By Mannu Shahi

Kathmandu, Apr. 18: As the situation keeps getting worse and the statistics of people infected with this virus keep growing the world has entered this terrible state of mental and economical drain that might not find a solution within the next few weeks or even months. Yet hopeful voices of healing continue their support by spreading peaceful messages, lessons into tackling anxiety related to isolation and loneliness and a mutual understanding that the entire globe is facing this crisis together. Similarly, on the part of the musicians continuing to put out their creative work through live streams, their pending works or new artistic endeavors has been their most significant contribution into diverting the attention of their audiences to something interesting and light hearted.
Thus, the chain of releasing new music has continued with the Nepali artists as well, from raw underground bootlegs to glossy high-end productions is now discharged all over the social media platforms more rapidly than ever. Tenzin Doleck’s ‘Bhana k’ released on 9th April featuring Diwas Gurung on audio production and Fuzz Factory on video production has been really well received and continues to create a buzz amidst the fans even a week later. The quite lavish video fabrication has been hailed all over the comment section of the YouTube channel and Diwas Gurung’s reminisce of the 80s’ disco arrangement just adds up for the perfect recipe that Doleck’s followers were craving for. While, ASM a groove rock band based in Kathmandu formed and led by the front person Abhishek S. Mishra on vocals and guitars, Saiyed Shakya on guitars, Simon Upreti on bass and vocals and Nikesh Manandhar on drums also released their debut EP Blue Dawn on 12th April.
On the same day from a totally contrary world of Kathmandu’s underground music scene Grindcore group False Brain Tumor uploaded their three tracks self-titled EP on all social media sites. The raw home recording of the tracks were much appreciated by those looking out for such aesthetics and even got featured on prestigious underground platforms. The band was formed only a year ago but has already played over a dozen underground shows supporting well-established punk and metal acts and this 5 minute long EP proves that the group has much more to share and celebrate their existence in the scene for a much longer period. On 12th April yet another metal group hailing from the Kathmandu underground scene released their new single ‘Khatey’ reflecting on the lifestyle of the street children living in urban spaces and the judgment they face by the society they’re surround with. Formed in 2018 the band was the first runner up at the annual KCM intercollege music competition and has been active ever since.
A follow-up to this on 13th April another hardcore/ crossover thrash metal group Strangle released a music video for the single ‘Dissever’ from their upcoming album. This energetic quartet who have recently returned from their Indonesian tour with another punk act The Doltish have been around the scene for quite some time now and have gained a massive number of followers for an underground act. Recorded at Sound Fusion Studios and directed by Amrit Bhandari and Manish Shrestha this two minute long video has also been well-received by their followings and will continue to elevate the band’s status further.