Mizraab
Encyclopedia
Mizraab is a progressive rock
band from Karachi
, Sindh
, Pakistan
, formed in 1997. Founded by vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter, Faraz Anwar
, the band's initial line-up was with Faraz Anwar on vocals, Khalid Khan on bass and Akhtar Qayyum on percussions, since then there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent member being Faraz himself. The band have been influential on many contemporary musical artists, and have gained a large cult following
despite garnering little radio or music video airplay.
The band is well known for being one of the few bands to have brought progressive rock music in Pakistan, thus being one of the few heavy metal music
bands to receive significant acknowledgment by the press. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music
community and critical acclaim, with their debut album release Panchi
in 1999 described as the first progressive rock album in Pakistan. Faraz Anwar then in 2001 recorded and released An Abstract Point of View through the record label Gnarly Geezer, owned by Allan Holdsworth
. The album got rave reviews from musicians all over the world hailing Faraz as a great guitar find from Asia
. In 2004, the band, fronted by Faraz, found renewed success and popularity by the release of their second studio album, Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
, which received too much criticism and critical acclaim. The album sold more than 30,000 copies and is the band's highest selling album. Singles from the album like "Panchi" and "Kitni Sadian" received a lot of airtime on local music channels. The album is also credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released in Pakistan.
After the release of their second stuido album, Mizraab made a comeback into the lime light with the video for "Ujalon Main" in December 2006, which showcased the new band members as well as the change in genre and was well received all over the country. Mizraab’s third album was completed in late 2006-2007 but due to the dire state of the music industry in Pakistan, no deal could be reached and the album was shelved.
started out as a session player working for many major artists around the country, which included the likes of Sajjad Ali
, Vital Signs
, Junoon, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Haider
and Nadeem Jafri. In 1996, Faraz, while studying at Berklee College of Music
, Boston, Massachusetts, was awarded an educational scholarship and an outstanding musical achievement award but he was unable to proceed his education due to personal hurdles. Faraz then returned back to Pakistan
and took charge of the band Collage and went on releasing the band's debut album Gul Jana which was highly acclaimed and did very well at the local music charts. However, after going on tour to England
, Collage disbanded and Faraz went on forming his own band. First, he recruited Khalid Khan on bass guitar
, also a band member of Collage and then Akhtar Qayyum on percussion.
, Sindh
, in 1997 by vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter Faraz Anwar
, who then recruited Akhtar Qayyum on percussions and Khalid Khan on bass guitar
. The name of the band was given by Faraz's father, the word being Persian
for a piece of metal worn on the finger while playing sitar
. The trio then after a struggle of two years went on recording and releasing the band's debut album, Panchi
, in April 1999. The album included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the pioneers of progressive metal
music in Pakistan
. The release of the album also earned the band a growing fan base in the underground music community and critical acclaim and thus the album was regarded as the first progressive rock
album in the country.
Although initially, the album was not meant for release and Faraz did not want it to be more than an experiment. “The album was good but I felt strongly about re-doing it. Not revamping but redoing it,” he says. However, Akhtar Qayyum went on to strike a record deal with Sound Master and the album was released in 1999. “I had no idea that Akhtar would go out and release it, which he did. It did well but I wasn’t expecting the album to hit the market,” says Faraz. This led to relations between Akhtar and Faraz restrain and Akhtar soon left the band due to musical differences.
Faraz then, keeping the name of Mizraab, began his solo project. In the summers of 1999, he went on recording his solo album at Digital Fidelity Studios in Lahore
, Punjab
, where his work was well received. Faraz then recorded and released his instrumental solo album, An Abstract Point of View, through the American
based record label
Gnarly Geezer Records, owned by Allan Holdsworth
, in 2001. It is only the second guitar-based instrumental album to have been produced in Pakistan. The album got rave reviews from musicians all over the world hailing Faraz as a great guitar find from Asia
. On the other hand, Faraz also continued performing for the death metal band called Dusk, which included famous musician and director Babar Sheikh, and released its debut album My Infinite Nature Alone.
was willing to release a progressive rock album as the general Pakistani audience were not aware of the genre. Leaving aside the record labels, the band also faced opposition from the local music channels as they banned the band from playing their music videos which were initially given a lot of air time. Music videos of singles "Insaan", released in October 2002, and "Meri Terhan", released in December, were banned from playing on many local music channels.
