‘Loud & Lethal’ revives Dhaka’s fading underground metal scene
In February 2026, the zeniths of Bangla music, Ayub Bachchu (posthumously) and Warfaze, received their long-overdue major state honour, the Ekushey Padak, the country’s second-highest civilian award. But beneath all the confetti, the shadows of infrastructural and other issues over our creative scene did not simply disappear.
In any country, the variation and volume of art and architecture produced and consumed—and how they are maintained—reflect something deeper than surface aesthetics. They point directly towards the collective psychology of a society and often indicate the overall condition of a nation.
Across the border, where Bollywood is almost a religion, major acts like Dream Theater and Linkin Park have toured recently in packed venues, with Opeth set to follow.
The depth and detail of these instances are far removed from the realities in Bangladesh. The stark differences in the visible culture of valuation—especially in music—are evident in ticket prices, production quality, audience engagement, and broader socio-cultural and educational practices.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
For a long time, the underground metal scene in Bangladesh was a hub for musical talent and dedicated fans. Many of today’s prominent acts that fill venues trace their roots back to the heyday of Fridays at the Russian Cultural Centre (RCC). However, what was once a vibrant scene has now become a rare occurrence due to a severe lack of accessible and affordable venues and the persistent label of cultural degradation, among other factors.
These days, organising a decently produced underground metal show in Dhaka without incurring financial loss has become an act of resilience in itself. However, Warhammer managed to do just that with “Loud & Lethal: Chapter Overload”, powered by Auri’s Fine Bakery, held at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Girl Guides Association on Bailey Road in the capital last Saturday.
The line-up featured a total of ten bands. Headlined, as usual, by two of the archetypes of Bangladeshi metal—Powersurge and Mechanix—the waxing gibbous of March 27 was darkened by the presence of Dissector, AK Rahul, Secret Society, Shadows of You, Timescape, Ratzach, GraveChant, and Death Rattle. Together, they delivered an unforgettable night of metal, immaculately covering some of the hardest hitters from Metallica, Pantera, Slayer, Children of Bodom, As I Lay Dying, Slipknot, and Dimmu Borgir, alongside their original compositions.
Hundreds of heavy music enthusiasts, dressed in black, packed the circle pit until 11 pm, chasing blissful sore necks and hoarse voices.
It was the kind of night that lingers in ears long after the final thrash of a 16-inch crash cymbal. Perhaps the highlight of the show, however, was the significant number of fresh young faces in the crowd.
“An underground show after a long hiatus; meanwhile, we also had a change in our line-up, so altogether I am really happy to be finally back. A big thanks to the venue authorities, and kudos to the organisers—they did a tremendous job. It was housefull, and the crowd was fantastic tonight. I loved the fact that there were many new faces, as well as neutral listeners who are perhaps just getting into metal but still showed up to support,” said Jamshed Chowdhury of Powersurge, an artist whose majestic vocal prowess needs no introduction.
Comments