Indonesian avantgarde metal veterans Kekal have posted 8 new songs, which are available for streaming online at the band's Soundcloud page. These songs are among 11 total from their electronic-induced new album Autonomy, to be released in October 2012 by German label Whirlwind Records, on CD and digital download.
Indonesian avantgarde metal band Kekal has announced that their 9th full-length album titled Autonomy will be officially released on CD and digital formats between September and October 2012 by Whirlwind Records (as release dates vary on each region, exact dates will be announced later).
Indonesian avantgarde metal band Kekal has released a new music video for the song "Rare Earth Elements" from their upcoming new album Autonomy. The official release of the album is planned for June. Meanwhile, the video, directed and edited by Jeff Arwadi, can be seen on the band's official Facebook page or below.
"Track One", the new video from Indonesian avantgarde metallers Kekal, can now be watched below.
The message behind the video as explained by the band: "First off, I am AGAINST all sorts of endorsement towards hierarchies in social life.. But as human, as in animal, I believe that we tend to behave such way, where the more dominant one bullies the less dominant one.. Bullying happens everywhere, across all cultures, ethnicities, and genders, and it happens in many forms and contexts.. On this video, I took a very old public domain footage about an experiment to 3 rats, where in such cases, they developed a hierarchy between the most dominant and the less dominant ones.. The less dominant rat on the experiment did not fighting the more dominant one until the end, but instead it developed a kind of behavior where it no longer wanted to eat the food and to let it consumed by the more dominant one..
Track Listing:
01. Track One
02. Gestalt Principles of Matter Perception
03. A Linear Passage
04. Tabula Rasa
05. Private School of Thought
06. The Regulars
07. Departure Gate 8
08. Heartache Memorial
09. Let Us Blend
10. Open World
11. End Unit of The Universe
Name of record label, release date, and additional details will be announced soon.
"8", the eight full-length album from Kekal is a collection of thoughts and emotions blended together into a unique yet bold statement. Each song displays its character as a balance between electronic and organic elements, rhythm and melody, aggression and atmosphere, simplicity and complexity, beauty and the beast. With "8", Kekal redefines the term 'experimental' in its true sense, but yet listeners will find the entire album accessible and digestible.
As indecisive as a five-year-old in a toy store, Kekal - the so-called clinically dead metal band from Indonesia - have confirmed a new album is planned for 2010. When avantgarde becomes beyond the grave.
"Good News! Kekal is NOT dead, and it is proven that new songs are currently in the production.
After speculations about the current status of Kekal following the departures of all band members last year, it is confirmed that a new Kekal studio album is planned for 2010.
The new album will be some sort of "collective effort". It means that all 3 former key members (Jeff, Azhar Levi and Leo) have contributed in making "the whole art-form in one package", while not limited only on the music side. Levi is currently making the entire artwork for the album and Jeff is producing the music. Two songs will also have Leo's guitar works.
Last week, Kekal announced the last two remaining band members were leaving the band, but the name Kekal is kept alive. Read the entire statement again at this location.
Now, Kekal are offering no time-limit free downloads of their three albums: "Audible Minority" (2008), "Acidity" (2005), and "1000 Thoughts of Violence" (2003). All download links as well as info on where to buy the CD can be found on this page.
Moreover, the band would like to stress again that, although there are no current active members in the band, the status of Kekal is NOT disbanded.
Official press release, taken from the Kekal newsletter
Jeff Arwadi and Leo Setiawan are leaving Kekal effective immediately. Arwadi and Setiawan were the last two remaining Kekal members. Bassist Azharlevi Sianturi already left the band in March. Throughout the past few months, Jeff has been securing all copyright and other rights of the entire Kekal's "intellectual property" including the band's entire releases back-catalog as well as all official internet sites, and also plan to make some of the band's important albums for free download. However, after seeking some legal advices, he decided to keep Kekal to remain exist as a band (read: institution) albeit without active band-members.
