CD REVIEW: KALUMAN (Bandung DM) - "Kaluman" CD (2014), by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews

KALUMAN (Bandung Death Metal) on Bali tour, September 2015

Kaluman (Bandung Death Metal) - Kaluman CD (2014) (Sevared Records)

Formed by members of Jasad, Bleeding Corpse and Turbidity, Kaluman offers their self-titled debut f***ing album including nine songs (one instrumental) and lasting about 40 f***ing minutes! The band performs a Brutal Death F***ing Metal with a big Death Metal side and we can hear some influences from bands like Dying Fetus or their compatriots Absolute Defiance! Kharisma Kamal Nurdin (Vocals), Ferli Suferli (Guitar), Daniel Lesmana (Guitar), Adrian Fauzan Rahman (Bass), Asep Rosidin (Drums) are the legendary quintet of Kaluman and doing a good f***ing job on several aspects of their f***ing brutal musick! The production of Kaluman is f***ing great, the mixing is f***ing excellent perhaps less on the side of drums but still not unbearable, totally f***ing killer sound with a very present bass making it a f***ing heavy recording and sounding like a f***ing ton of dynamite! Musically, Kaluman is still f***ing good with a vocals well done, maybe a bit redundant but still f***ing enjoyable, The bass and guitars riffs are very f***ing good at several parts but can be very f***ing annoying and repetitive in many other places and the drums in general is f***ing great at all levels! In my opinion, the songs would have been much f***ing better by cutting off half the time thus eliminating f***ing repetitive, generic and boring moments, but we can also find a big number of great f***ing parts. The two greatest songs already appeared on their demo 2012: "Altar Prostitusi" and "Membusuk Menjadi Sampah" which are f***ing enjoyable in their entirety! Kaluman is recommended for the real passionate in death metal only because for the others it's not a disk to put as priority due to its big lack of brutality! Not Bad F***ing Release! 5/10. [This review was first published by Andrew Sick of Sick Reviews and is used here with his kind permission. Note that Kaluman released its second album The Anthem of Blasphemy on 5 January 2016 via Sevared Records.]

Left to Right: Popo Demons Damn, Bobby Hydro, Kieran James, Zemo Cabalero (at back in red-and-black jacket), Butche from The Cruel (with black Hirax cap), and Aries Kaluman (vocalist Kaluman).

The first Kaluman album Kaluman was released on 20 March 2014.

The second Kaluman album The Anthem of Blasphemy was released on 5 January 2016 by Sevared Records (USA).

NEW INTERVIEW: 13TH STEP TO DEDRA SEBASTIAN's WORLD (DIGGING UP / KALUMAN), by Jason Xenophobic

We often know very little about the musicians that make up the metal scene. So think of these questions as taking you 13 Steps closer to knowing the heart and soul of metal musicians - what’s inside their head and what makes them tick. Enjoy \m/

Jason H: Hi, how are you, any chance I throw a few small questions at you if it's no inconvenience?

Jason H 1 Which do you prefer - whiskey or beer? Beer, for sure as I feel I don't handle spirits very well to this day.

2 Whats your view on marijuana? Should it be legalized or not? Maybe if education about marijuana exists and you know the whole Indonesian systems it will make it too difficult to legalize.

3. What is the reasoning behind your opinion?  Because we live in Indonesia and too many negative things are always related to it compared to positive things and that's how it is ..it's Indonesia.  

4 Most memorable music show you attend? Honestly all music show is memorable to me. 

5 Who is your favorite non Metal singer? Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, Thom Yorke, and more.. 

6 And who is your favorite non Metal Band? The Doors, Radiohead, and many more..

7 If you could perform anywhere in the world where would it be?  Still around Indonesia as we haven't been all over Indonesia yet. 

8 If it's not too personal for me to ask, are you religious?  Yes I do and I'm a Muslim.

9 What do you think of the metal situation ATM?  Me personally I just go through it without too much bullshit. 

10 Do you believe anyone can ever be too old to play metal? Will you ever be too old for metal? I think as long we are creative and creating something there is no such thing as too old.

11 Have you ever hooked up with your fans?  Never as most people coming to my shows are my friends. 

12 If you could be reincarnated what or who would you like to come back as?  Shincan hahahaha 

13 would you like to come back at all? Love you hihihi ... and thanks for all these questions, it is an honour for me to answer all the questions THANK YOU.

