Written By Chris Norris
World Metal Weekly: Indonesia
Terjemahan Bahasa Indonesia tersedia di bawah.
“Intro and closing translated into Bahasa Indonesia as a sign of respect to the scene.”
Where the Underground Is Massive and Still Overlooked
Indonesia hosts one of the largest underground metal scenes in the world, built across multiple city-based ecosystems, each with its own sound, history, and infrastructure. It’s loud, self-sustaining, and largely invisible to Western press cycles, so we are doing something about that.
While Europe and North America continue to dominate metal headlines, Indonesian bands have been building scenes city by city without waiting for outside validation.
• Jakarta is the epicenter: a massive population, nonstop shows, and thriving death metal, hardcore, grind, and crossover scenes.
• Bandung is often called the heart of Indonesian metal, known for extreme music, deep DIY ethics, and fiercely loyal audiences.
• Yogyakarta is smaller but culturally intense, with experimental, black metal, crust, and art-forward underground bands.
• Surabaya brings a heavy, aggressive, no-frills energy, with a strong death metal and hardcore presence.
This is a culture shaped by community run shows, relentless work ethic, and a refusal to soften extremity for export.
Death metal, grindcore, metalcore, hardcore, and experimental hybrids coexist side by side, supported by audiences who treat metal as a lived identity, not a niche.
In Indonesia, metal is uniquely mainstream, even the country’s president is a well-documented metalhead.
A few bands have broken through internationally. Voice of Baceprot (VOB) became the first Indonesian band to perform at the iconic Glastonbury Festival in the UK and have been featured by The New York Times, The Guardian, NME, and BBC. They were also named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024) list, a rare achievement for any metal artist, let alone one from Southeast Asia.
Voice of Baceprot – Whats the Holy
Burgerkill is the name metal purists recognize instantly. The band became the first Indonesian metal act to sign with a major global label (Sony Music) and has been consistently praised by Metal Hammer as one of the most important metal bands to emerge from outside the Western sphere.
Burgerkill – Kontinum
At Metal Lair, we focus on turning listeners onto what comes next. So beyond the internationally recognized names, here are seven Indonesian bands you need to hear immediately.
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Bahasa Indonesia
Indonesia memiliki salah satu skena metal bawah tanah terbesar di dunia, yang dibangun melalui berbagai ekosistem berbasis kota, masing-masing dengan suara, sejarah, dan infrastrukturnya sendiri. Skena ini keras, mandiri, dan sebagian besar tidak terlihat dalam siklus pemberitaan media Barat – karena itu kami melakukan sesuatu tentang hal ini.
Sementara Eropa dan Amerika Utara terus mendominasi tajuk utama metal, band-band Indonesia telah membangun skena mereka dari kota ke kota tanpa menunggu validasi dari luar.
• Jakarta adalah episentrum: populasi besar, pertunjukan tanpa henti, serta skena death metal, hardcore, grind, dan crossover yang berkembang pesat.
• Bandung sering disebut sebagai jantung metal Indonesia, dikenal dengan musik ekstrem, etos DIY yang kuat, dan basis pendengar yang sangat loyal.
• Yogyakarta lebih kecil, tetapi sangat intens secara kultural, dengan band-band eksperimental, black metal, crust, dan underground yang berorientasi seni.
• Surabaya membawa energi yang berat, agresif, dan tanpa basa-basi, dengan kehadiran kuat death metal dan hardcore.
Ini adalah budaya yang dibentuk oleh pertunjukan berbasis komunitas, etos kerja tanpa henti, dan penolakan untuk melunakkan ekstremitas demi pasar ekspor.
Death metal, grindcore, metalcore, hardcore, dan hibrida eksperimental hidup berdampingan, didukung oleh pendengar yang memperlakukan metal sebagai identitas yang dijalani, bukan sekadar ceruk.
Di Indonesia, metal secara unik bersifat arus utama – bahkan presiden negara ini dikenal luas sebagai seorang metalhead.
Beberapa band telah menembus panggung internasional. Voice of Baceprot (VOB) menjadi band Indonesia pertama yang tampil di Festival Glastonbury yang ikonik di Inggris dan telah diliput oleh The New York Times, The Guardian, NME, dan BBC. Mereka juga masuk dalam daftar Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2024), sebuah pencapaian langka bagi musisi metal mana pun, terlebih lagi dari Asia Tenggara.
