May

The second and probably most popular (domestically) album from these Malaysian stalwarts - apparently it sold 4x platinum during its first year according to press release featured in their third LP. I'd also rate it as my personal fave of their albums.

"Dari Kacamata" opens by way of very Euro/German, mid-pace Heavy RockMetal a la classic Accept and it's a nice enough introduction, at least compared to the slow starter of their previous debut. The prize of side A is however the galopp'y "Pelayaran". Still simple and low-key, the hooks of the refrain will bring the goosebumps on any Metalfan with a heart of Olde True Steel. "Penghuni Kota" reprises the slow/mid-pace Accept-sound of the opener and does so with style, despite the somewhat mellow chorus - at least it's not bad for a song which I can only assume is about horny penguins(?)

Flipsidewise, skipping another piece of schmallad unmusic offal, semi-title-track "Hakikat Perjuangan" offers up a truly rare example of bona-fide Thrash Metal from this country, though arguable of the light Megadeth / Anthrax / Metallica variety. A great track with lots of sweet riffing nonetheless. The following "Grafiti" is once again a tune on the slower end of mid-pace stock Metalrock, perhaps the most generic tune so far, but the combination of that calm, heavy trot with that chorus chant is just minimalist HM perfection to my ears and I would imagine the obvious 'single-choice' here ...and on the subject of Perfection, "Janji Ilahi" is Fucking. Awesome. There is a very secret underground river of steel flowing below the surface of the old Malaysian HM scene, and that is the unconscious drive among its songwriters to sometimes wanting to go Full Epic Metal retard. Often this urge is repressed by cultural and music-biz restraints, but every once in a while it breaks free, and we are blessed with hymns like "Janji Ilahi". Both gentle and majestic in its stride, it invokes all our favourites of the genre like Medieval Steel, Manowar and Manilla Road. Perhaps it's just the metallic equivalent of uncritical, post-coital bliss, but even the closing ballad "Dalam Kembara" sounds great in the aftermath of this masterpiece.

...and once again, beware of full-color picture sleeves as they are either fan-made "reprints" and not the real deal, or you're looking at the vinyl reissue from 2018.