The lightning strikes and the winds rage as the sounds of metal break the skies with India’s one and only Falcun!

TheNwothm:  Hey guys I hope you are well! Can you introduce the band and where you guys are from?

Falcun: The mages of nevermore gathers, as the realm falls. To the mystic song of the Illithid, the call beckons. Hello to TheNwothm. It’s an honor to be a part of this interview. We are Falcun, from the cultural city of Kolkata, India. Aviroop is on Vocals, Sam and Ree on Guitars, Nilavro on Bass and Reetam on Drums.

TheNwothm: Can you tell us about the origins of the band?

Falcun: Falcun was initially called as Steelbird, a side project of the legendary city thrash bands Mortar and Armament. We started covering bands such as Dio, Judas Priest, Riot, etc., the gods who were in our headphones and minds all day long. Soon, the band decided to venture into proper heavy metal songwriting. Two singles, ‘Eye of the Storm’ and ‘Child of Prophecy’ came along. Those were massive hits among the city’s and the country’s metalheads. As for our live gigs, those were filled with energy and intensity. The lineup underwent many changes, and here we are, ready for the 2^nd album. This year marks our 10th anniversary. So, let’s hope for the album of a lifetime.

TheNwothm: And where did you get inspiration for the band name?

Falcun: Falcun represents the mythology of the gryphon, mixed with the predatory bird’s name and to add a zing, adding an ‘U’ to the name inspired by the species “Vulcans” from Star Trek. 

TheNwothm: You guys are from Kolkata, West Bengal, India! What can you tell us about your local area and the metal scene there?

Falcun: The scene here has gone through several eras and a mix of genres and audiences. The scene in Kolkata basically started with the Bengali rock bands such as Fossils, Lakkhichara and Cactus. Then it shifted to the onset of bands that were sort of pseudo-metal bands. Bands like Nitric dreams, Amavasya and Atmahatya can be called as the pioneers of metal here in Kolkata. Then, the surge of old school bands who were true to their genres came forward. Mortar, Armament, Purgation, Necrodeity, to name a few. The scene in Kolkata exists now with a very few audiences who still listen to the music and we can only hope that the next generation of metalheads carry it forward with the same vigor and honesty.  

TheNwothm: There are so many great metal bands emerging from India in recent years! What does the Indian metal scene mean to you and what bands would you say are ones to look out for?

Falcun: The band which instantly comes to mind is Kryptos. They have been a huge inspiration and are making a mark on the global scene. They have been around for quite some time and now have a unique sound and a handful of albums. Bands should learn professionalism from them. Some more bands are making it big in the scene with fresh sounds, but the long-term commitment is yet to be seen.

TheNwothm: Are there any metal labels in India helping the metal scene to grow?

Falcun: A few years ago, a handful of labels in India were helping the bands. But now, it’s not there or that we aren’t aware of. We are seeing more distributors here promoting the music, but not anyone willing to be along with a band’s journey and support them financially in production or touring. Thus, bands here look for international labels to get more exposure. For a scene to grow, you need people who genuinely love the music and are willing to be with a band as managers and producers. Sadly, it’s rare in India, which may be why the scene is going through a pitfall.

TheNwothm: And what can you tell us about the label you guys are on, Eat Metal records?

Falcun: Eat Metal records is a legend. We came to know about them from a Greek heavy metal documentary. The work Greg is doing for the scene over there and for uplifting bands to the broader audience is tremendous. Our entire band is in gratitude to the man. We need more men like him in metal scenes everywhere. It will be an honor to work with Greg again. Hoping Greg reads this and gets back to us on working on the sophomore album.

TheNwothm: What can you tell us about each of the band members?

Falcun: Well, Aviroop is a versatile vocal beast, handling his duties both as a frontman of Falcun and the Glam rock setup, Fire in the Rodeo. He is also a coding genius, working full-time in IT. Ree is the youngest member of the band, still in college and ripping shreds every day. Reetam is a full-time drums teacher in a high school. Nilavro is a prodigious journalist and his interest lies in classic rock and punk. Sam is the oldest guy in the band, whose interests will take another interview altogether. He mainly teaches at a university in Bangalore and writes research papers on metal in his free time.    

