Ungodly Death "Lost Nation"

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I bought this shirt in the year 2013, around the time the a demo by this band was re-released by a local Malaysian label. This was printed in Indonesia by a fan of the band, based on the re-release of the band's one and only demo Lost Nation. The demo which the artwork of this shirt was based on, was originally released in 1992, was re-released by a local Malaysian label in 2013.

For those of you who do not recognise what band is featured in this shirt, this band is a legendary Malaysian band from Sarawak known as Ungodly Death. The band is considered one of the pioneers of metal music not only in Sarawak but in Malaysia as well. Unfortunately during the time I wrote this, the band's founder and frontman had passed away in 2019.

His passing has been mourned by his family and friends ever since and even probably many years to come after I write this. His contribution to the local metal scene in my country was huge and thus for me to own a this shirt presents a great deal for me as it somewhat represented my Sarawakian pride.

Although Ungodly Death had only produced one demo throughout their existence, the demo was very influential and solidified the underground metal music movement in Kuching city, the hometown of this band, which started in the late 1980s.

Talking about this shirt, I wore this shirt for many "important occasions". One of the occasion where I used this shirt was during my first ever visit to the Philippines in 2019 as the late Manny thanked me for wearing this shirt after he saw me upload a photo of me (while wearing this shirt) with friends at the streets of Quezon City uploaded to Facebook during the time. I felt good after he acknowledged my support for the band by wearing this shirt while going out of the country.

There were many "important occasions" where I wore this shirt and I can't tell them all here. I also wore this while I was on my way to attend a gig in Daro, a town located in the middle of nowhere in Sarawak in 2018. So this shirt is a prized possession of mine and there is no where I shall sell or let alone give this shirt to anyone.

Another interesting fact about this shirt is that the late Manny told me that he did not like the colour of the artwork from the re-release edition. For him, the artwork of the demo should have no colour at all but that was his opinion. I did told him that I am nevertheless grateful that there are people out there who took the effort in re-releasing his demo and also print the band's t-shirt like this one here. Otherwise people who support Ungodly Death like me would not have any merchandise from the band. He nevertheless agreed.

Ungodly Death can also be thankful that an Indonesian label had decided to release this t-shirt as it is now a very rare item and now that Manny had since passed away, I bet this will be a top search for those who are into rare, vintage or collectible metal t-shirts. The quality of this shirt's printing and t-shirt material is also top notch by standard too.

I have to copies of this shirt- one which I wore often and one which I had never used, still in brand new condition, bought by me a few years after I bought the first one.

BASIC INFO

Shirt: Ungodly Death "Lost Nation"

Category: Local Malaysian band t-shirt

Subject Origin: Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Condition: 8/10

Back print: yes

Long sleeve: no

Sleeves print: no

Shirt status: original, released by an Indonesian label

Printing ink and method: plastisol ink screen printing

Remembering a Sarawakian Metal Legend (And His Deep Love For Metal T-shirts)

It has been three years since I last updated anything to this blog of mine here, although some posts after this writing here will be back-dated by me for my personal archiving purposes. 

A lot has happened since I last wrote anything here. 

While I am obviously not going to tell everything that has happened since I last posted anything here in this blog, I do want to write a story about a man who inspired many metalheads from my hometown Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia (including me) to start listening to the music genre I love so much, which is, you guessed it; metal.

The man who I want to talk about in this story is none other than the late Awang Maini Awang Adnan or better known by his friends and followers as Manny Mania (1970 - 2019).

Me and Manny in 2018

While I heard many stories about Manny, I would also like to write about him but I would like to try a different angle in this story of mine. 

For a metalhead from Sarawak like me, he was like a godfather for us and he deserved all the respect as he pioneered a movement for the music here in Sarawak as early as the mid-1980s. His achievement in the local underground metal music scene has also propelled him to legendary status after his band was the first ever Sarawakian metal band to record a demo back in 1991. I grew up adoring his band Ungodly Death and it was also because of his band (and other band which also started around the same time as Ungodly Death), I have always wanted to form a band just to release an original material by my own band.

Manny not only formed a legendary band, he was also an event organiser and was the man who became an activist who started the metal music movement in Sarawak back in the 1980s as well. During his lifetime, it was because of his ideas which he translated through his band and events, Sarawak became not only one of the earliest metal scenes to come into existence in Malaysia but perhaps in the Asian continent as well. 

A digital art made by me on the day I received news of his passing

With his humble attitude and often seen very keen to share his experience especially with those who are younger than him, his passing in 2019 was one which most of his family, friends and those who recognises him or his work would still mourn up to the time of me writing this and perhaps for a long time after I wrote this piece as well.