However, the band did not gave up and went on recording and releasing their third single music video, "Izhar", for the 2003 Cricket World Cup
and dedicated the song to the Pakistan cricket team. The video of the song was made in a very short period of time and was released in March 2003. The video was a success and received a lot of air time play on music channels and was even played internationally on the Dubai
based sports channel Ten Sports
. Due to the success of the single, "Izhar" was nominated for the "Best Rock Song" and "Best Alternative Track" award at the Indus Music Awards 2003. After the release of "Izhar", Khalid Khan also left the band due to playing bass for two bands at one time, Mizraab and Aaroh
. Aaroh had already broken into the mainstream and Mizraab was not going to remain underground much longer. Realizing that it was difficult for him to continue with both these demanding acts, the band decided that Khalid should limit himself to one of these. So, Khalid ended up parting ways with the band and became a full time band member of Aaroh. Faraz Arshad, an ex-student of Faraz Awar, replaced Khalid Khan on bass guitars. And following the success of Faraz Anwar's solo album, his side-project, Dusk went on to release their second studio album Jahilia by a Czech label known as Epidemie Records later that year.
On April 14, 2004, Mizraab released their fourth single "Kitni Sadian" music video directed by Babar Sheikh from their upcoming second studio album. On March 8, Mizraab released their second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
, which found the band renewed popularity and success. The album was released by the record label, Sadaf Stereo and was quickly sold out in the market. The album received to much criticism and critical acclaim by critics. The album also featured the two new recruits in the band, Jamal Mustafa and Faraz Arshad. The album was released after 3 years of struggle because no record label was interested in releasing a progressive rock format album in Pakistan. However, the album sold more than 30,000 copies upon release and the album sales surprised the record label and was forced to print out more copies because of its demand. Maazi Haal Mustaqbil is credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released and the first ever progressive concept album released in Pakistan. Due to the success of the album, at the Lux Style Awards 2004
, the album was nominated for the "Best Music Album" award. On August 13, Mizraab paid tribute to the most successful pop band of Pakistan, Vital Signs
, by covering a heavy metal music
version of the famous patriotic song "Dil Dil Pakistan
". On October 13, Mizraab performed live at The Geo Applause at National Sailing Club in Karachi
.
In 2005, Faraz Anwar culminated in Dusk's first international tour of fifteen performances in two straight weeks. On May 20, Mizraab performed at the music festival "Carnival de Rock" held at Karachi Arts Council. On April 30, Mizraab were nominated for the "Best Alternative Track" award for "Kitne Sadian" at the Indus Music Awards. On 25 May, Mizraab performed at a concert in the capital city, Islamabad
held in City School. On June 11, Faraz Anwar along with many well known local musicians like John Louis "Gumby" Pinto, Khurram Waqar and many more gave a Guitar Workshop. On September 13, Mizraab released its fifth single "Panchi" music video directed by Murtaza Chaudry from their second studio album. The band then went on giving an interview at local music channel like Play TV. In October, Mizraab released the music video of the single "Meré Khuda" dedicating the song to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
victims. In November 2005, the documentary Faraz Anwar - Documentary
was released on Mizraab's musical journey directed and produced by Haroon Sheikh.
by performing at the Rock Festival on January 13. On March 25, Mizraab performed at the Maritime museum
in Karachi
. In July, Mizraab appeared on The Musik
at the show Rock On. After the release of their second studio album, Mizraab made a comeback into the lime light with the music video
for "Ujalon Main" in December 2006, which showcased the new band members as well as the change in genre. It received a lot of positive feedback from fans and critics alike.
On January 16, 2007, Mizraab performed at the Aag Alive concert held in Karachi. On April 22, the band went on performing at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
. On August 5, Mizraab's single "Insaan" was at number #1 for the download of the week by Instep magazine. On August 11, Mizraab performed a live jam on MTV Pakistan
. On August 24, Mizraab performed live on the television show Playin' It Live at Play TV. In December, Mizraab released their second single "Woh Aur Main" from the band's upcoming third studio album. The video was directed by band members Irfan Ahmed and Faraz Anwar
themselves and topped several music charts.
