Shots From The Road: Bloodywood in Los Angeles

May 3
2 min read

Lighting up The Belasco prior to Sick New World, all the while continuing a thrilling run.

Text, Photos by Ekaterina Gorbacheva (@ekaterinagorbacheva.art) at

The Belasco in Los Angeles on April 22, 2026:

Bloodywood’s System of a Brown tour stop at The Belasco wasn’t just another tour date. Better put, it was a full-force cultural collision, where nu-metal aggression, Punjabi folk instrumentation, and rap-metal urgency fused into one of the most kinetic club shows Los Angeles has seen this year.

The band are a continued celebration of last year's Nu Delhi release (out now via Fearless Records), making stops across the world in addition to the ongoing North American Tour we had the privilege to indulge in, which includes key festival appearances at Sick New World and Sonic Temple. For LA, things kicked off BIG with Dana Dan and Nu Delhi — a one-two punch of groove-laden riffs and explosive percussion. The mix of traditional Indian instruments with down-tuned guitars wasn’t just novel — it was visceral.

Frontman Jayant Bhadula’s harsh vocals cut through the room with precision, while Raoul Kerr’s rap sections injected a rhythmic urgency that kept the crowd constantly in motion. Mini circle pits formed organically throughout the legendary LA venue, speaking to the engaging nature of the band's live sound.

Drawing heavily from Rakshak (2022) and Nu Delhi, the setlist balanced between anthemic moments and those of strong heartfelt emotion. Key songs included Aaj, Jee Veerey, Tadka, Bekhauf, and grand closer Gaddaar to name a few.

Notably, there was no filler—every track felt like a peak moment. The pacing was relentless, but never exhausting, thanks to the band’s tight control over dynamics. What sets Bloodywood apart live is how intentional everything feels. Despite the chaos, their performance is incredibly tight and controlled.

The dhol percussion added a physical, almost tribal pulse you could feel in your chest. Guitarist Karan Katiyar seamlessly switched between crushing riffs and melodic flourishes, and all on stage put their hearts on souls into the instrumentation, as evident in their body language.

The overall atmosphere walked a line between celebration and release. It wasn’t just anger or intensity, but joyful heaviness. That duality is part of what makes Bloodywood a draw. They’re not just delivering breakdowns; they’re creating a shared emotional experience that feels empowering.

Bloodywood’s performance at The Belasco wasn’t just a successful tour stop — it was a statement. In a scene often saturated with repetition, Bloodywood stands tall as a necessity. If this show is any indication, their trajectory in the global metal scene is only accelerating.

Scroll through more shots of the show below and check out the remaining tour dates.