Released by La Vida Es Un Mus in the UK, ‘Esok Hari Kepunyaan Kita EP’ is the debut release by Melbourne based REAKSI. The band members are three “immigrant punks from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore”. Their songs sung in the Bahasa language.
Addressing topics such as migrant rights, police brutality and the fight for freedom, their political punk is of the ‘Oi!’ variety. There’s nothing challenging about this.
It’s straight to the point, chant along, guitar bass and drums punk with simple power chords. A hardcore edge and tinge of rock n roll.
“Punk Asia” is an immense call to arms. Opening with a guitar that sounds like it’s in the middle of a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner, it collapses into a blast of speed noise. The song bounces into life and doesn’t let up its intense hardcore for the duration. “Tidak Ada Mansa Ilegal” with its chants of “It Ain’t Legal!” has all the hallmarks of a classic punk protest song. It rolls through 80s hardcore breakdowns into choppy guitar chords and cymbal heavy drum blasts. The gang vocals throughout have a particular intensity, as displayed on the ripping “Awas”. The title track is more direct, tuneful and catchy, like it came straight from 1979. The menacing “Tidak Menyerah” polishes things off nicely with another more hardcore based approach in the vein of Minor Threat or Black Flag. Great fun.
La Vida Es Un Mus continues to act as a conduit for exciting international punk discovery. REAKSI are defiant and triumphant.
You may enjoy this if you like: Minor Threat, Black Flag, Sial
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