Mizraab’s third album was completed in late 2006-2007 but due to the dire state of the music industry in Pakistan
, no deal could be reached and the album was shelved. In 2008, "Ujalon Main" directed by Soheb Akhtar was nominated for the "Best Music Video" award at the Lux Style Awards
. In February 2009, Mizraab made their comeback into the music scene by performing a gig live at T2P. On February 14, Faraz Anwar gave a guitar workshop at Lahore University of Management Sciences
. Faraz Anwar then went on taking part in the Guitar Idol
with his instrumental "Autumn Madness" and made it to the final round of the competition. But unfortunately Faraz had to pull out of the competition due to not having a UK visa to travel to the country where the final took place. In late 2009, Faraz Anwar decided to head to England
to pursue his own personal interests.
from their live performances on MTV Pakistan
. Upon going to England
, Faraz Anwar recruited new members to Mizraab; James Hobday took over on bass guitars, Yusuke Iwahashi on rhythm guitars and Matthew Curr on drums. On February 6, Faraz Anwar and Irfan Ahmed were invited as guests at the television programme The Azfar Mani Show on Aag TV
where Faraz Anwar discussed about the future of his band, Mizraab and the band's upcoming third studio album, which will be released soon when the country's political situation will be better. On April 20, Faraz Anwar, on his return back to Pakistan from England, performed a few songs for Mizraab fans which included singles like "Woh Aur Main", "Meri Terhan" and "Kitni Sadian". On October 17, Mizraab performed at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture with a new line-up which included Faraz on vocals and session musicians, Omran Shafique on rhythm guitar, John Louis Pinto on drums and Mannu on bass.
In 2011, after completing a music production and jazz guitar course in England, Anwar returned to Pakistan and auditioned new members for Mizraab. On March 19, 2011, Mizraab performed live at National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences
in Karachi. On April 1, Mizraab performed their first ever unplugged performance at the MTV Unplugged live sessions with a new lineup; Irfan Ahmed on drums, Muhammad Muzzamil on rhythm and Ferdinand Goveas on bass, held at V-Sel Outlet in Karachi. On May 11, it was confirmed that Mizraab will be performing at Coke Studio
season four, which will be aired on May 22, through a Coke Studio television promo of the first episode. On May 14, in a behind the scenes video of Mizraab performing at a Coke Studio session, Faraz Anwar discussed about performing a middle eastern classical track "Kuch Hai" at Coke Studio. On May 22, Mizraab performed "Kuch Hai", from Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
, featuring Mannan Ali Khan, adding Eastern classical infusion of vocals into the band’s signature rock sound, with backing vocals by Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji at Coke Studio fourth season first episode. On May 24, in a review of the Coke Studio fourth season, first episode, The Express Tribune
newspaper gave the song a 9/10 rating claiming it to be the best performance of the first episode. On May 31, Mizraab were interviewed at Hum TV
programme, Morning with Hum
hosted by Noor Bukhari, where the band discussed about their musical journey and talked about their upcoming third studio album. On October 29, Mizraab performed at the Hamdard University Dental Hospital in Karachi.
to their second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
, all songs are written by the band in Urdu language. Mostly, all lyrical content on their debut album is written by percussionist and lyricist Akhtar Qayyum, while songs on the band's second album are written by writer Adnan Ahmed and lead vocalist Faraz Anwar
. Lyrically, Mizraab's music contains references to life, death, nature, the environment a person lives in and are based on worldly issues.
, lead vocalist and guitarist of the band, says that he gets most of his inspiration for Mizraab's songs from Rush
, Dio
and Yngwie Malmsteen music. Songs like "Muntazir" and "Kuch Hai", (from Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
) and "Kahani" and "Panchi" (from Panchi
) are some examples of this influence. Other songs, such as "Sari Shamain" have elements of neo-classical metal
and some others, like "Izhar", from the album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil, and Ujalon Main" and "Woh Aur Main", from the band's upcoming third album, have elements of pop rock
. Bands stated as influence include Rush, Dio, Iron Maiden
, America
and Kansas
.
The band paid tribute to the Pakistani pop band Vital Signs
by covering a heavy metal
version of their famous single "Dil Dil Pakistan
". The band also released a music video
for the song produced by Indus Music on August 13, 2004.
genre in Pakistan. The founder, vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter, Faraz Anwar
has strong influences from bands such as Rush
, America
, Iron Maiden
, Kansas
and Dio
. The band sound is aimed to combine distorted guitars and fast riffing, but the music is focused more on technical proficiency and precise execution than on heavy metal riffs. Mizraab's music has also been compared by some critics with the likes of Dream Theater
.
Mizraab's debut album Panchi
(1999) has a blend of western music with classical eastern music. Lyrically, their music contains references to life, death, nature, the environment a person lives in and are based on worldly issues. Songs like "Insaan", "Meri Terhan", "Sari Shamain" and "Sham-o-Seher" are examples. The band's second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
(2004) featured elements of heavy metal
and classical music
. Songs like "Panchi", "Kitni Sadian", "Kuch Hai" and "Muntazir" are examples.
for the "Best Music Album" award in 2004 and the "Best Music Video" award for "Ujalon Main" in 2008. Mizraab has also been nominated at the Indus Music Awards several times and have received four nominations in total at the awards. Overall, Mizraab have received six nominations but have not won any award.
