New look Stigmata enters with a bang
Stigmata in full flow: An electrifying performance at Comic Con. Pic by Thiva Arunagirinathan
Lanka Comic Con, in its third consecutive year saw a lot of surprises. With much controversy surrounding domestic memes springing up ridiculing local Cosplayers, the overwhelming response from fans and Comic Con patrons alike , even drew DC’s ‘Wonder Woman’ director Patty Jenkins and the film’s star Gal Gadot’s support, praising the local Cosplayers for their courage and passion.
Meanwhile local rock stalwarts Stigmata resurfaced after nearly a year’s silence to wow over a thousand fans with a powerful performance at the 2017 Asus Lanka Comic Con at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre. The beloved heavy metal group has been part of the post event buzz on social media with their electrifying set being labelled as the band’s ‘Second Coming’.
Stigmata faced one of the group’s gravest issues, after three of its members left the Band in a sudden turn of events in the tail end of 2016. Founding members Suresh de Silva and Tennyson Napolean were left to pick up the pieces and rebuild the musical outfit. After nearly a year of staying out of the public eye, on Saturday, August 26, the band’s loyal fan base, peers and Comic Con attendees gathered to witness Stigmata’s return and they were not disappointed.
It was fantastic to behold how the band connected with the entire crowd, oozing energy and winning a new legion of fans of all ages.
Cameo appearances by up and coming talent Ursula Bastiansz and The Odyssey followed by the young Punk outfit Fallen Kids set the tone for the veterans who marched onto the stage like a league of extraordinary rockers.
Stigmata had audiences hooked with a rendition of the ‘Game of Thrones’ theme song interspersed with the band’s loved instrumental ‘Andura’. After addressing the crowd they burst right into ‘Lucid’ and performed bulldozer like renditions of ‘Forgiven, Forgotten’, ‘My Malice’ and one of the heaviest versions of their anthem ‘Voices’ with a surprise guest joining the band on stage; none other than C.C of Salvage & Melo-manic fame.
Despite a few technical glitches, the band thundered on with a new line-up. Suresh and Tenny now have Shafeek Shuail on rhythm guitars, Thisara Dhananjaya on bass guitar and Udaya Wickremage on drums, completing the line-up.
The addition of 7 string guitars, accompanied by a 5 string bass merging fluidly with Udaya’s powerful drumming was something amazing. People had come to listen to and see them out of familiarity but it also felt as if they were witnessing the rebirth of the band. The new additions complimented Tennyson’s switch to his role as the Band’s new lead guitarist, showcasing that he is a singular talent. Suresh pulled a take-no-prisoners hurricane like performance displaying his range and abilities as the troupe’s frontman.
Attendees were also treated to a surprise new song titled ‘Sacred Spaces’ which had all the band’s melodic, theatrical and technical flourishes pleasantly combined with a lot of fresh elements, showcasing that in terms of creativity Stigmata has a wide palette to not just explore but include into its recognizable formula. Those who had watched the Band before, immediately made note of the ensemble’s live show and revamped energy –here was a musical force that had upped their game considerably and knew it as well.
Everybody’s highlight of the show though was when they closed their electrifying set with the ‘Uda Palagaththath Wattaka’ inspired anthem ‘Jazz Theory’ off their second album ‘Silent Chaos Serpentine (2006). ‘Jazz Theory’ had also been given a facelift with new arrangements blended in. The band picked the perfect song to end the show, having everyone headbanging, jumping around, swaying or moshing to the anthem that seemed to crack the very walls of the S.L.E.C.C.
A new EP was promised, which will contain ‘Sacred Spaces’ but also a few other new tunes and Stigmata will embark on an overseas tour in 2018, playing at major festivals next year.
The band had clearly silenced their naysayers that evening with a memorable and mind-blowing performance and the new lineup seemed to gel like a bunch of old friends. It wasn’t a case of a performer on a stage and a thousand fans off the stage… it was one gigantic family emanating enough energy to light up a city.
Thank heavens it happened to be our city.
Welcome back Stigmata and long live Comic Con!
-The Wizard of Oz