AASHOR A Rock Compilation
Five years in the pipeline, “Aashor”, a rock compilation, hit the market on November 12 under the banner of Gaanchil. From big names like LRB to young, emerging bands from Dhaka and Chittagong, rock fans will get a taste of 14 fresh tracks -- all likely to make it to playlists for years to come. Moktadir Dewan Shanto coordinated the album.
LRB sets the tone of the album in the first track with a bang. The old school riffs, drum rolls and the evergreen rock prowess of Ayub Bachchu's vocals make “Megh Rong Nilima-e” stand apart from the rest. The mighty “AB” lives up to the hype that surrounds him, silencing those who cast doubts on his musical abilities. Surely one of the best, if not “the” best, songs of the album. Young rock musicians have a lot to learn from this song.
Shrapnel Method presents the second track “Mukti Shobtukui”. This band has been making strides in recent times, and their efforts take a mature shape in the song. With a killer chorus, clever harmonising and superb guitar solos, Shrapnel Method announces their intent to climb the rock ladder with full force.
If “Mukti Shobtukui” did not whet your appetite, The Joint Family's “Bhaar” will surely do the trick. The band brings a dark ambiance with the song, highlighting unorthodox guitar effects and the vocal skills of Rafa. The ending hymn has the potential to be an audience favourite and a concert anthem for years to come.
Absent Element's “Pichhutaan” features some brilliant falsetto, something our contemporary music still seems to lack. The music makes for easy listening.
Blunderware's “Afim Chash” is worthy of getting a podium spot in the album. The simple guitar strums and chords do justice to the lyrics, which convey a message about the addiction for life and music.
“Cryptool” by Alternation is the track that kicks in next, and grabs your attention with a grim intro, before blasting through with an aggressive riff, thumping drums-work and rip-through vocals. Probably the heaviest track of the album, “Cryptool” puts a check mark on every box of the list of elements present in a great rock song.
After a heavy track, '71 balances the album again -- with their easygoing track “Protiti Kona”. The most notable part of the song has to be its bass works. Although the song starts off slowly, the build-up towards the end is a team effort, with instruments and vocals chipping in their own contributions.
If the album was lacking some groove till this point, GrooveTrap fills the void in “Nikhoj”. The keys can make the listener nostalgic about '60s rock, while the funky groove remains constant in the guitar strums and humming. Overall, “Nikhoj” is a standout among all the tracks of the album.
The next two songs are tributes to two great souls, who passed away recently -- leaving a large void in the bands' lives. Through “Sahim's Song”, Effigy expresses their love to a vibrant teen named Sahim, whose laughter and music used to fill the streets of Chittagong. The only English number of the album is a great ballad to listen to.
My 31st Demerit comes next with “Shesher Aushomapte...Midhat”, which is about Midhat, another port city youth who was brutally murdered a month back. Emotions pour out from the lyrics and tunes, while the chorus deserves much praise.
Alter Messiah presents their debut track “Ghour” with an interesting beginning of guitars and bass. The song invokes darker feelings, making it a good nighttime tune.
“Abaro” by Owned is a pure alter-rock track with brilliant instrument work. Owned proved that apart from being just an entertaining stage act, they have the potential to deliver great music. Watch out for the chorus, it will stick in your head.
Circus Police's “Porjobekkhok” is another standout from the crowd, with interesting experiment with vocal scales. Instrumentally, the track is top notch.
Last but not the least is Igneeous with “Biborno Katatar”. Many may argue that their number is a shadow of a larger band of the country, but even so, they manage to pull off a great track with an awesome guitar solo in the middle.
“Aashor” was many years in the making, but all the hard work have seemingly paid off, as the music hungry crowd got what they were promised -- a gathering of rock talents delivering their best.
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