With a pair of studio albums under their belt (including 2022’s magnificent work Rakshak), Metalcore/Indian-inspired Folk/Hip-Hop standouts Bloodywood have both carved out a bit of a signature sound whilst also leaving room to continue experimenting and injecting flair and originality into their work.

Nu Delhi (Fearless Records) displays an innate ability to bring bombastic rhythms, infectious vocal cadences and thunderous energy to the fore. There are at least a few choruses and hooks that are tailor-made for the live concert setting.

The Metalcore-tinged guitar tones take over on opener “Halla Bol” after instrumentals and anticipation builds during the introduction. There is a bit of erratic sequencing for better or worse, but Bloodywood manages to welcome that and work it to their advantages.

Another staple of their sound has been not only rapped lyrics but songwriting which includes confident and firm lyrics. The delivery is almost always stern and straightforward with a gusto that permeates. The tempo on “Dhadak” especially benefits from various vocal styles being utilized.

For longtime fans, “Daggebaaz” is a track that could have easily fit right into the prior album’s sound and style. This time around, “Bekhauf” exhibits a strong keyboard melody and female vocals, which together makes for a seemingly Anime-inspired track.

There is no shortage of stamina, musicianship and straight-up good times on Nu Delhi. Taken as either an introduction to Bloodywood or a continuation of what they’ve already established, their third studio album gives a solid taste of what to expect while also leaving the door open for much more exploration and risk-taking in the near future.

Buy the album here:
https://found.ee/nu_delhi

7 / 10
MATT COOK
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