METALLANZER ZINE

Malaysian Metal Scene Report

Yes, you read it right. MALAYSIAN METAL SCENE report. Many of you may think metal is not alive or barely can be called a scene. Although the scene here is not as big as the European scene or not comparable with the Indonesian scene (which I think have the biggest scene in the Southeast Asian region) but there are some worth-mentioning bands here

To be honest I am 'out' of the scene since 2000 due to furthering my studies in the Borneo Island and the info stated here may not be as accurate as it supposed to be. Some bands may not exist now or changed it's name, etc but I couldn't find some one else interested in doing this article. I will not write about the history of Malaysian metal. Xulhisham (of Metal Storm/Gua Punya Info mag) already wrote a long article on Malaysian metal in Desecration Of Virgin Magazine from Germany (hail the King!!). So try to get a copy of the magazine. So in the next few lines, I will write about some of the great bands (old and the new ones), labels and zine and list out the bands which I know exist in Malaysia with their discography and address.

In 80's, like in other countries in the world, thrash was 'the thing' here. Influenced by German, US and Brazilian thrash movement, bands like Picagari, Saxo, Punisher, Nemesis, Slap Death, Blackfire, and few others are said by people starting the scene here. From there bands evolve to much extreme genre such as black metal and the scene start to grow. Other notable bands from this era, Vulga, Sil Khannaz, Tormentor, Exorcist, Bacteria/Silent Death, Braindead and others which I forgot (or having no knowledge of them). Most of these bands are now r.i.p.

The so-called 'winds of change' also occured here. Thrash metal died and death metal become famous and then came the wave of black metal so some of the bands here also change their style.

These are the bands which I think you must know when talking about Malaysian metal. I start with death metal. Probably the most well-known is SIL KHANNAZ their first album is a masterpiece and followed by the "Pendita Gila" EP but afterward their music is not appealing enough for me. SILENT DEATH, BRAIN DEAD and SUFFERCATION are some of the old bands which produced good albums. SILENT DEATH and BRAIN DEAD are now disbanded I guess and SUFFERCATION turn into commercial music but they fail miserably in their attempt to be in 'glam' music scene. NECROTIC CHAOS is also an old timer of death metal scene and the most recent release is the split CD with a Singaporean band in 2002 after almost 9 years of silence after they released their debut demo.








The new bands in this genre you should know the first and the cult LANGSUYR. They firstly introduced Malay occultism in death metal which led to many local doing the same. Others; MANDATORY, HERRIOT (melodic death, r.i.p), ANGUISH, PYRON, DAWN PHENOMENA, EPHEMERAL, CRYPTIC MALEDICTION, INDAMNATION, KREMATION, NARSAMUM, SENSELESS, TORCH, UNVEILED, MORTUARY ANCESTOR and some more which deliver good death metal music.

In black metal, the legend are BLACKFIRE and VULGA. These ancient bands are no longer exist and they never did manage to release something professionally beside some demos but they gain the 'cult' status. BLACKFIRE reform with new members and their debut album should be out in year 2003. My personal fave in this genre are NEBIRAS and BAZZAH. Others which are quite interesting; MANTAK, ARADIA, BARBALANS, DARK BREED, ATROCIOUS, AZARIATH, KHARABANAZAK, UPRISING, MISTIK, NIGHTMARE, NOSFERIEL, RAVENLORD.

There are not much of doom and thrash metal here. Doom metal; SILENCE ENSHROUD, MODAR, WOEBEGONIC ZEPHYR. These are the only doom bands I know. One more band, start as a doom/death band but now plays melodic dark death and this band is called VOCIFERATION ETERNITY. Their first 2 albums are masterpiece but the latest, "For Thee" is quite a dissappointment.

Thrash metal, the king in the underground is ATHOTORGH. Only release 1 EP but they manage to gain the cult status in the scene. ZUBIRUN is also plays good thrash music. There are some bands which 'belong' to the mainstream side, in the music business. Bands like FTG, CROMOK, etc and most of the heavy metal bands but I am not interested to talk about the

Other genre like progressive metal for example which is still new in the scene. The good one in this style probably EXCEED and HEARTS ON FIRE. Power metal; METALASIA. Heavy Metal; can't think any good bands except for some glam rock which claimed playing heavy metal.

There are a lot more bands which release demo which you can check from the list below. The list is not complete since I don't have mostly the band's private contact address but you can ask info from their label.

About the label, ULTRA HINGAX PRODUCTIONS is the first underground metal label here. NEBIULA PRODUCTIONS and PSYCHIC SCREAM ENTERTAINMENT are the most the famous one here. Before there are Valentine Sound Production and Dark Journey Records but they are as said by many are true business-minded label which care more on money than talent.

On to the metal publication, we once have METAL TERUS and METAL STORM magazine. Both are Malay-written metal magazine but now ceased to exist due to problems with the authority. METAL TERUS now become an e-zine, the leading Malay metal e-zine. Check out www.metalterus.com . Some of local music magazine also feature a column on 'underground music' but it is not informative enough. In the underground, I personally hail DEADHEAD, ULTIMATE DARKNESS, METAL COMMAND. There are hundreds of zine but only few got the quality and worth buying. I also have my own zine which you can check the info at http://listen.to/SteelMadness .

What you can expect in 2003; new releases from ZUBIRUN "03/03/03:CULT" debut album, CRYPTIC MALEDICTION "Embedded in Blood...Feudal Delirium" album, KREMATION new EP, REBELLION (rock, member of KREMATION) debut EP, MANTAK CD (Eye of Deviant + Dark Borneo Art in one CD), NOSFERIEL album, NECROTIC CHAOS "Regime Grotesque" album, PURNAMARJUNA "Nyi Angker" EP, TWILIGHT (featuring SARCASTIC front-man, Evilheart) EP and more.

I hope this short scene report will give you some info on the Malaysian metal scene. I'll update the from time to time so be sure to check http://come.to/seametalforce . I have pull out all the info on the Malaysian section in my website, South East Asia Metal Force due to some security reason involving with the local authority. Now things are getting calm but I need to update the info before I can re-upload the info.