06/06/2025

FRIDAY | JUNE 6, 2025

26

LYFE

Melly Goeslaw draws 6,000 fans in Bukit Jalil

sense, Melly showed music is more than mere entertainment – it is a language of emotion that unites two nations. Melly’s opening number was Ku Bahagia , after which she took the audience on a journey through time, touching on themes of adolescence, first love and unrequited love. “I am grateful for this special opportunity and for being accepted by the Malaysian audience. “Thank you for still listening to and feeling my music. Even though we speak different languages, we are united through the heart,” she said. As a tribute to her artiste friends in Malaysia, Melly also performed a medley of iconic local songs such as Janji Manismu (by Datuk Aishah), Aku Cinta Padamu

strength of its Forever Lifeless demo. And what a fine debut album this version of Impurity has coughed out. The Eternal Sleep is a proper celebration of the original fuzzy, buzzsaw tone that made a name for Swedish bands, giving rise to the subgenre of melodic death metal, as popularised by seminal acts such as Entombed and Dismember. Looking to re-create that sound and tone of those early albums such as Left Hand Path and Ever Flowing Stream , Impurity decided to return to the source by engaging Tomas Skosberg and Dan Swano to produce its first LP. The fact Impurity opted to record in the renowned Sunlight Studio in Gothenburg obviously helped as it nailed that famed “HM-2” sound perfectly. The band has acknowledged Skosberg was instrumental in getting the guitar tone just right. Fans of early Entombed and Dismember will love what Impurty has done. Capturing the power and dynamics of those pioneering albums alongside that fat fuzzy tone has elevated Eternal Sleep into something (Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza) and Isabella (Search), creating a deeply meaningful moment. In a touching display of support, Siti and Datuk Amy Search, who were seated among the audience, rose to their feet and sang along with Melly. The moment felt even more special with the appearance of Indonesian actor Nicholas Saputra, famed for his role as Rangga in the Indonesian film Ada Apa Dengan Cinta, who delivered a heartfelt poetry recital. In addition to melancholic ballads, Melly energised the crowd with upbeat numbers such as Pencinta Wanita, Hey Ladies and Tak Tahan Lagi, with the performance further enlivened by a special collaboration with rising Indonesian singer Dhinda Ghania. Popular Malaysian singer Aina Abdul also captivated the audience with her powerful solo performance of Cinta . Throughout the two-and-a-half-hour concert, Melly, who is also a composer, appeared in four avant-garde outfits, each showcasing the bold and unique elements synonymous with the Indonesian diva. Towards the end of the concert, Melly shared a heartfelt wish: “Allow me to keep coming here (to Malaysia) every year.” Melly previously staged two concerts in Malaysia – “Ada Apa Dengan Melly (Back To School)” in 2023 and “Ada Apa Dengan Melly & Friends (Malam Graduasi)” last year. – Bernama

I NDONESIAN singer Melly Goeslaw’s third concert in Malaysia in three years drew an impressive crowd. Some 6,000 fans turned up to watch her perform at her recent concert “Ada Apa Dengan Melly…? Prom Nite” at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. They were there not just to watch Melly perform, but to relive the magical moments of their youth through her songs, which are synonymous with Indonesian film soundtracks. Known as Indonesia’s Lady Gaga due to her unique fashion o Indonesian diva’s concert also attracts local celebrities

Melly delights the crowd with a medley of local hits.

Excited Melly fans pose during the concert. – PICS FROM BERNAMA Known as Indonesia’s Lady Gaga, Melly is known for her unique fashion sense. Impurity returns to root sound of Swedish melodic death metal The singer performing at her third concert in Malaysia in three years.

The thing that keeps the whole enterprise into sinking into a pointless carbon copy is the band’s innate grasp of dynamics. These guys know just when to slow things down and just when to bludgeon listeners with a well-timed blast to the eardrums. It is not just the guitar tone, but also the fat bass lines and in-your-face drum sounds that will have fans of this subgenre squalling in orgasmic delight. Metal, in particular this niche version of it, depends greatly on sonic attacks to create lasting impressions and Impurity nails it. Lament to the Lost One and Rectifying Pieces have riffs that will have listeners playing air instruments in glee, regardless of gender or age. Yes, it is that infectious and it is metal delivered with a fine, steely edge, all powered by the famed HM-2 guitar effects pedal. As Oscar Wilde famously quipped, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. Amen to that! The Eternal Sleep is released via the Hammerheart imprint and is available to stream on all major platforms. – by R.BALA

was necessary to avoid confusion with a Danish black metal band of the same name, but the replacement did little to alleviate the confusion. There are three other bands calling themselves Impurity! But, this Swedish group persisted and was swiftly picked up by Hammerheart Records based on the

ALBUM REVIEW

AS far as band monikers go, Impurity is as bland and generic as one can get for a death metal band. Hailing from Stockholm in Sweden, the group was formed in 2021 and was formerly known as Damnation. A rebranding

The Eternal Sleep is released via the Hammerheart imprint and is available to stream on all major platforms. quite special.

The influence of those early Swedish death metal progenitors can be heard on tracks such as Denial of Clarity and Ancient Remains . Listening without glancing at track information, listeners could be forgiven for thinking these tunes were lost Entombed or Dismember tracks.

Impurity hails from Stockholm, Sweden. – PICS FROM FACEBOOK @IMPURITY