Another HC weekend (1st & 2nd November)

Feel like goin’ to shows this weekend? It’s all around the nation. This goin to be my last post in October, so thanks for reading and see you in November

The Diary of Restraint Unofficial Tour

It’s quite funny to think that we’re having the unplanned tour last weekend. This wasn’t like our official tour to Indonesia, but to play in 3 cities in 2 days, make me want to documented this journey as another tour story. Been playing in a band and doing a tour is a great things, but then soon to realize how tiring it is, make me think how the bands in europe/america have been doing this like for years, and there are bands who non stop on tour for like 8 months in a year! It surely needs a great mentality, good in physical and health condition. After all, that is what we are supposed to be, right? 

25th October 2008 (Saturday)
The tour begin in homeland, Kuala Lumpur – but not a centre of the city, it’s located at Technoflex, Bukit Jalil (which soon I discover was a hall at the foodcourt in Technology Park Malaysia). What shall I say, it is not a very crowd friendly venue, but surely I would like to give a credit to the promoter who brave enough to organize a show in this place. Perhaps it was more like college projects, but I see that this show is more on charity thingy, so that’s fine for me. As been told by our manager, we should be playing at slot no. 2, right after Second Combat. Don’t get me wrong, but we’re going to head for the next venue in East Coast, Kuantan right after the show. So it is important for us to have an early slot so we won’t be late for the other show.
Me and the band members reach the venue like around almost 3, and there is no sign that the show is going to start. Gosh, I’m started to feel so uncomfortable about this facts. Later, the crew of the show came to me and told me that we’re going to play on slot no.6 or 8 (sorts of), so I’m kinda shock! Aren’t they supposed to know all of this have been arranged earlier? I told them that we have to reach Kuantan by 8, and luckily after some discussions, they later agreed and now we’re heading for our first after 2 months break – Bukit Jalil.
We play a bit short setlist here, what can I say? the place is damn hot, no aircond, no fan… I’m already sweat even before I perform and that show how hot it was, maybe there is something problem with the aircond system, I don’t know. Our setlist includes For One Truth, Until The End, Pure From Blood and Restraint. Despite with the “sauna” environment (even though it seems like only 50-70 crowds at the venue), I feel so happy with the show. ya know, an excitement to see all the crowds, and furthermore with the location which is quite far from the local transportation, I can consider this is a success for us. Two thumbs up guys!
Since our set ended a bit late (far from the original timeline), we have to get hurry to Kuantan. Apeq have to get the car back at his house in Cheras and then pick us up at Zubaidah (near Ady’s house) and the journey from Bukit Jalil to Ady’s house is fucking sick! the traffic is massively slow moving alongside MRR2 and so do Jalan Ampang, so we’re kinda stuck! The tense already started and gosh, I can’t imagine what time that we will be able to reach Kuantan. Will the crowd gone home by the time we reach? Will we manage to play? I don’t know, I just hope it’s all going to be well.
Shit, it is already 6.30 pm when Apeq reach Zubaidah and we just about to move to Zubaidah from Ady’s house. OMG, we’re definitely going to be late. Without further due, we start our road journey to Kuantan. Here we go! I heard it’s going to be like 3 hours to reach Kuantan from Karak, so, if no traffic jam, we might reach around 9 something, perhaps. And… still, the traffic is still slow moving at MRR2
I could say Apeq do really drive fast with Perdana, yah, 2.0 cc car… until one point of time, the speed reach 140km/h, and that is fucking fast, man! There were several time I got a call from the organizer and also my longtime friends (also happened to be the manager, I suppose, for Meet Uncle Hussein), Kim, about our location and ask us to come fast. Full of tense but then we manage to reach the venue around 9.30 pm. And actually that was fast, man!
We play last at the show, with most of the crowds already return home (most have gone back after Meet Uncle Hussein) but still like 100-150 kids are still awaits (eventhough it show like 10.30 pm). I was kinda honored with all the kids who still awaits for us and this is awesome! We play 3 originals and a cover from Hatebreed. I was so kinda happy and it is actually a time for us to say goodbye to Second Combat who unofficially become our tour partner on this 2 shows (Bukit Jalil & Kuantan).

