Russian Circles LIVE in Malaysia @ KLPAC

After a tiring week of work with at a new place, a Friday night at KLPAC was what I needed, and Russian Circles was a definite close-to-perfection.

Bought my ticket and chipped in to belanja Moe's with Nindy, before heading into Pentas 1.

The stage was also set up, the instruments placed and ready to begin, the lights dimmed. Waited for quite a while before the announcements came on to start the show.

I forgot the time span from the moment the 3-piece band blasted music to the end of their last ambient soundwarp effect, they got me hanging onto their music, too hypnotised to care of other things.

The lighting of KLPAC was absolutely stunning too, and made the show even better. I was hesitant about the sitting down and watching the band sort of idea, but in the end, it really worked, for the lighting of the stage made it very worth it, morphing and changing in time with the songs.

They played so many songs that the crowd knew, like Geneva, Youngblood, Malko and more more more... Their set was a fluctuation from lows and highs... the highs piercing through your adrenaline, and having all the heads banging in synch, whilst the lows would thicken the atmosphere so much you could do nothing else but sit completely still and let the music take over you ( and for some, like me, to just let their overwhelmed tears flow ).

There was no surprise that they came back for an encore when they finished playing their 'last' song. A crazy crazy set they had, many were blown away and couldn't find the words to describe the maximality of a show that Russian Circles had given us.

A beautiful set Celine will never forget.

Dying Fetus LIVE in KL @ One Cafe

Guess who's back in the gig scene!? Yeap, it's me!

After a long summer break in Europe, exposing myself to the life out there, and the music, and the people, I am again back here and feeling as at home as ever. Stepping back into the darkness of One Cafe was the warmest feeling I had in a long time, and made me realize how long I had not actually been to a KL gig!

Headed out around 5-ish, and was about to go onto the monorail when Azri tells me "I'm at KL Central"... hey, hey me too! As the monorail arrived, I saw him and Firdaus waiting at the other entrance. Funny stuff. Greeted them and headed to One Cafe together.

As we arrived, we heard music. No way in hell! Is this really a One Cafe gig starting on time? Really!?

Was super impressed, and greeted as many friends as I could see around, and rushed inside to catch Japanese grindcore band, Damage Digital.

Damage Digital

What to say? They were crazy, so full of energy and so full of emotion!

I missed the first songs but went into One Cafe with a "long time no see" from those at the door and went straight to the front only to be thrown back by the immense force screeching out of the vocalist's throat. Amazing. Absolutely phenomenal.

It was really annoying when the sound system suddenly went kapooot and the microphones stopped working. Had to pause for a while and endure with the One Cafe's usual muckups. Said hi to friends, chilled, laughed as everybody went mental over Damage Digital freebies.

Then before we knew it, it was back in the game! Four more songs from the hectic japanese band left me with great respect for the vocalist as the stage gave way to Dying Fetus.

Dying Fetus

Justifiable Homicide, Inviscerated Offspring, Killing on Adrenaline.... they played it all! From the beginning of the three-piece legends' set til the end, the room was pounding with roars, both from the band and the crowds. Along with a lot of technical problems too of course.

When Justifiable Homicide played, that was it. That was all it took for me to stop being a wuss and jump into the crowd and headbang til my neck was too sore to move the next day (suffering the aftermath at this very moment while typing this!). Too bad for the crappy sounds. The sounds for the drums was amazingly loud enough, which was awesome, but that also meant the sounds of the bass and microphones were overshadowed. There was not enough balance on the sounds overall.

But honestly? If people came all the way here to catch Dying Fetus, the last thing they want to give a shit about is quality of the sound. They true diehard fans in the crowds that night didn't need a clear microphone to know what songs Dying Fetus played. It was a great show.

When the show was over, everybody exited the place, half tipsy, half pained in the neck and catching their breath for air. Stayed around to linger and wait for a chance to get a photo with Dying Fetus/Damage Digital. Finally saw Cris, who arrived only on the last two songs of Dying Fetus... my goshhhhh, terlepasss, that boy! His fault for bringing so much alcohol that wasn't allowed in. BAHAHAH.

"It's rare to see a girl like you in Malaysia!" she said. :)

Celine is glad to be back.

Indie Youth Fest FEYST10

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12044202543&ref=notif&notif_t=group_admin#!/group.php?gid=12044202543&ref=ts

Checkout this group. Kiranya festival music Malaysia!

Ocean of Blood @ MyEvo Clubhouse Studio, Pandan Indah

Headed to Pandan Indah around evening and had already missed half the bands of the day. Went to catch Ezzart perform, and realized Hanafi and Mukhriz were also performing with Effigy Eclipse, but I had already missed their set. DAMMIT. Was kind of bummed out.

Headed up the two flights of stairs right after Final Chapter finished their set, and stayed to catch Better Than Her, who were pretty damn awesome. Really solid, really tight. The drummer, I could tell, was getting a bit exhausted but it was all good. He still managed to keep his beat and didn't stray away from the songs. Nice stuff.

