Written by A. Akbar
There is no denying that Brunei is the land of unexpected treasures. This statement applies well when it comes to the number of talented bands and artists that had left their marks in the local music scene. From rap groups such as Micbandits, who were considered to be one of the first groups to pioneer the hip hop genre in Brunei and get signed by an international label, to Haziq and The Giggles, who managed to produce a music video starring Emma Roberts, Bruneians has actually done their part in lifting up the local scene.
Sadly, sometimes life gets in the way, and those days of fulfilling their dreams of pursuing the arts as a living had to come to an end for some who had to face real responsibilities, and get real jobs in order to survive the real world. But don’t fret! Thanks to the internet, your contributions to the scene will live on, and will never be forgotten.
This is a list of the top 10 Bruneian bands that I think you should definitely check out! Although I myself had played in numerous bands over the years, I will try to keep the list as unbiased as I can, which is difficult because there are a lot of hidden gems in Brunei that the majority have yet to discover.
So here they are!
#10 Airholes
There is little to almost no information of this band online, only a bandcamp link to their album, which is free to download on Muzikaliti. Execute Ill Memories, released in 2006, sounded like it came from… well, 2006. Influenced by the emo and pop punk bands of the 2000s such as Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Fall Out Boy… etc; Execute Ill Memories’ reflects teen angst in a way not many other Bruneian band was able to at the time. Aimed for those in high school, with straightened emo hair, and skinny jeans, who comments “Rawr xD” all over their boyfriend’s/girlfriend’s Friendster, Execute Ill Memories has to be one of those albums that defined Brunei Emo scene back in the 2000s. Personally for me, I really enjoy the album to this day. As a matter of fact, I am currently listening to Not Cool Enough For Gadong as I am writing this, and it brings back memories of high school (even though I was still in primary 5 in 2006), and a time when it was cool to hang out at The Mall.
#9 Wartillery
Inspired by the sounds of classic Thrash metal bands, such as Slayer, Metallica, Anthrax, Judas Priest, Pantera, and to an extent, Iron Maiden, Wartillery has to be one of the most unique Metal bands in Brunei’s stratosphere. Personally, I have seen them play live back in 2013 in KB, and their stage present was just unbelievable. Elmi Ros’ vocals, which for me almost sounded like Tom Araya of Slayer, coupled with fast driven guitar riffs and incomparable solos have given Wartillery a distinct sound over any other metal bands in Brunei. Their demo EP, Your War Sucks Without Artillery (released in January 12, 2010), is still available for free download on Muzikaliti, which I recommend to check out!
#8 Not Famous
Fronted by the man from Jupiter Waves, Not Famous brings teen angst and frustrations over a high school crush to a whole new level. Reminiscent of the early Blink-182 sound, Not Famous consisted of three members, the guitarist as well as lead vocalist, the bassist, and drummer, which is all you need to form a punk band (sometimes). I first heard of Not Famous when I was in form 4 (year 10), which was a bit too late because their last Facebook update was on April that same year. I managed to borrow a copy of their debut CD from a friend a few years back, and had a listen whilst driving from KB to Bandar, and I must say, there were no other punk bands that is like Not Famous. They are one of those bands you listen to, and makes you want to start your own band. Their only surviving music video is a track off their album, 2nd Song. In this, you get a glimpse of the old relic in the form of a CD shop that used to be in Kiulap, opposite of IGS.
#7 The Kidney Farm
Kidney Farm was one of those bands could have gone big if they really wanted to. An indie rock band with a very distinct sound and poetry driven lyrics that tells a story, Kidney Farm has their own signature. The band was fairly short lived, having to only been active in 2010-2011. In a way, they were like the Bruneian Nirvana or Sex Pistols, being short lived and producing a few tracks, and then just disbanded, which keeps the mystery and curiosity of their music alive. Even the name Kidney Farm, sounded like they were aiming to stand out in a time when Bruneian bands were very active and everyone was trying to make a name for themselves. Two of my favorite songs from Kidney Farm has to be Autumn Boy, which music video is still available on their youtube channel, and On Top Of The World. Nothing much to say about this band, except #BringBackKidneyFarm!
