Scribescore: How Indian Metal found it’s Voice

Metal in India has often been painted as something borrowed from the West and mimicked with varying degrees of authenticity.

Scribe dismantled that perception. They made it obvious that the genre could be both crushingly heavy and unmistakably Indian; without compromise.

A Scribe set was not just about the riffs; it was about Mogambo reimagined as a metal prophet, pav bhaji stalls next to moshpits, and Bollywood dialogue delivered with the ferocity of hardcore breakdowns.

What Scribe created was a sound that audiences began to call Scribecore, less a subgenre than a worldview. It carried the technical bite of modern metalcore but refused to respect boundaries. Hardcore, Bollywood, hip-hop, stand-up comedy - all of it folded into their vocabulary with the same reckless conviction.

This was music that could shred with Meshuggah-level precision while breaking into a rap verse or pulling a punchline mid-song. Where most Indian bands chased international validation, Scribe leaned into absurdity, trusting that authenticity could be louder than polish.

Their impact was measured not only in the records they made but in the scenes they built. Mark of Teja swept the Rolling Stone Metal Awards and put them on the magazine’s cover, but the deeper triumph was cultural.

In a scene often cloaked in gloom and insularity, Scribe made metal porous. They invited outsiders in; film buffs, casual listeners, even kids drawn by the spectacle of inflatable pools and courtroom skits at their shows.

Even the band’s fractures carried the same refusal to conform. When frontman Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy stepped away, Scribe didn’t replace him with a single voice; they brought in two, Siddharth Basrur and Viraaj Saxena, and let the dual presence reshape their identity. It was less about continuity and more about adaptation, a reminder that the band’s essence was not in any one member but in the audacity to keep redefining what metal could mean in India.

Scribe proved that their legacy is not only in the riffs that tore through venues but in the possibility they opened: that Indian metal did not have to mimic; it could invent.

I Love You, Pav Bhaji
Mark of Teja (2010)

A definitive Scribe anthem. The absurd title masks a track that’s brutally heavy yet playful, mixing melodic choruses with relentless breakdowns. It’s as much about Mumbai street culture as it is about metal, proving heaviness could carry local flavour without losing bite. A perfect introduction to their Scribecore worldview.

Dum Hai Toh Aage Aah!
Mark of Teja (2010)

Translating to “If you’ve got the guts, step ahead,” this track feels like a war cry. Built on galloping riffs and snarling vocals, it became a setlist staple. It’s loud, brash, and unapologetically desi in its energy, embodying the band’s refusal to chase Western polish and instead lean into raw attitude.

RSVP
Mark of Teja (2010)

With a tongue-in-cheek title, “RSVP” takes the politeness of social etiquette and smashes it through grinding riffs and unpredictable shifts. It’s chaotic yet structured, blending comedy with aggression. Live, it would often incite frenzied pits, proving how Scribe could make the most mundane phrase feel menacing when backed by distortion.

1234 Dracula
Mark of Teja (2010)

A frantic, theatrical track that opens with sinister energy, blending cinematic horror tropes with hardcore instrumentation. “1234 Dracula” pushes Scribecore’s signature tension — rapid-fire vocals, shifting rhythms — and uses playful imagery to contrast the grind, creating a song that’s both unsettling and thrilling.

Analyze That
Confect (2008)

One of Scribe’s sharpest early cuts, “Analyse That” is pure chaos packaged as parody. The title flips the idea of overthinking on its head — instead of restraint, the track detonates with jagged riffs and manic energy. It captures their mix of humour and heaviness, refusing to play metal straight while still hitting hard.

Nobody Listens to the Vocalist
Confect (2008)

This track pokes fun at the dynamics of being in a band while unleashing full-throttle aggression. It’s meta but not gimmicky, showing Scribe’s sharp wit alongside their heavy sound. The riffs are crushing, the vocals biting — a perfect snapshot of their early years pushing against invisibility.

One Wing Pencil
Have Hard, Will Core (2006)

A strange, almost poetic title. Musically, it’s jagged and youthful, capturing the sense of trying to fly while weighed down — a metaphor for Scribe’s own climb through India’s underground. It’s rough-edged but imaginative, highlighting how the band always preferred originality and imagery to clichés or mimicry.

Cops, Cops (Cops, Cops)

Live at BlueFrog (Delhi)

DemonPra

Live at Bacardi Nh7 Weekender 2012, Bangalore

Ninety Seconds Is One Minute

Live at G.I.R 2008, Shillong

Sallu Sanam

Featuring Vice Versa; MTV Sync

Magpie

Live at GIR (2008); Shillong

M-POWER

Live at Counter Culture, Bangalore

Scribe at Independence Rock XXV

The Kids

Live at S.P.A. (Delhi)

Calendar Khana Lao

Live at BlueFrog (Delhi)

Pomari Begatari

Live at G.I.R. 2008 (Shillong)