Couldn’t believe my eyes when I bought a beer at The Humming Tree and the machine showed me it was just a hundred and ten bucks. Happy Hours — whoever first came up with that name was a marketing genius, cause fuck yeah I was happy. A nice cold brew and a night full of brutal death metal awaited me.

I made my way past two bald guys rubbing each other’s heads and found myself in the middle of a gut-wrenching Trapdoor Terror set. Mad guys from Kurseong, what a great band to open the show.

The floor drank the most beers that night, courtesy that one lady who was pushing everyone at the periphery of the pit. At least she was sweet enough to buy that dude another one after he made his case known. But to the guys holding beers at the edge of the pit — why? And to the people pushing people who are clearly not in the pit — also why?

That XrepeatX vocalist can really jump. I always love it when the organiser plays in a band on the bill. Skin in the game, am I right? He also left some skin on his bass by the end of it. That’s how you know the boys played their hearts out.

Was really sweet to see the drummers scrambling to help each other with their respective set-ups backstage, while also fully drooling over each other’s drumsticks in between. Get a room guys.

Hometown favourites Maneating Orchid played a face-melting set with only new material from their new album. Some attempts to mosh were made, but many brains got fried in the bargain. Next time carry your calculator, guys. Nevertheless the energy was off the charts and got the crowd (and the band) more than warmed up for the next set. Bangalore was fucking ready.

Incantation was a ritual for the ages. It really felt like the band had as much fun as the crowd. How long was that set again? They just couldn’t seem to leave the stage. I guess they didn’t want to leave because we really made them feel at home on their first trip to India.

Kudos to that guy who could see I really wanted to get in the pit and held my camera for me. Meet me next time dude, I really owe you a beer. Actually I wish I could buy all of you a beer — what a massive night.