Juddho: LRB's fight against odds

LRB has released its 11th album “Juddho”(war) at a time when the music industry, particularly the country's rock music, faces a tough time. The release of rock albums has reduced significantly over the last couple years and at present bands prefer to release new compositions on radio and cell phones first rather than CDs.
“Juddho” was first released on the Banglalink Music Station and later on CD by Deadline Music right before the Eid. The album highlights a new approach by LRB, one of the country's most successful rock acts.
Those 1990s' melodies, for which the band garnered huge success, are prevalent in some of these new songs. The heavy sound that is more popular with the young right now is also noticeable in some tracks. So in a sense, the latest album is a challenge for the LRB quartet to maintain a balance of two different genres, to draw two different generations of listeners.
One can find the 10-track album divided into two parts. The first five songs have heavier sounds while the rest are comparatively mellow in mood. In regards to lyrics, these mellow songs try to contain the essence of the popular LRB oldies such as “Ekhon Onek Raat” or “Ei Shohor Ekhon Ghumiye Achhe”.
In the case of “Je Chole Jaye”, track number six from the new album, the song provides mellow rhythmic guitar riffs, measured leaks and easy on the ear lyrics. It tries to connect with a broken heart, abandoned by loved ones. Niaz Ahmed Aungshu wrote this particular song, while all the others have been penned by Sajjad Hossain.
“Juddho”, the title and first track of the album, has a heavy sound. Taking reference from the Language Movement and the Liberation War, the lyrics are more of a social urge, than political.
Front man Ayub Bachchu proclaimed in the album flap, “Day by day, good struggles harder in its eternal fight against evil…If we don't change our ways and outlook, one day our own children will be fighting on the streets for causes which have no names and no remorse…”
The cover-jacket features the blurred and shadowy face of a child soldier with a gun who leads a small squad; the title is written in red letters. It is a symbolic representation against social flaws.
One may consider “Abar Juddhey Jabo” as a sequel to the title track.
Those LRB fans who are well aware of Bachchu's interest in blues will be elated when listening to the song “Ondho”. It is a great blues number with spectacular guitar by Bachchu. This song along with the final track “Bhoy” are two of the most vibrant compositions on the album.
The other tracks are “Ekti Chhele”, “Shap Ludu”, Agun Niye” and “Purotai Phaki”.
LRB's current line up is: Ayub Bachchu (vocal and lead guitar), Swapan (bass), Masud (guitar) and Romel (drums).