• Suresh de Silva on the storms that shaped the band and the man behind the mic

Twenty-five years is a long time to hold on to anything, let alone a band that began as a group of schoolboys with a taste for rock and metal music and a desire to sound different. But endure it has. 

Stigmata has grown, shifted, survived storms, and remained one of Sri Lanka’s most recognised rock and metal acts. Its frontman, Suresh de Silva, has stayed at the core of that journey, leading the band (and himself) through each phase of transformation.

As Stigmata turns 25 with new music, Suresh also steps into a different space with the launch of his newest book, ‘Stigmatized,’ a personal reflection that looks at storms, ego, loss, and learning. It is not a book about the band, yet the band’s journey runs through it, as his personal life and creative life have always sat close together.

The Sunday Morning Brunch chatted with Suresh on Stigmata turning 25, and the storms the band, and Suresh himself, have weathered over the years.

The Stigmata origin story

Stigmata first took shape in the late 1990s. 

“We were a bunch of kids in school. That was where it all started. There were two senior bands on the scene at the time (Rattlesnake and Venom SL) who used to play covers. They gave us confidence. 

“We wanted to do something more abrasive. We needed subject matter that looked at the human psyche and the human condition. No one here was doing that at the time,” said Suresh.

Stigmata’s early music dealt with themes that were uncommon in the local scene. While many Western rock acts had long explored dark or philosophical ideas, in Sri Lanka, the trend was still light, romantic, or playful. Stigmata wanted to write about society, identity, inner conflict, and uncomfortable truths.

They entered with a DIY spirit. There was no guidance, industry framework, or path to follow. The band had to fight for stages, audiences, and space. Heavily tattooed and pierced teens playing metal were viewed with suspicion at the time. The word ‘heavy’ itself scared off sponsors and venues.

“This kind of music was stigmatised. We had to endure a lot. We had no help. But we wanted to play the music we listened to. We never thought we would last two decades,” Suresh said. Yet they did.

Growing a sound and an identity

Stigmata became known for a loud, theatrical, and experimental sound. It never stayed in one musical box. Through each album, the sound shifted and expanded. Outside of Sri Lanka, the band became known for ‘authentic Sri Lankan heavy metal’ because the rhythms, percussion, and musical phrasing carried a strong Sri Lankan base.

Today, that South Asian foundation is still a key part of the Stigmata way. The latest addition to the band is a permanent percussionist who brings traditional instruments like the yak bera and geta bera into the core of the sound. He makes some of his own drums. This changes the live experience and further roots the music in local rhythm.

In its two-and-a-half decades, the band has seen many members come and go, with Suresh and guitarist Tennyson Napoleon staying the constant thread through the band’s history. Others joined at different moments, and each left a mark on the sound. 

“We have had many alumni,” Suresh reflected. “And they were what the band needed at that time. Our sound evolved. We wanted to create music, record, perform, and tour. All of them were important to that. They helped shape the band at each point.”

Through the years, the band faced the same challenges all independent artists face, multiplied by the niche nature of the genre. Funds, industry support, media visibility, and the lack of a robust rock circuit meant it had to push harder. It survived by sheer persistence, community, and its good reputation. Survival itself became a measurement of success.

The storms behind the stage

As the band evolved, the people at the centre also changed. With age came life, responsibility, work, family, loss, conflict, and healing. These shifts shaped Suresh’s writing, his presence on stage, and his identity as a person.

“We have changed as people. We have faced social and personal storms. Loss, tragedy, many obstacles, many lessons. This has given a different perspective to what we do and why we do it,” he said.

On a personal level, Suresh has weathered many storms. He speaks openly of losing both parents. He lost his home. He spoke of anger and ego that he carried for years, and how he expressed his frustration to the world. He does not romanticise any of this; he sees it now with clarity. This willingness to reflect did not come early in life. It was built slowly through hardship, and the turning point arrived only in recent years. 

“I became tough, but also bitter. I thought it was okay to vent out my problems into the world, sometimes narcissistically so. The main thing is that we have changed as humans and individuals, both inherently and creatively, and it has given a whole different perspective to what we do and why we do it.” 

The band’s music still carries intensity, but the source has shifted. Earlier, it surged from rebellion. Now, it comes from growth, empathy, and stability. Today, most band members hold senior jobs or run companies. They have families and commitments. Despite that, they still write, record, and tour. They have found a model that allows them to pursue music with seriousness while maintaining balance with life.

