Industrial rock artist Nivid is set to release the single ‘Mazhab’ along with a new music video on the 11th of June. The song has been taken from their 2019 album Mernã. The title Mazhab translates to ‘religion’ from Urdu, with the track providing a searing condemnation of organised religion accompanied with a musical style evocative of genre favourites such as Nine Inch Nails.
Nivid’s recorded music is entirely the work of Aditya Virmani, a musician and producer from New Delhi. This is Virmani’s most recent project, having previously been a part of the band Pinocchio’s Moment of Clarity. Virmani is also the creator of Barren sound, a media and audio design studio catering to an impressive range of sound requirements.
Mazhab is the final track of Nivid’s 2019 album Mernã, a concept album that narrates a Hindu’s allegorical journey employed by religious zealots. Agent 2344 is hired to spread chaos and religious doctrine. As the album progresses, he realises the mistake he has made and falls into a state of deep psychological torment. Nivid’s latest single is the conclusion to this album, where Agent 2344 questions the role of religion and highlights the war and terror it has caused.
The song uses a striking contrast between harsh guitar riffs and a pulsating beat against chiming and ethereal synths. Virmani’s vocals are raw and defiant, echoing the disillusionment and fear of the song’s narrator.
The song shows Agent 2344 questioning the path he has taken and the beliefs he has been fed. He rages against the harm that organised religion has caused both to him and others who subscribe to it. The song falls into a hypnotic repetition of ‘you’ve been dividing me in the name of religion’ and ‘eating you alive’, leaving the track and indeed album on a bleak and restless note.
Mazhab pushes against the religious fanaticism that has been rampant in India. The song captures the atmosphere of violence and suffering caused by extremism in a time when religion has been linked to terrorism in the artist’s country.
Nivid’s single will be accompanied by a new music video, which is the work of visual artist Mayan Dhasmana. The music video uses vivid animated imagery to accent the raw emotions expressed in the song. Static flashing pictures and surreal imagery pull the listener into the narrator’s mind and creates an immersive musical experience. Mazhab is available on Spotify, and its accompanying music video will be released on 11th June.
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