Guest Column: Three Bands You May Not Know But Should By Dead Beat Media’s Jill Girardi
Posted by Chris Harris on January 8, 2013 in Exclusive, Featured, Guest Column
Guest Column
The new topic is Three Bands You May Not Know About But Should, and we asked that each guest writer jot down a brief description of what makes each band worthy of our attention. Today, we continue this ongoing series with an entry from Jill Girardi, the co-owner of Dead Beat Shop and the label Dead Beat Media.
As I’ve been living in Malaysia for the past few years, I decided to write about three bands from this country. First up is Lavatory from Kuala Lumpur. The vocalist, Muntah Darah (literally means ‘Vomit Blood’), has been a good friend of mine for probably eight or nine years now, and have recently become acquainted with the rest of the band. Lavatory play ripping old school death metal in the vein of the classic Swedish greats, with vocals very akin to Matti Karki’s style. Dark and blasphemous lyrics and artwork round out the image of the band. The band quickly caught the attention of Salt Lake City, Utah’s cult metal label, Slaughterhouse Records, who released an EP CD from the band titled Transgression.
It was also released on cassette format by Malaysia’s Morbid Invasion Records. This led to an official signing by Singaporean label Pulverised Records, and a full length album is in the works for 2013. The band is currently playing live across South East Asia.
For more information, visit the official Lavatory band page or order the CD EP from Slaughterhouse Records here.
Next up is the band Humiliation. If you haven’t heard of these guys yet, you will be soon. This band, also hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is on their first European tour as I type this. I first met the vocalist, Bear Bee, in 2007 when he was working at a local metal shop called Tools and Trade. Little did I know that two years later he would go on to form one of the first Malaysian bands to gain worldwide recognition.
Humiliation play mid-paced old school death metal in the vein of Bolt Thrower with a monstrous high quality sound. Their first EP, Face the Disaster was released by Nebiula Productions in 2009. Nebiula then released Humiliation’s debut album Dawn of Warfare in 2010. Next, 2011 saw both the Brink of Defeat 7″ on Gempita Records and Seek to Survive full length on Ultra Hingax productions. Finally in 2012, things all came together with their latest album From Strength to Strength (Ultra Hingax Prod). This album took everyone by surprise with it’s crushing riffs and intense sound, leading them to the aforementioned European tour, as well as a three album deal with long running U.S. label, Deepsend Records.
Even Karl Willets of Bolt Thrower loves these guys, and was seen wearing their t-shirt onstage. You can order the band’s CDs, as well as t-shirts and other merchandise, directly through their website. And don’t forget to look out for their upcoming debut on Deepsend Records, as well as an upcoming split 7″ with Holland’s Warmaster coming out next year on Dead Beat Media.
Last but by no means least is Nonserviam from Penang, Malaysia. I first met the vocalist, Leon Low, in 2007 via another one of his bands, Dissectomy. Years later, Leon, along with drummer Valent Teoh, guitarist Gary Chin, keyboardist Payden Lee and bassist Zeon Tee (and a few line up changes along the way) have created an unstoppable force with this melodic death metal band. This is not your typical melodic death metal band in that there is nothing ordinary or mundane about it.
Their debut CD EP, The Ordinance of Reason features crystal clear sound quality, epic riffs and melancholic melodies, harsh and intense growling vocals and lyrics that are not just your typical boring “Kill and gut Christ” rants but actual thought provoking lyrics that delve deep and explore the realms of religious hypocrisy. The lyrics are actually inspired by such great minds as Darwin, Nietzsche, Epicurus, and lastly, the mighty George Carlin, may he Rest In Peace. The band has now signed to Malaysia’s The Four Horseman Productions.
You can order The Ordinance of Reason directly through the band via their Facebook page.
