Rudra is a Singaporean band. It comprises of ethnic Indian Tamils [one of the four major ethnic groups there] who play a style of music known as
Vedic metal. Basically they have Indian chants, themes and lyrics hence the Vedic tag. Technically not all of it is Vedic, but you get the gist right? Musically they are primarily Black Metal with a hunch of Death metal here and there.
Rudra is one of the names [or forms] of lord Shiva.
Try out 'Rudrapatni' [Rudra's patni or his wife i.e. goddess Parvati/Kali or whatever form you'd like to call her by] Thats the song that got me into Rudra. I guess all the years of granny's story telling did help somewhere down the line
I can actually hear the Southern, wee bit of redneck voice
Do you talk like that ?
Hey Bro,'
- Thanks for the info on Rudra. I'm adding them to my "seek 'em out" CD-shopping-list, heck yeah. I'm truly loving this Middle-Eastern musical immersion, but it's a big world out there (deep) and I reckon many fantastic bands get ignored by the Western "talent" scouts, may they drop. Thus, I will extend my reach into the music of cultures outside of the Middle East. WTF not?!
Tamils...I remember a group, militant I think, called the
Tamil Tigers. I don't remember when they were in the sanitized news out here but I remember that they sure as heck were. What are they about? What are their grievances, subjective or objective? Is everything alright now?
- You hear written words very well, homeslice. Yes, I talk with a Southern accent, usually mild but always noticeable unless I'm talking with someone antagonistic from the North who thinks the War Between the States is still in full blast. In such situations, I talk jest 'bout lahk some distant ancestors I had way back in the day in Mississippi, "the Most Southern Place on Earth" forreal. Shoot...But that's alright: I'm hot-headed when it comes to respect (I give it and expect it in return), so a self-loving Yank never crosses me again.
So, yeah, my accent's mild b/c I've lived all over the world, although most of my years thusfar, I have lived in the US South and Border/Upper South (like now), and also b/c educated Southerners tend not to sound like Larry the Cable Guy, Jeff Foxworthy, or anybody else on Blue-Collar Comedy (seen that stuff ever?). Them thar dudes do crack me up, I admit. Oh, that whole "North-South" thang's very complex in the US. Past: Missouri was a Slave-State, an unspeakable, demonic thing, distinctly Southern (although sly Northerners engaged in the trade behind the scenes). It did not secede from the Union. Instead, it had two Congresses: One Confederate, one Union. Heard of Jesse James? He was a Confederate soldier from Missouri who, well, used his battlefield-acquired skills (and inborn psychopathy) to rob everything and everybody until he was put outta biz forever. Missouri also had countless militias sympathetic with the Confederacy: Now, consider how much damage an embedded enemy can wreak, one who knows the land, the people.... That's right: A huge amount. Another aspect of the War Between the States--Southerners refuse to call it 'The Civil War' for a reason that resonates w/me (it wasn't "civil")--was that it was not only about setting the slaves free and abolishing that satanic institution. The North and South
always disagreed about State rights. The Northern States were Federalist ('cause, hey, they took DC from MD + VA & plunked the North-lovin' Feds there), and thus held that the Federal Government can override a State Government's rulings. The Southern States long before the Confederacy was anti-Federalist, and thus strongly disagreed. This disagreement was just as instrumental at precipitating the war as the NEED to abolish slavery, because the Union decided to use force to "convince" the South that it would accept Federalism, like it or not. The horror. The horror.
Some peeps in this huge country of mine still think the war's not over. I hear slogans like "The South Will Rise Again" all over, usually when hanging out with...right...rednecks. C'mon! Even Kamikaze characters hiding out after WWII surrendered after a few yrs: Life in the jungle can really (ouch) bite. United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Isn't that the Orphaned Land way anyhow? I rest my case.
"Redneck" has many connotations, totally dependent on who's self-presenting as such or identifying another as such. The origin of the term is, supposedly, from the "farmer's tan" Southern White dudes got working outdoors, a tan most prononounced...yessir--on the back of an oft-fleshy good ol' boy neck. So there's usually not much "redneck" in my accent or other aspects/content of my speech, b/c it's usually associated with little education. But if I'm tired or after I've tossed back a couple of cold ones, yep, there most definitely is. Sadly, though, "redneck" is often equated with "racist." Sociologically, that's not even true. I met the worst bigots in Chicago. Certainly in my case, it's not.
Ananth, how do you know all about us nutcase Americans? I'm impressed. I've got to go back and read about your self-intro back in the day when you were a newbie here. I skimmed the stuff before I (big of me) committed myself to this quasi-chat-board, and, if I recall correctly, you are Hindu, of the Brahmin (sp?) Caste? Is that true? It doesn't get higher status than that, ain't that right, Ananth?
What do you think about the caste system? I mean, is it really "enforced" these days? Just the name "Untouchables" sends shivers down my spine, partially because it reminds me of a certain album that, save one hit, is fairly repetitive
Yet, once again, I'm clued out Re your (and most other) culture. Fill me in if you wish. That'd be nice.
From a fellow XY chromosomal feller,
Remember the Alamo
BTW, don't EVER say the above line to a Texan in jest. S/he is gonna be armed, guaranteed, and it just ain't worth it, can you dig it?
Word!
FS
King of HyperPost
Indeed, I've got to look up some of these guys, and I am absolutely sure that you know of at least 666 more 
This may be pale in comparison with ethnic violence in Rwanda and erstwhile Yugoslavia, but screws with the head and with the notion of living in a free, democratic country.
