It's 12pm and we're on the road to Ipoh! Arriving three hours later, with Moe, Moshi, Apit and Azam, we were not surprised to find out we weren't even late, and the soundcheck was still on. Typical kot...
Me: *watches Azam*
Azam: *takes out cigs. takes out juicy fruit. holds juicy fruit in one hand and cigs in the other. stares for about 5 seconds*
Azam: "EH!" (ingat the juicy fruit was a lighter)
Glendora Records's Trunkers Fest 2009 was the fest metalcore fans have been waiting to pounce on. Held at Dewan Belia & Sukan, gig-goers from mixed states of Malaysia were thrown into a hall December-cold, energy slapping into their faces and waking them up for the gig. Waking us up, however, had the disadvantages, and there were noticeable faults here and there - the sound mixer was BEHIND the stage, and the sound system was wayward, with a constant crucifying screeching leaking out from the speakers.
Starting a few hours late, we enter the dark-lit hall to a bright stage. Amnesia, an Ipoh metal band ripped the stage open... and left the fans cringing from the friction. Sounds too raw and vocals unparallel with the music, screaming astray, you understand why the crowd were using this time to get comfortable with the icy cold hall. Serious xleh blah... Trash metal band Alarine from neighbouring town, Taiping, introduced us to powerful Satanic vocals that would've been much more appreciated if the music could produce the gut-punch pace needed to support such a vocalist. Got a message from Nik saying he arrived then saw him and Zify walking in. WOOHOO!!
Just as fans started doubting the reputation of the long-awaited gig, nu-metal band Kill My Bride picks up the pace and plunges through a solid set with a combo-pack of versatile duo vocals, and despite the occasional messy arrangements within their music, they got the crowd singing along and boosted up the energy in time for the next band, Everything Ends, who projected the true meaning of metal and succeeded in conveying their message of what Kuantan state's metal music is all about through the fast-paced instruments and manic showmanship.
Kill My Bride. photo by Azam.
But it wasn't until KL bands Deadscore and Thy Regiment that the crowd started heating up to the music, and the hall didn't feel shiverish anymore. Deadscore got me moshing, FINALLY! Despite the constant squealing of the microphones, Deadscore slithered their way through the set, professionally working into the energy of the crowds and maximizing it. The event seemed to only be heading upwards from there and with nothing short of orgasmic vocals and explosive music, metal 'otai's Thy Regiment twirled the crowd around their fingers and preyed on the fans with the underlying intensity of their metal genre.
The Ipoh Boys!
photo by azam. Deadscore and Thy Regiment
After a break sorely needed from the sudden mass mosh, it was The Padangs turn to show off, and so they did... but I missed them. BABI BTUL!!! But here's a picture from their performance anyway. Nguhhh!!!
the padangs. photo by azam.
Anyway, they left ecstacy hanging in the atmosphere for rock kapak Ipoh band Silent Migration to trash their way through their next set. In a rather mediocre level, I should say, tak beberape GEMPAK. But all is safe, when Dead Eyes Glow take their place on stage. The Terengganu boys are definitely worth crediting on their young talent. Original and powered up with furious energy, despite their missing bassist, the synchronized headbanging from the band members to the frantic guitar riffs definitely sent a rush through the audience as effective as Red Bull.
Dead Eyes Glow. photo by azam.
The next bands sailed through, giving us a taste of more Perak metal, with As Ashes Fall (AAF), Beneath The Remains (BTR) and Maiya. It was disappointment etched on the faces of the more professional musicians when the guitarist of Maiya went on stage and took a while to realize his guitar wasn't tuned. That uncertainty tainted their music throughout their set, and along with BTR and AAF, they were on a different scale to the reputation and talent of other respected manic Ipoh bands.
Creeping towards the end of the night, and the bands just keep coming in. Asthalin and Black Territory pleased the crowds with fierce music from Kuala Lumpur. Asthalin pushed their way through the set with deafening guitar riffs and raging vocals that built up the biggest moshpit yet in the entire event, whilst Black Territory strived in singalong counts and melodic guitar solo harmonies. And it all just gets better when Incarnation (www.myspace.com/incarnationcrew) steps up to drill in their sounds of metalcore, finally conjuring up the Wall of Death that had been missing from the event the entire day.
asthalin. photo by azam.
ipoh pyramid!
black territory. photos below by azam.
incarnation. photo by azam
You think 'massive' when you think 'metal', and massive is what Naratu gives you. Having to exert their always overflowing energy within just three songs, they ripped the rockstar masks off their faces and played purely for the crowd as the crowd, breaking the barriers between band and fans as the crowd jumped onto the stage and threw themselves onto Naratu's vocalist and his microphone. Ending the night with the almost-disallowed song 'Pukimak Kau' raging in your ears, nothing gets more hardcore than that.
naratu. photo by azam.
When the gig finished, we made our way through goodbyes and headed to Tapah for a late night chill/snack. Met Black Territory's convoy on the way, and had a mini lepak with them there. Headed home around midnight hours, and realized Black Territory's car was also on the road. Best part was when I pulled down my window and shot my hand out with a rock sign, and their car suddenly drove faster and shone their headlight from behind us. :D Siap buat muka buruk kan? Haha! Was a fun trip home, was even funnier when Azam gave RM1 to Moe when he asked for RM10, and when we asked Azam again for the money.... he was fast asleep again. LOL!
Celine loves roadtrips with her mates, and wishes her brodoh could've joined.
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