A drummer sent a query calling his band, Prestorika, the "only heavy metal act in India".
He continued, in press release style, about playing alongside Megadeth and Machinehead in March 2008 at the "Rock in India" festival and mentioned a feature in the Rolling Stones Magazine, India.
Of course, Prestorika drummer, Nitesh Vasandani, got my attention, but I still wasn't 100% sold.

I agreed to have the debut sent to my office, when completed, thinking in the back of my mind this may just be another screaming death band or otherwise abrasive act I wouldn't be able to stomach.
I grew up listening to Megadeth and Metallica; Pantera was the first live show I attended at NYC's Roseland Ballroom, but mentioning any of the metal I loved as an angry teen would not sell me on a band's album…then it arrived and I am still wearing the twisted smile which came to my face as the first track exploded into my car.

Unpacking the envelope and loading the debut album,The Most Confidential Knowledge, I worried the singer would scream obscenities or chant about suicide. Much to my pleasant surprise, "Access Denied" ripped through my stereo and connected with my ears in a way only the soundtrack to being late for work can do. I couldn't wait to tell my metal-loving music editor about this amazing sound which cascaded me right back into eagerly reading lyrics and seeking out meanings.

"Access Denied" is actually about some sort of attempt to access a networking site to listen to music. The amusing lyrics, "Logged in you're in the queue…" call to mind bands rampantly trying to add MySpace friends in hopes of making it big. "But two words you heard, access denied" resound as clearly as the tirade of double bass beats.

Imagine a zipper closing up a pair of pants or even a body bag (if you want that disturbing thought in mind); that is the sound of these amazing solos. Notes on the guitars glide together seamlessly and clearly.

I could go on for paragraphs and days about the intricacies of the music, the technical skill and chops of these players as well as the quality of the lyrics and the messages contained. Not only do Prestorika make songs perfect for pits, they have aspects of melody which leave you singing along.

With Metal music one must truly care about seeking out the lyrics (mostly because the intricacies of soloing guitars and crashing cymbals make it hard to hear) which often results in destroying the sense of art and beauty in a song. Certain bands create timeless lyrics with messages running as deep as wounds. These bands made it in metal not only because of the amazing technical solos and shred factor, but because they had something to say. Prestorika now pushes the envelope all the way from India with the release of The Most Confidential Knowledge.

Review by Ellen Eldridge