Kozhikode: It’s a landmark year for Kerala’s iconic heavy metal band, The Down Troddence (TDT), and why not? After almost a decade, it released four singles from the much-awaited album ‘As You All Know, This Is How It Is’ (AYAKTIHIS) and also made their stage debut in Dubai.

Earlier this year, they joined hands with Carnatic music legend TM Krishna for Maharani, the album’s first single that pushed the boundaries of genre. Since then, they’ve unveiled three more tracks—‘Ejjathi’, ‘Binary Sun’, and ‘Monsoon in Kannur’. The complete album is slated for release in December.

On September 13, TDT performed in Dubai for the first time, sending the Malayalees and metalheads in the Gulf Country into a frenzy. For the band, the show marked the beginning of a new chapter.

In an exclusive conversation with Mathrubhumi, guitarist Advaith Mohan opened up about their Dubai debut, the making of AYAKTIHIS, and what lies ahead for the band.

1. Describe the Dubai show on Sept 13. How was the energy?

Advaith Mohan: Through the roof, because Dubai marked our first show in almost two years. We’ve been away from the stage, writing, recording, and rebuilding our sound with AYAKTIHIS. Coming back in front of such a diverse crowd, with so many Malayalees and metalheads in the Gulf, felt symbolic.

It was like the rebirth of TDT on stage, and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to start the new chapter.  The crowd was right in our faces, the energy raw and unfiltered. We got to reconnect with a lot of older fans who have been with us since the early days, and also meet new ones who discovered us through AYAKTIHIS.

2. When TDT is returning with an album after ten years, expectations are bound to be high. What was the idea behind AYAKTIHIS?

Advaith: AYAKTIHIS is our way of saying that no matter where you’re from—caste, class, religion, or geography—the human condition is shared. The same pain, the same blood, the same struggle. The album is us holding up a mirror to society and asking, “If the core of us is the same, then why do we create walls between each other?” It’s heavier musically, but also deeply reflective, like a folk tale retold through distortion and groove.

3. September 21, you perform in Bangalore. Is a show in Kerala on the cards too? How is it to perform here?

Advaith: Kochi is always emotional for us. That’s where the dream started. We don’t see it as “just another gig.” It’s a homecoming, and we want to give the people there the purest version of what we’ve built over the years. There might be a few surprises—songs re-arranged, maybe collaborations—but most of all, it’s about sharing the stage with the people who’ve seen us from day one.

4. Tell me about the process of making an album from scratch, especially the lyrics. The range is wide and huge. How do you sync those words into music?

Advaith: The process is never one-dimensional. Sometimes a song begins with a concept or a story, and everything else—riffs, rhythm, mood—grows around it. Other times, it’s the opposite: a riff or groove comes first, and the entire structure gets built musically before the lyrics take shape. And often, both things evolve in parallel, words and music feeding off each other until they meet in the middle. That’s where the sync happens, where the protest and poetry find their sonic home.

5. What’s the vision for 2025?

Advaith: 2025 for us is about breaking out further. More global shows, pushing AYAKTIHIS to wider audiences, and also experimenting with new sounds without losing our roots. We want to see TDT not just as a “metal band from India,” but as a voice that stands for something universal. And parallelly, we’re also building systems—merch, community, digital spaces—so the fans feel part of the movement, not just spectators.

6. Since you say you blend the music of your homeland and Metal, tell me one specialty about the band’s music that’s unique.

Advaith: Our uniqueness is that we don’t treat folk and metal as two separate worlds to be “fused.” For us, they are the same thing, both born from struggle, resistance, and storytelling. A chenda rhythm can be as aggressive as a double bass, a folk melody can carry as much sorrow as a doom riff. That natural translation is what makes our music stand apart. It’s not fusion. It’s just one continuum.

7. Last but not least, what is your message for budding metalheads?

Advaith: Don’t chase trends. Find your truth and scream it out loud. Metal is not about playing fast or sounding heavy; it’s about honesty and conviction. Build a brotherhood within the band, stay rooted in your culture, and be ready to put in the grind. And most importantly, don’t lose hope when things feel impossible. Every great band was once just a group of kids in a small room, making noise.