By the time I'm writing this review, I would like to express my condolence for all the families and the victims of the police brutality in Kanjuruhan (Malang) soccer match. And this time we have a submission music coming from Haum Entertainment. Haum Entertainment is a Malang (Indonesia) based label that is known for releasing local notable emo/melodic hardcore musicians. Well I believe that this is more than just a coincidence to write this review and there should be certain reason why I'm writing this. I know it's superstitious!
Melodic hardcore is a punk music subgenre that has gone through so much formulation on its musical style. And one of them is emotive melodic hardcore. The style itself has gone through so much growth through the ages. Also, this has become a fan favorite here in Indonesia. In recent years, bands like The Story So Far or Neckdeep haves put so much its influences on many Indonesian youngsters. And so does emo, though Indonesia’s scene starts itsed emerging movement in the 2000's. but so many progress are made into movement's diaspora. Many kKids here are listening to so much skramz or even ‘90's emocore today. The compilation "The Things That Shaped Us Together" features 4 bands with and each of them putting out 2 new songs on this project. The 4 different bands represent different sounds from 4 different cities.
The Ffirst band that I would like make a highlight is Write The Future. Well, if someone asks me about the mostmy favorite emotive melodic hardcore local act, well gladly I would like togladly answer Write The Future. Write The Future is a Malang based band that has been in the scene since 2012. The band has gone through line up and musical changesing. By the success of Changing Pace LP 2016, the band has been known for its touchy, sad boy, pop punk tunes. It is good to know that the first track for this compilation is filled up by my favorite band and tThis time the boys brings a fresh new tune entitled "Isn't It Obvious". By songwriting, there are is some progress made by the band as everyone knows Write The Future were a "Story So Far leaning band". This is a tune that is beyond their boundary of sound with a. A more indie rock approach and more melodious touch than ever before. I love how the band put the coda part after the second verse, it's a damn secret blowing weapon! Perfect melodies with a perfect song structure. I can say, by the guitar tone they're putting on and the songwriting style, Write The Future has progressively moved their sound from emotive- driven melodic hardcore into a mature indie rock- soundinged band.
Next, we have Settle, a Bali based band, presenting a mix between indie rock with a more emotive approach. So far, the band has put out 2 EP's in 2017 and 2021. Well oOn this comp, I would like to give a highlight to a track called "Emotionally Exhausted". It has a strong character on its chorus part. Also, the vocal melodies and its guitar chords make a great harmony toward the song. It's a part that will get everyone singing along. Settle sounds kinda remind me of Basement which gets mix up with some pre-"Peripheral Vision" of Turnover. I would say that Settle has put a pretty neat company couple of tunes for this comp.
***We move to the next band called Car Crash Coma from Semarang. I initally got to know this band via a friend named Toro and he showed me aboutwho shared their South East Asia touring dates. I don'’t know why I have to write this, but it's just surprising to know that this band actually made such a fast move by producing an1 EP and then going on for a South East Asia tour. What a progress for a new band. The track "Baby In The Trunk" reminds me of why the "bubble grunge" term exists!. It is strange but it exists. On the first impression, it may sounds like Heart Man Attack who is into CKourtney Love's songwriting signature. And what makes Car Crash Coma's songs leading?? It's the guitar sound! Yes the band has totally been successful for being grunge as fukk on this comp by putting a blast of big muff sounds that blends up with a grunge chorus effect typical of sound.
The nNext band called is Nervous Strain from Jakarta, the band consistsconsisting of a few notables person from the hardcore punk scene in Jakartathere. Let say I know Indra (the guitar player) has a hardcore band called Final Attack and Eddy (the bass player) also has a hardcore band called No Excuse. Nervous Strain, I assume, being an alternative catharsis as most of the guys behind the band were also in another bands. Nervous Strain presentsing an intense emo/alternative sound in the vein of Run For Cover-ish bands like Balance & Composures to Citizen and what makes them special is that they develop a well driven intensity of guitar sounds and emotion beneath their song material. Nervous Strain is a bunch of hardcore kids who dare to play a noisy, alternative tunes thatand walking out of their 3 speedy chord tradition.
The last featured band on the comp is Displacement. I remember the first time I saw these guys playing were was on an eEmo nNight gig where the band shared the same bill as mine (Ache). It is lovely to see the intensity of band's performance. Displacement is a band that is formed by the love of modern emotive melodic hardcore. The first two EP's are a statementan approval about how good these guys are in presenting their sound. Emotive and yet so much catchy chord progression presented on their past 2 EP's. Well, there's something special on the materials presented by Displacement on this EP. The band seems moves their sound quieet a bit, into a more lo-fi, dreamy guitar- based music. It's like listening into Title Fight's’s Hyperview with a better songwriting.
Overall, the sound tech for this record sounds promising and also I love how the record labels getting its compilation project concept and that I would expect some more a similar concepted project from Haum Entertainment. And maybe a little expectation from me for the local scene is that I hope more bands could redefine their own music style without being a total copycat sounded band. The record is recently available on tapes for physical form and available for a purchase on bandcamp.
