Finally the big news for Artcell fans arrives: the progressive metal band is coming back with their third album. The vocalist of Artcell, Lincoln confirms Dhaka Tribune that they have signed a contract with G Series for their next album.
With two studio albums Onno Shomoy (2002) and Oniket Prantor (2006), a number of singles contributed in different compilation albums and numerous live shows, Artcell ruled the country’s band music scenario for almost a decade.
However, from 2010, the band’s activity came to a halt. The members seemed to have gotten involved with some personal clashes and rumours were there that they declared an end to all the activities of Artcell.
Later, bassist Cezanne and drummer Shazu settled abroad and the fans, with massive disappointment, became used to the fact that the band is “no more.” But the demand of their reunion has always been there.
The fans have been continuously posting their demand in the band’s Facebook page and other social media. And thanks to the Artcell members that they finally responded to the pleas of the sea of followers across the country!
Lincoln said: “The immense popularity is a blessing and that is a key point for us to come back with our third album.
We were never apart from the band. For a lengthy period, we went through some hard times and that created confusions among people.
While talking about how they would manage to record with Cezannne and Shazu who are currently staying in Australia,
Lincoln said: “They are sending their parts of music through internet. I and Ershad (lead guitarist) are taking care of the rest.” He further added: “We are planning to do a big reunion concert when Cezanne and Shaju returns home for holiday.”
However, Artcell was in a legal conflict with G series regarding a copyright issue filed on 2011.
In this regard, Lincoln said: “As you know a copyright/ intellectual property right issue is not very common to go for court proceedings in Bangladesh in general. So for, a legal remedy to certify the protection of intellectual rights of all our creative works from Onnoshomoy and Oniket prantor (both) released by G series and overcome the confusions with copyright of those works, we had to patiently go through the formalities of court and Copyright Board of Bangladesh. And this battle finally was worth involving in, after the Copy Right Board issued an order clarifying the Intellectual rights of those works belonging to Artcell as the creative owner and G series holds the business rights. And on the basis of that order, around the end of 2013 the court concluded the case between Artcell and G series.”
However, Lincoln clarifies: “Technically the case was filed by Artcell against their record label G series, but the core purpose of the two parties were not indifferent enough to be enemies of each other. Rather, both sought an authentic direction through a court order to protect the creative right along with business interest of a released musical work and thus benefit the industry overall in setting a legitimate standard to practice, avoiding certain confusions forever.”
