Side A:
Side B:
One of the most important Heavy Metal records from this part of the world is without a doubt the debut of Singapore's Greatest Sons, ROCKERS. I would even go so far as declare them one of the Top-10 bands of Asia as a whole, and ever since hearing them for the first time in the mid/late 90's, on a mix-tape from an old tape trader/friend who's name I've long since forgotten, they've had a very special place in my heart and remained one of the most iconic Obsküre And Exotic Metal discoveries of mine.
For some unfathomable reason I often see their contemporary countrymen Rusty Blade referred to
as "the Iron Maiden of Singapore" but surely this must be a mix-up? So R.B. had ONE Maiden rip-off track on their debut cassette EP, but Rockers was the band who truly started their career declaring their worship of UK's finest. Perhaps not quite to the degree of, let's say Russia's Aria, but Eddie's ghost is present on all their albums and especially so on their first 2. "Kekejaman" the song couldn't be a more prominent example: perfect twin lead harmonies all the way!. The vocals on the other hand is their very own device, more Di'Anno than Dickinson but really neither. Johan has a distincly Asian voice but in the best of ways - a bit on the nasal side as is customary, but hoarse and raw without breaking apart into awkward, grunting pieces. It takes one ballad + one dull boogie-hardrocker before they get back in the saddle again but do so in Style with one of the strongest numbers on the album, the pounding "Zaileha" with its proud chorus and superb snake-charmer/arabian-nights guitar harmonies.
Side B starts off strong with another galopping Metal charge in "Besi Beracun", but the following "Kepuasan" is the greater eye-raiser. The first 20 seconds will decieve you into thinking this will be yet another Iron Maiden-pastiche - the best one yet perhaps? - but no, this time they're making a sharp turn Danewards and present their very own... "Desecration Of Souls" I guess,
but when has ripping off Mercyful Fate NOT been cool?? Apart from the last 10 years? This mood lingers on in the very last of the proper Heavy tunes of the album, the doomic and downright EVIL "Lata" and we couldn't have asked for a better ending as the mighty chorus also features the best usage so far of those riffs inspired by that band.
Rockers made even stronger albums at the end of their career, but unlike this classic debut they were never vinylized in their full 10-song entirety, so if there's one album by the band you really should try to hunt down an original of, it's this one. You will most definitely fail though.