DEDRA SEBASTIAN /KALUMAN DIGGING UP /XENOPHOBIC ENTERTAINMENT 2016

[By Jason Xenophobic and used here with his kind written permission.]

NEW INTERVIEW: Our interview with Dedra Digging (guitarst DIGGING UP / KALUMAN) (Bandung DM)

DIGGING UP 2014

Jack Frost 1 First of all please tell me how you feel about Andrew Sick calling you the best guitarist in Bandung Death Metal?

Dedra: Hello Mr. Jack, thanks for your question. I see and observe many good guitar players in Bandung, not only the 'veterans' but also the newcomers are so good. I respect Mr. Andrew's opinion, it's a honor to me to be seen as a good guitar player by him.

2 Is it easy to balance playing in three bands and which band(s) to give your priority to? For example if all three bands had shows on same night in different cities who will you play for?

Dedra: Actually it's not easy to play in three bands, it takes more time and extra thought for me, if all bands have a show on same night at different cities, I will prefer playing with Digging Up, because we have made a commitment if this kind of case happens we will choose Digging Up as our first priority.

3 What is it like to work alongside Ferly and Luk in Kaluman?

Dedra: I'm really glad to be able to play with such great people like them. I even never think that I will be a guitar player for Kaluman, once I was wondering about becoming like them or playing with them, but now I'm joining Kaluman and the dream came true. We really never know what will come to us in the future.

4 Are you surprised by the huge success Kaluman has experienced in the last year or two?

Dedra: I have predicted the success of Kaluman before I became their member, because Kaluman is run by great people.

5 Do you think Kaluman’s success proves that even in BDM a great vocalist front-man such as Aries (who relates so well to the crowd) is needed to bring the band up to the top?

Dedra & Kieran aka Jack @ Pieces Studio, Ujung Berung

Dedra: For me it's really important, because the vocalist is the band 'spearhead' to interact with audience and make them feeling the groove when the band performs. Besides good sound quality a vocalist is expected to be able to reach the audience and bring them closer to us.

6 Also Dismemberment Torture has been a huge success and few would have predicted it after Dani was pushed out of JASAD in mid-2011. What do you think explains the success of DT? I was at the Disinfected / Motordeath split-album launch a few years back and I think DT was the best band playing that night by far.

Dedra: DT success was due to Dani (Papap) because he was an icon, and at that time people were feeling curious about Dani's new band (DT) after he was out from Jasad. Rumor and people's enthusiasm made people wait earnestly for DT. Besides Dani's great skill, he also is one of the people that made BDM local scene bigger (especially in Bandung). Without him, the Bandung scene movement might have grown slower, it's my opinion.

7 I heard the rumour Bleeding Corpse finds it hard to get gigs with the new vocalist Yadi Behom compared to in Bobby’s time. Do you think this is true? Or is it because Luk is putting his main effort into Kaluman now? 

Dedra: I don't know about it, maybe they have some agreement on intern management. Luk-luk was a professional player, so I think it's impossible for him to be focused more on Kaluman than Bleeding Corpse. I think he will be doing the same like me, to make a commitment long before. 

8 Some people, especially in East Java and Central Java, say Bandung scene is boring as 90% of the bands are BDM whereas in Surabaya there is a good mix of power, black, and death. Do you think this comment is fair?

Dedra: People's opinion is their right, I don't give a damn what people say, for me if you like it just listen, if you don't, just let it be.

9 Why did you select Teguh and the other guy from INTERFECTORMENT to join DIGGING UP? Have they made a good contribution so far?

Dedra: Well, before Teguh, I recruited Agung [drummer] first. At that time, Digging Up still used additional bassist, and before Teguh came, the last additional bassist said that he can no longer help Digging Up. Then Agung suggested to recruit Teguh as a bass player, it was more or less like that. So far, they gave a great contribution on the stage when performing with Digging Up, and now we are on progress to make a material for Digging Up's 2nd album.

10 What are some young Bandung bands in any genre (no deathcore please!) that we should listen to especially those with a different or unusual type of sound?

Dedra: For now I'm following progress from Interfectorment, Bloodgush, Gore Infamous, Guttural Disease, Jarah, and Anorgasm. They are bands from Bandung which I'm observing for now.

Dedra: Thanks Mr. Jack and  Busukwebzine for this opportunity.

KALUMAN @ Bali, September 2015

DIGGING UP 2015