Bangladeshi rock band Vikings is preparing to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027 with a refreshed collection of classic songs and a film documenting the band’s journey.
Titled Vikings Replayed, the project will feature 11 songs from the band’s first two albums, reworked with new musical arrangements, alongside a 45-minute film exploring its history.
The album is scheduled for release on 1 January, with the film expected to follow about a week later.
Vikings vocalist and bandleader Tanmoy Tansen has kept the list of selected songs under wraps, hoping to preserve the surprise for listeners.
Work on the album is nearing completion, with the band aiming to reconnect with longtime fans while introducing its music to a younger generation.
“Our songs were popular when the first two albums came out. A lot has changed since then, including listeners’ tastes. We want to reach both our longtime fans and Gen Z through these new arrangements,” Tansen said.
He added that listeners could expect significant changes to the sound, with modern technology used to give the old songs a fresh presentation while preserving their connection to the past.
Vikings released its debut album, Jiboner Kolahol, in 2000, followed by the single Bhalobashi Jare in 2001. The band’s second album, Din Joto Dukkho Toto, arrived in 2002.
After a long gap, it released its third album, Run Out, in 2015.
Tansen also directed a film titled Run Out, whose soundtrack featured six songs released as an album. Between 2019 and 2025, the band released five singles, later brought together under the title Boyosh Jokhon Ekush.
The idea for Vikings Replayed took shape in September 2025, when Tansen and the band travelled to Cox’s Bazar to develop the new arrangements and work on the film.
They spent 15 days at Ocean Paradise Hotel, bringing studio equipment from Dhaka to work away from the city’s distractions.
The band developed early versions of the songs while also filming scenes for the project.
Having previously directed Run Out and Podmo Patar Jol, Tansen was familiar with filmmaking. For the other band members, however, acting and working on a film were unfamiliar experiences.
“Making music is familiar to us, but once it becomes a film, we also have to think about dialogue and acting. It was a completely different experience. This is not really our field, but we tried,” he said.
The 45-minute film will trace Vikings’ journey from its early days to the present, exploring the relationships among members, their successes and struggles, and the stories behind the band’s rise.
Although such projects are relatively new in Bangladesh, Tansen noted that music documentaries and band-focused films are common in other countries.
Vikings became known to listeners through songs such as Opekkha, Opekkha 2, Ishwar, Jodi, Bhoy and Jiboner Kolahol. However, the band has performed fewer live shows in recent years.
“Stage shows have been much less frequent since 2024. We were busy working on the album and film, and we also stayed relatively quiet. We hope to regain momentum after both projects are released,” Tansen said.
Founded in 1997 by Tansen, Elahi Al Shams Rippi, Simon Majid, Johnny, Mahbub Bin Mutahir Babu and Setu Chowdhury, Vikings has undergone several line-up changes over the years. Tansen is the only founding member who remains with the band.
The current line-up includes lead guitarists Faruk Hossain Shuvo and Azmain Adil, bassist Zia Sopan, keyboardist Mahbub Chowdhury and drummer Shuye Shuye Sing Sing Chowdhury.
Following the release of Vikings Replayed, the band plans to begin work on a new album of original songs.
The members hope the anniversary project will renew their connection with listeners and introduce their music to a new generation.
