“In Madafaka, Grey displays a cohesive, distinct sound that sets them apart as an African nu-metal stalwart in the making.”
Madagascar’s enduring alternative scene has consistently proven itself to be a gift that keeps on giving within the East African rock and metal scene. Founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grey is a nu-metal band based in Antananarivo. Fronted by the talented Navalona, the band made its official entry into the African alternative scene in impressive fashion with its debut EP, Madafaka.
Released on 25 March 2025, Madafaka is a solid six-track EP, spanning a little over 21 minutes, that draws attention to this female-fronted alternative project from Madagascar. While Grey has generally been described as a nu-metal band, this body of work shows the true reach of the band’s sonic expression, and the band proudly wears its influences on its sleeve.
Quite appropriately, the first track, ‘Folo Isan-Jato’, is an angst-filled nu-metal anthem that displays the individual technical abilities of the band’s members. JT’s heavy, expressive, chunky guitar tone fluidly moves from heavy chugs to cheeky squeals and melodic lines, while Mandrindra’s solid bassline and Ny Aina’s proficient drumming provide the perfect bedrock upon which Navalona soars with her impressive vocal ability. Her performance ranges from rap, which borrows heavily from her slam-poetry background, to beautiful clean vocals.
‘Izay Tiako’ continues in a similar fashion, beginning with JT’s guitar riff, which aptly sets up the rest of the band to join the fray. Throughout this project, JT goes beyond holding down the groove with his majestic riffs, constantly embellishing his rhythm playing with melodic sensibilities that perfectly complement the band’s nu-metal sound. Mandrindra and Ny Aina’s rhythmic pocket holds the groove tightly, allowing Navalona to create a tough, rap-driven vocal journey.
The EP is in Malagasy, and this project proudly displays Navalona’s slam-poetry influences as she raps with conviction over JT’s immaculate playing. His performance ranges from nostalgic melodic riffs played with a clean tone to heavy, brooding, chunky movements in true nu-metal fashion, while Navalona incorporates clean vocals tastefully.
Probably my favourite track on the project, ‘Tsoy Ny Afo’ begins quite daintily with a memorable, clean and nostalgic guitar melody. This is probably the gentlest song on the EP, offering the listener a glimpse into the band’s tender side, which they seem to reveal sparingly before breaking into a beautiful cacophony of sweet nu-metal chaos.
In Madafaka, Grey displays a cohesive, distinct sound that sets them apart as an African nu-metal stalwart in the making. This can be heard in ‘Mampalahelo’, where they deliver a powerful performance that captures the true essence of the genre.
‘Wake Up’ is the only song on the EP with an English title. As the final song on the project, the band trots towards a strong finish with this nu-metal ditty, whose brilliant video release we highlighted on AFRICA.ROCKS earlier this year.
For a debut, Grey shines throughout Madafaka. The project has a radical title that ties together ‘Mada-‘, short for Madagascar, and ‘Faka’, which means ‘root’ in Malagasy, as the band noted in a previous interview. The title connects beautifully with an equally powerful musical creation.
With six solid songs and crisp production, this project is a bold statement from Antananarivo’s own Grey, calling the attention of Africa and the world to a band that holds great promise.
