Hassan Umer: So, you’re the brains behind Semidius. First of all, what’s up with the name? Does it signify anything special, or is it some word from a foreign language?

Asadullah Qureshi: Slogans and chants like “Jiye [Insert Name here]” are only native to Pakistan. You see, every enthnic entity in the country seems to have their own Political Party.. one that is identified with that particular race. People are keen to make assumptions about your political association with the way you look and with the way you talk. The point being made is that we, as a nation, have started to hold ourselves responsible to the people who appeal to us emotionally and manipulate us into doing things that benefit only a clique of people… the Mullahs manipulate you in the name of Islam, the JSQM manipulates you in the name of Sindhi Liberation, the ANP supposedly fights for the Pashtoons, the MQM appeals to people because it purportedly fights for Muhajjir (North Indian Immigrants) rights and so on and so forth.. all, in the pursuit of power. This life of slavery is similar to that of submission to a cult.. they have elevated their leaders to the position of Gods.. thus Semideus, which is Latin for Demigod. I don’t want this to sound like an overblown speech but I was supposed to be show up at a friend’s place for a random jam session yesterday and the reason I could not make it is that there was something brewing between two groups of politically motivated university students and that usually amounts to utter chaos in Karachi city. I think political activism in Pakistan is slavery.

What was the motive behind Semideus? Do have a certain “vision” for the band and its music, or is it just to kill time

The motivation behind Semideus’ formation; I did not want to be known as a poser because of how Halig Krinein is seen as a congregation of rich kids banging on stuff and calling it Death Metal. There was a kid who said he would leave Halig Krinein’s (My original band) community because he had not had a chance of listening to our material so I put Antichrist of the NWO on youtube to pacify him. Basically, Semideus is everything that did not end up on Halig Krinein’s repertoire so I have my own riffs.. I put them together… one thing led to another and I made a myspace page for the band. The vision behind Semideus, in sum, is trying to explain how stupid it is of humans to let others push them around for personal gains.

What genre would you classify Semideus as? Do you want it to have a certain, distinguishable sound, or do you want to pay homage to your influences?

Semideus is very experimental in nature so I would not delimit what I do to a certain genre. I am trying to establish a noticeable sound and part of it is also about paying homage to bands that influenced me.. Hades Almighty would be one band.

From what you’ve said so far, you seem to have very strong opinions. Is your music similar to what you are as a human? Do you try to use music as an outlet for your emotions like many other musicians do?

The music definitely reflects what I am as a person. I killed myself and my emotions a very long time ago so it has nothing to do with emotions. I believe I am a minsanthrope but at the same time, I will contradict myself by stating that I hate a clique of people sucking the population dry of its resources… which alludes to how I do care about people, you know. The Vatican, Islamic Institutions etc have all been politicized.. people in power seem to have bought themselves salvation.. if you catch my drift.

What is your opinion on the metal scene of Pakistan? Bands like Dusk have toured with the likes of Susperia, and then there are up and coming bands like Communal Grave, Eleventh Hour and Orion who have all managed to attract a lot of metalheads to their music. Metal Senein has also promoted Metal by promoting Reckoning Storm. What’s your take on our scene? Do you think Metal has a future in Pakistan?

The metal scene is blossoming.. the statement does justice to how metal has grown in Pakistan. But, then again, we have bands that call themselves death metal, cover bands like Slayer and sound like any other generic alternative act. Metal does have a future but I don’t want to anticipate anything similar to how there was a plethora of bands trying to emulate what Atif or Goher did and also how Pakistanis turn everything into a mainstream commodity… that should not happen to metal.. it should stay pure. I love bands like Orion and Communal Grave but Cardinal Sin is one band that I’d love to play with.

Are there any “international” metal bands that you think are terribly over rated or do not deserve the attention they get?

This is gonna cause a lot of jeers but I hate how everybody likes Metallica, Lamb of God and Satyricon here in Pakistan. Slipknot is not even remotely metal but it is way overrated and is unfortunately seen as an example of a metal band which sucks because if you were a parent, you would not let your children listen to a bunch of middle-aged Japanese women prancing in tutus..

Thanks for your time, do you have any last words for the reader?

Yes, I do. Pakistan is not a desert where camel-riding bandits rape women at random and speak Arabic.. we have our own distinct culture.. don’t give in to the propaganda.

The interview was conducted in late september btw. Posted it now after it was submitted to the Circle of Destruction webzine