Photo by Danalog.
By focusing on the poverty associated with Bangladesh, seldom do we pause to consider and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of Bengal.
To the outsider it may look like a smelly bolthole of a cesspit, but actually the region has been a melting pot of diverse cultures, with generations of settlers, traders and conquerors attracted to its vast expanses of lush crop fields, borderland hills and the countless rivers which form the world’s largest delta.
The cultural mosaic of Bangladesh continues to develop today, as artists increasingly look to the West for inspiration. Right now, there’s a generation of Bangladeshi musicians influenced by the sound and fury of American and European heavy metal. The result is a unique hybrid of Western and Bangla flava that remains a cut above the cynical and artistically bankrupt heavy rock we are forced to endure in the West.
Instead of cutting themselves to Korn songs, our brown-skinned chums just want to rock their cocks off in the Balti heat of the Bengali sunshine.
THE LEGENDS: WARFAZE
1. Warfaze were the first-ever metal band in Bangladesh, forming in 1984. In spite of numerous line-up changes, the guys continue to rock to this very day, and are soon to release their fifth album, Not Finalize.
2. As well as hard-hitting lyrics criticising the political situation of their country, they’ve written songs such as “Jononi”, which speaks about the appreciation and gratitude one feels for one’s mother.
3. Founding member Russell was voted “Best Guitarist in Kansas” after moving to the U.S.A. in 1999.
4. Lead guitarist Balam’s favourite film is My Best Friend’s Wedding.
5. Keyboard player Shams is now a lecturer at Dhaka’s Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology and bassist Biju is a senior programmer for Metaphor Asia Ltd.
INSPIRATION TO A GENERATION: THE EXPERIMENT
1. The Experiment has made the album Novochari freely available for download. In so doing, the band hopes to promote the internet among the youth of South Asia.
2. Fans also have the option of buying a CD for £7.99, of which £6 goes into a fund for a friend fighting cancer.
3. The album’s title track is dedicated to the world’s first Bengali astronaut.
4. In addition to his love of rock, songwriter Kazi Haque is a devotee of Indian classical music. Kazi confesses: “It is very hard not to be influenced by some of the great artists of our time. Led Zeppelin and Ravi Shankar top our list.”
5. At present, Kazi is the band’s sole member. Like Andrew WK or Him, he’s blazing a trail for nu-solo rock guys.
BLOWING UP: SUBCONSCIOUS
1. Subconscious fought off fierce competition from Dhrubo, Ebong Sristi, Fusion, Orchid, Warrior, Recent, Triangle, Sound Vibration, Chorus and Salvation to win “Best Band 2002” in Bangladesh’s prestigious Benson & Hedges Star Search Contest. Guitarist Zohan Alamgir topped off a triumphant night by taking home the “Best Guitarist” gong.
2. The band describes its sound as “punk rock fusion”. However, as Zohan points out: “We are also very much in touch with hard and soft rock. In addition, we would like to make our folk songs popular to the rest of the world”.
3. The new album, Matir Deyhoh, focuses on social issues and themes of spirituality.
4. Notable songs include live favourite “Hey Mohammad” the epic “Ma O Baba”, and aggro-anthem “Bullshit”.
5. Subconscious showcase the vocal talents of emerging girl-power icon Shereen Kamal, seen by many as the Bangladeshi Gwen Stefani.
ONE TO WATCH: GALLOW’S POLE
1. Gallow’s Pole are quickly emerging as THE definitive Iron Maiden and Megadeth covers band in Bangladesh.
2. Their current repertoire features six classics: Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, “Fear of the Dark” and “The Trooper”, plus Megadeth’s “Countdown to Extinction”, “Blood of Heroes” and “Dawn Patrol.”
3. Vocalist Rajib feels most comfortable singing the Megadeth tunes. The band are currently seeking a second frontman to take care of the Maiden songs.
4. Gallow’s Pole rocks with Ibanez guitars (JS-100 and RG Series), Yamaha basses, Samick drums, Sabian cymbals, Pearl pedals, and Vic Firth sticks. The trademark Pole crunch comes courtesy of Zoom GFX8s.
5. The band’s bi-monthly rehearsals are open to the public. Check them out at Sound Centre, 244 New Circular Road, Moghbazar, Dhaka 1217.
VICE also recommends: Vikings (previous winners of Star Search; key influence: Europe); Cryptic Fate (first Bangladeshi band to release all-English language metal album); Darksyed (mysterious left-handed guitar hero); Pentagon (featuring Warfaze’s Tipu); The Watson Brothers (Dhaka’s first family of rock), Koprophillia (subversive prog metal); and Metal Maze (produced by the hero of the 1970s independence movement, Azam Khan).
Honorable mentions: Igneous, Tempest, Zoloft, Eclipse, Winsome, Rhythmic Way, Steeler, In Chittagong, Shaptak, Religion and Unleashed Fusion.
DANALOG
