Artcell

Publicity poster of Artcell

Artcell (or ArtCell) is a progressive metal band of Bangladesh. The band is arguably the first progressive metal band of the country and usually experiments with tunes from other metal genres such as speed and thrash metal.

History and Formation

The current band members were school friends in Dhaka. Ershad used to be the guitarist of a band named Tantrik back in 1999. Current vocalist, Lincoln, joined Tantrik just before the group disbanded. They were looking for a bassist and a drummer, when through friends, they met Cezanne and Shaju.

The members later renamed their band to Artcell in August 1999 and the band was officially formed in November 1999.

This is the first artist group in South Asia who have their over 20,000 copies album sold only at the first day of release!

Influence and lyrics

The band cites American metal group, Metallica, as their main influence, although they also name Dream Theater as a very important inspiration. They also occasionally quote Pink Floyd as an influence.

Their lyrics typically highlight anger about social injustice and hypocrisy. Although their first album also had philosophical songs with softer a tone. Like all other groups of the progressive sub-genre, Artcell plays significantly with timing and scale and a few drastic changes in a song is not new to their fans.

Although they have released very heavy suited-for-head-banging titles like Chile Koţhār Şepāi (Bangla: চিলে কোঠার সেপাই) - a song that incidentally shares name with a famous novel by Akhtaruzzaman Ilias - in general, their songs are targeted for an audience with a more sophisticated sense of music.

Members

The band has four members:
*Lincoln - Vocals and riff guitar
*Ershad - Lead guitar
*Cezanne - Bass guitar
*Shaju - Drums

From formation, the line up has not changed (till the writing of this article in 2005). While still a member of Artcell, Cezanne also worked with legendary Bangladeshi metal band, Warfaze, as a part-time, fill-in bassist. A few years after the band's formation, a tragedy struck it. In 2002, a close friend of the members and the main lyricist, Rupok, died after being infected by the fatal disease, cerebral malaria. The incident happened when the band was working on their first solo album, Onno Shomoy, and the album was dedicated to Rupok. The fourth track on this album is titled Rupok - Ekti Gān, "Rupok - a Song" (রূপক - একটি গান).

Discography

Albums

*2002 - Onno Shomoy (অন্য সময়) (In another Time):Number of tracks - 10; Total length - 65:36; Release - G-Series
*2006 - Oniket Prantor (অনিকেত প্রান্তর) (No mans Land):Number of tracks - 10; Total length - 1:11:05; Release - G-Series

Compilation tracks

*Chhaŗpôtro (ছাড়পত্র):Song - Odekha Shorgo ; Track number - 4; Track length - 4:50
*Anushilon:Song - Dukkho Bilaash ; Track number - 4; Track length - 6:40 :Song - Opshori ; Track number - 10; Track length - 5:33
*Āgontuk (আগন্তুক ১):Song: Ostitter Dike Pôdodhonir Şhômmohon (অস্তিত্তের দিকে পদধ্বনির সম্মোহন); Track number - 10; Track length - 5:55
*Āgontuk-2 (আগন্তুক ২):Song - Chile Koţhār Şepai (চিলে কোঠার সেপায়); Track number - 2; Track length - 6:48
*Din Bôdol (দিন বদল) :Song - Āshirbād (আশীর্বাদ) - feat Black and Cryptic Fate; Track number - 1; Track length - 5:40
*Lokayot:Song - Chhera Akash ; Track number - 3; Track Length - 6:02
*Āgontuk-3 (আগন্তুক ৩):Song - Bānglādesh... Sriti Ebong Āmrā (বাংলাদেশ... স্মৃতি এবং আমরা); Track number - 2; Track length - 5:36
*Projonmo :Song - Shopner Korash

Influence

*ArtCell performed on their second solo concert on 12 May 2006. Over two thousand people were in attendance. This may be inspiring to other bands in Bangladesh as concerts in Bangladesh typically feature multiple acts.
*Many popular bands, like DNA, Abrovirus, and Cryptic Fate have performed ArtCell's songs.