Burgerkill adalah nama yang langsung dikenali oleh para puris metal. Band ini menjadi grup metal Indonesia pertama yang menandatangani kontrak dengan label global besar (Sony Music) dan secara konsisten dipuji oleh Metal Hammer sebagai salah satu band metal terpenting yang muncul dari luar lingkup Barat.
Di Metal Lair, kami berfokus untuk mengarahkan pendengar pada apa yang akan datang berikutnya. Jadi, melampaui nama-nama yang telah dikenal secara internasional, berikut tujuh band Indonesia yang perlu kamu dengar sekarang juga.
Setiap edisi berdiri sendiri, tetapi bersama-sama membentuk peta skena metal yang terus berkembang di seluruh dunia.
World Metal Weekly adalah Seri Orisinal Metal Lair™.
World Metal Weekly adalah seri global Metal Lair yang menyoroti skena metal di berbagai penjuru dunia.
Jasad – Rottrevore Records
City: Bandung, West Java
Gateway Track: Siliwangi (Rebirth of Jatisunda 2013)
This is arguably their most iconic track and the perfect entry point. It features their signature blend of traditional Sundanese rhythms (the “karinding” feel) translated into crushing death metal. It’s the song that helped them conquer international stages like Wacken and Bloodstock.
Deep Cut: C’est La Vie (C’est La Vie 1996)
Long before they were the kings of the Indonesian scene, they were experimenting with a slightly more technical, raw death metal sound. It’s a fascinating look at their origins before they leaned heavily into the “Brutal” sub-label.
Why Them:
Because this band sounds like they crawled out of a concrete sewer and brought decades of rage with them. Jasad don’t flirt with brutality, they live there.
Their riffs are blunt-force trauma, their vocals feel possessed, and the momentum never lets up.
If you want to understand why Bandung is feared in death metal circles, this is ground zero. This isn’t “interesting.” This is violent, committed, and real.
Deadsquad – Independent
City: Jakarta
Gateway Track: Manufaktur Replika Baptis (Profanatik 2013)
This is the gold standard for Indonesian tech-death. It’s relentless, precise, and usually the song that makes international fans’ jaws drop. It’s their most “popular” track for a reason, it bridges the gap between pure brutality and high-level musicianship.
Deep Cut: Perangai Nadir ( 2024)
A more recent release that shows their current trajectory. It’s a bit of a “new deep cut” because it highlights the band’s ability to remain relevant nearly two decades into their career, featuring blistering production and complex arrangements that even some long-term fans are still catching up on
Why Them:
Because they’re absurdly good and they know it. DeadSquad play technical death metal with surgical precision but never lose the savagery.
Every riff snaps, every transition lands, and the whole thing feels like controlled violence instead of math homework.
If you think Indonesian metal can’t hang with the global tech-death elite, this band will embarrass that assumption right out of you.
Down for Life –
Blackandje Records
City: Solo, Central Java
Gateway Track: Liturgi Penyesatan – Himne Perang Akhir Pekan 2013)
This is arguably their most iconic anthem. The title translates to “Liturgy of Misguidance,” and it perfectly encapsulates the band’s ability to mix religious imagery with metal’s rebellious spirit.
It features a massive, “Lamb of God-esque” groove that is instantly accessible to any metalhead. It’s a high-energy track designed for the mosh pit.
It showcases vocalist Stephanus Adjie’s lyrical depth, exploring pluralism and the social fabric of Solo, while maintaining a fierce, aggressive edge.
Deep Cut: Apokaliptika – (Pasukan Babi 2020)
While “Liturgi” is a classic, “Apokaliptika” represents a more recent, darker chapter in the band’s evolution. It was released during the pandemic (2020) and serves as a gift to their hardcore fanbase, known as the Pasukan Babi Neraka (Hell Pig Army).
This track is bleaker and more intense. It actually started as a song titled “Dead Shall Rise” before Adjie rewrote the lyrics in Indonesian to reflect the apocalyptic feeling of the global lockdown.
It’s a “deep cut” because it highlights the band’s adaptation and survival. It shows they aren’t just living off their 2013 glory; they are still documenting the “chaos of life” with modern production and even more crushing riffs.
