ARISE

The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

ARISE – The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Original Title Arise – The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Featuring Funeral In Heaven

Merlock

Cannabis

Fallen Grace

Directed and Produced by Dinesh Guneratne

Naveen Marasinghe

Music Funeral in Heaven, Merlock, Cannabis, Fallen Grace

Length 71 mins

Language English
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Film Synopsis
ARISE is a feature film documentary which takes an in-depth look into the lives of four
underground metal bands in Sri Lanka. This is a country which is virtually unknown when it
comes to metal music. It is only common amongst a handful of dedicated fans and a number of
bands who strive to move ahead amidst many constraints and barriers.

The film tries to explore somewhat different lifestyles and point of views of four metal bands
from the Sri Lankan metal movement who are namely Funeral in Heaven, Merlock, Cannabis
and Fallen Grace.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Production Notes

Production work for ARISE realized during the latter part of 2008 after months of planning and
trying to secure a camera and other video equipment for the project. At that time we met up
with most of the band members and we were very close friends. Film making was a new aspect
for us and we were both looking for our next project after finishing production on our
electronica project “Da Bass Factor”.

Sri Lankan metal movement is small but there is an ardent following, there are many bands who
have made their mark in the local scene and capturing even some of them and their point of
view was the sole objective of the project. During gigs we saw what these bands went through,
how they coped with lack of equipment and limited finances and even with these constraints
they were determined to move ahead. In our view it was a story to be told.

We kicked off production covering a number of gigs in 2008 and 2009. The interviews happened
during various months in 2009 where we all had to balance our work, studies and other
commitments to make time for the project. The documentary was filmed with a normal JVC
Mini DV camera which was borrowed from a friend. Production work had to be planned and
sometimes postponed depending on the availability of the equipments. Footage was gathered
from several gigs and sometimes we had to throw hours of recorded material out as they were
just not in good shape due to low lights and noise.

After months of recording and spending hours at editing we were able to finish the
documentary which would not have been a reality without the support of many who stood by
our side and came forward to help us in our time of need. We believe ARISE would give voice to
the many dedicated bands and fans from the Sri Lankan metal movement and would stand as a
tribute to all the bands who helped shape the Metal Movement of this small island nation.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Formed in early 2003 and hailing from the ancient battlegrounds of Sri Lanka, FUNERAL IN
HEAVEN are known as a project who through the veins of Black Metal, unleash and expose
the country's ominous side of history with its decades of war and notorious chronicles
regarding events of demonology and exorcisms. Known as the initiators of the genre Hela
Black Metal, FUNERAL IN HEAVEN are regarded to blend the cold dirge of Black Metal with
ingredients of Sri Lankan traditional instrumentation. D.H.S.P.S. EP (Legion of Death
Records) - Two hellish tracks to be released, comprising and drenched of ancient
demonology, decades of civil war and preachings of the afterlife.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Merlock is a Colombo based Progressive Thrash metal band formed in the latter
part of 2005. They address themes of human nature and war emphasizing on
the darker side of humanity. The band was found by a bunch of kids who were
still schooling. Dumidu (lead guitar, Vocals), Sajith (Guitar), Tharindu (Bass) and
Niroshan (Drums) formed it to give in to the thoughts of finding a way to pass
time. The band played their first gig for a college event after four months of the
formation. In 2006 Tharindu had to leave the country to continue his education
and Dimuthu became the new bassist of Merlock. The band started working on
their first original “Crimson Skies” after Dimuthu joined. The Crimson Skies EP
was launched in the year 2007 and it became a hit single.

Even thought there was a little time ahead of them, to compete, they became
the Runners up of the TNL onstage 2007. Not only that, they managed to grab
the award for the best original with their hit single “Crimson Skies”. This also
featured in TNL SL top 10 in 2007.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

The pioneers of Sri Lankan sludge metal, the only known Asian sludge metal
band "cannabis" is a synthesis of the word metal. Front man Dinuk Perry has
defined the bands sound by labeling it under many categories giving
“cannabis” the technicality it deserves. "Cannabis" is labeled sludge/power
groove/atmospheric/tribal voodoo/ drone metal. Bringing forth trashy riffs
blended with a roaring power of Dinuk Perry’s vocals crazy stamina of
drummer Leker harsh offensive riffs of bassist Dimmu and the delicate yet
complexity of guitarist Dasa, this four piece metal band from Colombo shows
decisive promise in following footsteps of their brothers in arms F.I.H and
Fallen Grace, by producing the best in Sri Lankan originality but at the same
time bringing a different sound to the realm we call heavy metal. a variety of
heavy and slow riffs are blended with the technicality and sheer brute power
of the drum and bass indisputably a new found gem in the sludge metal
category.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Fallen Grace was instigated in Colombo, Sri Lanka by five school

buddies in late 2003 at a time when Hard Rock & Metal music in the
country was severely occult and even unheard of. The music industry
was awash gangster-rappers, cheesy pop singers and mundane club
bands that played the same set of covers every night! A change was
in dire need! It was this drive to be different, to be original and to
create music which was raw and above all with substance, that
created the nucleus of Fallen Grace and which still drives the band to
this day!

Our common belief is that were put on this planet to create and play
music and nothing else! Our devotion to our art is ardent. Managing
day jobs and college while carrying the band forward is not an easy
task, especially in a country with very little or no backers for this
particular genre of music. But as a band it is our central belief that if
there is a will, there is a way. Due to five years of sheer live insanity
and the good word of mouth, Fallen Grace have risen from the occult
and have become a much sort after band not only in the Heavy
Metal scene but also in the larger English Music Industry in Sri Lanka.
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

About DRG & Marasinghe

DRG and Marasinghe schooled together and got involved in several creative projects ranging
from music to art. After their secondary education DRG did film and television studies in School
of Media Marketing and Management while Marasinghe studied Media Marketing and
Management at the same institute.

They have worked and gotten involved on several creative projects and their work range from
music, drama, creative writing to fashion and street art.

Currently DRG reading for the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at University of
Colombo and Marasinghe is employed as an Online Marketing Specialist while reading for his
bachelor’s degree in Business. Their passion for art and films pushed them to produce and
direct this documentary as their first debut production in cinema category.

About Mathawaada Chithrapata

Mathawaada is a collective of various individuals who are experimenting their creative skills in
different areas. Started off as a blog which included several individuals from different aspects of
life expressing their creative talent Mathawaada has taken initiatives in various areas such as
creative writing, drama, fashion, street art and now filming.

More information available at - http://www.mathawaada.com

 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Publicity Stills
Download high quality movie images from - http://www.arisethemetaldoc.com

Access the image gallery from - http://www.flickr.com/mathawaada

Movie Trailer/ Bonus Material

Access additional bonus interviews and movie trailers from

http://www.arisethemetaldoc.com

http://www.youtube.com/mathawaada
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Behind the Scenes

Capturing Cannabis Interviewing Fallen Grace at their practice studio

Off to Kandy, Aruna, Chalitha and Ayesh Interviewing Funeral In Heaven at Empyre Studios

Poster run for Siv Hela gig Fallen Grace Interview with Shivantha, Rakitha and Sohan
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

After the gig Silent night chaos night at club Nuevo, Colombo Old Arrack…

Siv Hela Renaissance at Shine, Colombo In Kandy, just before heading out to Sinhanada Gig

Interviewing Funeral In Heaven Cannabis performing Hang Loose at Sky Lounge, Colombo
 ARISE
The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Press Inquires & contact information

Please drop us an e-mail on info@arisethemetaldoc.com