Former members
Timeline
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, formed in 1997. Founded by vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter, Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
, the band's initial line-up was with Faraz Anwar on vocals, Khalid Khan on bass and Akhtar Qayyum on percussions, since then there had been many changes in the line-up the only consistent member being Faraz himself. The band have been influential on many contemporary musical artists, and have gained a large cult following
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
despite garnering little radio or music video airplay.
The band is well known for being one of the few bands to have brought progressive rock music in Pakistan, thus being one of the few heavy metal music
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands to receive significant acknowledgment by the press. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
community and critical acclaim, with their debut album release Panchi
Panchi
Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
in 1999 described as the first progressive rock album in Pakistan. Faraz Anwar then in 2001 recorded and released An Abstract Point of View through the record label Gnarly Geezer, owned by Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
. The album got rave reviews from musicians all over the world hailing Faraz as a great guitar find from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. In 2004, the band, fronted by Faraz, found renewed success and popularity by the release of their second studio album, Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
, which received too much criticism and critical acclaim. The album sold more than 30,000 copies and is the band's highest selling album. Singles from the album like "Panchi" and "Kitni Sadian" received a lot of airtime on local music channels. The album is also credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released in Pakistan.
After the release of their second stuido album, Mizraab made a comeback into the lime light with the video for "Ujalon Main" in December 2006, which showcased the new band members as well as the change in genre and was well received all over the country. Mizraab’s third album was completed in late 2006-2007 but due to the dire state of the music industry in Pakistan, no deal could be reached and the album was shelved.
Early years (1996)
Faraz AnwarFaraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
started out as a session player working for many major artists around the country, which included the likes of Sajjad Ali
Sajjad Ali
Sajjad Ali is a Pakistani semi-classical, pop singer, film actor, director and producer. He is trained in classical singing.- Early life and education :...
, Vital Signs
Vital Signs (band)
Vital Signs were a Pakistani Pop rock band that formed in Rawalpindi in 1986. The group was formed by Rohail Hyatt and Shahzad Hasan , who were soon joined by Nusrat Hussain and Junaid Jamshed...
, Junoon, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Haider
Ali Haider
Ali Haider is a former Pakistani singer and actor. He has had numerous hits in the early 90s such as Poorani Jeans. He also had a big hit later in the 1990s with Chand Sa Mukhra. Besides singing, he has acted in numerous TV serials on PTV. Among the successful dramas was Chand Sa Mukhra, which...
and Nadeem Jafri. In 1996, Faraz, while studying at Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, Boston, Massachusetts, was awarded an educational scholarship and an outstanding musical achievement award but he was unable to proceed his education due to personal hurdles. Faraz then returned back to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and took charge of the band Collage and went on releasing the band's debut album Gul Jana which was highly acclaimed and did very well at the local music charts. However, after going on tour to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Collage disbanded and Faraz went on forming his own band. First, he recruited Khalid Khan on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, also a band member of Collage and then Akhtar Qayyum on percussion.
Formation (1997-2001)
Mizraab was formed in KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, in 1997 by vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
, who then recruited Akhtar Qayyum on percussions and Khalid Khan on bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
. The name of the band was given by Faraz's father, the word being Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
for a piece of metal worn on the finger while playing sitar
Sitar
The 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
. The trio then after a struggle of two years went on recording and releasing the band's debut album, Panchi
Panchi
Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
, in April 1999. The album included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the pioneers of progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
music in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The release of the album also earned the band a growing fan base in the underground music community and critical acclaim and thus the album was regarded as the first progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
album in the country.
Although initially, the album was not meant for release and Faraz did not want it to be more than an experiment. “The album was good but I felt strongly about re-doing it. Not revamping but redoing it,” he says. However, Akhtar Qayyum went on to strike a record deal with Sound Master and the album was released in 1999. “I had no idea that Akhtar would go out and release it, which he did. It did well but I wasn’t expecting the album to hit the market,” says Faraz. This led to relations between Akhtar and Faraz restrain and Akhtar soon left the band due to musical differences.