crowd in Kuantan

Kinda tired but that’s not all, we’re going to Cherating! Jang (a friends) guide us from the venue to a chalet in Cherating.
I could say, I can’t wait for this moment, coz it’s been a years I have planned to go there but got no chance to do so. So, it is kinda my time to do it now.
When we reach at Cherating, Doni (Love As Arson) is not there, since the key for our chalet room (from what I’ve heard) is with him. So, what we do is to grab a dinner at the nearby restaurant. The food is kinda awesome, and we bought this 1kg fish with “3 rasa” cooks. It cost us RM45 for a fish!!! (take note: it might cost around RM60-Rm80 if in KL). awesome taste, make me so grateful… then when Doni reach, we’ve been taken to our rooms, and after unpack our stuff, they brought us to this place call “Little Bali”. Seen a live band, grab some drinks, talk with our new friends; everyone seems having fun eventhough we’re kinda tired, to be honest. After the tiring night, we’re back to the chalet n sleep…. zzzz

26th October (Sunday)
A Sunday morning in Cherating is quite awesome. Full of air, I decided to go topless ahahaha, now I feel so like beach boy! ahahahha, yeah, after a quite hard work, now I think I’m losing weight. so, it’s Ok to go topless ahahahahha.. we went to the beach in the morning but unfortunately, we can’t surf , it’s because of air surut, so no waves, means no surf. It’s OK, I just capture some moments on the beach.
We later depart from Cherating around 1 pm, but unfortunately due to heavy rain, we’ve got to postponed our journey like to 2.30; and yah, it’s 3hr + 2hr journey to our final destination of the tour, Ipoh. Alongside the journey from Kuantan to Karak is quite OK, until the traffic is moving slow again at Batu Caves, and the worst part is the promoter keep calling us and telling us the show is going to finish soon. Damn, it’s about 2 hrs to reach Ipoh and the promoter told me like there is 1-2 bands…. OMG, I don’t think we could manage to be there. We’ve got no choice (again?) but to go full throttle.
Luckily due to a wise negotiation, the promoter are willing to extend the show until we come. Now I feel so touched… I don’t know what make they decide this, but all we know that we have to come to Ipoh irregardless what reason it is.
Another small disaster come when we reach Ipoh where we all like lost and keep turn around and around at roads, yah, we’re not the local in Ipoh, so all the place look so unfamiliar, but then, we manage to reach the venue around 8 pm, slightly late but what make I’m so honored and touched is by seeing a lot of kids still awaits at the venue, and it is only us who are going to perform. wow…. feel so honored, man.
The show went well, crowds turn crazy. we play 6 songs at this venue; True, Pure From Blood, Restraint, This Promise, Until The End and Hatebreed cover. The wall of death here is damn awesome, so Ipoh crowd… thanks a lot, we are so honored and hopefully we’ll be back to this city again next time.

In Ipoh, I heard it’s about 900 kids attend the shows. But since we’re too late then half of them already return home

After the show ends, it’s time to say goodbye. The unofficial tour finally end and everyone turn back to home to have some rest, meet the loved ones and after all, it was a great journey. Thanks to the promoters, the bands and all the kids who attends the entire show from Bukit Jalil, Kuantan and Ipoh. We feel so grateful with the hospitality that we have at all the venue. See you again in our next show in November, 8th @ One Cafe and 16th @ KL Tower.

All written by Ijam

INCARNATION “Stainless Perfect Murder” OUT NOW!

A long awaited debut CD from northern metalcore quintet, Incarnation, is finally release now! The band who consists the ex-members of the great metal/hardcore bands (Herriot, Hidden, Resistol, etc) has massively playing shows through out the nation for the couple of years, for their excellent “swedish metal” meets “hardcore” music, which will remind you to the likes of As I Lay Dying, All The Remains, In Flames, At The Gates, etc and even become the opening band for Soilwork in Kuala Lumpur this year. Grab this album now, 10 tracks and have fun.
click HERE for album preview

Tracklisting:
1. The Arrival
2. Prey
3. The illusionist
4. In Last Bleed
5. You know I’m wicked
6. Rise and Fall
7. Deranged of Silence
8. Forgiveness
9. Obligate
10.Army of Blasphemy

URL: www.myspace.com/incarnationcrew

ELEVEN: Shattered Hope – song preview n release date

Klang Valley pioneer of modern hardcore, ELEVEN, proudly announced their upcoming releases, “Shattered Hope” which will be out this December 13th, 2008. The band who has been in the scene for a quite number of years with 2 participants in compilation now are ready to release their debut CD, which to be release by non other than local straight edge label, United Front Records.

The band has uploads two songs from the upcoming album, click to preview:-
1. Shattered Hope
2. We Are Still Strong

For more info, visit: www.myspace.com/xelevenx

RESTRAINT showcase this weekends! be there

Hie, just a slightly updates on the return of RESTRAINT after a long holiday due to festive season. We will rock this 3 events this weekend. Hope to see you guys there!
*p/s: my internet connection in office has been block, so sad to say that I’m unable to updates blog so frequent like normal.

25th October @ TPM & Kuantan
26th October @ Ipoh