But the gods of rock were cruel. In 2006, —the last original member, the architect of the Warfaze sound—announced his departure. Citing creative differences and health issues, Babu walked away to form his own project, Metalliance . For the first time, Warfaze existed without its founder. Part V: The Rebirth with Tipu (2006–2016) Without Babu, the band needed a miracle. They found it in Tipu (Guitar) —a virtuoso who had played with the band Chime . Tipu brought a modern, progressive metal sensibility. But the biggest shock came when Shata , the original vocalist from the Oshamajik era, returned to the fold.
In the pantheon of Bangladeshi rock music, few names command as much respect, fear, and devotion as Warfaze . For over four decades, they have not just survived the volatile tides of the music industry; they have defined them. From the underground scene of the 1980s to headlining stadiums in the 2020s, Warfaze’s journey is a story of resilience, tragedy, brutal lineup changes, and an uncompromising commitment to heavy metal. Part I: The Genesis (1984–1986) The story begins not with a bang, but with a buzz. In 1984, Dhaka’s music scene was dominated by soft-rock bands like Souls and Feedback. Heavy metal was a foreign language. That year, a group of young enthusiasts— Babu (Guitar) , Naimul Haque (Drums) , and Mintu (Vocals) —formed a band initially named "Warfaze." The name, derived from "Warfare" but spelled uniquely, was chosen to represent the chaotic, aggressive sound they wanted to unleash. warfaze band history
Many thought Warfaze was finished. But and Naimul were stubborn. They recruited new vocalist Khalid (formerly of the band Prometheus ). The sound shifted slightly from pure thrash to a more melodic, groove-oriented heavy rock. But the gods of rock were cruel
The early days were rough. There were no YouTube tutorials, no social media, and very few metal records available in the country. Aspiring musicians had to rely on smuggled cassettes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Deep Purple. Babu and Naimul would transcribe solos by ear, note by agonizing note. For the first time, Warfaze existed without its founder
In 1995, they released . The title track became the biggest love ballad in Bangladeshi rock history—a song that is still played at weddings and radio stations today. The album also featured hard hitters like "Ekhon Onek Raat" and "Nishiddho" .
Their history is messy, loud, and full of scars. But that is the history of heavy metal itself. And as long as there is a kid in Chittagong or Dhaka who wants to play a power chord, Warfaze will be the benchmark.
However, the volatile chemistry returned. Shata left again in 2013. The band went through a revolving door of vocalists (including and Pavel ). By 2015, the future looked grim again. Part VI: The Modern Era & Legacy (2017–Present) In 2017, Warfaze made the most controversial and genius decision of their career: they recruited Mohammad Helal (Drums) —a young, internet-savvy, world-class metal drummer who had built a following on Facebook with his covers. Helal brought unprecedented technical speed and social media engagement.
