35 Years Of ROXX: 90's Metal Children's 'Holy Bible' Eternal Artifact Re-released

Roxx Remastered 2022 (Private Doc)

JAKARTA - ROXX's self-titled debut album or most people call it Black was re-released in CD format by Kamar Musik ID and Total Metal Music in mid-July yesterday. One of the metal artifacts in the history of Indonesian music, this return to the celebration of ROXX's 35th anniversary.

Black presented the powerful beat of drummer Arry Yanuar and a line of distorted songs plus buying and selling of riffs and guitar interludes from Jaya and Iwan. It opens with Gontai which begins with a dashing guitar riff, then is accompanied by a very constant boom of bass and drum beats.

In the second track, Ruler, drums are again the protagonists before being responded by twin guitar shards and Trison's loud vocals that break through in between the gaharnya domination of distortion.

The background vocals that adorn the verse make this song even more manly. "Garping...a mighty step, towards the arid desert. HOTTER...more ferocious, coloring the atmosphere."

Meanwhile, Dark and Ada Nothing are the two calmest songs on this album. Especially with the clean guitar sound dripping at the beginning, it really makes a difference from the other numbers. But, don't be complacent, guitar distortion will soon hit the chorus and interlude. Although with a softer level.

Especially for the melodic Ada Nothing interlude, listeners will fly to Metallica's ballad numbers such as Fade To Black, One or Nothing Else Matter. Although Jaya once dismissed this assumption; "Ah, nothing like Metallica!" to the author several years ago.

There are shades of Anthrax within 5 cm. The sound of bass and drums that blended in from the intro, felt like a tear when it was bombarded with powerful guitar riffs and Trison's outspoken singing style.

Without setting aside ...The Outcast, Society Way, Price and Superstar, the real champions of this album are of course Echo Rock. Containing optimistic lyrics, this song is wrapped in an anthemic rhythm from beginning to end. The chorus often invites mass curation when ROXX brings it on stage.

The striking difference in the initial version of this album - when it was released via PT. Suara Sentral Sejati and Blackboard Indonesia in August 1992 - with the current version, it is clearly stated in the sound quality. This time, it has been reworked and more 'kick'.

As one of the 'holy books' for metal children in the 90s, it is no exaggeration if the author included this album in Inrocknesia, which was released last February. In Chapter IV: Inspiration, this album resides in a manuscript entitled The Eternal Heritage of Local Music on page 229.

The Black album is paired with nine local albums selected by the author, including; Kampungan (Slank), Behind The 8th Ball (Rotor), The Head Sucker (Sucker Head), and Jabrik (Edane). So, there is no reason not to have this album. Especially if you claim to be a metal child.