Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Teater Budak Underground by Fragile House Production


Written by Amirah Why


Sebut pasal teater, aku memang tak pernah jejak langsung menonton pementasan teater secara rasmi macam ni.  Kecuali lah masa sekolah rendah, cikgu paksa budak-budak sebaya aku berlakon pementasan untuk Hari Guru dan aku masa tu juga turut dinobatkan sebagai mangsa yang harus berlakon menjadi penari istana.  What the hell…

So basically aku memang interested untuk tau pasal kejadah apa motif diorang buat teater ni, apa yang nak cuba disampaikan dekat orang ramai especially yang bukan geng underground.  Makanya pada hari kejadian, dengan masalah buta jalan walaupun ada Waze, Alhamdulillah muncul juga aku (dan sorang lagi member) di Oasis Square Ara Damansara. 


Masa tu ramai dah yang sampai, semua budak budak underground daripada yang pakai tshirt band sampai ke yang full dress up berkumpul dengan harmoni dekat area pintu masuk dewan tu.  Aku pun terus pegi terjah kaunter untuk claim ticket yang aku dah book siap2 dekat kakak cantik macam model tu (ehem hi Hana aku nak mekdi cheesebeger 2 set. Thank you!).

Yang bagus dorg ni time management power.  Takde janji-janji Melayu, cukup time je semua masuk koyak ticket, cari tempat duduk free seating kat dalam tu.  Yang lambat masuk, memang kene duduk luar lah jawabnya.  Paling aku tak boleh blah masa tu, tetiba Ziddy muncul.  Power betul marketing sampai Ziddy pon boleh interested nak layan teater ni.  Walawehhh!

Tepat pada waktu, lighting ditutup, hanya spotlight pada pentas sahaja dimulakan dengan scene yang pertama.  Terus semua yang datang bagi 100% fokus.  Fokus pun fokus juga tapi aku rasa dorg ni gila babi impressed sebenarnya tengok Arep Hutch berlakon sebagai bapak.  Punya power sampai aku rasa mcm kene marah dengan bapak aku sendiri wei.  Trauma jugak la masa tu.

Scene by scene dijalankan dengan baik, semua aku tengok betul2 menghayati watak masing-masing.  Yang jadi anak dato’ tu betul2 riak macam Alif Syukri (oops!), yang jadi brutal bukan main punya auummm, yang meragut betul2 feeling nak merembat.  Ini bukti yang diorang memang buat practise betul2.  Aku tak nafikan preparation lakonan memang tiptop, delivery tu sampai lah.  Kalo tak sampai aku boleh call abang delivery.


Aku paling suka sebab nilai yang disampaikan tu adalah nilai yang setiap makhluk dari scene underground ni struggle untuk sampaikan kepada orang lain.  Metal dikatanya puja syaitan,  Gothic dikatakan pergaulan bebas dan macam-macam lagi lah.  Aku sendiri pon pernah kena masa pergi camping zaman university dulu.  Ada ke tiba-tiba naik gambar Gothic kat slide power point lepas tu membabi buta penceramah tu cakap pergaulan bebas, kaki arak/ dadah.  Ehhh halo pulis!!!!

Tak adilkan untuk orang-orang seperti kami ni dituduh macam tu.  Jadi ini lah motif sebenar teater ni diwujudkan.  Ia dijadikan sebagai satu suara dari kami semua untuk memberitahu yang kita ni semua sama je macam orang lain. Cuma fesyen dan color scheme saja lain dari yang bukan underground.  Dekat rumah pon sama je, kalo kaki club mak marah pegi club, yang kami ni kaki gig, mak marah pegi gig.  All the same but with different interest dan sebab tu la geng underground ni bukan dari bangsa2 judgemental.  Kitorang ni chill je sebenarnya, orang je takut dengan kitorang sebab apprearance.  Padahal kami ni kalo mak marah, kecut telur bhai, yang perempuan kecut ovari.

In conclusion, I would like to say thank you to the production team sebab telah menjayakan teater ni.  Motif simple je tapi simple ni lah akan membuka mata masyarakat mengenai kehidupan orang-orang seperti kami. 


Image by Legacy Lensa


Sunday, December 9, 2018

Band Review | Dante's Theory


So this time is a shocker.  On a beautiful rainy Halloween eve, I received a message from Remy of Dante’s Theory for some write up projects.  This is definitely something crazy (positively crazy) for me but somehow giving me anxiety because firstly they are NOT from my country, and secondly they are a legend who is NOT from my country.  Phewww no pressure at all for this 24-hour symphonic metal listener here.  Above all, I am truly honored to review this band’s material.  I really appreciate your trust on me.  Seriously!

To all Malaysian who are not familiar with them, Dante’s Theory has been around since the mid 90's previously known as Pyro before changing their name to Dante's Theory. A few changes in the band's line up and sound since then as the band progressed.  

Curious about Pyro’s music?  

Check it out here 

Singapore's brimming with talented acts such as Rudra, Impiety and many more, and now DANTE'S THEORY is making a huge sting (kasi sengat!) since their comeback from hiatus.




