Yes, me ‘MegaHassan’ is back to writing for The Iron Markhor. Anyway, I caught up with Dementia vocalist M. Omar Shahid and conducted an interview through the powerful medium of the interwebz.

First of all, for the sake of formalities and for the uninitiated among us, introduce the band to us all please!
Dementia Is a groove metal band from Lahore formed back in 2008. Most of the members were students back then. Raza ali (Lead Guitarist), Farhan Javeed (Rhythm guitarist), Hassan Mir (Bass) (Now replaced by Mussab Bin Aamir), Asad Farooq (drums), Mohammad Omar Shahid (Vocals).

Which bands would you consider to be the prime influences on the band from a musical standpoint?
Testament, Nevermore, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Metallica, Kreator, Princess Annie :p

You guys have released 3 originals – The Plague, Try to Die and Sworn Annihilation. Can you explain the 3 songs to our readers?
Try To Die was our first single and about the level of ignorance we embrace into our lives as time goes on.. The Plague, talks about the indifference that prevails and spreads within the society as No voices are raised, silently decaying us from inside.. Sworn Annihilation was our third single and is about the ever growing satanic practices we indulge in everyday without knowing and accepting, giving the demon the orgasm of its life.

You guys played live for the first time recently (correct me if I’m wrong) at a gig in Islamabad. How would you rate the performance?
As for self satisfaction, it was kind of 7 out of 10. If we have to rate according to what the crowd thought, better you let the chanting speak for itself.

I remember being there and singing along with the crowd on all your songs – especially the originals. Did the crowd involvement surprise you in any way or did you expect it?
It is something every metal band in Pakistan dreams about. The most awesome first time response ever.

Do you think such inter-city gigs can help make our scene better, and more importantly why it can help us?
I think this is the best thing that could happen to the metal scene in Pakistan. It would help us in draining our energies in the exact way that we want.

Being one of the top metal acts from Lahore, how would you rate the scene here and the metal scene in the country as well?
Metal scene is unfortunately a 4 here and a 2 in overall Pakistan. We want it to be an 8 atleast. We need it to be an 8. But the MOSH crew and the APOCALYPSE gang have made a start and we are with them at every METAL STEP.

One of the major problems with the scene, in my opinion is that most bands like to cover songs instead of playing originals. However, at the CJ gig just about every band – Dementia included -performed at least 1 original instead of a set of covers. What do you have to say about that?
That was the most positive thing that happened to a Metal gig here in Pakistan. We always believed in and encourage originals first, as that shows your true love and creativity for music of any genre.

There’s a lot of chaos going on in Pakistan these days. The terrorist threat has been around for a few years now, but the floods have wrecked a lot of havoc. What do you feel about the current state of affairs in the country?
We accept the fact that we deserved this Wrath of God. But we pray and believe that God will forgive us as He forgave civilizations in the past. By the way, somebody kill Zardari please..

As a metal band, do such calamities and political uncertainty drive you on to make more music or does it have a negative effect?
Some of these bring us down psychologically while some give us the fuel to Growl as loud as we can.

So, stepping aside from music a bit, what do all of the band members actually ‘do’?
Raza Ali ( Just graduated and looking for a job as a swimming coach for women)
Farhan ( Ruining a company, as a finance officer)
Asad Farooq ( Trying to study)
Mussab Bin Aamir ( Trying to Graduate)
Mohammad Omar Shahid ( Working for a digital music company, situated in New York, Working from Lahore, Targeting the Middle East. Tell me if it doesn’t make sense, I will try to explain it in French)

Stepping even further away from music, what condom brand do you guys endorse? I’ve heard good stuff about Trojan. =P
We condemn the use of plastic. We are environmentalists, ALL 5 OF US.

Long hair, short hair, or shaved head?
Apni apni marzi.

Pantera or Megadeth?
Pantera, no, Megadeth. Nooooo Pantera. Wait, no Megadeth. Pass

Horror films or Porn?
Pakistani.

Here’s a tough one, Lady Gaga or Justin Beiber? =P
Princess Annie.

Now back to music, what’s the equipment and set up you guys usually use?
We really cant disclose that now can we? Anyways, Pod X 3 Live, studio Mics, Easy drummer software and Gold leaf.

What particular bands would you reccommend a foreign ‘angrez’ person wanting to check out Pakistani Metal, aside from yourselves of course, haha.
Mizrab, Odyssey, Mekaal Hassan Band and offcourse Princess Annie \m/ \m/.

So what have you guys got planned for the future? More gigs, more music perhaps?
Definitely. Good metal gigs as they come along and more music as we pick up our lazy asses.

Sweet! It’s been a pleasure talking to you guys, and I’m looking forward to getting my ass kicked from you guys again sometime soon. Any last words before we wrap up this steaming pile of shit I decided to call an interview? =P
On a serious note, considering our lanaty youth, 2 messages.
1-Your Brain and the Holy Quran are the best things you got. The more you use them the lesser.
2- Most of the metal bands in the world are promoting a POSITIVE message but in an unusually indirect way and constitute of very humanitarian band members. If you want to make them your role models, use them well.

I thank Omar Shahid for taking the time to answer my questions (especially the retarded ones XD). Be sure to check the Dementia boyzez at http://www.myspace.com/banddementia