Arthohin, Artcell Return With New Line-ups

Two of Bangladesh’s most influential rock bands, Arthohin and Artcell, are set to make their long-awaited return to the stage with revamped line-ups at the upcoming Overload Festival, marking a significant moment for the country’s contemporary music scene.

The concert, organised by Live Wave Entertainment, will be held on 10 July at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka. Eight prominent rock and metal bands are scheduled to perform, including Arthohin, Artcell, Black, Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Powersurge, Level Five and RockSalt.

The festival is expected to attract thousands of rock music enthusiasts, but much of the attention will centre on Arthohin and Artcell, both of which will be performing with new members for the first time.

For Arthohin, the concert represents not only the debut of its new line-up but also a return to the Bangladeshi stage after an extended absence. On 5 March, the band announced the departure of drummer Mark Don and guitarist Ehtesham Ali Moin. Later that day, the group introduced three new members to reshape its line-up.

Among the most notable additions is Shishir Ahmed, a former member of the band who has returned after a two-year absence. Having spent around two decades with Arthohin before leaving in 2023, Shishir will once again perform on guitar and keyboards.

The band has also welcomed Adnan Atik, who will contribute on keyboards and guitar, while Sheikh M. Riaz of the band Mechanics joins as a guest drummer.

The performance also marks Arthohin’s first concert in Bangladesh in approximately 16 months. The band has appeared only sporadically in recent years due to health issues faced by its founder and frontman, Saidus Salehin Khaled Sumon. Arthohin last performed live during concerts in the United States in November and December last year. The Overload Festival will therefore serve as the band’s first opportunity in well over a year to reconnect with its home audience.

Artcell will also take the stage with a significantly changed line-up. The 10 July concert will mark the live debut of Bakhtiar Hossain as the band’s lead vocalist.

The appointment follows the decision of founding member and longtime frontman George Lincoln D’Costa to step away from performing for an indefinite period due to personal reasons. Lincoln announced his decision in a video message published on the band’s official Facebook page on Wednesday night.

In the same announcement, Artcell introduced Bakhtiar Hossain, formerly the lead vocalist of Bay of Bengal, as the band’s touring vocalist. The move is intended to ensure that Artcell can continue performing live while Lincoln remains away from the stage.

Artcell has also maintained a limited live schedule over the past year. The band last performed in Australia in November, while Lincoln has been living in Canada for some time. According to the band, bringing in a touring vocalist was a collective decision aimed at ensuring its live performances continue uninterrupted despite the absence of its founding singer.

The Overload Festival brings together several of Bangladesh’s most established rock acts, making it one of the most anticipated concerts of the year. Alongside the headline returns of Arthohin and Artcell, audiences will also enjoy performances by veteran bands Black, Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Powersurge, Level Five and RockSalt, reflecting the diversity and enduring popularity of the country’s rock music scene.

For fans of Bangladeshi rock, the festival represents more than another concert. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for two iconic bands that have helped shape the country’s modern rock movement for decades. As Arthohin returns after a prolonged absence and Artcell embarks on a new era with a different voice, expectations are high that the performances will offer both nostalgia and a glimpse of the future.

The concert is expected to provide the first indication of how audiences respond to the refreshed line-ups, with both bands hoping to reaffirm their place among Bangladesh’s most celebrated rock acts while introducing a new phase in their musical journeys.