| Atish Raj | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Genres | Industrial rock, Progressive rock, Art rock |
| Years active | 1994–1996; 2006–2007 |
| Associated acts | Sajid & Zeeshan |
| Past members | |
| Nadeem F. Paracha Rome K. Kashif Caan Zeeshan Parwez |
|
Atish Raj (Urdu: آتش راج; Fiery Reign, also spelled, Aatish Raj), was an industrial and avant-garde Pakistani rock band formed and fronted by eccentric Pakistani music journalist and writer, Nadeem F. Paracha.
Even though the band only recorded two albums between 1994 and 1995 and distributed only a few copies, the demand for these albums has grown among new fans of experimental music in Pakistan. Paracha's legacy and reputation as a reclusive and iconoclastic journalist and writer has further heightened curiosity and interest in the band's albums.
Contents |
Atish Raj was formed by Paracha in 1994 at the height of an underground rock movement in Karachi and Lahore. It was started as a project "to capture the sounds of various forms of psychosis." The band recorded in a small make-shift studios at Paracha's house and not only did they experiment by using electronic instruments in various odd sort of ways, they made sure to be constantly intoxicated with various drugs while composing and recording. Not surprisingly, all band members were plagued by drug problems. They disbanded in late 1996.
In a recent development Paracha was approached by Zeeshan Pervez, leader of one of the country's fastest growing new art rock bands, Sajid & Zeeshan, for the remixing of two Atish Raj songs. Zeeshan who is also a respected young producer worked on the 1995 Raj song "War in Heaven." The song, much to the delight of the Atish Raj fan cult, was relaunched in February 2007. [1]
(1994–96)
(2006–2007)
Hard Tar & Black Bile is Atish Raj's debut album, a predominantly instrumental one. A cult favourite in Pakistan, the album was recorded in 1994 as a concept to "capture the sounds of various types of psychosis."
In 2007, two songs from the album, "The Aftergod" and "War in Heaven" were picked up by Pakistan's rising art rock act, Sajid & Zeeshan and remixed.
The second album by Atish Raj, Baaghiraja, was recorded in 1995 as a second phase in the band's experiment to replicate sounds of various kinds of psychosis.