Bloodywood

Bloodywood is a metal band from New Delhi, formed in 2016. Their sound is usually described as nu metal with folk metal, rap metal and metalcore elements, and they are described as India's first metal act to chart on Billboard.

Before the band existed, Karan Katiyar was posting parody metal covers of Bollywood songs on YouTube but could not find a suitable vocalist. He met Jayant Bhadula at a local gig, and in 2016 Katiyar left his job as a corporate lawyer to form a two-piece with Bhadula, aiming at "destroying pop songs".

Their 2017 re-recording of Linkin Park's "Heavy" was picked up by Loudwire and Metal Hammer, and that year's covers were collected as Anti-Pop Vol. 1 on Bandcamp. A metal version of Daler Mehndi's "Tunak Tunak Tun" followed.

In 2018 they released "Ari Ari", a take on the Bombay Rockers track (itself based on the folk song "Baari Barsi"), featuring rapper Raoul Kerr. The response pushed the band toward original songs drawing on Indian folk music. "Jee Veerey", made with the counselling service HopeTherapy, addressed depression and mental illness.

In 2019 they released "Endurant" (about bullying) and "Machi Bhasad (Expect a Riot)", were announced for Wacken Open Air in Germany, and made Kerr a permanent member. Earnings from their 2019 European tour were donated to Posh Foundation, an animal-welfare NGO, for a new ambulance.

Debut album Rakshak came out on 18 February 2022. In October 2024 the band signed with Fearless Records and released "Nu Delhi"; "Bekhauf", featuring Babymetal, followed in December 2024, and the second album Nu Delhi was released on 21 March 2025. In 2026 they toured the United States on the System of a Brown tour.