Why Them:
Down for Life are one of the backbone bands of Indonesian hardcore. Rooted in Solo, Central Java, they represent the scene as lived culture, not trend or export product.
Their sound is confrontational, disciplined, and unapologetically grounded in community and resistance. This band has survived shifts in scenes, sounds, and attention without softening their intent.
If you want to understand Indonesian hardcore as something built from the ground up, not filtered through Western expectations, Down for Life are essential.
Seringai – High Octane Production
City: Jakarta
Gateway Track: Adrenalin Merusuh – (Seperti 2018)
This track is the sonic equivalent of a shot of espresso mixed with gasoline. From the opening drum fill to the massive, fuzzed-out main riff, it immediately grabs you by the throat.
It perfectly balances the grit of Motörhead with the modern groove of heavy metal.
If someone has never heard Seringai, this track explains their entire mission statement in under four minutes.
It showcases Sammy’s signature bark, the band’s impeccable timing, and a chorus designed to be shouted back by thousands of people in a muddy festival field. It’s accessible without sacrificing an ounce of its “High Octane Rock” edge.
Deep Cut: Lagu belum berjudul (Taring 2012)
“Lagu Belum Berjudul” (which literally translates to “Untitled Song”) is a bit of a legendary deep cut for Seringai fans.
It was eventually titled “Program Party Seringai” and was released on their second full-length studio album
You can see in old live clips or bootlegs, the band performed this track for years (notably at Urbanfest 2009) under the placeholder “Lagu Belum Berjudul.”
It became a fan favorite long before it had an official name or a studio home. When Taring finally dropped in 2012, it was officially titled “Program Party Seringai” and serves as one of the high-octane highlights of that record.
Why Them:
This band moves people. Seringai hit that rare sweet spot where riffs, groove, and cultural weight all collide.
They’re heavy without being cartoonish, political without preaching, and massive without losing credibility.
This is the sound of a scene that knows exactly who it is and doesn’t care if the West is paying attention or not. Turn the volume the fuck up and it makes sense instantly.
Komunal – Disaster Records
City: Bandung, West Java
Gateway Track: Komando Badai (Komunal 2018)
This track is the perfect “handshake” for new listeners. It captures that classic Komunal swagger—thick, bluesy riffs that feel like they were forged in a humid garage in Bandung but have the stadium-sized energy of 70s hard rock. The groove is infectious, and Doddy Hamson’s vocals give it that gritty, commanding edge that defines the band’s mid-period sound.
Deep Cut: Manusia Baja – (Hitam Semesta 2021)
While Hitam Semesta saw them leaning further into their stoner and heavy rock roots, “Manusia Baja” (Man of Steel) is a masterclass in tension and release. It’s a bit more atmospheric and sprawling than their early thrashier material, showcasing their growth as songwriters. It’s the kind of track that proves they aren’t just about speed; they’re about soul and heavy-as-lead vibration.
Why Them:
Komunal are absolute titans of the Indonesian scene, often called the “Kings of Southern Metal” in Southeast Asia for a reason.
Komunal is essential because they represent the “Bandung Pride” movement.
They successfully blended the aggression of metal with the soul of vintage rock ‘n’ roll, creating a sound that feels both global and uniquely Indonesian.
They’ve been a cornerstone of the scene since the early 2000s. Their lyrics often touch on social realities and the working-class spirit, making them relatable icons in the local underground.
If you like the grit of High on Fire mixed with the classic rock sensibilities of Deep Purple, Komunal is the bridge between those two worlds.
Siksa Kubur – Armstretch Records
City: Jakarta
Gateway Track: Renounce Me – (Eye Cry 2003)
This track from the 2003 album Eye Cry is a blistering introduction to the band’s signature sound. It perfectly captures the transition of Indonesian death metal into a more technical and professional era. The drumming is inhuman, and the riffs carry a level of aggression that helped put Jakarta’s extreme scene on the global map.
Deep Cut: Outro (Podium 2007)
While many fans come to Siksa Kubur for the high-octane violence, the “Outro” from Podium showcases their ability to craft an atmosphere. It provides a rare moment of dark, brooding reflection that makes the surrounding chaos of the album feel even more impactful. It’s a testament to their musicianship beyond just playing fast.
Why Them:
The band name is taken from Sepultura; Siksa Kubur means “Torture of the Grave,” a reference to the Islamic concept of the trials the soul faces after death.