The milestones that have shaped 25 years

Stigmata’s story includes international shows, notable collaborations, and recognition beyond Sri Lanka. Its survival itself is a milestone few independent bands reach in this region.

Touring across several countries, working with a Grammy-nominated producer in the US for the fifth album, and having its music played and shared around the world has shaped the band’s identity. It confirmed that a band from Sri Lanka could hold space in a global rock and metal world.

“Surviving 25 years is in itself one of our biggest milestones. As is working with a Grammy-nominated producer on our fifth album. We have been able to tour the world, and we have had our music listened to and recognised. And we have been able to stay relevant, creatively and musically. 

“To this day our music keeps improving, and our new music performs far better than what we did before. This kind of relevance is not always something that’s possible in the modern-day music industry, which is so saturated and often overrun with mediocrity.” 

Stigmata recently released ‘Archetype,’ inspired by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, along with a visualiser created with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and art direction by Bad Mojo. The band sees it as a step forward in how metal visuals can be presented.

Stigmata’s newest recent single, ‘Trigger,’ written against bullying and harassment, is an example of the strong resonance of its music. On TikTok alone, it crossed 200,000 views and 25,000 likes. For a band that built its base long before social platforms took over music discovery, this reaction was meaningful. 

“We are not a TikTok band, so seeing the song connect with so many people from different walks of life is a milestone on its own,” Suresh said.

The band plans to release its fifth album next year, mixed and mastered in Chicago by Jed Brewer of Burning House Sound. Each track is recorded in Colombo and sent across for review, adjustments, and final work. It is a slow, careful process.

The next phase involves more regional and global touring, new merchandise, and a refreshed live experience.

‘Stigmatized: Lessons from My Storms’

Against this backdrop comes ‘Stigmatized: Lessons from My Storms,’ Suresh’s third book, and the first that steps into his inner world without filter. It is personal, reflective, and honest. It shares episodes from childhood to the present, touching on loss, ego, estrangement, breakdowns, and recovery. It also shares lessons learnt through these storms.

Suresh did not want to write a self-help book, a motivational guide, or a traditional memoir. He wanted to show the scars without dressing them up. 

“It started as personal reflections and stories from my past. It touches on Stigmata, but it is not a book about Stigmata. It is about my personal journey; the failures of ego, the tragedies, but not in a preachy way.”

He thought deeply about whether this level of exposure was needed. He asked himself if he should share, given his roles as a husband, father, business owner, and lecturer. He did not want the book to be a performance.

“I did not want to sugarcoat anything. There is stuff about suicidal thoughts, estrangement, breakdowns, and substance use. Also, it includes how I managed to overcome these challenges. If someone like me can go through it and come out better, then others can too.”

The book uses storms as a metaphor for life’s most difficult phases. The idea is not to teach one fixed method, but to share what helped him endure and grow through those storms. 

“It is darkest when you are at the centre of the storm. No two storms are the same, nor is how we respond to them. But every storm passes. You have to weather it. You will see calm again.”

Stigmata’s journey and Suresh’s personal story mirror each other. Both involve holding on through rough years, questioning purpose, rebuilding, and finding meaning beyond shock value or rebellion.

The band is older, wiser, and more rooted. So is he. He sees the past with clear eyes. He sees the early fire for what it was, and appreciates the maturity that followed.

The road ahead

Stigmata begins its 25th anniversary tour with international dates. It plans to return to Sri Lankan stages early next year. New merchandise has been released. The fifth album is on track. ‘Stigmatized’ will be launched with a reading event where selected guests will read extracts in their own style. It will be available directly through Suresh and later in stores.

Reflecting on the future, Suresh shared that the next chapter held growth for both artist and band, shaped by the lessons of two-and-a-half decades. Above all, Suresh hopes those who grew up with the band and those who will come to it now will give local art a chance. 

“There is a belief that something Sri Lankan is not as good as something abroad. There is so much talent here. Not only in Stigmata, but across the creative space. Give local work a chance.”

He also shared a message for young artists and bands who want to build a path. “It has never been easy to build a career in music here. We have found a balance now, but it took work. 

“Think about what you want to do. Do it properly. It will not happen overnight. You will face adversity. Do not take shortcuts. Talent alone is not enough. You need strategic thinking as well. You need the right people and the right chemistry. You need to find your own identity and be true to it.”