A few years before he passed away, I hanged out with him a lot as I am very appreciative of his experience and enthusiasm in sharing his stories on his involvement in the underground metal scene. He was always very supportive of my works and claims to be a follower of my writings too thus one could imagine how devastated I was to hear the news that he had passed away. 

Although he had not been very active with his band for many years before he passed away (apart from playing a show once in a while), he nevertheless could always be seen attending and hanging out with friends during local gigs which shows that his enthusiasm had never faded during his lifetime. 

One of the reasons why I decided to write a story about him for this blog of mine which reviews various t-shirts from my personal collection is because Manny was also a man with extensive collection of metal t-shirts apart from other "compulsory" metalhead collectible musical items such as CDs and cassettes.

Manny seen wearing one of
the many unique t-shirts found
in his extensive collection.

Ever since I was young, I would look forward to meet or see Manny because everytime he appears either at gigs or even just hanging out with his friends he would surprise me with the t-shirt that he wears. Yes, Manny was a metal t-shirt enthusiast and his collection was the envy of many metalheads around the country if not, possibly around the world. I need not talk about the vintages, the rarities or even the types which could cost a fortune for one to buy as he seems to have it all. No metalhead (at least from Sarawak) can top his collection during his lifetime and I dare say this.

It also comes to as no surprise that he had extensive collection of metal t-shirts because he had a good friendship the guys at Rupert Rage Shop, shop which used to actively sell metal merchandises in the 1980s and 1990s located in Kuching city. The shop was so renowned that all older generation of metalheads in the country of Malaysia knew about the existence of the shop. The proof is whenever some metalhead from areas apart from Kuching meet me or speaks to me about the metal scene in my hometown Kuching, there is a chance that they will ask me about the shop.

Since Rupert Rage stopped selling metal t-shirt due to the advancement of the internet technology where one can order rare t-shirts themselves and not depend on the shop, Manny would went on to order t-shirts via the internet or request for the services of his friends to buy them for him. That made his collection ever expanding.

I was rather unfortunate not to have access to his collection after his passing (at least for now, during the time I was writing this) but I also do not want to disturb the privacy of his family by asking to see his collection and taking photos of them. Let this story of mine here tell that he has an extensive collection of metal t-shirts and that's it. What is important his friends knew how big his collection was.

Besides, during his lifetime he was never the one who likes showing off  or bragging about his collection to his friends. Those who are close to him just knew that he had a lot of t-shirts as he would always wore a shirt at a friend of his had never seen him wear before and through my observation, the most he would do is to wear the same shirt he worn before perhaps months or maybe years after he has worn it before, unless he likes the shirt very much which is a different story altogether.

Now, a few months after he passed, during the time I wrote this, I have a feeling that I will no longer see someone like him who dedicated his life for the same thing I dedicate my life to as well coming from my hometown. No longer I have someone to refer to when I need recollection or reference when it comes to recollection or knowledge of the ancient Sarawak metal scene. I not only lost a friend, but a mentor as well. 

Rest in peace, Manny.

Bvrtan "Selamat Hari Gawai Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai"

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Burtan (spelled "B-v-r-t-a-n") is an Indonesian band which plays black metal with a special twist in their artistic and lyrical theme. They sing about poverty and agriculture instead of satanism or anti-religious topic which is a very unorthodox choice of direction by the band. A direction which did not sit well with hardcore black metal followers everywhere too.

So far the band have released two albums, a few EPs and demos. They also never played live and have a huge cult following.

I was the one who requested to print this shirt as the band's founder Zulfiqar (also known as Pak Kades Svkatani) going back for good to work in his native country Indonesia, having lived in my hometown Kuching (Sarawak, Malaysia) for about three years or so.

During his stay in my hometown, we became good friends. A very friendly and knowledgeable person, I went to his house almost every week as exchanged ideas in a lot of things. Nice to have an intellectual conversation to a fellow metalhead once in a while.

Well, this band can be considered legendary in their home country Indonesia. They have a very cult following too. I also heard from Indonesian friends that merchandise by this band is very rare and highly sought-after by their followers.

Only 20 pieces of this shirt was printed and sold only to Malaysians, although I did let go five pieces to Indonesian friends who worked or visited Kuching often.

At first I want to put the title "Koperasi Kegelapan Yang Memonopoli Ekonomi Pedesaan" (the title to one of Bvrtan's songs) but for some unknown reason Zulfiqar insisted that I put "Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai" as this shirt's title.

Not wanting to explain or elaborate, why he chose such title for the shirt remains a mystery.

