review: Nu Delhi
Mar. 22nd, 2025 12:47 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
itrytobea review of Bloodywood's second album Nu Delhi
i was very excited for a new album from my favourite band, after a number of covers and singles and a spectacular first album! however, the second album Nu Delhi is a bit disappointing. it's not bad; it's... fine. it's all okay, good music, but nothing stands out. i feel like the debut album Rakshak had a lot more variation in moods and styles and levels of heaviness, with some very memorable flute melodies ("Jee Veerey", "Endurant") and haunting choruses ("Zanjeero Se", "Jee Veerey").
Nu Delhi sounds like they blended "Gaddaar", "Machi Bhasad" and "Chakh Le" from Rakshak and made seven variations on the theme. also, with 8 tracks and a runtime of 33 minutes, Nu Delhi a bit shorter than Rakshak's 47 minutes over 10 tracks.
there are some nice riffs (see below), but i miss Jayant Bhadula's clean vocals. i've read a review of Rakshak that called Raoul Kerr's English rap lyrics "rote posturing", which i agree with, but somehow the English rap lyrics manage to be even duller on Nu Delhi. all that said, i still enjoy the new album and i'm happily listening to it on repeat. it's just the comparison with the mind-blowing debut where everything stands out that's causing the disappointment.
1. "Halla Bol"
the intro is very promising with the throat singing and flutes, it reminds me of HasSak Ethno. the rest of the song is unremarkable.
2. "Hutt"
i love the part after the breakdown, but everything before the breakdown is unremarkable.
3. "Dhadak"
this one has some clean vocals from Jayant Bhadula, those are lovely. the growls too, mind you, but the contrast provided by some clean vocals really elevate the best Bloodywood songs, in my opinion.
4. "Bekhauf" (ft. Babymetal)
this one stands out the most. probably because it has some different voices (and clean vocals). it didn't really do much for me at first, when it was released as a single, but it's grown on me.
5. "Kismat"
another intro that reminds me of HasSak ethno. the riff is amazing. one of the better songs on the album. however, the bridge has a harry potter reference, which disappoints me from a band i know as politically and socially conscious and progressive.
6. "Daggebaaz"
i enjoy it. i don't have much to say about it.
7. "Tadka"
the first rap part is nice, i like the flow and rhythm. the high-rising chorus is one of the more memorable parts of the album.
8. "Nu Delhi"
a bit boring, in my opinion. my least favourite track, i think.
i was very excited for a new album from my favourite band, after a number of covers and singles and a spectacular first album! however, the second album Nu Delhi is a bit disappointing. it's not bad; it's... fine. it's all okay, good music, but nothing stands out. i feel like the debut album Rakshak had a lot more variation in moods and styles and levels of heaviness, with some very memorable flute melodies ("Jee Veerey", "Endurant") and haunting choruses ("Zanjeero Se", "Jee Veerey").
Nu Delhi sounds like they blended "Gaddaar", "Machi Bhasad" and "Chakh Le" from Rakshak and made seven variations on the theme. also, with 8 tracks and a runtime of 33 minutes, Nu Delhi a bit shorter than Rakshak's 47 minutes over 10 tracks.
there are some nice riffs (see below), but i miss Jayant Bhadula's clean vocals. i've read a review of Rakshak that called Raoul Kerr's English rap lyrics "rote posturing", which i agree with, but somehow the English rap lyrics manage to be even duller on Nu Delhi. all that said, i still enjoy the new album and i'm happily listening to it on repeat. it's just the comparison with the mind-blowing debut where everything stands out that's causing the disappointment.
1. "Halla Bol"
the intro is very promising with the throat singing and flutes, it reminds me of HasSak Ethno. the rest of the song is unremarkable.
2. "Hutt"
i love the part after the breakdown, but everything before the breakdown is unremarkable.
3. "Dhadak"
this one has some clean vocals from Jayant Bhadula, those are lovely. the growls too, mind you, but the contrast provided by some clean vocals really elevate the best Bloodywood songs, in my opinion.
4. "Bekhauf" (ft. Babymetal)
this one stands out the most. probably because it has some different voices (and clean vocals). it didn't really do much for me at first, when it was released as a single, but it's grown on me.
5. "Kismat"
another intro that reminds me of HasSak ethno. the riff is amazing. one of the better songs on the album. however, the bridge has a harry potter reference, which disappoints me from a band i know as politically and socially conscious and progressive.
6. "Daggebaaz"
i enjoy it. i don't have much to say about it.
7. "Tadka"
the first rap part is nice, i like the flow and rhythm. the high-rising chorus is one of the more memorable parts of the album.
8. "Nu Delhi"
a bit boring, in my opinion. my least favourite track, i think.
