Indian progressive rock pioneers Motherjane have officially announced their long-awaited comeback with the release of their new album Dobāreh, marking the band’s first major full-length project in 18 years.
Alongside the album launch, Motherjane has also embarked on an extensive India tour, reconnecting with fans through intimate listening sessions and large-scale live performances.
The iconic carnatic rock band revealed the news through an emotional post on their official Instagram account, reflecting on growth, healing and rediscovery. “There’s an urban legend that says hell is our final day on earth – when who we are meets who we could have been,” the band wrote.
“18 years later, we return with Dobāreh. An album about second chances, becoming, breaking, healing, and finding your way back to yourself.”
Describing the release as more than a simple reunion, the band added, “This is more than a comeback. This is who we are now.”
The nine-track album explores themes of distance, transformation, loss and reconciliation, capturing the emotional weight of the band’s long hiatus and eventual return. The visual identity of Dobāreh also reinforces that narrative. Its artwork depicts a fractured surface repaired with gold, symbolizing healing, rebirth and the beauty found in imperfection.
Widely regarded as one of India’s most influential progressive rock acts, Motherjane built a cult following in the early 2000s through their innovative fusion of heavy guitar-driven rock with Carnatic phrasing (courtesy: ex-guitarist Baiju Dharmajan), Indian classical influences and traditional percussion. Their sound helped shape a uniquely Indian identity within the country’s independent rock movement and inspired a generation of alternative musicians.
The band’s return has already generated significant excitement across the live music circuit. In support of Dobāreh, Motherjane has launched a series of exclusive listening sessions in multiple cities across India. These carefully curated events accommodate only 25 to 50 attendees per city, allowing fans to experience the new material in an immersive and distraction-free setting.
At the same time, the group has resumed full-scale live performances, including headline appearances at major venues and festival stages. Among the highlights of their ongoing tour is a performance at Let There Be Guitar hosted at The Humming Tree in Bengaluru. Their return to the concert circuit follows a widely praised appearance at Mahindra Independence Rock, which marked one of the earliest signs of the band’s reunion.
Industry observers note that Motherjane’s comeback arrives at a time when independent rock and alternative music scenes in India continue to expand rapidly. Their renewed presence on the 2026 festival circuit has already sparked interest among longtime fans and younger audiences discovering the band for the first time.
A new lineup for newer sounds for the upcoming India tour
The current touring lineup blends veteran members associated with Motherjane’s classic era alongside newer musicians who are helping shape the band’s evolved sound. While the group continues to embrace the progressive rock foundations that made them famous, Dobāreh also reflects emotional maturity and artistic reinvention developed over nearly two decades away from the spotlight.
For many fans of Indian rock music, Motherjane’s return represents more than nostalgia. It signals the comeback of a band that helped redefine the possibilities of contemporary Indian music by successfully merging local musical traditions with global progressive rock influences.
With Dobāreh, Motherjane appears determined not only to revisit its legacy but also to begin a completely new chapter.
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