A country ravaged by a senseless war. A fear-driven society where everything around seemed uncertain. Amidst this vagueness, a group of teenagers make brassy noise and exclaim that it is music. Immediately society looks at them with suspicion and they are disregarded by the local music industry as juvenile. The journey is not smooth for them here is the story of survival of the band that become a `whirlwind’ in the local music industry.
“Whirlwind formed in 1995 as a six-member teenage metal band in a dark era of Sri Lanka’s recent history. The island was torn apart by a racism-fuelled civil war that was already waging for over a decade, and the creative arts industry was struggling to survive. Rock and metal music, in particular, were still widely unpopular and often associated with ‘demon worship’ and cultish personalities. Metal acts like Whirlwind were immediately viewed with suspicion,” Founder/Director of `Whirlwind’ Misha Wickramanayake recalled.
Drawing inspiration from their personal struggles and having to grow up in a war generation divided by colour, class, and ethnicity, Whirlwind persevered. Misha explains the band established a fledgling, unorthodox metal industry of their own fighting mass opinion, misinformation and a desperate lack of resources. Pouring their energy into projecting a message of unification and breaking boundaries, the band produced and launched the first multilingual metal project in the island under the unique genre Sri Metal.
“Since then, the genre has established roots in Sri Lankan and metal music, creating its own subculture and dozens of Sri Metal acts. Whirlwind has grown with the genre to be one of the most influential and iconic metal acts in the island, headlining almost every gig since their official comeback in 2016,” he said.
With Misha on guitar and being the vocalist, Chandu (Bass Guitar), Chunky (guitar) and Crescent (drums) makes the current lineup of the band. What is really this unique genre Sri Metal?
“Sri Metal is the official sub-genre exclusive to the band Whirlwind. The genre has a much deeper meaning than just Sri Lankan Metal or Sinhalese Metal Music. It becomes Sri Metal simply because of the content and message it carries to the world from a third world perspective and experience, not just because it contains Sinhala lyrics, it is only one aspect. Sri Metal is a multilingual genre that contains Sinhala lyrics and supporting lyrics from various other languages,” Misha explained.
He added that Sinhala language originated from Sanskrit is the oldest known language to mankind and has been both a gateway and an inspiration for many other languages to originate and evolve. “So when observed carefully with other languages and dialects, you are bound to find many resemblances in both vocabulary and meaning that goes hand in hand which is why Sinhalese is the main ingredient of Sri Metal. Sri Metal carries a unifying, uplifting message that ascends from dark emotions, a cry out for liberation from the shackles of social conditioning, as a band hailing from a country that had faced and understood the repercussions of senseless war brought upon humanity by their own making through the illusion of Race, Religion, Culture and Politics. Whirlwind is renowned for their discovery of Sri Metal and introducing it to the world, as it carries the heritage of an Island that was once an inspiration to the global community, and so it shall be once more,” Misha stated.
Since their initiation, the band has passed many milestones. Whirlwind released the first ‘Sinhalese Rock / Metal Album’ in the Sri Lankan western music industry. “Pain” was the first ever original ‘Sinhalese Rock /Metal Album’ in Sri Lanka released in 2003. They also take the credit for releasing the first ever-metal video in the country. “Mindbender” the first ever Metal / Rock Video in Sri Lanka was released in 2004. ‘Mindbender’ has been a hit song on the ‘SL Hot Ten’ chart aired by the TNL Radio Network and also on the ‘Saturday Club’ chart aired by the SLBC English Service.
“We have been awarded under the special category for been the pioneers of Rock / Metal music at the first ever original music awards in the country - the SLO (Sri Lankan Original) Awards 2005 done by SLBC English Service. We also released the first ever Sinhalese rock / metal video in the country “vacant Life” in 2007. We have also had our share of global air-play, interviews and reviews on various internet and metal community radio stations. Whirlwind also did the opening honours for the Grammy Nominated US Heavy Metal Giants ‘AS I LAY DYING’ in 2009 December at COLOMBO ROCKFEST, as well as shared the same stage with ‘NERVECELL’ the Dubai Metal Giants,” Misha said about the many accolades band has won throughout their journey.
“`Pain’ – The first ever-Sinhalese rock/metal album in the island came out in 2003 and Torana Music produced the record as well as handled the distribution. The record sold over 6,000 copies within its first year of release and was a major influence towards introducing rock and metal genres to the mainstream Sri Lankan market. ‘Agony’- The second album of the band was released in the year 2007. This was an independent self-produced record of the band which the band took total control over their production. ‘Death by Hanging’ is the new single the band released in April 2019,” he added.
This energetic personality says “We are a Sri Metal band and that’s all there is to it, and we don’t limit the resonance of our concept just to a stage performance, we live it, we reflect it. In simple words, we walk the talk.” He says as the world is literary dying for their kind and their generation stands as the last line of defense that will stand against mediocrity. Misha shouts out to the young “have an open mind and an open heart so that you may see things beyond the reach of your mortal senses, and experience this life for what it really is. Vibration is the key to understanding many secrets of the universe that will help you in your expansion, don’t limit yourself, explore and expand.”
Misha is grateful to all band members including him for keeping this dream alive throughout. “We are grateful for the experiences we’ve shared as a band and as a family, it has not been an easy ride at all. Then every friend, fan, organization and like-minded fellow brother band that stood by us and our concept from day one. In names, there are so many and we won’t be here today if it weren’t for these open minded and open hearted individuals that have inspired us to keep doing what we do. We simply cannot mention one or two names and leave out the rest, so you all know who you are, and know that we are grateful to have shared these crazy years with all of you,” he concluded.
Whirlwind will be headlining ‘Rock Saturday’ by Suriya Brothers on Saturday July 27 at CR & FC Grounds. Join them for an exciting evening of Sri Metal.
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