Local heavy metal goes global with Stigmata’s Spiral Coma
Pic courtesy Stigmata
Twenty one years in the industry and local heavy metal group Stigmata is still breaking barriers on a global scale. The band was recently featured on the Global Metal playlist, alongside some of the biggest and most renowned bands on the planet with the song Spiral Coma, which is a record off Stigmata’s third album ‘Psalms of Conscious Martyrdom’.
To be included alongside global metal bands that they look up to and admire, such as Iron Maiden, Gojira, Sepultura, Strapping Young Lad, Orphaned Land, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septic Flesh, Tang Dynasty, Scarab and Eluveitie is a milestone in itself for the band.
Overall, the band maintains that being selected to the Global Playlist is a win for Sri Lanka. “It means people from around the world acknowledge that metal music exists in Sri Lanka and it should be taken seriously,” Tennyson Napoleon, Stigmata’s guitarist says.
Suresh De Silva, Stigmata’s front man, remembers this tune being born whilst the band was jamming on acoustic guitars, nearly 11 years ago. It grew into a fully- fledged composition and has become an anthem in most of the band’s performances.
Suresh feels the song incorporates all the elements that showcases Stigmata’s “musical dexterity and song crafting prowess.” It also embodies “unique structures, authentic rhythms, off time signatures, beautiful and lush melodies and complex instrumentation that lends it, its appeal.”
From the get go, the band knew this song was meant to be the perfect album opener. Tenny tells us, the introduction of Spiral Coma, incorporates the sounds of a hakgediya (a type of conch shell that is used in the traditional ritualistic music and religious folk art-music of Sri Lanka.)
Following the introduction, the tune goes “into an odd time signature treatment of a spiralling effect, incorporated into the music,” Tenny says. This, in fact blends well with the theme of the song. “If you listen to the track you will understand the depth of the music (that has) gone into this track,” he adds.
From a lyrical point of view, Spiral Coma deals with a protagonist experiencing a psychic voyage, whilst trapped in the ether, unable to return to his/her physical form. “Loads of cheery and austere fun as usual,” Suresh chuckles.
Stigmata firmly believes the music they create is timeless. The band’s biggest goal is to create meaningful compositions that would stand the test of time, despite any recognition or not. On this note, both Suresh and Tenny feel Spiral Coma does justice to the band’s legacy.
“It’s the hard work, the choices we’ve made and the perseverance we’ve had that’s helped us bat with virility and skill for 21 years,” Suresh explains. He feels Spiral Coma would not have been selected had it not resonated with those who were choosing the songs from every country to be on this international playlist.
Never content to rest on their laurels, Stigmata aims to continue evolving as songwriters and storytellers. “Having Thisara Dhananjaya and Hafzel Preena completing our line-up has made us a more finely honed collective,” says Suresh, adding that this has only augmented the quality of their music and output as is evident with their latest single Throw Glass in a House of Stone.
Currently, the band is working on material for their fifth album with Grammy nominated UK based producer Romesh Dodangoda, who has worked with the likes of Motorhead, Bring Me the Horizon, Sylosis and more.They are also remastering their old albums for release on Spotify and Apple Music, in collaboration with producer David Luchow.
From getting signed onto Island Dreams Records in the US and performing around the world, Stigmata continues to grow and connect with music fans around the world.
“Our greatest competition has always been ourselves, to push ourselves into becoming better,” says Suresh. “As long as we don’t lose sight of that, all else tends to fall into place with dedication, focus and hard work.”