EP Review: Bloodkill – Systemic Disruption (Self Released)

India’s Bloodkill are set to return with their new EP, Systemic Disruption, due for release on May 10th.

Formed in late 2016 by Vishwas Shetty and Yash Wadkar, the band have steadily carved out a place within the Indian metal scene, delivering a sharp blend of thrash and groove metal. Their 2021 full-length, Throne of Control, pushed that sound onto an international stage, earning recognition across Europe and leading to an international re-release via Italy’s Punishment 18 Records. Since then, a shift from a five-piece to a streamlined four-piece line-up—now featuring Anirudh Gollapudi (vocals), Jay Patil (drums), Anukool Kaushik (guitars), and Neil Parmar (bass)—has brought a renewed sense of focus and direction.

That evolution feeds directly into Systemic Disruption, a release that tackles the growing dominance of the digital world and its impact on modern life. Themes of social media addiction, data privacy, pornography, and the increasing reliance on AI in creative spaces run throughout, giving the EP a contemporary and relevant edge. Musically, Bloodkill expand on their established thrash/groove foundation, incorporating more modern and alternative elements while holding firmly onto the core of their sound.

The title track kicks things off with energy and a slightly chaotic edge at the start before settling into a feast of wicked riffs and punchy vocals. The vocals really stand out here; shouted in a thrash style but with a melodic tinge running through them, plus some impressive backing vocals that add real depth. It’s a headbanger of a track—comfortable to listen to, catchy, and instantly engaging. Strong drums, great riffs, and sharp vocal delivery all combine into a damn good opener and an instant hook for the rest of the EP.

Digital Spell comes next and drops the tone slightly while picking up the pace. It’s another riff-heavy track packed with energy and attitude. The vocals, both lead and backing, are excellent again and bring an added sense of menace here. A lead guitar melody layers over expert drumming, bass, and rhythm guitars to give the track more depth. It’s catchy, the chorus sticks, and it’s just exciting to listen to. The song flows naturally, pulls you in, and keeps you engaged throughout. The instrumental section is particularly strong, with some unexpected backing effects that caught me off guard in a good way. That then shifts into a much heavier section with growls and shouted vocals, before transitioning again into a really strong guitar solo. There’s a lot happening, but it all flows well and shows real song writing skill.

Temptress keeps the energy high and the adrenaline flowing, delivering another satisfying track built on groove-heavy riffs and mosh pit-ready energy. The chorus shifts bring in more melody, but also heavier vocal layering at the same time. Again, the vocals are hugely impressive—the delivery really stands out, as do the lyrical content, harmonies, and backing touches. They’re small details, but they make a big difference. It’s a heavier track overall, and these variations help each song feel distinct while still clearly sitting within Bloodkill’s identity.

Systemic Disruption closes with The Hidden Hands, and the quality doesn’t dip here either. I love the little screech that ends the riff, and once again there’s strong tempo and energy running throughout. It’s all driven by wicked drum patterns, solid bass lines, and heavy riffs. The lead guitar adds more melody, dropping lines over the riffs and building extra atmosphere and feeling. The beat is easy to latch onto, and you’ll find yourself headbanging, foot tapping, and air drumming without even realising it. It’s catchy, full of attitude, and just very easy to get into and enjoy.

Bloodkill deliver a strong, focused EP with Systemic Disruption. It’s heavy, consistent, and packed with energy, with just enough variation to keep each track distinct. It’s so comfortable to listen to, so engaging and I adore the vocals and lyrical content. I’ll be playing this a lot this year and look forward to what Bloodkill do next.

Track List:

1 – Systemic Disruption
2 – Digital spell
3 – Temptress
4 – The Hidden Hands

Bloodkill Links

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bandcamp