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A decade on, Komunal returns with a metallic vengeance
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In Waiting: Komunal, now a four-member group, is currently waiting for its formerly-active bassist, Arie Khomaini to rejoin and expand the band's repertoire. (Courtesy of Hermandja) (Courtesy of Hermandja/Courtesy of Hermandja)
B
andung heavy-metal-band Komunal talks about its upcoming fourth studio album and its fascination with ‘90s Tony Wong manhuas.
In March, 2012, Bandung-based heavy-metal-slash-hard-rock-band Komunal uploaded a video trailer on its YouTube channel for its then-coming third studio album, Gemuruh Musik Pertiwi. It did not bother to edit the video title for the trailer, leaving the file format, “flv”, dangling untrimmed at the end.
The teaser, which featured time-lapse clips of the band setting up its recording equipment in a studio and Riandy Karuniawan (Bandung-based visual artist) working on the album’s cover artwork, left a lingering thought for many long-time listeners. Komunal’s sound was different; it was murkier yet less overdriven.
The changes became more apparent after the album’s release; the band was going in a different direction.
A decade later, in March, Komunal released a mini album consisting of two songs, “Komando Badai Api” (Fire Storm Commando) and “Keras Menyambar” (Pouncing Hard). Released by Disaster Records, the record-label division of Bandung clothing-powerhouse Maternal Disaster, the band, again, took another direction for its sound, albeit rather familiar this time.
Its signature abrasiveness came back.
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