Formed in 1996, they are one of the longest-running and most influential death metal acts in Southeast Asia.
Over nearly three decades, they have evolved from raw, old-school death metal into a precise, technical machine without losing their “street” edge.
They are the definitive sound of the Jakarta underground, representing the grit and intensity of one of the world’s most densely populated metal hubs.
Noxa – Blackandje Records
City: Jakarta
Gateway Track: Tanah Air Beta (Legacy 2011)
This track from the Legacy album is a quintessential example of Noxa’s ability to blend high-velocity grind with a sense of local pride.
While the tempo is blistering, the song carries a rhythmic weight that makes it accessible to those new to the genre. It captures the chaotic energy of the Jakarta streets in under two minutes of pure sonic assault.
Deep Cut: Lembata (Starving to Die) Grind Viruses 2006
Found on the Grind Viruses album, “Lembata” is a raw, uncompromising slice of social commentary.
It’s shorter and more abrasive than their later work, harkening back to the DIY roots of the Indonesian grindcore scene. It showcases the band’s early intensity and their commitment to the “fast-or-die” ethos of the underground.
Why Them:
Noxa is the gold standard for Indonesian grindcore. They proved that a band from Jakarta could achieve global reach while staying true to their political and social roots.
They were one of the first Indonesian extreme bands to tour extensively in Europe, breaking barriers for the entire Southeast Asian scene.
Founded by the late, legendary drummer Robin Hutagaol, the band has persevered through tragedy, continuing to uphold his high standards of speed and precision.
Their lyrics often tackle corruption and social injustice, making them a vital voice in the Indonesian counter-culture.
In Indonesia, metal isn’t a niche or a phase, it’s infrastructure.
It lives in basements, warehouses, rehearsal rooms, and packed local shows that never make the algorithm’s front page.
World Metal Weekly exists for scenes like this.
Keep your passport handy. We’re not done traveling.
Bahasa Indonesia
Di Indonesia, metal bukanlah ceruk atau fase sementara – ia adalah infrastruktur.
Ia hidup di ruang bawah tanah, gudang, ruang latihan, dan pertunjukan lokal yang padat dan jarang muncul di halaman depan algoritma.
World Metal Weekly hadir untuk skena seperti ini.
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World Metal Weekly FAQ:
Q: What is World Metal Weekly?
A: A guided tour through the loudest corners of the planet. One country per week, seven bands per stop, zero apologies for subjectivity.
Q: How do we pick the bands?
A: Taste, instinct, and a little chaos. The goal isn’t to chase hype, it’s to shine a light where the sparks are flying, whether anyone’s looking or not.
Q: Do I need a visa or a black-metal passport to follow along?
A: No paperwork required. Just headphones and questionable volume control decisions.
Q: Can bands submit music to be considered?
A: Absolutely. If you think your riffs can disturb the peace of a different continent, reach out. Worst case: we love it. Best case: we love it loudly.
Q: Does Metal Lair have any other weekly series like this?
A: Oh yes. If your appetite isn’t satisfied by one global feast, check out more crom Metal Lair:
- Seven Deadly Songs – our weekly hunt for the seven must-hear new tracks.
- Metalhead Horoscopes – your weekly forecast in riffs, not retrogrades.
- Deep Cuts: Metal’s Hidden Gems – a descent into the vaults where legendary weirdness sleeps.
- A Rip in Time: Women in Metal -A series celebrating the voices, pioneers, and rule-breakers reshaping heavy music’s DNA.
- Metal Legacy Profiles – Deep-dive essays honoring artists who shaped metal’s sound, culture, and philosophy. These aren’t timelines or greatest-hits lists, but examinations of impact, conflict, evolution, and what each figure left behind.
- Ministry of Metal – A satirical authority devoted to the laws, rituals, and unspoken rules of heavy music. Features proclamations, decrees, cultural edicts, metal lore, and an original comic book series, all delivered with humor and bite.
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About the Author
Chris Norris is the voice behind Metal Lair’s global metal coverage, from funeral doom in the north to thrash born in the streets. Known for spotlighting bands before algorithms notice them and for writing with the precision of a scalpel… or a well-sharpened guitar pick. Vinyl collector. Night-shift journalist. Believes heavy music has no borders.