13/04/2026
On 11 April 2026 last saturday, the walls of 13 Box MJC, Kuching, Sarawak shook a bit due to the full force of Sarawak Metal Titan 2026 organised by the duo of Midlife Crisis Apai Urang Mr. Charles and Mr. Gerrald. From the first note to the final act, the event was an unrelenting display of underground power, bringing together bands from Kuching, Bintulu, Sibu, Miri, and Pontianak for a night of absolute destruction.
Kuching metalcore powerhouse Breathe In Ocean opened the show with emotion and aggression. From the moment they took the stage, their commanding presence and tightly delivered performance captured the crowd’s attention. As an opening act, they did more than just warm up the room as they set a high standard for the rest of the evening. A strong and memorable showing from Breathe In Ocean.
DANGDUR from Bintulu unleashed their brand of grindcore assault fused with the sway of dangdut tearing through their set with feral hostility and a wicked sense of mischief. It was a thrillingly unhinged collision of extremes: blastbeats, distortion and guttural fury meeting rhythms that injected an oddly infectious pulse into the chaos. Rather than feeling like a novelty, the combination landed with startling force, giving their performance a character all its own. By the time they were done, DANGDUR had not only ripped through the room with uncompromising intensity but had also sent the temperature of the evening soaring.
Hailing from Sibu, Baksidik hurled a defiantly punk rock spirit into the night. Their set felt unvarnished in the best possible way, loud, urgent and bristling with intent as guitars snarled and the rhythm section drove everything forward with relentless force. At the centre of it all was the formidable frontwoman, whose commanding stage presence and ferocious delivery gave the performance its beating heart. She stalked the stage with confidence and conviction, turning every lyric into a rallying cry, while the crowd responded in kind, clearly relishing every moment. It was a performance that did not ask for attention so much as seize it, leaving behind the unmistakable impression of a band with both bite and something genuine to say.
One of the evening’s most towering moments arrived with the appearance of Neraizz , the veteran grindcore powerhouse hailing from Kuching. There was no wasted movement, no empty spectacle, just pure violence unleashed with purpose. It was a performance of experience meets brutality, the result is not merely powerful. Sawann.... Gilaaa gilaaaa!! .
Rotting Century, Kuching’s tattooist death metal unit followed with a set absolutely drenched in heaviness and menace. There was a proper whiff of that old-school Florida strain in the mix too. Filthy in all the right ways, their performance lurched and ripped forward with the sort of ugly charm that death metal does best. By the end of it, the room was left wanting more, hungry for another round of carnage.
Miri thrash veteran Dire Crown came out swinging with a speed-fuelled attack and an undeniable sense of intensity that never really let up. Even though their set was unfortunately dogged by technical problems, they still pushed through and carried it to the end with grit and determination. A rough edge, sure, but one that only added to the chaos. Thank you Miri.
The female-fronted acts brought their own fearless presence to the battlefield, stepping up with confidence, command and absolutely no intention of being overlooked. Moral Deviation from Pontianak delivered a crushing death metal set with real authority and power, locking the room into their grip with punishing weight and a commanding stage presence.
HARAM JADAH, fronted by Kai from Sibu, matched that energy with a fierce and memorable performance of their own, charging through their set with conviction, presence and purpose. More than just bringing the noise, they delivered a powerful message to the crowd, giving their performance an added weight that lingered beyond fury. It was the sort of set that did not just demand attention but it meant something and the audience felt it. Sibu power!!!
Sindevourer also hailing from Pontianak, consists of familiar personal with the likes of Mulis Sohor Umar drove the brutality even deeper, grinding forward with unrelenting force and dark precision. Their set felt vicious and tightly wound, every riff and blast beating down with a cold, punishing intent that never let the room breathe. Adding to the weight of their appearance was the release of their EP Malamorta released under the flag of Evil Institution Records of Kuching, Sarawak. They surely delivered their assault on the night with extra sense of purpose and momentum.
Then came the final descent into shadow. The mostly anticipated band closing the night was KEBES, Kuching’s own Sarawakult black metal entity, who summoned a dark and sinister atmosphere to seal the event in true underground fashion. Their performance was bleak, chilling and commanding utterly fitting as the last ritual of the night particularly their bassist dubbed Lord Bisaki. Evil indeed.
By the time the final echoes faded, the show had run until 2.10 am the following morning. Yet even at that late hour, the spirit of the crowd had not waned. What unfolded over the course of the night was more than endurance. It is devotion.
Respect is also due to those who strengthened the foundations of the event: fellow collaborator 13 Box Karaoke V2 sound provider Neo 80 Music Studio, Segastar Lighting for the lighting, Mr Matthew Timbang from Institution Record and the MC from Restwell Extreme Chapter whose contributions ensured the night struck with the force it deserved. Thanks also to Menaul Gerasi Motorcycle Club and Satudarah Motorcycle Club for attending the show.
In short, Sarawak Metal Titan 2026 was a triumph. It proved once again that the underground scene in Sarawak in genera is not fadingl. Hopefully to see you in the next edition. Cheers!
