Half alive

If you feel that half of you inside just died, remember that the other half lives. So, are you half-dead or half-alive? This is the same question as "Is the glass half empty of half full?"

How would you define black/death metal music? Satanic music? Music specially made for the anti-Christ? Ear-torture noise? Load of crap?

I would disagree to all of the above. But I would strongly agree that it is great exercise music! I listened to them everytime I went for morning jogs.

I bought Immortal's Battles in the North a few days ago. Fucking ice cold raw black metal. Great workout tunes! The album title fits me well because I live at the northernmost part of Singapore. Near the causeway. Haha. Blastbeating my way to fitness!

A picnic of friendship


Last Tuesday, me and my old pals celebrated Hasyim's 19th birthday on a picnic at east coast park. Ex-high schoolmates. It was a great day. Of course I miss outings with them since that day we all went to Sentosa for BBQ.


At some point, these guys might be the last group of friends I have in my life. I rarely go out with groups. Other than my bandmates. I'm the loner type I guess.

The weather is good. It almost rained. The beach is okay. There are too many ships out in the sea, it feels less romantic. But I'm not there for romance though. Haha.


A long way to nowhere?

Went jamming last Sunday. Hmm. Whatever it is, I just feel that Assault is beginning to have too many faults and cracks.

Assault EP tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. War on humanity
3. Retribution
4. Subversion
5. Deeds of Cold War [Under construction]
6. Outro - Failure of all Mankind (Instrumental)

Tracks 2, 4, and 6 mainly written by me.

So what does it takes to create songs for Assault? Well, I am heavily influenced by In Flames. Especially their Jester Race album.

Some people call it melodic death metal. A few would call it progressive metal (which I agreed a lot too). Jester race is very unique. The themes. The melancholic-yet-triumphant feel. Grand melodic guitars.

I am trying to re-create it through my compositions! And I think none of the members understand me on this, maybe. And I wish all of us are on the same page; worshipping the jester.

At the same time, I try to add touches of Novembre, Dark Tranquillity, Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy (but prefer In Flames more), Trivium (Clarence didn't like this band. The first metalcore band I listened to and liked), ATG, POD, Windir (on Sóknardalr album, but it's difficult).

Anything that in my opinion might sound towards my taste.

I avoided conventional, ordinary, straightforward genres like thrash, power metal, neo-classical shred metal and other highly-accessible heavy metal stuffs. Especially Metallica and Iron Maiden. Trendish metalcore often, because they are graded 'D'.

In a nutshell, I just want Assault to be different. True to self. And bittersweet tasting. Just like my current way of life. But still death metal. Yup. And lots of us forget that melodic death metal is death metal.


Haha. I spoke too much. I guess I should shut up.

Dear God, please allow Assault to have an EP by end of this year and have us listed at metal-archive.com by next year. One small step...