Faraz then, keeping the name of Mizraab, began his solo project. In the summers of 1999, he went on recording his solo album at Digital Fidelity Studios in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
, where his work was well received. Faraz then recorded and released his instrumental solo album, An Abstract Point of View, through the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Gnarly Geezer Records, owned by Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
, in 2001. It is only the second guitar-based instrumental album to have been produced in Pakistan. The album got rave reviews from musicians all over the world hailing Faraz as a great guitar find from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. On the other hand, Faraz also continued performing for the death metal band called Dusk, which included famous musician and director Babar Sheikh, and released its debut album My Infinite Nature Alone.
Ushering a new revival (2002-2005)
After Akhtar Qayyum left the band, Faraz Anwar recruited two new members Jamal Mustafa on rhythm guitars and Irfan Ahmed on drums. The band then started working on their second studio album. Firstly, the band struggled to strike a record deal as no record labelRecord label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
was willing to release a progressive rock album as the general Pakistani audience were not aware of the genre. Leaving aside the record labels, the band also faced opposition from the local music channels as they banned the band from playing their music videos which were initially given a lot of air time. Music videos of singles "Insaan", released in October 2002, and "Meri Terhan", released in December, were banned from playing on many local music channels.
However, the band did not gave up and went on recording and releasing their third single music video, "Izhar", for the 2003 Cricket World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
and dedicated the song to the Pakistan cricket team. The video of the song was made in a very short period of time and was released in March 2003. The video was a success and received a lot of air time play on music channels and was even played internationally on the Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
based sports channel Ten Sports
TEN Sports
TEN SPORTS is a sports channel, widely broadcast in Asia. Its key programming includes Cricket, Football and sports-entertainment shows viz. WWE. Ten Sports was launched on April 1, 2002, and became the world's premier sports channel for South Asians, reaching over 55 million homes across the Arab...
. Due to the success of the single, "Izhar" was nominated for the "Best Rock Song" and "Best Alternative Track" award at the Indus Music Awards 2003. After the release of "Izhar", Khalid Khan also left the band due to playing bass for two bands at one time, Mizraab and Aaroh
Aaroh
Aaroh was an alternative rock band from Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, formed in 1998...
. Aaroh had already broken into the mainstream and Mizraab was not going to remain underground much longer. Realizing that it was difficult for him to continue with both these demanding acts, the band decided that Khalid should limit himself to one of these. So, Khalid ended up parting ways with the band and became a full time band member of Aaroh. Faraz Arshad, an ex-student of Faraz Awar, replaced Khalid Khan on bass guitars. And following the success of Faraz Anwar's solo album, his side-project, Dusk went on to release their second studio album Jahilia by a Czech label known as Epidemie Records later that year.
On April 14, 2004, Mizraab released their fourth single "Kitni Sadian" music video directed by Babar Sheikh from their upcoming second studio album. On March 8, Mizraab released their second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
, which found the band renewed popularity and success. The album was released by the record label, Sadaf Stereo and was quickly sold out in the market. The album received to much criticism and critical acclaim by critics. The album also featured the two new recruits in the band, Jamal Mustafa and Faraz Arshad. The album was released after 3 years of struggle because no record label was interested in releasing a progressive rock format album in Pakistan. However, the album sold more than 30,000 copies upon release and the album sales surprised the record label and was forced to print out more copies because of its demand. Maazi Haal Mustaqbil is credited to be the first proper Urdu metal album released and the first ever progressive concept album released in Pakistan. Due to the success of the album, at the Lux Style Awards 2004
Lux Style Awards
The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and honour the country's best talents in film, television, music, and fashion. Around 30 awards are given annually.The Lux Style Awards is considered...
, the album was nominated for the "Best Music Album" award. On August 13, Mizraab paid tribute to the most successful pop band of Pakistan, Vital Signs
Vital Signs (band)
Vital Signs were a Pakistani Pop rock band that formed in Rawalpindi in 1986. The group was formed by Rohail Hyatt and Shahzad Hasan , who were soon joined by Nusrat Hussain and Junaid Jamshed...
, by covering a heavy metal music
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
version of the famous patriotic song "Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan is a patriotic song from Pakistan. It was released in 1987 by the Pakistani pop band, Vital Signs. It was included in the band's debut album Vital Signs 1 in 1989.-Popularity:...
