Concert Review: Bloodywood with The Pretty Wild, Ladrones and ANKOR, at Emo's Austin

Stephen Hughes
May 4
2 min read

Wednesday April 29th was a cool rainy Austin, TX afternoon, but the heat was inside Emo’s Austin that evening. The Bloodywood: System of the Brown tour is in town, and 4 uniquely different metal bands are set to take the stage. It was a night of metal from around the world (ANKOR - Spain, Ladrones - Mexico, The Pretty Wild - Las Vegas, & Bloodywood - India).

First opener of the night is ANKOR from Catalonia, Spain on their first US tour. Lead singer Jessie Williams brought the energy right out the gate, reminding this reviewer of Hailey Williams. She woke the crowd with her killer singing vocals and metalcore screaming. She also ruled the stage with headbanging and ska punk two-stepping. Jessie’s band mates matched her energy with solo and group guitar posing/playing. Guitarist, Fito Martínez even came off stage and stood on the fan barricade to play. After playing about a 30-minute set, they had wet the appetites of this crowd for more rock. I’m sure those that had never heard this band will be adding this metal act to their playlists.

Second up was another culturally exciting band, Ladrones, from Guadalajara, Mexico. Not to be out done by the first band, Ladrones brought the party, quite literally. Five band members and 2 neon ski-masked crowd hype people. Though the band sings in Spanish, the crowd was vibing to the sound. A mix of nu-metal, hip-hop, and traditional Mexican sounds. The audience was jumping and waving their arms to the music. Several times during the set the crowd opened up a good-sized center circle pit. It goes to prove that music is universal, and metal fans know how to support metal music from around the world.

Next to take the stage was Las Vegas sisters Jyl & Jules Wylde, who originally started as a country group turned metal-core, The Pretty Wild. These ladies let it all out, ripping melodic vocals and primal screams with songs from their latest album, Zero.Point.Genesis. The stage mood was dark and heavy like the music. These ladies are a fierce duo and took command. The Pretty Wild set the stage for headliners, Bloodywood after finishing their set with their hit Sleepwalker.

Our headliners Bloodywood, from New Delhi, had a crowd chant, “Bloodywood, Bloodywood”, seconds before house lights went dark. The audience cheered and an opening instrumental started. Those that don’t know Bloodywood, they bring their own style of nu-metal, metal-core and folk metal mixed traditional cultural music. Their music is visceral. You can’t help but feel the power of their music. The beat and sound from the dhol drum are very distinct to the band's sound and mixes so well. Not only is their music unique so is their dress. Staying true to their culture and home, the band is dressed in traditional Indian attire with a metal flare. The band rocks out a solid 45–50-minute set, they finale with a fan favorite, Gaddar.