u/Agitated_Employer_86

Back in 2012, I was 21 and a massive Lamb of God fan.

When I found out they were coming to Bangalore for the Resolution Tour, I desperately wanted to meet them and get my poster signed.

The problem was, I could only afford the concert ticket. A meet-and-greet pass was simply out of my budget.

So, being 21 and having the strength and stupidity that only your early 20s can provide, I went to the airport around midnight, roughly 4–5 hours before their flight was expected to land and waited at arrivals.

I didn’t know if it would work. I just knew I had to try.

And somehow, somehow, we managed to get near the band as they came out of the arrivals gate. We got them to sign our poster and even managed to get a bunch of photos with them.

The only signature missing from the poster is Mark Morton. We couldn’t reach him,apparently they had just come off a flight that had taken more than 24 hours from their previous gig, and he was understandably exhausted.

I actually remember this entire night almost minute by minute, from the moment the band walked out of the arrival gate to the moment they got into their cars and left for their accommodation. I could probably write a ridiculously long story about everything that happened, but I’ll spare everyone that for now.

Instead, I just wanted to share this framed poster with fellow Lamb of God fans.

It’s one of those possessions that I genuinely don’t think I could ever put a price on.

And yeah… seeing this also makes me realise how much I miss Chris Adler in Lamb of God. I absolutely love Art Cruz and what he brings to the band, but I’ll always miss seeing Chris behind that kit.

2012 was a hell of a time to be a Lamb of God fan.

Thoughts from someone who was never really a “car guy.”

When I bought the Škoda Kylaq 7 months ago, the plan was simple: use it occasionally, mostly for weekends and family outings. I have always been more of a motorcycle enthusiast, and honestly, I never imagined I would enjoy driving this much.

Fast forward to today, and the odometer reads 10,000 km.

I genuinely believe I have driven this much because of this specific car.

The first thing that stands out is the driving experience. For a first-time car owner and driver, the Kylaq has made life incredibly easy. It inspires confidence in a way I didn’t expect.

Then comes the 1.0 TSI engine. On paper, a 1-litre engine might not sound exciting. In reality, it is anything but underwhelming. The performance is effortless, whether it’s city driving or overtaking on the highway. It has character, and it always feels eager.

The handling deserves special mention. A huge part of whatever driving confidence I’ve built over the last few months is because of how planted and predictable this car feels. It goes exactly where you point it, and it encourages you to become a better driver.

And then there are the suspensions.

I live in Bangalore. If you’ve driven here, you know the roads can be… challenging. The Kylaq’s suspension setup has been brilliant. It absorbs potholes, broken patches, and unexpected surprises with ease, without making the occupants uncomfortable.

The torque converter automatic has also been a pleasant surprise. It suits city driving well and feels smooth for the most part. However, I have noticed that on rare occasions, especially while moving off from a signal after releasing the brake, there’s a slight hesitation of a couple of seconds before the gearbox engages. It doesn’t happen often, but it’s worth mentioning.

The biggest drawback for me has been the fuel efficiency in Bangalore traffic. In peak bumper-to-bumper conditions, I’ve seen figures as low as 5 km/l. With a more patient driving style and conscious throttle inputs, I can manage around 7–8 km/l in the city.

On the highways, things improve significantly, with the Kylaq comfortably returning 13–15 km/l.

Another area where I think there’s room for improvement is the air conditioning. Bangalore summers aren’t the harshest, but I still feel the AC could have been stronger. Keeping it at 22–23°C sometimes isn’t enough, and I often find myself lowering the temperature further and increasing the fan speed to cool the cabin quickly.

Despite these minor complaints, this car has introduced me to a side of myself I didn’t know existed.

Motorcycles will always be my first love. But thanks to the Kylaq, I’ve discovered that I genuinely enjoy driving too.

And if a car can make someone who was never really into cars look for excuses to take the long way home, I think it’s doing something right.

Here’s to many more kilometres ahead.