One theory which I can think of is that he might want a memoribilia from his time staying in Kuching as the words and phrase "Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai" means "Happy Gawai Day, Long Life (and) Good Health" in the Iban Dayak language. What is Hari Gawai? Hari Gawai is a festival observed by most Dayaks of Borneo island to celebrate the end of a harvest season. Click here for more information on Hari Gawai. Iban Dayaks on the other hand form the largest majority of the Dayaks found in Sarawak.

Another theory which I can think of is that he may feel that farmers who celebrate the festival has connectivity and relevance with the songs that Bvrtan writes or sing about which is why he wants the title on his shirt.

Whatever it is, I am glad that he has given me permission to produce this official merchandise for the band. Due to an agreement with Zulfiqar, I shall not print this shirt again.

Most of the copies of this shirt is black with white ink. Mine here is blue with white ink. Bvrtan band member all have theirs in white and black ink. I also printed a 4 to 5 pices in others colours too.

BASIC INFO

Shirt: Bvrtan "Selamat Hari Gawai Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai"

Category: Local Indonesian band t-shirt

Subject Origin: Depok, West Java, Indonesia

Condition: 9.5/10

Back print: yes

Long sleeve: no

Sleeves print: no

Shirt status: official, released by Malaysian friend of the band

Printing ink and method: rubber dye, silk screen

I'm Back (For Now) + Updates.

It has been almost a year since I posted anything on this blog. Oh well, I've been very busy. From now on I will try to update this blog at least once a month... yes, I repeat - I'll try.

So what happened since I last wrote on this blog? A lot of things for sure. As a matter of fact, a few (or maybe just one or two...) historical moment happened in my life since I last posted anything in this blog.

No, I did not get married. I moved to Kota Samarahan after living in the village of Kampung Tabuan Dayak, Kuching for nearly 24 years. Yes, to me that was historical. I now live in a new house and a new environment.

I am going to miss Kampung Tabuan Dayak but I have to move away from the village because Kampung Tabuan Dayak is not like what it used to be. My house at the village is now constantly flooded whenever there is heavy rain occuring at the same time with the occurance king tide because it is located at the bank of Tabuan river. Although my house is located at the bank of a river, it has never been hit by flood until the year 2014.

I should have moved out in 2014 but I thought the flood would never come again. I was wrong. It happened again in 2016. So by the end of 2016, I moved out.

What made me hell-bent and motivated to move out of the village is when I saw my CDs being soaked in fucking flood water at the time. To me that is devastating. I just got to move out. Fingers crossed, I hope my new home will be able to house all my metal belongings for as long as I am around.

My house in Kampung Tabuan Dayak flooded last year.

Another important chapeter of my life is that I finally attended a huge open air metal festival -to be exact, I attended the Hammersonic Metal festival this year in Jakarta, Indonesia. Yes, this is historical to me too. Thanks Indonesia for enabling Malaysians like me to have such an experience. If there is no such festival existing in neighbouring countries, I don't think I could ever attend one as I might have to travel to Europe of other parts of the Asian continent and that will costs me lot of money. I also do not see my country Malaysia organising such festivals (metal festivals, ok) any time soon.

Attending the Hammersonic Festival in Jakarta this year.

Since I last posted anything here I also organised the first metal gigs in Bau district in 2016 and Samarahan division this year (2017). I am so proud of those personal achievements of mine a an event organiser too.

Organising Bau district's first ever metal gig in Bau district with my friends.

The first ever metal gig in Samarahan division, Sarawak organised by me and my friends.

Those were the few of the things which happened since I last posted anything here. Just a few of those things made me a very busy man.

Oh well, having moved to Kota Samarahan for almost a year now, I am looking forward to register more good memories at my new home until I grow old. Cheers.

Now let get back to talking about the metal t-shirts that I have, shall we?

Decomposed (IDN) "Apocalypse of Destruction"

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Decomposed. An obscure Indonesian brutal death metal from Tangerang, Banten. For further information about the band, please click here.

Now let's talk about how I got this shirt.

I was visiting a local distro/ shop here in my hometown known as Gator Store when I found this shirt. Now let me give a little background about that shop; the shop specialises on Indonesian underground metal (and to some extent hardcore) merchandises by bands from the country. I can say that we in Kuching here are lucky to have the shop operating here as Indonesia do have decent exports coming out to the country. Their main shop located in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia while the one at Kuching here is just a branch.

Many of my friends would know me as a person who will not buy or wear metal t-shirts to bands that I don't listen to. It so happens when I saw this shirt and saw their 2012 EP entitled "Desecrating the Divine" sold at the store as well.

As far as I know, this shirt's title "Apocalypse of Destruction" was not based in any of their songs or release, so I guess if I buy the EP, its ok if I buy the shirt too. Plus its long sleeve with it's sleeves printed. Metalheads love long sleeves, don't they?

