format: LP
year: 1990
country: Malaysia
label: Polydor
#: 843 068-1
info: -
style: Power Metal, Heavy Metal
Side A:
Side B:
After 2 rather uneven HR/HM albums from the late 80's, Malaysia's Junction finally got their act together in 1990, went out with a bang and managed to release one of the best Metal albums of the olde Southeast Asian scene. Even with a now proper picture sleeve (the previous ones only came in those cassette-sleeve-plastered, generic promo-sleeves) it does look a bit anonymous and do little justice to its powerful content, but luckily they prove themselves worthy of The Steel Badge Of Honor right from the start with the ripping "Tamar Jalis". Seldom have I heard such a devoted tribute to "Abigail"-era King Diamond than on this hellish opener! Both the vocals and music oozes of our favourite Dane. Weirdly enough the 'tallica-like break in the middle works perfectly and only adds some 'Weird Asia' to the recipe. However by track #2 there's little left of these influences, and instead we get hit by The Hit of the album. "11 L.A.", sounds like the finest Malaysian Iron Maiden tune you've never heard, incorporating some absolutely stellar vocal harmonies.
Both ending side A and opening side B are 2 heavy, pounding crunchers, the most noteworthy one being the title-track "Petualang" with an almost mid-pace-Thrash beat and haunting, 'Asian Metal'-chorus.
Another standout track is
the mesmerizing "Salah Kuasa". Once again Iron Maiden could be referenced, but maybe even more so the best and most epic moments of mid-era Jag Panzer.
With only 3 ballads on the album, this is one of the most Real Metal-crammed releases of the area+era and mind you, one of those ("Kepastian") is a rare, truly great and epic representative of the genre. Frankly every tune except the other 2 ballad-fillers are solid-to-killer and thus we have here one of the precious few releases from this area that could count as a bona-fide full-lenght album. Beli atau mati!