Books: Kiss, Behind The Mask: The Official authorized Biography. no comments

KISS - Behind The Mask.

Title: KISS, Behind The Mask - The Official Authorized Biography.
Authors: David Leaf & Ken Sharp.
Publisher: Warner Books.
Additional Information: Paperback, 431 Pages, RM 5.00, Big Bad Wolf Bookfest.

1. First of all, I need to make myself clear that I am not a big KISS fan. I do not really like their brand of rock & roll. Understandably so since I belong to a less older school of metal fans. I was introduced to metal when the term metal had already been invented, shaped and characterized. So being a younger generation of metal fans, KISS is not really something that I would want to associate with my kind of metal. But of course, that's just me.

2. Back in the 70s, when the term metal itself was still obscure and heavy music was still called hard rock or heavy rock, KISS was THE band for a lot of uncles and aunts out there. The band managed to stay strong through out the waves of modern and more refined and defined idea of metal, just by being KISS.

3. Even though I was and still am not a fan, I bought this book for the sake of having the needs to read and learn about the development and evolution of this music, metal. Even if there are a lot of young metalheads like me out there who would be a bit hesitant to call KISS, metal (even the band themselves preferred the term hard rock) I can reassure you that KISS was and still is metal.

4. I got this book for RM5 at a book festival a couple of months ago. I hope Gene Simmons would not freak out over this. That Gene, always the entrepreneur. This book got 431 pages which were divided into 3 parts.  These 3 parts were further divided into 17 chapters.

5. The first part would be like your typical autobiography. A third person perspective, detailing the beginnings of the band. The second part consists of interview excerpts from the members of the band themselves and everyone else. The third part consists of a total breakdown of each and every album, each and every song ever recorded by the band, by the band themselves. It would be interesting if you are familiar with the current and back catalog of their songs.

6. You must buy this if you are a hardcore KISS fan. It is a must have. Having said that, I have to admit that I totally digs Beth. Hell yeah!     

Metal News Malaysia 2013 vol 2: 2 comments

1. One man Melancholic instrumental Black Metal, FILSUFATIA have joined forces with another ambient black metal band from the Appalachian mountains, TWILIGHT FAUNA to release a digital split titled Fallen Leaves in a Tide of Sorrow with both bands contributing 2 songs each. The 2 songs from Filsufatia were taken from their upcoming 2013 demo, which is currently on hold due to the sole member of the band had to go and schedule updates for a lousy blog called The Bullet Belt. The split will also be released in tape format by a Canadian label called Spectrelight Recordings. Check Filsufatia out if you like melancholic atmospheric orchestral black instrumental music.

FILSUFATIA | Facebook

2. Penang Raw Black Metal tyrant, MEDUSSA SAFANNAH, have released their promo titled VAR through Qalaqas Black Art. The promo contains 4 tracks of pure grim, minimal and lo fi gritty black metal and its only RM20 a piece. It comes with a free mini poster and free postage. Check the band out.

MEDUSSA SAFANNAH | Facebook

3. SAPPRAH is a eastern death thrash metal band from Kemaman, Terengganu. They are currently in the studios recording their debut. This 4 piece band was formed back in 2010 cited Morbid Angel and Napalm Death with a few other local warlords in the likes of Dark Nirrajim and As Sahar as their main influences. That should be an interesting combination in my book. Check them out.

SAPPRAH | Facebook

4. After releasing their debut demo, Danse Macabre, back in 2012 and a debut EP titled Ars Moriendi under their own label, One man Malaysian Ambient/Depressive instrumental black metal band, MAQABIR, have released their follow up single titled The Arrival of Azrael/Archangel of Death. We also learned that the band is currently in talks with Depressive Illusion, one of the more premier label for Depressive Black Metal music, from Ukraine, to release their collection of songs in tape format. Watch out for this extremely obscure Malaysian band.

MAQABIR | Bandcamp

5. Another promising one man band, LIFELORN from the muddy banks of Kuala Lumpur, is also meditating in the studios recording their debut full length through their own label, Regolith Records. Lifelorn plays some sort of an amalgamation of Post Rock, Black Metal and Shoegaze, or what some people would fancy it nowadays as Blackgaze. The man behind Lifelorn, which happens to be a good friend of mine, was also the main culprit behind the awesome now defunct depressive black metal one man band called Animist. If you like transcending instrumentals, then you should try and check this band out.

LIFELORN | Facebook

Metal News Malaysia 2013: 2 comments

Destruction will be invading Malaysia. The most talked about event for 2013 would be this years installment of KLMetalcamp #6, the biggest underground annual event for the local metal scene, with the coming of one third of the holy trinity of Teutonic thrash metal, Destruction, to the shores of Malaysia. The show will be held at Chinwoo Stadium, this coming May 4th. The opening bands are the mighty Sil Khannaz (death metal), Humiliation (old school death metal), Stompin Ground (Singaporean Metallic hardcore), Zygoatsis (Siamese Black Metal), Hereafter (Thrash), Nekrad (Goth), Storming Steels (Thrash) and Tools of the Trade (grind). Admission is RM95.00 and the show will start at 2.00pm.

KLMetalCamp | Facebook

MTD Production will be releasing a 4 way split called Eastern hell Fire. The bands that will be featured in this must have compilation are Antaboga, Keruntuk, Ajal and Kambing Sakti. This CD release will be limited to 55 copies and it will cost you RM15 a pop. Contact MTD Production for more information. 

MTD Production | Facebook

Malaysian Metal Warrior 2013 Gig will be held on this coming 10th February at Penny Lane Studio, Sunway will feature bands in the likes of Sauts Alastor, Santau, Claw, Ajal, Novrathos, Black Abyss, Balberith and Triumph ov Fire. Admission is RM15 and the gig shall commence at 3.00 pm. Contact Metal Warrior production for more information about the tickets since it will be a gig with limited seats.

Metal Warrior Production | Facebook

NEKRAD, Ipoh, Perak's own extreme gothic metal act is currently in the studio, writing and recording their new songs, most probably for a follow up release after the success of their split CD with Vociferation Eternity. Nekrad is by far, one of the most hardworking bands from the shores of Malaysia. If you like Cradle of Filth or Old Mans Child or all those vampire themed goth music, then you should not miss checking out Nekrad. 

NEKRAD | Facebook

SICKNESS, the king of Malaysian Goregrind have released a new album called Necrosymphonies of Necropsy. If you like old carcass, then you should try and check this band out. These guys have been around since 1995. Anyway, the album was released by Grundar Production and contains 10 ear blistering tracks that shall melt your earwax and rot your corpses to damnation. Contact the band for more information.

SICKNESS | Facebook

Grundar production | Website