Burgerkill
is an Indonesian
heavy metal band, originally from Bandung,
capital city of West Java. The band is named after the American
fast food
restaurant Burger King as a prank. The band was founded in May
1995 by Eben, sometimes called 'Ebenz', a young man from Jakarta,
who came to Bandung
to continue his study. In Bandung, Eben met Ivan Scumbag, Kimung, and Dadan.
This four personnel became the first line-up of Burgerkill.
Burgerkill
was formed in a region called "Ujungberung", located in the east side
of Bandung city. Ujungberung is not only known as Metal Village but also
known as center of Sundanese traditional art and culture such as bela diri benjang,
angklung, and kecapi suling.
In
early 1997, Burgerkill released their first single, "Revolt!", which
became the opening track of Masaindahbangetsekalipisan various artist
compilation album. In late 1997, single "Offered Sucks" and "My
Self" were included in Breathless various artist compilation album.
Then in 1998, the single "Blank Proudness" was included in the Independent
Rebel various artist compilation album. Since then, Burgerkill has been
involved in many underground scenes in Indonesia and MalaysiaIn the year of 2000, Burgerkill finally released their first
album Dua
Sisi under local indie label, Riotic
Record. The first 5000 copies of cassette and CD's
release were sold out. In the same year, Burgerkill released single
“Everlasting Hope Never Ending Pain” for Ticket To Ride various artist
compilation album. This single could be something like a bridge for a new
Burgerkill era. Old Hardcore
bands such as Youth of Today,
Minor
Threat, Gorilla
Biscuits, and 7 Seconds,
etc., are so dominant in Burgerkill early works. In the changing process,
Burgerkill transformed into modern metal influences. The sounds was more
aggressive, faster beat, and energetic power chord riff with more attractive
and interesting guitar fill-in. Burgerkill's new sounds style revealed in their
second album.
2001-2004 : Berkarat
Burgerkill
became the first Indonesian metal band to sign a six album contract for Sony Music Entertainment.[5] At the end of 2003, they released their 2nd album, Berkarat. It was chosen as "Best Metal Production" at the
2004 Indonesian Music Awards. With their new label, Burgerkill had some negative
response from Indonesia metal scene, but they noticed the reason behind joining
major label because of the label gave them the freedom to choose any kind of
music they want to play. Not only free to choose the style of music but also
the concept, lyrics, and also music video style. To "Tembang", they
stressed that the important thing was the freedom of music expression itself,
no matter if a band in indie-line or in a major label line.
Technically
the second album is more progressive than the first one. There is almost none
of the straight forward nuance of their first album. In the vocals, they remain
settled with depressive dark nuance. Ivan Scumbag, the vocalist, being more
expressive to articulate the song, which, all tracks of the album are written
in Bahasa Indonesia,
Burgerkill's native language.[ In this second album, Burgerkill
collaborated with Fadly of Padi in Tiga Titik Hitam song.
2005-2010 : Beyond Coma and Despair
Burgerkill
began to work their third album material in early year of 2005, at the same time,
Toto, who have been with Burgerkill as drummer for nine years long decided to
depart from the band. This situation was not a big deal to other members. They
reformed the line-up in process. Andris, who at the time played bass was
replaced to drums, while the bass line was filled by additional session player
.
Book cover of biographical novel based on Ivan Scumbag life.
The book was released on late 2007
November
2005, Burgerkill finished their work, but the deal with label was breakdown.
Both side couldn't reach the agreement about album material. In this kind of
unfortunate situation for both side, Burgerkill decided to leave the label to
release their third album under their own label, Revolt! Record, in August
2006. There's no such a thing fully perfect and always running smoothly. In a
counting days waiting to release their third album, Ivan Scumbag the vocalist,
died because of inflamed brain disease. Beyond Coma and Despair, their third album title, has became some kind like
Scumbag's personal reflection. To honor their past vocalist and friend, Kimung
who was a member of Burgerkill and Ivan Scumbag childhood friend, released a
biographical novel based on Ivan Scumbag life on late 2007. The book which
titled My Self : Scumbag, Beyond Life and Death was officially released and supported by Minor Book as publisher and "Common Room" as venue holder. About 300
people, consist of Ivan Scumbag friend, family, fans, and journalist, attended
the memorial agenda. Not only talking about the book, the agenda also held a
short acoustic showcase after the audiences gave their commentary and
impression to the deceased.
