BEGINNING life in the early 90s with a vision of elevating local black or death metal beyond mere aping of Western contemporaries, Langsuir has continued with its vision mission of creating metal with a distinctive local flavour.
Mining the fertile ground of Malay culture, Langsuir was mistakenly labelled as right-wing nationalists, when all it was doing was creating a rich tapestry of music based on local folklore.
The latest EP contains five blistering tracks that stays true to its original mission statement. Not only are all the tracks fully in Bahasa Malaysia but the use of local horror film samples as well as celebrating local joget rhythms exemplifies this. The former is used to great effect as a chilling intro to Pontianak II while the latter is skillfully used in Saka Harimau Jadian withut ever falling into parody.
What is pleasing about this EP is the fat bass licks that give proceedings a well-rounded sound, when the low-end is always seemingly the missing component in many extreme metal recordings, domestic or otherwise. From the galloping bass of opener of Engkar to the closing number Serapah Buang Pengaruh Jahat, the four strings play a huge part in giving the tunes a warm, fuzzy analogue quality.
The double bass drum assault of Gurindam Jampi Pendiding is fittingly ferocious, with the track recalling traces of Absu and Hecate Enthroned. Listening to the speed in which the band dives into the track belies the fact these dudes are all middle aged “unkers” with respectable day jobs; highlighting that its the passion and the commitment that matters, not age.
The production quality of this EP also highlights a seasoned band that knows its way around a studio and what knobs to dial to get a quality sound. There is nothing “underground” about the mastering of this compact disc. It is just a shame that the band will not be releasing Engkar on vinyl.
It is hoped the band will continue to fly the flag for metal with a distinctively Malaysian flavour. Langsuir is already busy working on a full-length follow-up that underline that despite three decades plus in the scene has not dimmed its sense of urgency or purpose.
Simply put, this is great stuff. The first edition of the compact disc is already sold out with a second batch being available directly from the band’s website. Engkar can also be enjoyed on major streaming sites.