"Audible Minority", the new 7th full-length album from Kekal will be released tomorrow (on December 25) via NePlusUltra Music. According to a press release, the title "Audible Minority" is based on the fact that the music on the album has mapped itself into the extreme minority status: something beyond recognition of the musical norms. "Audible Minority" is a stateless, nameless, and label-less manifesto made from all the bitterness and pain. Almost 2 years in the making, "Audible Minority" was constructed during various personal events of the band members' lives.
Under the motto: if you like what you hear, you are more than welcome to buy the CD or make a donation, this album also has a free/by-donation download available on the first 8 songs out of 11 total, which can be obtained directly on Last.fm. (Note: for all who did the Pre-Orders will receive a link to download entire 11 Tracks right away!)
"We finally signed a worldwide licensing deal with a U.S. record label NePlusUltra Music for our 7th album "Audible Minority", and they will release the album in December 2008. NePlusUltra Music is a new label who understands Kekal's vision, and we believe they will back us up full-force in order to break the limits.
The first pressing of the CD version will be a special Digipak format, strictly limited to 777 copies hand-numbered. Digital version will also be available for download. The most interesting part is that through NePlusUltra Music website, we will offer the Pay-what-you-want / Free Download version at the time of release. This legal Free Download version will have 8 out of 11 tracks of the album with no time-limit.
The title "Audible Minority" is based to the fact that the music on the album has mapped itself into the extreme minority status; something beyond recognition of the musical norms. "Audible Minority" is a stateless, nameless, and label-less manifesto made from all the bitterness and pain. The album that is entirely bleak, gloom and dark.
Almost 2 years in the making, "Audible Minority" has been constructed during various personal events in life. It all began in September 2006, before the release of "The Habit of Fire", and continued to shape itself up until May 2008.
Final Track-Listing:
1. The Vampire Song download the song at Last.fm]
2. Conditional Destiny
Indonesia's Kekal have issued the following update:
"We are giving away our 4th album "1000 Thoughts Of Violence" (2003) for free download, only on limited time until August 31st, 2008.
If you haven't got a chance to fully experience the album, now is the time! And to those of you who are opposed in getting the music for free, don't worry, we are also open for donations!
All the details and download links can be found at the following URL. Please feel free to download and re-distribute freely as you see fit."
"Hi, I'm Jeff.. I'm releasing this update news on behalf of KEKAL, the band you either LOVE or HATE..
Kekal have gone through some very tough times since last year, mostly due to the geographical factors, and we also have our own personal struggles that needed to be taken care of as first priorities.. I am living in Canada now, make it really hard to communicate with rest of the band members in Indonesia, and if we have time to talk, we prefer to talk more on personal things as close friends, rather than talking about Kekal and all the crap and utter nonsense that happens in the music business and music scene in general..
But, however, after sooo many times considering for possible options whether we should quit the band or put the band under eternal hiatus, or maybe even worse than those two, I have decided to persevere and keep the passion alive by continue working on the new material for Kekal's next album, all by myself unfortunately, which I planned it to be released sometime in 2008.. Please note that Azhar Levi Sianturi and Leo Setiawan ARE STILL official members of Kekal up to this point, and we have decided to keep Kekal as a trio, even though they couldn't contribute to this new material due to a lot of reasons.. We understand that it is better to keep it that way..
Open Grave Records is currently streaming the entire new album from Indonesian Avantgarde Metal band Kekal. This is their sixth album "The Habit Of Fire", which releases in North America, Australia and Japan on May 15th.
Described as "an experimental (but yet accessible) 70-minute epic concept album of urban avantgarde metal, with a liberal use of electronic elements and mix of countless musical sub-genres to accompany their trademark guitar-driven soundscapes," "The Habit Of Fire" features the following track listing:
01. Prelude: Worldhate Chronicle
02. The Gathering Of Ants
03. Isolated I
04. Manipulator Generals (Part I Of Dictatorship)
(1) - Failure Is The System