Next up was Kiss the Fallen, a hardcore band with a male-fronted vocalist/guitarist. Pretty rare to see hxc bands like this in KL. With a little more practise, they can definitely be a good band. Right now, they're still rough around the edges.

Ardy was behind the DJ-mics being the emcee behind the studio, and his voice was so much like a radio station guy it was pretty hilarious. Haha. Him and Ijam kept making fun of Afwan as he set up with Sensory after another band, teasing him on the fact that he would be singing, and relating him with Restraint and being old. XD Ardy and Ijam were playing tracks from Backstreet Boys and George Michael between every band, which was pretty awesome. Kept introducing everybody to the crowd: "And we have Celine Beatburns in the house today, give it up for Celine".... LOL, as if everyone knew who I was -_-

He got all my friends thinking I was performing! HAHA. Bodoh.

Next up, Sensoryyyyy. Awesome stuff, after disbanding for over four years, they finally performed again, and it was tighter than one would expect from a newly reformed band. They played three songs, one Lamb of God cover (Laid to Rest) and it was not disappointing. Particularly surprised by Afwan's vocals; he was really good! And Ezzart's showmanship (sowmansip :P) was awesomeeee. :) GOOD JOBBBB!! Loved them.

Headed to eat opposite Noisy and realized the vegan convention was finished by the time I went to Noisy Studio. So disappointed!!! Nguhh! Couldn't get my zines back from Arwith. Sigh. A good night though.

Celine loves watching her friends perform.

Tribute to Jesper Stromblad @ One Cafe, KL

Arrived before 3pm and helped Adi and Man cut up the tags and set up the ticket booth for early comers. Spent the first few hours giving entry passes and selling CDs and buttons. Wheehee! :) Was pretty fun. Went to get Salon Pas for my stupidly aching neck. Then went in for the gig at 4.30pm.

First band. Forbid Traction! Haha, was amazed at Lufti's hair, finally I manage to seeee it! :D Abun was their vocalist this time along with Adib, and they featured another chicka to sing Fly High with them as well as Sil Khannaz's guitarist :) cool stuff mannnn. Still love their Soulfly covers.

Again, Biggie was the emcee of the day - he's the only awesome one - and we got ready for Incarnation, who were playing surprisingly early.

Incarnation was awesome, per usual. They never let anyone down, and had a 5-stringed bassist sessionist from Symbiotic in Theory. Hehe. Awesome shizzz mannnn. Was headbanging like crazy throughout their set. Thumbs upppp.

Was pretty tired after their set, then went out for a break and came back in in time for Caladriusssss. Sendarttt. Nashhhhh. WHEEEEE. hehe :) Nash was all dressed up like the members of In Flames do sometimes, which was pretty funny, macam budak sekolah.

If I remember clearly, I think it was Caladrius that got me moshing? Haha. Xingat.

Next up. This Sunday. Same thing with Aly and Junn and their outfit HAHA. Anyway, their set attracted the most people, and their In Flames covers were the most exciting for the audience with a lot of sing-alongs and moshing around. A good set by them, per usual, the only thing missing was Wong, who was replaced by a sessionist. Good job though :)

Then it was time for a break for me as I went out, whilst another band played before Massacre Conspiracy. Ordered some food and tried to calm down my nerves because I started getting really annoyed in the crowd because of some people who kept pushing everybody around like retards. After I calmed down, and didn't feel like going to KLPAC anymore, I headed back in to headband and moshhhhh to MC16 (now without Mio)

Awesome set, tight as usual, and their In Flames covers were awesome. NAIIICEEE.

Next was Reynagade, a band I had heard of about two years ago but never had a chance to catch live until today. Realized it was a band consisting of Catastrophs and Caladrius members haha! Giler ah! Awesome band though. Was listening to them from the back of the hall, because the sound was clearer there, and dayumm they's good they's gooood!

ELEGY! The band I always misspell with an "r" between the e and g. -_-

Awesome shtuff. Great guitarist, great vocalist... apa lagi? :)

Then it was time to pave the way for the organizers of this event, Black Territory! :)

Good stuff, they played two originals and two In Flames, just like many other bands. Man buat lawak: "Can anybody tell me the full name of In Flames' guitarist???"

... "It's Hafiz Bukhari!" HAHA.

An awesome set, with an awesome crowd. :)

Tried to stay awake though I was slipping into fatigue, and stayed awake in time for Effigy Eclipse and Unexpected Mercy (half of UM's set anyways). EE were awesome, considering my friends, Hanafi and Mukhriz, who were part of the band were already drunk, their set was wild! It was gooood! Tight, and completely sailed over my expectations. When they went on stage and I had to help Mukhriz look at the tuner as he tuned the guitar, I was like.... "oh no...." HAHAHA.

AWESOME WORK GUYS! And they had an amazing guitarist!

Unexpected Mercy were good, but I think their original songs are a lot better than their covers.

Went to sleep after this and woke up when the rest came to the car to drive off to Kajang for our Ghostbumps series. :)

Celine was satisfied with the day.