". On October 13, Mizraab performed live at The Geo Applause at National Sailing Club in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
In 2005, Faraz Anwar culminated in Dusk's first international tour of fifteen performances in two straight weeks. On May 20, Mizraab performed at the music festival "Carnival de Rock" held at Karachi Arts Council. On April 30, Mizraab were nominated for the "Best Alternative Track" award for "Kitne Sadian" at the Indus Music Awards. On 25 May, Mizraab performed at a concert in the capital city, Islamabad
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and the tenth largest city in the country. Located within the Islamabad Capital Territory , the population of the city has grown from 100,000 in 1951 to 1.7 million in 2011...
held in City School. On June 11, Faraz Anwar along with many well known local musicians like John Louis "Gumby" Pinto, Khurram Waqar and many more gave a Guitar Workshop. On September 13, Mizraab released its fifth single "Panchi" music video directed by Murtaza Chaudry from their second studio album. The band then went on giving an interview at local music channel like Play TV. In October, Mizraab released the music video of the single "Meré Khuda" dedicating the song to the 2005 Kashmir earthquake
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake was a major earthquake centered in Pakistan-administered Kashmir known as Azad Kashmir, near the city of Muzaffarabad, affecting Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It occurred at 08:52:37 Pakistan Standard Time on 8 October 2005...
victims. In November 2005, the documentary Faraz Anwar - Documentary
Faraz Anwar - Documentary
Faraz Anwar - Documentary is a 2005 documentary film directed and produced by Haroon Sheikh. The documentary film follows the experience of Faraz Anwar, lead guitarist and vocalist of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, in the music industry...
was released on Mizraab's musical journey directed and produced by Haroon Sheikh.
Struggle (2006-2009)
In 2006, Mizraab made their debut concert in LahoreLahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
by performing at the Rock Festival on January 13. On March 25, Mizraab performed at the Maritime museum
Maritime museum
A maritime museum is a museum specializing in the display of objects relating to ships and travel on large bodies of water...
in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. In July, Mizraab appeared on The Musik
The Musik
ARY Musik is a 24-hour Urdu-English music channel from Pakistan.Originally created and launched from Dubai in 2003 under the leadership of the CEO Salman Iqbal and multiple Award Winner VP Wiqar Ali Khan...
at the show Rock On. After the release of their second studio album, Mizraab made a comeback into the lime light with the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Ujalon Main" in December 2006, which showcased the new band members as well as the change in genre. It received a lot of positive feedback from fans and critics alike.
On January 16, 2007, Mizraab performed at the Aag Alive concert held in Karachi. On April 22, the band went on performing at the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
Institute of Business Administration, Karachi
The Institute of Business Administration is a university and a business school in Karachi, Pakistan. According to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, IBA is one of the best business and IT institutes in Pakistan...
. On August 5, Mizraab's single "Insaan" was at number #1 for the download of the week by Instep magazine. On August 11, Mizraab performed a live jam on MTV Pakistan
MTV Pakistan
Music Television Pakistan is the Pakistani subsidiary of MTV, a cable television network owned by Viacom Inc. headquartered in New York. The Pakistan franchise has been set up in collaboration with Pakistan's first satellite channel media group known as Indus Media Group . Indus TV is Pakistan's...
. On August 24, Mizraab performed live on the television show Playin' It Live at Play TV. In December, Mizraab released their second single "Woh Aur Main" from the band's upcoming third studio album. The video was directed by band members Irfan Ahmed and Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
themselves and topped several music charts.
Mizraab’s third album was completed in late 2006-2007 but due to the dire state of the music industry in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, no deal could be reached and the album was shelved. In 2008, "Ujalon Main" directed by Soheb Akhtar was nominated for the "Best Music Video" award at the Lux Style Awards
Lux Style Awards
The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and honour the country's best talents in film, television, music, and fashion. Around 30 awards are given annually.The Lux Style Awards is considered...
. In February 2009, Mizraab made their comeback into the music scene by performing a gig live at T2P. On February 14, Faraz Anwar gave a guitar workshop at Lahore University of Management Sciences
Lahore University of Management Sciences
The Lahore University of Management Sciences, usually referred to by its acronym LUMS, is a university located in Lahore, Pakistan. LUMS was established in 1984 by a group of industrialists and people belonging to Pakistan's leading private and public sector corporations, to provide rigorous...
. Faraz Anwar then went on taking part in the Guitar Idol
Guitar Idol
Guitar idol is an international online talent competition for unknown guitarists. The guitarists compete through 3 online heats and one online knock-out round, for a chance to fill 12 places to play at the London International Music Show....
with his instrumental "Autumn Madness" and made it to the final round of the competition. But unfortunately Faraz had to pull out of the competition due to not having a UK visa to travel to the country where the final took place. In late 2009, Faraz Anwar decided to head to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to pursue his own personal interests.
