Hope Out Loud is a powerful musical fundraiser happening on May 31st at the Women’s International Club, Colombo! Our final act of the evening? The legends of Sri Metal: WHIRLWIND.
In the midst of Sri Lanka’s darkest chapter—a nation grappling with a civil war fueled by division and fear—a group of six teenagers dared to dream differently. Formed in 1995, Whirlwind emerged as a metal band in an era when the genre was not just unpopular but stigmatized as a symbol of rebellion. Amid societal skepticism and an indifferent local music industry, they forged their path, turning personal struggles into powerful, boundary-breaking art.
Whirlwind’s music was more than just heavy; it was revolutionary. Drawing on the fragmented reality of a war-torn age, the band pioneered Sri Metal, a genre that combined heavy metal’s raw energy with Sri Lanka’s multilingual and multicultural culture. Their pioneering efforts have not only generated a thriving subculture, but have also established them as trailblazers in both the country’s music and the fight for unity via art. And today, that same drive and passion continues to propel them forward.
Their latest single – “Forbidden By Thy Forlorn” – features the work of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling rock legends and is now streaming everywhere. Whirlwind will close out the night on the 31st of May. People will be talking about this show for years to come. Makes sure you can tell them that you were there. Save the Date & Spread the word, and be part of something truly powerful.