Metal band The Down Troddence drops the first track ‘Maharani’ from its new album AYAKTIHIS

The Down Troddence returns with 'Maharani', featuring TM Krishna, discussing evolution, resistance, and new album aspirations.

When The Down Troddence (TDT) is returning with an album after ten years, expectations are bound to be high. ‘Maharani’, the first track from their new album As You All Know, This Is How It Is (AYAKTIHIS), dropped across streaming platforms on February 20. And collaborating with TDT for the track is Carnatic vocalist TM Krishna. 

The folk-groove-progressive metal act from Kannur, Kerala, which broke into the underground scene with their formidable debut album How Are You? We are Fine, Thank You in 2014 took systemic oppression head on with its ferocious riffs, growls and potent lyrics. 

Over a video interview, members of TDT discuss their new album and what took them so long, their politics, and the fire they share. 

“Ten years is a long time, but we have been figuring out our individual lives and careers, regrouping to work on our music, exploring our influences; we have become more mature and consistent,” says Nezer Ahemed, who handles the bass guitar. The initial strains of ‘Maharani’ were conceived in 2011, but they kept adding to it, layering it until it evolved into its present form. 

“While the first album was more visceral and direct in terms of how we wanted to address issues, this one is more nuanced. We saw ourselves as separate from the system then. Now we recognise that we are part of the system and part of the change that has to come,” Nezer adds.  

Though the anger has not dissipated, the approach has more finesse, “we have evolved, just as our listeners have,” says Varun Raj, who plays the lead guitar. 

Varun and Munz were part of a two-member project Ultimatyum in 2008, which later grew into TDT. Soon, Sushin Shyam, currently one of Malayalam’s busiest film music composers, joined as keyboardist. With Nezer, Ganesh Radhakrishnan (drums) and Advaith Mohan (rhythm guitar) on board, the band went on to push the boundaries of metal, bringing in traditional Kerala folk ethos, especially blending in elements from the ritualistic art form, Theyyam.