GASOLINE GRENADE/THEMINDLESSSHOW Reviewed in RAZORCAKE #60

This split cassette release between two Malaysian bands is a reminder of just how global punk is. Both bands play relatively mainline hardcore, but with a freshness/vitality that you rarely get out of U.S. suburban counterparts. The recordings are raw and listening to it on cassette feels like checking out a breakthrough demo tape back in the day. The lyrics are primarily in English, except for one of the songs, “Dilarang Melarang,” which is in Malay. Both bands play fast hardcore, with vocals ranging from screamed to melodic. There are some kids having a blast with these guys somewhere in Malaysia. And that’s a comforting thought. –Art Ettinger (Pure Minds, puremindsrecords.blogspot.com / Pissart, pissartrecords.com)

Reviewed in Shock & Awe #2

Shock & Awe 2nd issue (November 2010) is out now! Contains writings by Joe Kidd, Hazril Wan, Steppin Razor, Asparagus Alfafa, Norr Yaacob, Ci Chaan , John Riwang and Shaiful Zerox, Interview with Steve Towson. Some Audio, zine, films and ancient stuff Reviews. I've read half of it and it's awesome! you should get yours now! Meanwhile do check out Gasoline Grenade/Themindlessshow split tape reviewed in this issue!

GASOLINE GRENADE / THE MINDLESS SHOW

Split Tape

I am always cautious with every melodic pop punk bands. I am not a convert of the NOFX/FATWRECK church of melodic punk rock and I don't see this changing any time soon. I always have these sickly feelings when hearing some melodic punk rock that don't caters to losers and real punk rockers.

Anyway, good punk rock is good punk rock regardless if it is melodic or not. Both bands are from MAlaysia and this has probably been in the works for a very long time as evident from the liner notes. GASOLINE GRENADE is on side A and they rips with 5 anthemic and melodic punk rock that will get you losing your head and your voice (due to excessive sing along) in the mosh pit. Now this is the kind of melodic punk rock I have no issues listening to. It got balls and don't cater to teenage girls and boys on the look out for the next boy band to be the pin up in their rooms or in some extreme cases, the object of their lustful desires.PISSART describe them as being influenced by I FARM, PROPAGANDHI, SCREECHING WEASELS and YOUR MOTHER. Can't say how accurate that is but if it is coming from the label, it has got to be true. Damn it, I want more. Hope they have something in the works.

THE MINDLESS SHOW is on the side B and they don't disappoint either. Similar to GASOLINE GRENADE but without the urgency and the overtly MTV pop punk feel that I always ignorantly associated with melodic punk rock.Some of the songs are bordering to hardcore so that's sure to get me going for a while. I am pretty impressed with what I am hearing on this split tape and can't wait to get my hands on their split 5" with SMG- Hatta Nirman

More TMS/DC split reviewed!

Reveiwed by beowolfproductions.com

DEAD CHRETIENS / THE MINDLESS SHOW - SPLIT(16 track CD) PISS ART RECORDS

DEAD CHRETIENS is a old school Punk band out of Canada that features members of CUMSOCK. These guys play very raw spastic Punk that reminds me of a lot of the Punk bands from the late 70's & early 80's. THE MINDLESS SHOW also play Punk Rock music, but theirs has touches of new & old school Punk styles. There is even some slight Ska influences that shine through at times. I think these guys are from Malaysia where the labels is from that put this out. They are singing in a different language on some songs too. I dug this a lot, cause I'm a fan of old & new school punk bands. If you like both styles then search this one out through the label or the bands!

other reviews:
http://www.beowolfproductions.com/MusicReviewsMay09.html

RFKL #2 the belated Gig Review

I've found the review at radiogaga blogspot, this is the old review of one of gig which TMS has participated,it is called Radio Free KL (RFKL) part deux!, i'll just put it here for documentation purpose.other than that this gig also featured some other local acts namely; Auburn,Fathulistiwa Soundscapes, Komplot, Oddity, This gig is ok lah awesome jugak, the funny part is we're the only raw dirt cheap ass so cal punk rockers on that day. Along our experience in playing shows this is the official first time where we got some shit trouble with other kids,so on that day we're dissipated/chased off from the place where we put our equipments and the place where we hang out while waiting our turn to perform by some err.. shit rockstars jocks, i'm not sure who the heck is he, the guy was carrying his expensive looking guitars with long straight hair tight jeans, tight small tshirt and skinny at 1.3m tall, anyway whoever hell you are I must say shit on you arsehole!, the place were so damn big, and i don't know, while you're coming utterly late and you still want to 'menyentil' as you can at that shittin small space. so take it assholes, we don't give a fuc,so we moved our ass to other area, no big deal.haha anyway it's an old shit story,so the past is past, we don't mind of sharing, we're more than glad to share anything with others, but with that guy silent emo whinning fxxkx and those rockstars snobbish fuck face just make me really really sick.Well just smile and lets share the space lah bro!

