Pepsi Battle of the Bands: The bands that made it and the bands that didn't

The losers might be winning after all...

KARACHI ': The return of Pepsi Battle of the Bands finally gave a platform to bands who were struggling, even barely surviving in this band-less soundscape of mainstream Pakistani music industry. Four episodes in, and we are left with the final six contestants. However, there have been so many bands to choose from and we understand how difficult it must be to narrow down to top eight from about a 100 bands.



The auditions saw the stage taken over by a variety of bands – from Yoon bringing their Swat flavour, to OB Positive with their rendition of Aitbaar. The band Positive, which also performed in the 2002 BoB, was selected but later on, disqualified due to a technicality. And I feel, if given an opportunity, they could very well have become one of the finalists.

But what matters is not who wins but who has come this far and performed and proved to the audience and the jury alike that they have the potential to make it big, beyond the show. As former EP member Ahmed Ali Butt pointed out in an earlier interview, “BoB needs to figure out their target audience and what happens after the show, what this programme is going to do for the following ten years of the local music industry.” The Express Tribune highlights three bands from the show that could very well carry the future of Pakistani music.
1) Khamaaj

This is a popular choice. The band not being selected in the final eight caused uproar among fans who were enchanted by their original Bezubaan in the auditions. What Khamaaj offers is not just the complete and cohesive sound as a band, but let’s put it this way, their sound equals to an experience which is more than the sum of their parts.


Their content is strong, and their composition was memorable. Bezubaan was a trance experience for me personally. It was vintage yet didn’t feel outdated and had a considerable modern touch to it. If you’re looking for Pakistan’s next Fuzon, this is it. Whether part of the show or not, Khamaaj is the future and they’re here to stay.



2) Badnaam

It perhaps won’t be an exaggeration to say that no band on the show has the most appropriate name than Badnaam. They are, as they themselves would tell you, badnaam, badtameez, and behooda. And it shows in their music.

They are unapologetically loud and angry and a perfect fit for the years when teen angst takes over. And also for those who (like me) are stuck in their mid-20s and still carry over that rebelliousness and rage against the world.



Badnaam possesses the aggression of early Skillet numbers. They are the punk rockers who won’t let you tell them what they should play but whatever they play, you will enjoy.



Their Alif Allah and a never-before-heard rendition of Kaala Jora earned them a great reputation with the fans and the show’s judges. Granted, their original track Khwaja ki Deewani in episode four was not as well received by the jury as their earlier performances, it was still not a deviation from their usual grandiose and passion.


What makes them stand out from the crowd is that their strong original compositions. As inventive and passionate their music is, the only thing we’re awaiting is for - the band’s front man Ahmed Jilani to set his guitar on fire like Jimi Hendrix and take the band’s badnaami to the next level.

3) Kashmir
Kashmir is on a completely different plane than all the other bands on the show. They are melodious and their music goes directly to your heart like the Night King’s spear through Daenerys’ dragon.

Covering the legendary Aamir Zaki’s iconic Mera Pyar is no small feat. They entered the battlefield in the third episode with that track and proved their worth. They showed their creativity with their original track Budha Baba in the latest episode. Although the response from the judges was mixed, it can be agreed that the unique composition and the imaginative content made Budha Baba an interesting track.



Bilal Ali’s vocals have that gravitas and the soulfulness that, with more training in the next couple of year, could make him the next big thing. Also, watch out for lead guitarist Vais Khan. There is a storm brewing in Pakistani music and Kashmir could be at the centre of it.




While there are several more bands that each have unique qualities – Jasim and the Pindi Boys have quickly gained their own niche fanbase, Madlock and Darvesh continue to rock - but Khamaaj, Badnaam and Kashmir stand out the most. And as we see more from the bands in competition, it will be intriguing to see who establishes themselves as part of the elite and capable enough to be the future of Pakistani music.

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