Bloodywood Brought a Night of International Metal to The Observatory North Park in San Diego, CA

Bloodywood, joined by Ankor, Ladrones, and The Pretty Wild, brought their brand of metal to San Diego, California, for an intense and memorable evening. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was quickly pulled into the energy and the uniqueness each band brought to the stage. The show took place at the Observatory North Park, a venue that consistently enhances the live music experience. There is something about the space that allows fans to be fully immersed in the moment, and this show was no exception.

Ankor

Ankor, a metalcore band out of Barcelona, Spain, opened the show with a set that immediately grabbed my attention. They established the tone for the night with a polished and powerful performance, and their vocalist demonstrated both power and clarity, effortlessly capturing everyone’s attention.

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Ladrones

When Ladrones took the stage, the energy intensified. Dedicated fans sang along to every word, and it didn’t take long for that energy and passion to spread across the room. Their performance was magnetic, and I didn’t want to look away. Their combined metal and rap/trap sound, which they describe as Flow Pesado, translates into constant motion on the floor. The mosh pit never let up, and the kinetic energy in the crowd matched the band’s energy. Radio and television host and metal advocate Jose Mangin appeared on stage after their set to express his passion for the band, sharing that Ladrones is his favourite new band. Ladrones, from Guadalajara, Mexico, recently signed with Rise Records and proved that they are a force to watch.

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The Pretty Wild

Next up, The Pretty Wild kept the momentum going with their metalcore style of music. Hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, and fronted by two sisters, the band wove a fun dynamic of attitude and energy into their set that kept the audience engaged and moving.

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Bloodywood

Bloodywood, a folk metal band from New Delhi, India, closed out the show. This stop in San Diego marked stop 9 of 27 on Bloodywood’s System of a Brown US Tour, and by the time they hit the stage, the crowd was more than ready. From the first song, the room erupted into constant motion, with a mosh pit that formed on the center of the floor and just kept growing. The band broke down boundaries a bit on a couple of occasions when one of the members made an appearance playing the dhol in the middle of that mosh pit, and another came down from the stage to the barrier and sang to the fans in the front. Beyond the sheer intensity of their music, Bloodywood shared a message that was woven throughout the set. Between some songs, they spoke about darkness and struggle and the importance of finding a way through it together. Highlights from the set included “Dana-Dan,” “Nu Delhi,” and “Machi Bhasad,” each raising the energy. After ending the main set with “Halla Bol,” the crowd demanded more, and Bloodywood returned for an encore of “Gaddaar.” This song was even louder, heavier, and completely unrelenting, and standing still wasn’t an option. I was caught up in the same momentum as everyone else.

After the show, I talked with some fans (many proudly wearing Bloodywood shirts freshly purchased from the merch table) who kept expressing their excitement about the music and the performance. Someone said they wished they could follow the band for the rest of the tour. Another couple mentioned that they were headed to Las Vegas a few days later to catch them again at Sick New World festival in Las Vegas. It was hard not to agree with their enthusiasm because this definitely felt like a show worth repeating.