Chords of Chaos: Battle of Bands

Chords of Chaos: Battle of Bands is a high-energy musical showdown where college bands ignite the stage with every genre in their arsenal such as rock, pop, jazz, blues, indie, metal and more.

Set inside Transcend’s retro-arcade inspired universe, an immersive musical showdown where college bands enter a gaming-inspired arena and battle through levels of sound, skill, and strategy. Bands must bring not just musical mastery but stagecraft, synchronization, and presence powerful enough to command the arena. 

This is not just a performance, it's a quest for domination in the sonic battleground of Transcend 2026!

Eligibility Criteria:

• All students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, regardless of their year, are eligible to participate in this competition.
• Cross-college teams are permitted.
• All participants must carry a valid college ID card.

Round 1: Registration & Submission

• One video entry per team (Video must be uploaded in MP4 format only)
• Performance Duration: Minimum of 90 seconds to a maximum duration of 3 minutes
• Upload to Google Drive and share the link with open access
• Team size: 4 to 8 members 
• Submissions can be in Hindi or English (a mix of both languages is also allowed)
• Original compositions are allowed
• Ensure clarity of video and audio, with minimal background noise
• The use of background music or autotune is strictly prohibited
•  Foul language is strictly prohibited

Round 2: On-Campus Round

• Campus band performance duration: 7 to 10 minutes for shortlisted teams
• A maximum of 5 minutes will be allowed for stage setup
•  Performances can be in Hindi or English (a mix of both languages is also allowed)
• Teams may perform any song of their choice, including covers or original compositions

Rules and Regulations:

• Naming Convention: Chords of Chaos_College Name_Band Name
  (For example – Chords of Chaos_SIBM_Symphony)
• All participants must have valid college ID cards
• The team leader is required to register on behalf of the entire team
• It is mandatory to have at least one vocalist and a minimum of two instrumentalists
• Only drum kits and mics will be provided by the organizing college; teams must bring all other musical instruments
• Performances can be in Hindi or English (a mix of both is also allowed)
• Teams should limit their live performance to 7–10 minutes, with a maximum setup time of 5 minutes (Exceeding the time limit will lead to disqualification)
• To ensure a fair evaluation, bands are required to submit their lyric sheet to the judges prior to their performance
• Any loss/damage to the instruments is not the responsibility of the organizers
• Profanity, vulgarity, or obscenity at any point is strictly prohibited
• Any participant resorting to unfair practices will be directly disqualified from the challenge
• All decisions regarding eligibility, authenticity, and final judgment will rest with Unstop & SIBM Pune
• The Terms and Conditions of participation are subject to change at any time without specific notice
• The amended Terms and Conditions of entry will be effective immediately upon being posted on the website
• It is the sole responsibility of the team to visit the website regularly and stay updated about any changes