#6 Perfect Scums
Started off as a prom night band, Perfect Scums transcends the concept of genre with their distinct experimental sound from one album to another. Their debut EP, Social A, was a hard middle finger to their shitty high school experience and dissatisfaction of society’s rules. While their follow up, Chapter 13, is much more of an experimentation with different sounds ranging from rock, pop, and funk. Their third album, Electronic Heartbeats, released in 2016 paves the way for the band to go for more of an 80s electronic pop neo-funk kind of sound. The band is currently still active, and are currently working on the follow up to their recent release, Luna.
#5 Astroturf
A two piece band, consist of Hafiz, frontman and guitarist, and Azim, the drummer, Astroturf had been around for quite a while. With their prominent guitar sound, airy vocals and simple drum patterns, Astroturf is one of those bands in Brunei that is underappreciated, but they keep on playing no matter what. Their album, How To Try, available on their Soundcloud, tells you more about the band than I ever could. The band did their fair share of playing small live shows here and there, and also recorded a new single for the first Progresif Locals Only album which was released back in 2017.
#4 The Monopolist
Inspired by the early 2000 garage rock revival sound from bands such as The Strokes, The Monopolist brings a new side of indie rock into Brunei with the release of their debut single, Second Best, back in 2010. They went through their fair share of fame around the indie circuit, as they played live for local radio stations, and even opened for Karacoma at The Mall, Gadong. Apart from that, they also played at school events, which was how most Bruneian bands got started. Unfortunately, The Monopolist did not last long, as they pursued their own paths in life. Second Best summarizes the band’s sound, and leaves listeners wondering what could’ve happened if they kept on going.
#3 Wan Long Kok
Quite unknown to most people, Wan Long Kok has been cited as one of the most influential metal bands in the local scene. Reminiscent of Thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Pantera, to name a few, Wan Long Kok was a product of conformity, and channeled their anger and dissatisfaction of the Bruneian culture through their music. Their unfinished EP, Before It Burns, is a good definition of the anger and frustrations they had towards the conformist culture in Brunei. Although we never heard anything from them again, they continue to be one of the most influential band in the underground metal scene, as everyone I talk to cited Wan Long Kok as their inspiration to get out there and play.
#2 Eda Brig
Probably one of the first Bruneian rock bands I ever seen live, Eda Brig brings rock’n’roll to a place I could have never imagined. Bursting into the scene with their explosive self titled LP back in 2011, Eda Brig takes inspiration from artists such as (but not limited to) Jimi Hendrix and the Foo Fighters. Apart from that, the LP introduces a mixture sounds that was unheard of in the local scene at the time. The use of a mandolin and a violin bow on an electric guitar for example, which is something Jimmy Page would do, gave birth to a new depth in the Bruneian music scene. The combination almost gave the album a sense of a medieval-Tolkien ambiance when you listen to it and get carried away with the hypnotising melodies Chief produced on his Gibson Flying V! The follow up to the self titled, Visi was released in 2014, expanded more on the experimental side of Eda Brig. I personally had the privilege to attend the launching event for the album, and got myself a copy of Visi signed by all three members. The band also released an EP, titled Tiga, back in 2016, and also played a show in Miri recently. We hope to hear more from Eda Brig and what they have to offer in the future!
#1 Southern Line
Brought to you by the same guys who brought you Do It Good Records, Southern Line is a fusion of blues, folk, and indie rock. The band did a fair share of shows inside and outside of Brunei. I first heard of the band back in 2013, after the release of their debut album, Light Bridge Over Heavy Waters. Like Kidney Farm, Southern Line has a recognisable sound. The use of bluesy vocals, unique drumming techniques and jangly-distorted guitar riffs, Southern Line can almost be mistaken for a band that came from the southern states in the US. No surprises there though, the guys in the band are very musically inclined and were influenced mostly by old jazz and blues bands, and also post punk bands from the 80s. Unlike the other bands we mentioned on this list, I’d like to think Southern Line never really disbanded, due to the fact that they vaguely posted a link for a new track they uploaded on Youtube titled Ocean Road (part 1). Part 1? Is there a Part 2? If there is, what is it? Another single? Possibly an album? Let’s keep our fingers crossed!
Thank you for the mention about Eda Brig, it's a honour to be listed among these great bands! I remember following and watching them, especially those from the 2000s! Eda Brig are currently taking a hiatus from recording and performing but we will play live gigs whenever possible. In the meantime, I am focusing on my solo stuff along collaborating with other musicians: https://alifchief.bandcamp.com/ .
-Alifchief