Among
the critics, Beyond Coma And Despair was utterly different to their past albums
with heavier sounds and more explicit lyrics. The album was included in The 150 Greatest
Indonesian Albums of All Time,
listed at number 113 by Rolling
Stone Indonesia magazineIn the Aftermath of Ivan
Scumbag, Vicky joined the band after chosen in audition. In 2009, the band
toured in Australia under title "The Invasion of Noise Western Australia"
tour. Following the 'Invasion of Noise' tour, Burgerkill performed alongside
such bands as Devil Driver,
In
Flames, Lamb
of God, and All That Remains
as part of Soundwave, Perth 2009. In 2010 They appeared in Big
Day Out.
2011-Present : Venomous
Main article: Venomous (Burgerkill Album)
Venomous
musical material album revealed around late 2009, to Samack of Jakartabeat Eben told that their new album not too far different from
their past one, Beyond Coma and Despair. Eben and his fellow band member felt
that the new material album has a new progress in each musical line. European-based band such as Gojira, Hacride,
Meshuggah, and Lyzanxia
are main influence to them to create a heavier middle beat style. And the old North
America-based band such as Megadeth, Slayer, Monstrosity,
Cannibal Corpse,
Pantera, and Anthrax
are still become main inspiration in working on song emotion and the structure.
In the vocals session, the band mostly refer to Devin
Townsend, Mark Hunter,
Björn Speed,
and etc. The band new vocalist, Vicky, according to Eben has a strong vocals
distortion. So why Eben revealed his optimism to Samack in working on their new
album material.
Just
few weeks after "Allegiance 2 Metal" tour across Java
Island alongside with technical death metal band, Psycroptic, Burgerkill released Venomous in Indonesia around June
2011, Malaysia around July 2011 and Australia around August 2011. Venomous is
their first album under Xenophobic Record label and Firestarter Music as
distributor. Venomous according to Eben has significantly differences from
their past album, not only music but also lyrics. Burgerkill's music style
always changes from one album to the next one, but the lyrics in past album
remained segmented in a certain theme or topic. That's why Eben said the albums
before Venomous are just alike Ivan Scumbag legacy. In the past albums, Ivan
had dominant writing to the lyrics, then in the postdecease of Ivan, all
Burgerkill man agreed to discuss about the lyrics material to their next
albums. In this case Eben little disagreed to people who compared Vicky to Ivan
Scumbag. Eben said those two man have different background. "If Ivan said
he was miserable, yeah, he was right, he was miserable man..", said Eben.
"We don't want to write the lyrics about the thing that we never feel,
see, or experience", Eben stressed his words to explain their new lyrics
theme, and let the fans have opinion about Beyond Coma and Despair and two album before as Ivan Scumbag's legacy, especially
the mostly dark and distrust lyrics.
The
Venomous launching concert which titled "Venomous Alive" was held in
Jakarta at Bulungan Outdoor with opening act band from the capital city such as
Nemesis, Paper Gangster, and Dead Vertical. For the bigger one concert,
"Venomous Alive" took place in Siliwangi
Stadium, Bandung and attended more than
10.000 of their die-hard fans, alongside with Man Jasad, and Arian of Seringai
as opening act and guest performer. Beside these two Indonesia major cities,
"Venomous Alive" also rock on other major and minor city across Java
Island and other city outside the island,
such as Makassar, South
Sulawesi
Venomous
regionally was well received. Metal Hammer Magazine UK and also Heavy Magazine
described Venomous as slightly technical death metal with lots of riffs play.
The magazine also wrote if someone took equal parts from Morbid
Angel, Obituary, Sepultura,
and Killswitch Engage,
and he or she should have Burgerkill. In the magazine opinion many other bands
like that, but the magazine also praised Burgerkill’s unique in the face
military style has them attacking each song with such ferocity and intensity
that he or she will take notice
Bahan untuk XI-IPA klik disini