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Langsuir wields Nusantara fire on EP Fitan, demonstrating different brand of Malay mystic-metal fury
Following a stream of releases through the 90s that often saw the band shifting sounds, subgenres and casting new spells every few releases, Langsuir’s latest EP Fitan is a return to the band’s old black/death metal haunting grounds but even saying that is a disservice to the mini album.
Like alot of great Malaysian metal records, Fitan does not sound like the other albums under the same subgenre umbrella, due to Langsuir and founding member Bentara Guru’s vision for the band.
More than the band’s previous projects, Fitan demonstrates a ferocious zeal to the Malay identity, with nusantara elements woven into the EP’s music – elevating the five tracks beyond the typical black/death metal sound from Western metal bands.
Sharper sonic direction
Right from the first salvo, Fitan sets the stage for Langsuir’s upheaval of the standard black/death sound, delivering a riff-heavy five-minute long opening track without any vocals.
From the EP’s second track Iradat Kematian and onwards, the band’s shift in direction and all the tiny moving parts begun to click into place under the production of Feisal Kassim, from the crunchy guitars on Tatkala Geruh Menjelma and Air & Tanah, to the double pedals and drumming as a whole on Nan Beradat Berketerunan.
Beyond just the change in sound, Fitan seems to lift much more from Malay elements, as opposed to previous releases that leveraged on “Eastern mysticism”.
The most blatant comes from the band’s new vocalist, Ad Bloodhymns. Replacing Langsuir’s former vocalist Azlanthor, Ad brings a different vocal dynamic to Fitan.
New vocal presence
Snarling his way through the EP as though performing a nefarious sajak slam poetry, Ad’s vocals stands out from the already excellent instrumentation of each track. In metal, this is very rare, where both elements can be enjoyed together or independent of each other on subsequent plays of the album.
For long-time listeners more familiar with Azlanthor’s vocals, the new vocal direction for Langsuir with Fitan may take some getting used to as their styles are nowhere identical. Even more impressive, Bloodhymns’ efforts on the EP is wildly different from his vocals on the other bands that he is in.
Another commendable creative inclusion is MonoloQue’s Khairil Ridzwan Anuar (Loque) as a guest vocalist on the track Tatkala Geruh Menjelma. Accompanied by mellow instrumentations, the singer’s melodic clean singing punctuates Bloodhymn’s more abrasive vocals on the track.
Ultimately an impressive EP, Fitan visibly demonstrates that Langsuir has not lost its edge musically or creatively. It could be argued that with this release, the band is sharper than ever.
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