In a way, this album has been in the making for 20 years -- from the first songs composed in a college dorm room in December 1992, to the last notes recorded in December 2012. It is the sound of four guys who taught themselves how to play, who harbored secret dreams of minor stardom that was waylaid by lives and careers, and who began meeting on Thursday nights in a basement of a suburban Atlanta home to play songs they grew up devouring: classic hard rock (Deep Purple), the new wave of British heavy metal (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden), guitar-heavy rock (Dire straits, ZZ Top) along with Bangla folk and rock. After several years of playing covers in shows around Atlanta, it was time for the quartet to lay down the original ideas and melodies that their influences had inspired. Thus began a year of recording, of learning how to mix and master, of e-mailing snippets of songs back and forth, of Skyping with their drummer in Mississippi when it wasn't possible for him to drive to town to record. This is the result: a labor of love, comprised of eight originals and two covers that blend western sounds and pay homage to the rich cultural tradition of Bangla music. Along the way, so many people have helped the band members grow as musicians and in their personal lives that the list of 'thank you's would span pages. Alter Ego is indebted to everyone who had been a part of the band at some point or another during its journey, and to loving family members and friends for their unfailing support. Alter Ego is: Neetol: vocals and bass Shubho: guitars Saeed: keys Mahbub: drums All songs: Alter Ego except 'Dola' (originally recorded by Bhupen Hazarika) and 'Boshonto Batashe' (originally recorded by Shah Abdul Karim) Alter Ego would like to thank: Razab Quasem Chowdhury: for writing the words to 'Bidrohi' and 'Morubhumi' Rasha: for providing backing vocals on 'Dola' and 'Shopno Bhangon' Nafis Chowdhury: for his contribution to the melody of 'Ekanto Bilash' and 'Shopno Bhangon' Matt Smith: for alto sax on 'Osheem Asha' and 'Dola' Hiron: for alto sax on 'Dola' Laurent: for tenor sax on 'Dola' Preema Nazia Andaleeb: for her beautiful cover design