New era (2010-present)
On January 1, 2010, Mizraab released a live album Mizraab - Live & RareMizraab - Live & Rare
Mizraab - Live & Rare is the second live album and overall the fourth album by the Pakistani progressive rock band, Mizraab, released in January 2010. It is exclusively a digital download live album, and has not been released on a physical medium...
from their live performances on MTV Pakistan
MTV Pakistan
Music Television Pakistan is the Pakistani subsidiary of MTV, a cable television network owned by Viacom Inc. headquartered in New York. The Pakistan franchise has been set up in collaboration with Pakistan's first satellite channel media group known as Indus Media Group . Indus TV is Pakistan's...
. Upon going to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Faraz Anwar recruited new members to Mizraab; James Hobday took over on bass guitars, Yusuke Iwahashi on rhythm guitars and Matthew Curr on drums. On February 6, Faraz Anwar and Irfan Ahmed were invited as guests at the television programme The Azfar Mani Show on Aag TV
AAG TV
AAG TV is a youth entertainment channel in Pakistan, owned by Independent Media Corporation . The Urdu word "aag" means "fire."...
where Faraz Anwar discussed about the future of his band, Mizraab and the band's upcoming third studio album, which will be released soon when the country's political situation will be better. On April 20, Faraz Anwar, on his return back to Pakistan from England, performed a few songs for Mizraab fans which included singles like "Woh Aur Main", "Meri Terhan" and "Kitni Sadian". On October 17, Mizraab performed at the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture with a new line-up which included Faraz on vocals and session musicians, Omran Shafique on rhythm guitar, John Louis Pinto on drums and Mannu on bass.
In 2011, after completing a music production and jazz guitar course in England, Anwar returned to Pakistan and auditioned new members for Mizraab. On March 19, 2011, Mizraab performed live at National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences
National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences
The National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences is a university in Pakistan with headquarters at Islamabad and campuses at Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar...
in Karachi. On April 1, Mizraab performed their first ever unplugged performance at the MTV Unplugged live sessions with a new lineup; Irfan Ahmed on drums, Muhammad Muzzamil on rhythm and Ferdinand Goveas on bass, held at V-Sel Outlet in Karachi. On May 11, it was confirmed that Mizraab will be performing at Coke Studio
Coke Studio
Coke Studio is a Pakistani television series featuring live music performances. Although it is adapted from the original Brazilian show named Estúdio Coca-Cola, it is fundamentally different from the original version where the show was a concert style show whereas the Pakistani version records its...
season four, which will be aired on May 22, through a Coke Studio television promo of the first episode. On May 14, in a behind the scenes video of Mizraab performing at a Coke Studio session, Faraz Anwar discussed about performing a middle eastern classical track "Kuch Hai" at Coke Studio. On May 22, Mizraab performed "Kuch Hai", from Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
, featuring Mannan Ali Khan, adding Eastern classical infusion of vocals into the band’s signature rock sound, with backing vocals by Zoe Viccaji and Rachel Viccaji at Coke Studio fourth season first episode. On May 24, in a review of the Coke Studio fourth season, first episode, The Express Tribune
The Express Tribune
The Express Tribune is the first internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan, in partnership with The International Herald Tribune, the global edition of The New York Times....
newspaper gave the song a 9/10 rating claiming it to be the best performance of the first episode. On May 31, Mizraab were interviewed at Hum TV
Hum TV
Hum TV is a 24-hour Pakistani entertainment TV channel based in Karachi. It is the first brand of Eye Television Network Limited, Pakistan. Hum TV began its transmission on January 17, 2005.-Serials:* Manay Na Ye Dil * Akhri Barish...
programme, Morning with Hum
Morning with Hum
Jago Pakistan Jago - previously aired as Morning with Hum - is a Pakistani daytime television programme broadcast on Hum TV. As of July 2011, its main presenters are Fahad Mustafa and Kiran Khan. The show aires from Monday to Friday at 9:00-11:30 time slot.-History:From 2005 to 2008, Morning with...
hosted by Noor Bukhari, where the band discussed about their musical journey and talked about their upcoming third studio album. On October 29, Mizraab performed at the Hamdard University Dental Hospital in Karachi.
Language
From their debut album PanchiPanchi
Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
to their second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
, all songs are written by the band in Urdu language. Mostly, all lyrical content on their debut album is written by percussionist and lyricist Akhtar Qayyum, while songs on the band's second album are written by writer Adnan Ahmed and lead vocalist Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
. Lyrically, Mizraab's music contains references to life, death, nature, the environment a person lives in and are based on worldly issues.