Check out their latest single, epic comeback piece for their upcoming album "Deconstruct"

The line-ups Remy (Vocals), Karsten (Drums) Aaron (Bass), Syazwan (Guitars), Shakur (Guitars), play fierce, dynamic death metal that packs a punch with lyrics in Malay and English, they're mixing things up and it's all the more refreshing for us all. Their 2017 release titled 'Amut', which has five songs of hard-hitting contemporary death metal that will have you jumping around and head bang straight away.

If you are still wondering why I’m saying they are a true underground legend? It is because they have played vastly around the asia region with bands such as Burgerkill (INDO), Thy Art Is Murder (AUS), Rudra (SG), Wormrot (SG), Naratu (MY), Wynken Delirium (MY), Stompin Ground (SG), Truth Be Known (SG), Overthrown (SG), Siksakubur (INDO), Jasad (INDO) and many others.  Shook enough?

When you think 2017 was a good year for them for being included in TERRORIZER's magazine issue 283 (July 2017) and on FEAR CANDY Compilation CD, 2018 is much better with the released of their single, “Deconstruct” and latest with "Playing Fields of Bloodshed" will pave an absolute tremor for their upcoming album in 2019!   



Epic combo of Death and Progressive Metal

From the Amut Full EP released on 15th April 2017 had made me gone speechless. As I listened to it for the first time, I have never heard an EP that is being delivered in a complete construction from A to Z. Seriously this had taken me a while to continue on writing for the next sentence. Even by listening through this cheap 5 ringgit earphone delivery of the sound so impeccable that I could guarantee an epic eargasm la weiiiiii.

This 5 tracks EP is honestly mind-blowing and it would be a great loss for music lovers out there especially metal heads to skip on this masterpiece.  Combining the style of death with the elements of progression definitely dug a gold mine for this band. From the intro of Qiamat Heretics to the exit breakdown of Amut, not a single disinterest came across my head as I genuinely enjoyed this record so much.  Out of 5 gems my most favorite is Dethroned the Purist and the part favored best is the narration in Insanity of the Saints combined with the music produced an absolute clear message to listeners about the story told.

From the ears of a listener, this record I would describe as 5000% tight as f*ck, no flaw.  Their precision to fit all the hasty unexpected tempo, key and timing diversity is the major influence on producing this treasure.  It is normal for death metal to embody melodic riffs but adding the leverage of progressive complexities is no joke since they actually managed to use that composition to underline the continuous development of the materials perfectly.  

Some records may be described as messy but Amut is definitely the one that have cathartic effect which is a non-destructive art form that give out listeners’ anger & anxiety.  I must say it’s truly odd but their music is legit calming for me.  With their macabre lyrical content and shifts in musical dynamic precisely describes the catharsis, stress-reducing features and making you feel less alone.  The feeling of being able to escape the reality and have an enjoyable moment of openness is what we all wanted in music that we listen to.

In terms of skill, it is way beyond my expertise but I can exactly quote Alex Webster from Cannibal Corpse – “People who don’t know this music think it’s just a bunch of noise and it’s really easy to play. You may not like it, but death metal is really complex. You have to have a really fine-tuned ear to appreciate it and a lot of the guys in these bands are incredible musicians.” So basically these people are SAINTS!

Not believing what I say, here’s your chance to be mesmerized by their full EP

Upcoming showpiece

As mentioned above, this band will have an epic comeback with their new album to be released in 2019 (date t.b.a) as they have delivered two teaser worthy singles for your ears to thrill upon.  The first single is self titled from the album itself which was release on January 2018 and 9 months later another single is released titled "Playing Fields of Bloodshed".  

Comparing to Amut (full), this upcoming fraction emphasize more on the progressive aspect of the band.  You can hear it for yourself that the new record is less darker however it is not criminal since Amut emphasized more on the dark death metal side never the less, this upcoming album would be an extension of their superpowers mastering on more progressive factors to their music.  

"It's not like DEATH like which is so intense on the rhythmic side, it's not like KAMELOT which represent symphonic as a major music of them and it's also not even like some sort of typical progressive band like GOJIRA. This is DANTE'S THEORY, Musically and technically a DANTE'S THEORY themselves. I love the way they crafted their music direction throughout a madness atmospheric pressure just to catch an eye of the normal insanity."- a tip from my guest reviewer.

Listening from both singles, I'm predicting the album to have aggressive poly-rhythm and flashing beats vaulting from one song to the next.  The addition of clean vocal recital is another feature that support my opinion of them becoming more progressive-in describing characteristics of progressive metal.  They are still recognizable as death metal but in a way more technicality on the instruments and bear major tempo exploration.

Are they worthy?

YES! YES! YES! 1000% YES!  They are experienced, extremely talented and I guarantee no regrets to all listeners especially metal heads out there.   

Finding them is not that hard, don’t forget to show your support and follow them on any of these social media channels.
More snippets on the band;
Downloads:

Thanks for reading and happy holidays!!!

This blog belongs to Amirah Y a.k.a Kak Long Wayer