MUMBAI: After composing for the Marathi film 'Vaadhdivasachya Hardik Shubhechcha', Moksh, the Marathi rock band will finally release original work later this month, according to Sagar Joshi, the band's bass guitarist who spoke to Radioandmusic.com about it.

First up, the band will release an album called 'Swaraj', which Moksh claims to be "the first ever Marathi rock concept album based on the life of the legendary Maratha monarch, Shivaji." Joshi said that what most people know of Shivaji are of his valour, wit, diplomacy and his love for his fellow warriors. "But, we have never thought what he might have felt during his journey," said Joshi. Through the eight tracks on the album, Moksh has produced music emphasising eight different chapters in the life of Shivaji Maharaj, depicting his emotions in those trying situations.

"For example, very few know, while escaping from Agra how Shivaji might have felt for the doppelganger who was about to beheaded on his behalf; or during Pavan Khind, when he knew that only because of Baji Prabhu he was going to reach safely to Panhalgad; or during Sinhagad, when he felt sad about Tanaji Malusare leaving in the middle of his son’s wedding just to lay siege to the fort for ‘Hindavi Swaraj’," Joshi further added. Joshi also described the sound of the album as ‘Marathi heavy metal’.

In addition to 'Swaraj', Moksh is also currently working on its sophomore album which is expected to release in the summer; and composing the original soundtrack and the background score for the upcoming Marathi adaptation of the Academy Award winning Spanish film, 'The Motorcycle Diaries'.

The band’s second (yet untitled) album will contain eight different elements of Marathi folk music composed and arranged in the rock music genre. "This album is meant to keep the Marathi traditional folk culture alive and help broaden people’s perspective to it," said Joshi. He also added that the album will have forms of Marathi folk like ‘Bharud’, ‘Gavlan’, ‘Abhang’, ‘Powada’,  ‘Lavani’ , ‘Prarthana’ and ‘Shlokas’ all fused into rock.

For the release of ‘Swaraj’, Moksh has roped in OKListen and is expected to make the album available for download by the end of the month.