Harshly I would like to say that many of the music scene in Indonesia are still male-dominated. And it happens over the years, including the post hardcore scene.
To me, finding such act like Hallam Foe is kind of gift that I would thank for thousand years.
We all know, as in general, skramz is also a scene that allows everyone to get in and yes it becomes as an anti-thesis toward masculinity and anti-rockstar attitude that happens in the hardcore punk scene.
And I would assume that this becomes the reason why some kids start to embrace such music like skramz in particular.
To me, Hallam Foe brings something the scene that everyone hasn’t presented yet in the local scene.
They come from outspan of Jabodetabek, they speak about the gender equality, and they seem totally nail for what they’re doing and speaking about.
To be honest, I have a quiet weird way to find out about this band to be honest.
And it starts with a compilation called “Miss The Star – Screamo Sampler”. That on, I discovered a band Farah Rud which reconnects me to Hallam Foe through their “Fans also like” spotify page.
It is weird that we actually being destined to meet by the help of algorithm and database.
Yes skynet you totally freaking me out already today!
This band blew me with their single entitled “Quo Vadis” by presenting an in-your-face skramz tune with some raw audio aesthetic.
I was like “Damn! This band brings a more violent nature from bands like Heroine, Orchid, or even Neil Perry”.
It is easy to find any local in Jabodetabek skramz band with some good tunes but it is a different thing when you a damn fine tunes from bands outside the span of Jabodetabek or Bandung! And they are worth of attention in my oppinion.
And I’m quete right by finding out that this band actually put out their initial EP “If You Become Involved With Me, You Will Sinking Yourself” via Emocat Records.
A Vancouver-based label who puts out notable skramz bands like Paperwounds, Wet Petals, or Belladone.
Through their current EP, “Pesona Destruksi Diri”, I would like to say that Hallam Foe brings out a new quality on their music.
I would also hope this thing might not be its peaked point as myself, personally, would expect a more stuffs from this band to be heard.
Four tracks presented on this mini album containing a full aggression of raging skramz tunes.
Starts with a track called “Kemungkinan Mungkin Memungkinkan” which this band presents a heavy punch of mathcore on the intro.
And followed by a real heavy distorted verse part that will torn your emotion apart.
Also, don’t forget the breakdown part that is featured on the mid part of the song which were esential for the aesthetique side of the song.
The band sounds like a hardcore kid who is successfully extracting the emerging side of Converge’s Jane Doe.
Next song entitled “Saku Berisi Debu” features a song that is as heavy as the first track.
It is fast paced song that will break out the moshpit real hard. I hear so much Jane Doe’s influence on these first two songs.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad thing to feature.
To me it is a proven thing that Hallam Foe is a band that is able present a new construction of songwriting from many local skramz band has ever done years before.
Next the third song entitled “Aku Untukmu Selamanya” features a riot girl-esque vocal style at the beginning part of the sound with a mathy guitar riffs.
This track kinda describe me in a view of Kurt Balou having a side project with Kathleen Hanna. I know it may sounds weird!
Followed by a heavy distorted chorus part. And I guess what Hallam Foe try to present on this EP, is that ‘We are now outside the skramz boundary’.
This EP were sounding more like mathy hardcore punk records with a strong influence of bands like Botch, Converge, or Coalesce.
And that’s why I would say that Hallam Foe were more Sasscore than ever before.
The final track entitled “Sebuah Seni Untuk Bersikap Morbid” which starts with a heavy hardcore distorted guitar aggression.
I love this band when they put out a little danceable music composition on the mid part of the song.
It is sort of pleasant suprise to me that the band put out a bit disco composition into their music composition.
Comparing to their 2 previous EP’s, Hallam Foe on “Pesona Destruksi Diri” has expanded their musicality by presenting a heavier hardcore-punk leaning tunes.
As we know, the first two EP’s were more like a skramz tunes that is set up on its full-throttle position.
The band put out this EP with the help of two labels, Friendly Otter who helps the distribution in United States and Dingleberry Records who is being responsible to do a Europe distribution.
The mini album is out on cassette-tape format with the collage style of art featured on its cover.
This album sets up its own milestone for a skramz music in Indonesia.
