AS SAHAR - Phenomistik (CD)

Japanese version that was released on Sex Desire Records.

AS SAHAR began their activities around 1987, releasing three demos before recording their first album, "Phenomistik." This album would later be recognized as a significant work in the genre now known as "Eastern Black Metal." Over the years, "Phenomistik" became a blueprint for many new bands and, as a representative work of Eastern Black Metal, has been reissued numerous times in various formats and continues to sell well today. Witness the wrath of Eastern Black Metal in the land of the rising sun!

My first encounter with AS SAHAR, the formidable Singaporean black metal band, was around 1993. It was through a demo tape distributed by COCYTUS PROMOTION, run by Mr. Takeuchi, who was the organizer of the OCCULT GRINDER ZINE – a zine with incredibly underground content but excellently professional, non-cut-and-paste word processor layouts, making it a compelling read – and also the leader of the Osaka cult doom/black metal band OHURA MAZDO. While reissues have since made their music easily accessible on the internet, it was a very fresh discovery at the time. Southeast Asian, particularly Malay, metal scenes have a long history and have evolved uniquely, characterized by their distinctive melodies and compositions. Amidst a metal scene represented by bands like SIL KHANNAZ, BRAIN DEAD, SILENT DEATH, and NEBIRAS, AS SAHAR was unique in its relentless pursuit of darkness and primitivism, while also incorporating Malay metal melodies. NEBIULA PRODUCTIONS, run by Jaie, the vocalist of Malaysia's SIL KHANNAZ, was the main label releasing many of their albums. The fact that their music was rarely distributed overseas likely contributed to its cult status. Conversely, the ability to sell out domestically is a testament to the size of the local scene. Although AS SAHAR has a long history, Malik, the bassist, is the only original member remaining. Is it finally time, or just a coincidence that the timing is right? It's unbelievable to think that AS SAHAR would release a Japanese version or even perform in Japan, but perhaps the times have finally caught up. (Yutaka Kimura/Bloodbath Records)