SPECIAL ROUND-UP – North-Borneo DIY Attack! featuring DISGUSTING, RESTART, DEADWORM & MENTAL SYNDROME
HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEOPLE!
I had a great time hanging out in Sabah for 12 days, some of which spent testing out traditional Tapai encased in a “tajau” and swimming in the cool river of Bunsit (thanks to the very nice bunch of punks in Keningau). More of that coming soon.
Meanwhile, I picked up some Borneo releases off the merch tables when I went to see the Proletar’s show in Kota Kinabalu recently. Since I don’t have a tape-player at the moment, here’s my thoughts on the CD-Rs first.
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DISGUSTING
Salahkah Aku? Demo CD-R
Apparently a young band which has been around for two years now – initially formed in Kota Kinabalu but since relocated and active in Kuching, Sarawak. This unassuming CD-R comes with a badly photostated sleeve and a lyrics insert featuring simple atypical rants against back-stabbing friends, politicians and war.
Musically it’s a rip-roaring fastcore trip with obvious youth-crew references, that said it’s sloppy and fun with enough snotty hardcore-punk crammed-up and delivered in songs rarely going over the 45-second rule.
The recording is uneven, maybe the songs were recorded at different times, and I have a nagging suspicion that this is more like a home-recording than anything else. But that means a proper recording would push this band up the excite-o-meter! Can’t wait!
[audio:https://thericecookershop.com/mp3_wp_rc/disg-warnow.mp3]
Lets Say NO to War Now! by Disgusting
[rating:3/5]
Available for RM2 for one or RM15 for 10 copies.
contact: myspace.com/bunuhmati
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RESTART
Demo Aksi Bersama 2008 CD-R
According to the band’s myspace page, RESTART is an old band revitalised and different from their previous style. What was the old sound? I don’t know but this new incarnation is pretty raw blistering stuff. It’s a mix of old-style hardcore riffage with a more relentless hardcore-punk rage and reckless speed. Some tunes featured growling bits and even heavy breakdowns.
Coming in from the currently very active PJ HC crew (Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak NOT Petaling Jaya!), RESTART is on a good route that eschews traditional HC for a rather fresh output. Not quite I Shot Cyrus, nor it is Limpwrist but the dirty fastcore attempt is there in the rather muddled mix.
On the whole, the guitarist may need to tune his guitar properly next time but this 8-song CD-R features a promising abrasive singer and a good band waiting to be driven further.
[rating:3/5]
[audio:https://thericecookershop.com/mp3_wp_rc/rstrt_aksi.mp3]
Aksi Bersama by Restart
I bought this for RM6 and it comes with a full-colour sleeve, unlike some other copies on the merch tables which were photostated.
contact: myspace.com/restartxhc
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DEADWORM
Hardcore Is Back Demo CD-R
(Real Sight Records)
Another Petra Jaya HC band but this time with a considerable growling grindcore twist to their thrashing hardcore sound. Featuring two members who also play with RESTART and KURASAKUASA, DEADWORM is a result of hardcore kids slamming into the scuzzier end of hardcore punk.
Their attempt at mixing the elements doesn’t really work at times but it is a commendable effort. The first five tracks are mostly grindcore exercises but the rest features a more fastcore dirt (such as Mosh Anthem). There is also one I SHOT CYRUS cover (From Thrash To Thrash) and I think the Brazilian band must have played a big role in getting the speedier dirt into these kids’ consciousness.
[audio:https://thericecookershop.com/mp3_wp_rc/dw_mo_ant.mp3]
Mosh Anthem by Deadworm
[rating: 2.5/5]
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MENTAL SYNDROME
Mental Syndrome Demo CD-R
The guitar sound is pretty weak here nevertheless it’s a decent 4-tracker from this Sabahan hardcore band. According to some gig flyers on their myspace site, MENTAL SYNDROME is from Ranau and I’m kicking myself for not contacting these guys earlier. I was in the small town for a few hours last Saturday, walked around, had lunch and visited the local “tamu” (pasar minggu).
Mental Syndrome sounds like they are just starting out here. It’s apparent that the band would need more time and a better grip on what they want to present before we all can be suitably impressed. That said, after being in Ranau for a few hours, I must say that I’m quite surprised to know that there’s a small scene there. Dang! I could have hung out with these guys and get to know more.
[audio:https://thericecookershop.com/mp3_wp_rc/ms_muzk.mp3]
Muzik Menyatukan Kita by Mental Syndrome
[rating:2/5]
Yeap, Disgusting’s “Salahkah Aku” was home recorded..They are 3 brothers who run this band and their best friends..I know them for a long time..They are not formed Kota Kinabalu but Tuaran 🙂
hey keith! thanks for the info. sorry i didn’t managed to go and see that hardcore show at Penampang the other day. It was too late anyway, I reached KK round 9pm from Keningau that day. Thanks for the call tho’. next time, boss!
aiseh, why dont u said ealier that u was in ranau, yeah, we got a small scene here which can best be describe as the land of suburbia scene, sbb kmi org pedalaman joe, hahah.. i was there at the proletar show the other day, & i do talk to u 4 a mins…
beside mental syndrome.. just to list a few… we got killacore, north attack south, sweet mary jane, forgive sally n etc..
hey Rayrox, aku tak plan ke Ranau, we were just driving around staying at some chalets and enjoying the mountains and valleys. Tiba-tiba we thought about visiting Sabah Tea, so off we went and stayed there for one night. The next day we ronda-ronda round Ranau sekejap before driving back to KK. Next time boss! I’ll go and stay with you guys and gals, if that’s okay. I had daun Bayam goreng there, and I want more!
ok senior!!!.. will be our pleasure to have u here..(absltly we want c.dung to perform here in ranau-mobsterfest)… dont worry bout the happy pening.. we’ll provide it, hahah..
-i really am looking forward to see u guys perform in our small town.. oh ya, klu FSF!!!! ada brita, i hope they can come also!!!
tq for the review joe,actually restart was a 88-style hardcore before i join this band…after that it becomes a fastcore band..after the old line-up split up,i re-restart this band again with 3 new members,they all are metal head..so i change the music lil bit heavier but still with a fastcore element..now im also dunno what type of music are we…hehe…anyways it is nice to know that our music can be acceptance by others.
tq bro!!for the review…btw,my distortion had a problem while we recording that day,the tune is okay,heheh,just for ur information..
it seem borneo have a great scene there, anyone interested to write about what happen there (scene reports) with photo,etc for the ricecooker zine next issue
contact :
thericecookerzine at gmail
thanks
shammir
Sometimes kita lupa that Sabah is pretty big and wide, so I think best is to do interviews with people involved in the scene in different towns/areas and then compile it. It would be great if there someone who live there would do it. Kalau tak da, I guess we have to do ourselves.