TheNwothm: And who are each of your biggest inspirations?

Falcun: We take inspiration from everything ranging from classic rock, blues to metal. Our sound is defined mainly the elder gods of heavy metal, the trinity. The Nwothm legends like Enforcer, Riot City, Crystal Viper, etc., also are a fuel to the fire. 

TheNwothm: Do you each have a gig or festival in mind that your attended that you will always remember?

Falcun: We played ‘Shine a Light’ festival in Cherrapunji, which was pretty rad. All of the bands were tremendous. The mountains, the ambience, the organizers and the audience, all were in sync. 

TheNwothm: So what can you tell us about the bands take on heavy metal? How would you describe your sound?

Falcun: We primarily focus on the classic sound of heavy metal with lyrical content ranging from fantasy, mythology to current world events. We continuously experiment with the sound so that it doesn’t sound like any other random heavy metal band off the block trying to make it big. This is not the 80s anymore and people’s patience and mentality have changed. You have to bring something new to the scene in order to shine amidst the sea of bands and stop being stuck in a time machine, but without compromising on the sound. 

TheNwothm: In the years you have been together you have put out the album “Kingdom Come” in 2018. How did the album come together in terms of writing and recording? Was it it a long process or did it form quite quickly?

Falcun: Recording the album was a huge learning experience for us. We never had anyone handing out things to us, and we learned from our mistakes. Writing the songs was a fast process as the lineup at that time was fully invested in making the album. The recording took some time, and we learned many things from the studio. The album came out quite well and got a tremendous audience response. The things we learned during the process will eventually help us in the upcoming album.

TheNwothm: And do you have any favourite tracks from the album?

Falcun: A Bard’s Tale, Vixen and Martyr. Vixen was a prog approach. We hope that people have liked the fresh treatment.

TheNwothm: So we are now in 2024 and there has been a big gap since you released that album? Are you currently working on new music and if so when can fans expect the release?

Falcun: We have a new lineup and the sound has changed a bit. People are digging into the new sound and we have 4 songs lined up till now. The album will take some time as we want each and every track to have a different flavor. This will be a very different than the first album and our fans can expect a new revolution in heavy metal when it releases. 

TheNwothm: It seems you guys are quite active on the live circuit! Can you tell us about any shows that have always left a lasting impression? Any shows that you will never forget?

Falcun: The gig where we had a proper setlist and likeminded audience was KOSMA’s gig, Strength of Steel, back in 2014. The audience was tremendous and the energy was all throughout our setlist. Some clips are still there in YouTube. Next, with the new lineup, the last gig, Sound of Steel was pretty intense and emotional. We finally came along with a good lineup and irrespective of the hiccups, we think that this lineup is here to stay.

TheNwothm: So if I was coming to Falcun show for the first time, what could I expect?

Falcun: The sheer intensity and stamina. We enjoy going up on stage and having a good time. It’s not about showing who the boss is in the lineup, we joke around, enjoy and play our hearts out. That is what metal is about right? 

TheNwothm: For this year do you have any plans to go on tour or play any big shows?

Falcun: We are waiting for our album to finish, after which we can start touring. We are always open for gigs all around.

TheNwothm: Where can fans buy your music and merch?

Falcun: The first album is still available digitally on Bandcamp. For physical copies, people can go to eat metal records website.

https://www.eatmetalrecords.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=16345

https://falcun.bandcamp.com/album/kingdom-come

TheNwothm:  Anything else you would like to mention?

Falcun: To the fans of metal everywhere, be true to your music, to the fandom and to the principles. Honestly, we are left with a few numbers, which are decreasing daily. The scene now exists primarily in social media and in online forums. Be a part of your local scene, support every band, and do whatever you can to uplift the scene. Rise above the petty hate and politics and unite as one. Or else our days are numbered. 

Cheers and beers from Falcun!!