Heevklaw: When music screams louder than words

Heavy metal music has never really broken into the mainstream in Bangladesh. When you pair that niche genre with a language spoken by a small community and considered endangered by linguists, the odds of gaining widespread recognition become even slimmer.

However, that didn't stop the band HEEVKLAW from being adventurous enough to release a music video in their native Garo language for their heavy metal track 'Janggi Tangani'. 

Although metal has historically been the voice of resistance and justice, Matthews Chiran, the band's founder, vocalist, and guitarist, was motivated by music rather than making a cultural or linguistic statement. Instead, he simply focused on creating music, dreaming of one day making it big.

"It's wonderful that some musicians from communities like ours use their craft to stand for something bigger than just the music—to be a voice or a form of activism," said Matthews. "But for me and our band, it's really just about making music and continuing to express ourselves."

Released on the final day of March, 'Janggi Tangani' is all about that core idea—living life on your own terms. Though it's essentially a Garo-language translation of HEEVKLAW's previously released track 'Cryptic Magic,' it still holds its ground as a fresh release.

What stands out is the band's effort to craft something deeply personal and culturally unique, even if it may not be perfectly polished. The song and its music video reflect a sense of humility and modesty in their composition, musicianship, and overall execution.

"If you give it a listen, you'll probably catch influences from bands like Metallica and Megadeth," chuckled Matthews, a lifelong Michael Jackson fan who's recently embraced metal. 

And he's not wrong—the track carries the straightforward style of classic '80s metal. Set in a standard 4/4 time signature and the key of E minor, much of the song is driven by steady chugging on the low E string.

While the song can feel flat and repetitive at times, the music video steps in just when needed, adding a visual element that draws you back in.

In the interlude, the music video features a young Garo girl dancing in traditional attire known as the 'Dokmanda'. This was yet another effort by the band to combine their cultural identity with a genre that's typically unfamiliar to their roots, presenting something foreign in a uniquely personal and culturally infused way.

The band is currently undergoing lineup changes and is looking for permanent instrumentalists, with only Matthews and lead guitarist Tom Reyquel Sangma remaining as core members. While Matthews is open to the idea of bringing in musicians from outside their community if necessary, he would much prefer for the band to consist entirely of Garo members.

"There are musicians in our community who play a variety of genres, including rock," he said. "But we'd really love for the band to stay rooted in our community, with members who share that connection."

The band faces several challenges in continuing its musical journey. Beyond financial limitations, which restrict their ability to consistently record, release new tracks, or fund high-quality music videos, they also struggle with a lack of live performance opportunities. Accessible venues are few and far between, and when they are available, the costs involved often make them out of reach for independent bands like HEEVKLAW.

"Still, we're pushing through," said Matthews. "We're working hard to promote our music while singing in our own language, hoping to build a bridge between our community and a broader audience. In our upcoming songs, we also plan to include traditional instruments to create a sound that's both rooted in our heritage and creatively fresh."

Despite all the challenges and limitations they face, HEEVKLAW has managed to do something truly unique—something you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. And that in itself could be the very spark that helps launch their music and identity to new heights.