Stigmata ready to blaze with ‘The Ascetic Paradox’
Fifteen years since their inception, the pioneers of pure Sri Lankan metal could not get any busier. Slowly unravelling their sleeves the band is soon to produce their fourth child aptly titled ‘The Ascetic Paradox’ (TAP), the album all Stigmata fans both here and overseas have been waiting for.
Are you ready: Rock fans can expect a stellar performance. Pic by Prasanna Welangoda
It’s been a long five-year wait. The band in itself as a unit has truly grown over the past 15 years. The stellar performances at a few concerts under the Stigmata 15-year anniversary programme have indeed left the fans yearning for the new music that the band will offer.
From performing to a crowd of nearly 10,000 Bangladeshi fans last year, to playing at ‘Resurrection’ in Dubai this year, Stigmata is gearing to shake up New Zealand in a few weeks.
It was just last week that the band launched their website; www.stigmatasl.lk. With it came the release of ‘An Idle Mind is the Devil’s Workshop’ a single from their upcoming album.
The song in itself displayed the traces of a beautiful combination between heavy metal tunes perfectly interwoven with a touch of Sri Lankan baila and funk sounds.
“As a band we always need to be on the same page musically, having evolved together as one eclectic organism… Everyone needs to feel it.
The songs, the arrangements, music and lyrics must resonate within us and move us before we decide if it makes the final cut or not. This music encapsulates who and what Stigmata is,” Stigmata’s frontman, Suresh De Silva tells us.
“This album has a lot of dynamics. It’s intense and powerful. It encompasses all the killer elements of our first three records, picks up where we left off five years ago but is a beast all on its own.
It’s not pretentious. Everything is recorded live, with feeling. There are no short cuts, auto tune or samples used. It’s raw, it’s ferocious and it’s unique.”
The Ascetic Paradox will also feature two guest collaborators; Chrisantha De Silva (CC) and Sanjeev Niles on ‘Let the Wolves Come & Lick Thy Wounds’ as well as the vocal talents of The Soul Sounds Academy Choir. Isuru Perera also contributes on percussion for a few songs.
Carefully guided by talented producer Ravin David Ratnam, ‘The Ascetic Paradox’ will certainly be an album to look out for. And for many fans the run up to the launch on October 17, could not get any more intense.
The state of the art launch concert which will be held at the British School Auditorium starting from 7.30 p.m., will feature amazing audio and visuals, mesmerizing special effects and a brutal two hour set including some of Stigmata’s classic scorchers and ‘T.A.P’ played in its entirety.
An exhibition titled ‘Art of the Saints’ will also take place at the venue. It will feature artwork, illustrations and photography of industry connoisseurs that have been a part of the band’s journey at any point in their 15 years.