Influence
Faraz AnwarFaraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
, lead vocalist and guitarist of the band, says that he gets most of his inspiration for Mizraab's songs from Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
and Yngwie Malmsteen music. Songs like "Muntazir" and "Kuch Hai", (from Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
) and "Kahani" and "Panchi" (from Panchi
Panchi
Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
) are some examples of this influence. Other songs, such as "Sari Shamain" have elements of neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
and some others, like "Izhar", from the album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil, and Ujalon Main" and "Woh Aur Main", from the band's upcoming third album, have elements of pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
. Bands stated as influence include Rush, Dio, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
and Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
.
The band paid tribute to the Pakistani pop band Vital Signs
Vital Signs (band)
Vital Signs were a Pakistani Pop rock band that formed in Rawalpindi in 1986. The group was formed by Rohail Hyatt and Shahzad Hasan , who were soon joined by Nusrat Hussain and Junaid Jamshed...
by covering a heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
version of their famous single "Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan
Dil Dil Pakistan is a patriotic song from Pakistan. It was released in 1987 by the Pakistani pop band, Vital Signs. It was included in the band's debut album Vital Signs 1 in 1989.-Popularity:...
". The band also released a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song produced by Indus Music on August 13, 2004.
Musical style
Mizraab is well noted for being one of the early progenitors of the progressive metalProgressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
genre in Pakistan. The founder, vocalist, lead guitarist and songwriter, Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar
Faraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
has strong influences from bands such as Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, America
America (band)
America is an English-American folk rock band that originally included members Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek. The three members were barely out of their teens when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring #1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
and Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
. The band sound is aimed to combine distorted guitars and fast riffing, but the music is focused more on technical proficiency and precise execution than on heavy metal riffs. Mizraab's music has also been compared by some critics with the likes of Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
.
Mizraab's debut album Panchi
Panchi
Panchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
(1999) has a blend of western music with classical eastern music. Lyrically, their music contains references to life, death, nature, the environment a person lives in and are based on worldly issues. Songs like "Insaan", "Meri Terhan", "Sari Shamain" and "Sham-o-Seher" are examples. The band's second studio album Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
Maazi, Haal, Mustaqbil
- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
(2004) featured elements of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
and classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. Songs like "Panchi", "Kitni Sadian", "Kuch Hai" and "Muntazir" are examples.
Awards and nominations
Mizraab have only received two nominations at the Lux Style AwardsLux Style Awards
The Lux Style Awards is an award ceremony held annually in Pakistan since 2002. The awards celebrate "style" in the Pakistani entertainment industry, and honour the country's best talents in film, television, music, and fashion. Around 30 awards are given annually.The Lux Style Awards is considered...
for the "Best Music Album" award in 2004 and the "Best Music Video" award for "Ujalon Main" in 2008. Mizraab has also been nominated at the Indus Music Awards several times and have received four nominations in total at the awards. Overall, Mizraab have received six nominations but have not won any award.
Discography
Studio albums- PanchiPanchiPanchi is the debut studio album of the Pakistani progressive rock band Mizraab, released in April, 1999 on Sound Master. Mizraab's debut album is considered by many to be the first progressive rock album in Pakistan.The album was recorded and composed by founder, lead vocalist and guitarist Faraz...
(1999) - Maazi, Haal, MustaqbilMaazi, Haal, Mustaqbil- Personnel :All information is taken from the CD.Mizraab* Faraz Anwar - vocals, lead guitar* Irfan Ahmad - drums* Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitar* Faraz Arshad - bass, backing vocalsAdditional musicians* Khalid Mustafa Khan - bass guitarProduction...
(2004) - Vabastagee (2007)
Band members
Current members- Faraz AnwarFaraz AnwarFaraz Anwar is a Pakistani guitarist, known for his solo instrumental work and his band Mizraab. He has been called "Pakistan's master of progressive rock."- Biography :...
- vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
(1997–present) - Irfan Ahmad - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2002–2010, 2011–present) - Muhammad Muzzamil - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2011–present) - Ferdinand Goveas - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2011–present)
Former members
- Akhtar Qayyum – percussion (1997–1999)
- Khalid Khan – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
(1997–2003) - Faraz Arshad – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2003–2005) - Jamal Mustafa - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(1999–2004) - Shahzad Naseem - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2004–2009) - Rahail Siddiqui - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2005–2009) - James Hobday - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2010–2011) - Matthew Curr - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2010–2011) - Yusuke Iwahashi - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(2010–2011)
Timeline
External links
- Official website
- Mizraab at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Mizraab at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
- Mizraab at TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...