Bangla rock is ready to rise from the ashes once again, as the country’s iconic band Aurthohin is set to make a thunderous return with their long-awaited album ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’, which will be released worldwide on October 17 across all major streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz. The new record signals a bold new phase in their ever-evolving musical odyssey.
The band made the official announcement at a press meet at the Skyfall restaurant in the capital’s SKS Tower on Tuesday, where frontman and bassist Saidus Salehin Khaled Sumon, popularly known as Bassbaba Sumon, alongside his bandmates Mark Don and Ehtesham Ali Moeen, unveiled not only the release date but also a special surprise: a “Secret Listening Party” for their most devoted fans.
A sequel to their acclaimed 2022 album ‘Phoenixer Diary 1’, which introduced the internationally recognized ‘Bangla Nu Rock’ genre on Spotify, the upcoming record dives into much darker emotional territory. While the first album explored endurance and rebirth, this one burns with fury and transformation.
Bassbaba Sumon, greeting the journos on his first-ever press meet, said: “Listeners may be shocked by the intensity of these songs, as we’ve tried to give closure to the unfinished story from ‘Phoenixer Diary 1’. If they listen to both the songs in chronological order, they will understand the storytelling that we wanted to depict. This sequel reflects a betrayed soul consumed by vengeance; but ultimately, it ends on a positive note.”
‘Phoenixer Diary 2’ will feature a total of 8 original tracks and several high-profile collaborations, a testament of its envisioned global sound. Among the featured global musicians are Grammy-nominated guitarist Frank Gambale, saxophonist Bob Franceschini (who has played with Mike Stern and Paul Simon), and bassist Bubby Lewis (known for his work with Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, and Dr. Dre).
Ahnaf, Sumon’s own son, has also played in this album alongside his father, and the album is dedicated to the late musician and composer A K Ratul, vocalist and bassist of popular Bangladeshi band ‘Owned’ who passed away on July 27 this year.
Given the challenges of hosting large concerts, Aurthohin is opting for a more intimate experience this time. Fewer than hundred preregistered fans will attend the “Secret Listening Party” on October 10, where they will hear all eight tracks before the official release. Each attendee will receive an exclusive gift box containing a special edition ‘Phoenixer Diary’ leatherback replica notebook, a t-shirt, a notepad, a flag, and other memorabilia.
“We wanted to bring back the nostalgia of the old days,” said Sumon. “Back when we would open a CD booklet filled with lyrics, artwork, and stories; as that sense of connection with the music is something we’ve lost with time,” Bassbaba Sumon said.
The band’s first single from the album, ‘Unmad’, is already streaming on Aurthohin’s official YouTube channel, offering fans a taste of the band’s envisioned fusion of rage, melody, and storytelling, that feels unmistakably Aurthohin’s own.
Reflecting on their two-decade legacy, Sumon said Aurthohin’s mission has always been about introducing its own musical innovation for its fans. “After Azam Khan created a new musical genre in post-independence Bangladesh, very few have tried to do something original. We wanted to change that.”
“When one of my Grammy-nominated friends from the international music scene couldn’t categorize the sample of our sound, a sample which I sent him and asked about the genre, I knew we’d made something truly ours; and we named it ‘Bangla Nu Rock’ now recognized by Spotify,” Bassbaba Sumon said.
At the press meet, the band also expressed gratitude to Mercedes-Benz Bangladesh for its patronage, along with Shell, Framework Finance Limited, Get Set Rock, and Verse Imagine for their support. Partner organizations for the album include Heavy Metal T-shirt, Music Castle, SP Rhythm, Skyfall, Tune & Bite Music Café, Universal Medical College & Hospital Ltd, and Cool Exposure.
With ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’, Aurthohin is not just releasing another album but also rewriting the soundscape of Bangladeshi rock, fusing emotion, rage, and resilience into a story of rebirth that only they could tell.