What attracts me about this shirt lies in its colour as it is coloured grey. I am so sick of black coloured metal t-shirts and I certainly love it if I could find anything but black. Thus no question on the price of this shirt. I just have to take it home and own it.

After listening to their EP, I look forward to hear from this band but sadly they have not produced anything since 2012.

BASIC INFO

Shirt: Decomposed (IDN) "Apocalypse of Destruction"

Category: Local Indonesian band t-shirt

Subject Origin: Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia

Condition: 9.5/10

Back print: yes

Long sleeve: yes

Sleeves print: yes

Shirt status: original, released by local Indonesian label

Printing ink and method: plastisol ink screen printing

Rator "Possessed"

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Rator. Another legendary band from Malaysia. Who a metalhead from Malaysia would not know what band this is, right? Would any metalhead from Malaysia wear any shirt with the band's name printed on it? I would.

Now Rator is known to be one of the first band which came up from Klang Valley area in Peninsular Malaysia. The metalheads from Petaling Jaya would proudly claim that Rator are their "O.G." or "otai" (yes that's the local Malaysian slang for the word of the same meaning as O.G.) from their area, as a few of the band members or former members lived in Kampung Medan, Petaling Jaya during their early years.

According to my sources, their existence dates back as early as in 1987. For further reading regarding the history of this Malaysian band, just click here, although it is written in Bahasa Malaysia. For their information at the Encyclopedia Metallum, click here.

Now this shirt here I first saw at the old Nebiula Heavy Metal Shop which used to belong to Sil Khannaz frontman Jaie. This could not have been a bootleg right? But hey, should this shirt here be bootlegged, don't blame the people for making and buying it. As a legendary band they should realised that their merchandise will always have their buyers

If this shirt was bootlegged too, the band should then be responsible for handling their own merchandise and not disappear into thin air right after the release of their first and/or one and only album "Possessed" which was released in 2008.

Since I have never heard about the issues on whether this shirt is bootleg or not, I would like to consider this shirt as official merchandise from the band. This shirt design is the only shirt I saw mass-produced from/for the band too. Whoever produced this, I don't know and I really don't care. All I cared is that as long as I have a Rator shirt in my closet. That's it.

This shirt was released about the same time during the released of Rator's aforementioned one and only album, "Possessed" in the year 2008. The album's cover is used as the front design of this shirt. Ever since this shirt was first printed that year, it has since became an iconic shirt for Rator nowadays and is still selling well among metalheads.

BASIC INFO

Shirt: Rator "Possessed"

Category: Local Malaysian band t-shirt

Subject Origin: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Condition: 9.5/10

Back print: yes

Long sleeve: no

Sleeves print: no

Shirt status: original, released by local Malaysian label

Printing ink and method: rubber dye, silk screen

Blackfire "Blackfire"

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Blackfire (sometimes spelled Black Fire) claims to be the first ever metal band from Malaysia. They play a brand of heavy metal with religious themes from a dark-tinted perspective. I met a few people who interpreted the lyrics by this band to be religious... but this is not white metal. Call it what ever you like but they are not white metal in my opinion.

So what do you do when you walked into a metal store for the first time and saw a shirt of a legendary band from your country up for sale? Of course you buy it knowing that it has a aesthetic value. I even made sure this was not bootlegged too.

One interesting note for me is that the first metal band from Malaysia also comes from Malaysia's smallest state, Perlis.

Formed in 1982 as Metal Ghost, the band changed their name to Blackfire two years later it took them 24 years to finally record a material and the result was their full length album "Lahir Dari Api" released in 2006 and it is their only album to date. Better late than never, I guess.

Why is this band legendary if they never recorded anything? Well, according to Encyclopedia Metallum who had this little info on the website's page on Blackfire:

...their songs had never been recorded in studio until recently. However, they were already known from so many performances in rock festivals and gigs around Malaysia in the 80's.

The design of this shirt looks simple but hey, if it is Blackfire, I am definitely showing my support for the band plus I am just glad to have this shirt in my collection. If I am not mistaken, this shirt was released to accompany the release of their 2006 album to date. Correct me if I am wrong in the comments section below please.

One the back of this shirt are excerpts of lyrics to the song (or more like song and album intro) "Lahirnya Dari Api" found in their one and only album released in 2006.

BASIC INFO

Shirt: Blackfire "Blackfire"

Category: Local Malaysian band t-shirt

Subject Origin: Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia

Condition: 8/10

Back print: yes

Long sleeve: no

Sleeves print: no

Shirt status: original, released by local Malaysian label

Printing ink and method: rubber dye, silk screen