Members of the band. Photo: Mumit M.

Starting up around the year 2001, Satanik is one of the few bands that launched the black and death metal genre in our country. The band started out with Abs Xem and Shawon, who began their journey along with other metal lovers. From then on, there were various changes in the band structure, such as the beginning of death metal. They were the first extreme metal band to have participated in an open air concert sponsored by Mojo, along with Aurthohin, Artcell, Cryptic Fate, Black, Hyder Husyn, Mila and many more. Their video “Ontim Nidra” on Channel 1 won kudos and was a sure sign that the metal culture had gained momentum in Bangladesh.
On the heels of several changes in the line-up, the band expanded to its final shape with Xem (vocals), Shawon and Nayeem (guitar), Rubayet (bass) and Sajib (drums). Shawon works in BTV as a musician. Nayeem is the owner of the renowned practice pad -- Music Theatre -- where many rockers, old and new, have devoted themselves to what they do best, make great music. Rubayet is a student of BBA in ULAB and is thoroughly into music whenever he can make the time, while Sajib too occupies himself in music. “We want to spread out, go beyond Dhaka, make more music, more videos and firmly root this metal tradition,” said Sajib.
After songs like “Du-Aanon” and “Mrito joddha,” these young people are now well into “Endured Nothingness”. “This is where our band evolves -- from black death to technical brutal black metal,” said Xem. “You could say that technical brutal is a mix of technical death and black metal, but it's much more,” said Nayeem. “Our first song of this genre is “Endured Nothingness” that will be released in an international album by a Malaysian company called Metalfarm whose recent release was “The Gut of Madness,” said Xem. As these rockers go international, they are now set to do their compositions in English.
Shawon said, “Although we have been around for long, it took a lot of time and energy to master the art of metal before we came out in front of the crowd.” “Black metal, death metal or any kind of metal is really not as easy as it may seem to some,” said Rubayet.
Xem, a student of Faculty of Fine Arts, DU, and a member of the theatre group Prachyanat, updated The Daily Star with his band's philosophy. “Satanik does not mean encouraging the devilish nature. In fact, it means to take off the masks and shout out loud and clear about the hidden evils prevalent in human beings. Everything comes in pairs, so do good and evil. Through our music, we want to address such evils to our listeners.”
“What's the difference between black death and technical brutal black? Well, to begin with, both belong to different genres. The best way to know of it is by hearing it,” concluded Nayeem.