Artcell is a Bangladeshi progressive metal band formed in October 1999 by vocalist and riff guitarist George Lincoln D'Costa, lead guitarist Ershad Zaman, bassist Saef Al Nazi Cezanne and drummer Kazi Sazzadul Asheqeen Shaju. Since 1999, they have released only two studio albums and also have appeared in some mixed albums. The four original members of the band remained together until Ershad Zaman left the band in 2017 due to his personal disagreement. They pronounced Kazi Faisal Ahmed as their permanent lead guitarist on 11 November 2018. According to The Daily Star, Artcell is one of the leading bands of the country.
Prior to forming the band, the four founding members were school friends from Dhaka, and used to get together to play Metallica songs. Eventually, Ershad came up with compositions of his own and the group began to play them at shows. The positive response they received led them to the formation of a band. What started off as an underground band is now one of the most recognised mainstream bands in the Bengalimetal music scene. The name "Artcell" was decided upon because it was softer sounding than a typical heavy metal name. In Cézanne and Shaju's words:
"অন্য সময় (Onno Somoy)" (2000–2002)
Artcell released their first studio albumঅন্য সময় in 2002 by G-Series. It was both critically and commercially successful. The band lost its main songwriter Rupok to cerebral malaria while working on this album. The album was dedicated to him. One of the songs was titled "রুপক একটি গান " in his memory.
"অনিকেত প্রান্তর (Oniket Prantor)" (2002–2006)
After the success of অন্য সময়, Artcell spent four years carrying out experiments with their music without releasing an album. They did, however, release singles scattered in various albums by other bands or compilation albums. Their second studio album "Aniket Prantor " was released in April 2006. The album was one of the top sellers of the year. "Aniket Prantor ", the album's namesake, is Artcell's longest song to date, at 16 minutes and 21 seconds. In May the band performed their second solo concert at Dhaka's Bashundhara Convention Centre.
2007-2016
Artcell celebrated its 10th anniversary tour on 23 October 2009 with a live concert entitled "10 Years of Artcell Insanity" at the Winter Garden, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Artcell continue to regularly perform live shows and have also made many tours of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet, with some tours in India and Sydney, Australia. In 2009 the band took part in the "International Coastal Cleanup 2009", a day-long beach clean-up movement, at the Cox's Bazar sea beach. In early 2010, the band travelled to Australia and performed at Belmore Sports Ground in Sydney on 3 January. The band was due to be one of the country's leading bands to perform at a concert against violence to women in the Banani Army Stadium, Dhaka, in December 2010. On 9 January 2012, Artcell announced the release of their third album and confirmed that it would be released by the end of the year. They posted on their Facebook page: "This is to inform all Artcell fans and friends who have been waiting for our 3rd album, wait just for a few more months and Hopefully you won't be disappointed. In addition Artcell is also getting ready with some special releases...Music, videos and communication contents. So, look forward to a year full of activities. Thank you all again for your love and support. You guys are our true strength. Thank you". Artcell worked on their third album in 2013. They played in "Rocknation Overload" on 19 April 2014 after a break of around two years. Cézanne and Shaju, two of the founding members, have not been active with the band for a long time. They only work with the band when they come to Bangladesh. The official Artcell website says that both of them have settled in Sydney, Australia, for family reasons. Ershad And Lincoln are presently running the band themselves with guest members. In 2016, Artcell released their new music video "Obimrishshota" from their third album Otriteeyo with the original band lineup. After almost 10 years their new song had been released, written by their new lyricist Ishtiak. Both Cézanne and Shaju remain in Sydney, but they participated in the album work. Cézanne recently said in an interview that he is planning to be back in the country soon. In the 17 years since its inception, the band has released two albums. Their third album was scheduled to be released in December 2016. Initially scheduled for a 2012 release, it is widely speculated that the delay is due to Cézanne and Shaju's inactivity, and to Ershad and Lincoln's busy schedule.
