassist Arunav Bhattacharjee will preview their album with a four-city tour called Hisaab Barabar that began in Mumbai on June 5 and travels to New Delhi on June 7. From there, they play in Kolkata on June 8 and wrap up with a homecoming gig in Bengaluru on June 15.

About finally being able to execute a year’s worth of planning, Siddhanth says, “It feels like a long-held storm is finally breaking. We’ve been working on the album and building this tour quietly for over a year, navigating venues, line-ups, funding and logistics. For us, hitting the road is not just about performing; it’s a way to bring to life the stories, themes, and energy we’ve buried into this project. We’ve missed that visceral exchange with live audiences.”

Known for their pummeling, mind-bending style of modern metal that draws from the likes of Meshuggah, Car Bomb and more, Ksetravid played in Mumbai and New Delhi for the first time. “It’s been challenging coordinating with venues and local promoters without any centralised backing, but we’ve had tremendous support from the community, and fellow artistes,” he adds.

For those who have never been to a Ksetravid show, the band promises a “narrative-driven, intense” setlist that delves on “inner conflict, collapse and catharsis,” according to the vocalist. “It’s immersive — equal parts sound, story, and emotion. We focus on atmosphere, transitions, and visuals that match the weight of the music.”

Formed in 2021, the band has so far released four singles, starting with “Man-made Crisis” in their first year and most recently putting out “Anamnesis” in September 2024.

With the album, God Playing Dice, in the final stages of production, their songs shine a spotlight on topics such as “societal dogmas, personal reckoning and the human cost of imbalance.” There is another reckoning taking place with Hisaab Barabar, an intent to push back against music industry norms such as gatekeeping and influential forces.