User:Julian Grebe/Hela metal

History
To the world, Sri Lanka was known as 'Heladiva' before the arrival of the Aryan prince 'Vijaya'. 'Heladiva' simply translates to 'the land of the Hela People', where the Hela people are the collective members of the four known tribes that existed before the invasion of Vijaya. These tribes are Naga (Serpent worshipers), Raaksha (Demon worshipers), Deva (Tribes who worshiped godly deities) and Yaksha (Demon Worshipers). The term Sinhala, which was later applied to the race of people and the language appears to have arisen after Vijaya, referred to in legend as partly descended from a lion, was coined from the joining of the Sanskrit word for Lion (Sinha) and Hela, resulting in Sinhala.

The term Hela in Sinhala-the native Sri Lankan language-refers also to the nationality of the majority Sri Lankans. The word literally means "lions' blood". The sub-genre was born when Sri Lankan Black Metallers Funeral in Heaven decided to explore new paths with their music, and began incorporating Sri Lankan elements not only the music but in their song writing.

Hela metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is Sri Lanka's own signature genre of metal which incorporate Sri Lankan oriental instruments into the music like the traditional drums, cymbals etc. Hela Metal Speaks of a lost generation of self Sufficient, noble yet fierce humanitarian race that ruled Sri Lanka during medieval ages. It focuses more on their rituals, Dark arts, scarification, Demonology, ancestor worshiping, Patriotism, the suffering of the people during the colonial days and mainly almighty based religions.

The Term Hela Black Metal is a rejection of all other labels of genre’s which tend to limit our musical outputs regarding influences and while acknowledging the basic roots in the genre Black Metal.

Characteristics
speak of the darker side of Sri Lankan History as well as with ancient chants and prayers also Sri Lankan folklore and Demonology, Sri Lankan cultural and traditional themes with the usual elements of heavy metal, on an equal footing with Black Metal music, Which can be also described as Ritualistic Black Metal, with furiously shredded guitar riffs with bowel shaking bass and animalistically decimated drum lines and traditional Sri Lankan percussion with Inhuman Shrieks and growls.

Notable representatives

 * Funeral in Heaven
 * Raaksha