Oh ye, thanks a lot to xumb and the gang for inviting us to join this gig. to know more about their current and future activities check it out here

so heres the review:-

RFKL#2 Review
It was a blast! Although it started late than scheduled(the sound guys were stuck in traffic for 2 hours, and had to send another set of equipments to another show at the other side of town!), the crowd and especially the bands stayed, played, and conquered! I would like to express my deepest honest gratitude to each and everyone who came and supported the show.

The Mindless Show kicked things off with their full out punk rock set. I'm quite surprised at how good their song arrangements are, and playing live, considering they're quite a new band and played a handful of shows. Live version of "Nonsense" sounded better and raw than the mp3, along with their other tunes that're infused with socio-political messages. IMHO, they are the remaining few local punk rock/hardcore outfits that matters today! They have some releases out and are coming with new ones, so do check 'em out!

Next up was Fathullistiwa Soundscapes backed up with a full band. Played some new songs(one of them sounded Arabic!) along with the rest from the Romantikarat album. I'd say all the live and rock versions are as good as the electronica-vampirepop album ones! Though tired of sleepless nights prior finishing his paintings, Fathul rocked the stage, even managed to make some funny remarks between songs! Now that's one hardworking and entertaining man! Recently he's even offering some new songs for free download(ask him nicely here). Some of the new acts in town with the same genre and integrity would be Loque of Butterfingers' solo stint, Monoloque(note to self: get him to play RFKL!).

Oddity came in and surprised the crowd(as always) with their melodic screamo set! Don't let Dila's lady-like appearance deceive you, as her growls and stage antics made some guy vocalists I know look like Siti Nurhaliza in pants! Aida shredded her axe merciless and made the whole band sounded tighter than some bands with 2 guitars! Ned filled in ex-bassist, Hana's(who even came and support!) position with pride and Sehar beat the drums, with the second crash cymbal or not, with might. Girl power(with some men backing up!) has never been this metal!

One of the most sought-after band in town, Komplot, made sure that each and every person in the room had a great time, and yes we all did! Zack and band and his army of Komplotan proved the theory of bringing back 70's disco mixed with rock & roll are simply psychedelic and groovy in its own right. Everyone danced and sang, especially to the fan-favorite single, "Konflik". One guy even had his own Komplotan shirt custom made! Now that's one cool fanatic! Complete with colorful light show from their disco ball and their motto "Disko Tanpa Risiko", they hold all the rights as the disco-rock ambassador of the country!

Last band of the night, Auburn fed not only the crowd hunger for more sonic assault, but their creative souls in need, indeed. Progression is their name of the game, and they played it with passion. Watching this band play and listening to their music, live or on CD, enlightens you to their world of interstellar-psyche-rock. They didn't ask for a mosh pit or sing-alongs, but for us to merely listen, and indulge the details that they've put in the rich and unique layers of drums, guitars, bass, and samples. And Izuan's soft singing vocals proves that you don't have to scream like Max Cavalera to get the crowd moving and have a hard-rocking night! In the midst of production of their new release, they are more ready than ever to take over the scene, and if your are still sleeping with your trend-following-sounding band, wake up and smell the sonic revolution the true and ground-breaking artist that is Auburn will be bringing to you!Thanks a million to Joe of Ricecooker, Tom of Bollocks, my lovely Nadia, Man of Annexe, As and the EQ guys, and Izuan, Zack, Fathul, Kabir, Dila and their respective bands and fans, Auburn Angels, Komplotan, everyone involved, from start till end, for making the impossible show, possible! Again, a thousand apologies and regrets for the show delay and any inconveniences and technical difficulties caused. Postmortem are being carried out for the next bigger, better and more harder-rocking installment of Radio Free KL! Cheers!

TMS featured in MRR #307

The Mindless Show latest EP "Apakebangang?" was reviewed in the demo section for Maximum Rock & Roll #307 (December 2008). I was too late to pick it up at The Ricecooker Shop, so i asked Pijan to typed it out and e-mailed me the review. Thanks Pijan. Here it is:

"THE MINDLESS SHOW – The AT THE DRIVE IN phenomenon runs a lot deeper than I thought. These guys hail from Malaysia and sound a lot like those dudes. THE MINDLESS SHOW plays a certain mature brand of HC that was perfected well during the ‘90s. These guys seem incredibly talented and the songs are most often mid-tempo, but have some slower rockers that remind me of STRAWMAN. The standout happened to be the quickest and also the last track, I keep hitting repeat to hear just that song. Songs are sung in English except for one, which has a long intro and, I’m guessing, sung in Malay. Lyrics employ the “personal is political” format. I’m into this and hope great things for these guys. Really cool packaging and music makes this a great demo" (Vinnie)

thanks Vinnie and Maximum Rock & Roll!

-Shah-