Azhar Levi Sianturi
Encyclopedia
Azhar Levi Sianturi is the former bassist
for avant-garde/progressive metal
band Kekal
. He also has his own grindcore
project called Mournphagy.
, which marked as a starting point for the band to step more and more into progressive and avant-garde metal and make further experiments with their music. On the year 2003, Kekal released 1000 Thoughts of Violence
and received positive media reviews which led to their first international tour in 2004. Shortly after this success, Kekal was back in the studio to record their official reunion album, Acidity
, which was released on 2005.
On March 2009, Azhar Levi decided to step down from Kekal. Front man Jeff Arwadi
said that although this closed a door, Kekal would continue as a musical unit. However, later that year, Jeff himself stepped down, along with remaining member Leo Setiawan
, but it was decided that Kekal as an institution would remain in existence.
Despite the fact that the band is now member-less, Kekal has continued to function as a musical unit, with all 3 former members including Azhar contributing to the band's eighth studio album, entitled 8, which on late December, 2010 was made available for purchase from Whirlwind Records.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for avant-garde/progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Kekal
Kekal
Kekal is a heavy metal band formed in 1995 in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to Allmusic, Kekal was one of the first heavy metal bands from Indonesia to make international inroads, and according to Keith Kahn Harris was one of the few extreme metal bands from Southeast Asia to ever make more than a...
. He also has his own grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
project called Mournphagy.
Kekal
Azhar joined Kekal on 1996, the same year that the band released their official demo, Contra Spiritualia Nequitiae. Throughout the first 5 years, the band developed their style by incorporating many diverse elements from outside metal. This distinct style became most prominent in their third album The Painful ExperienceThe Painful Experience
The Painful Experience is the 3rd full-length studio album by the Indonesian progressive black metal band Kekal. The title refers to the recording sessions for Embrace the Dead. Shortly after the release of the album, Leo left the band when he moved to Australia.-Reception:Kekal experimented...
, which marked as a starting point for the band to step more and more into progressive and avant-garde metal and make further experiments with their music. On the year 2003, Kekal released 1000 Thoughts of Violence
1000 Thoughts of Violence
1000 Thoughts of Violence is the 4th album by the Indonesian progressive black metal band Kekal, released in 2003. The central theme of the album is moral decline and the violent nature of humanity...
and received positive media reviews which led to their first international tour in 2004. Shortly after this success, Kekal was back in the studio to record their official reunion album, Acidity
Acidity (album)
Acidity is the 5th album by the Indonesian band Kekal. It was recorded in celebration of the band's 10th anniversary, and was an official reunion album for the band. It marked the return of Leo to the band, and includes the vocal talents of founding member Newbabe...
, which was released on 2005.
On March 2009, Azhar Levi decided to step down from Kekal. Front man Jeff Arwadi
Jeff Arwadi
Jefray Arwadi is a musician, music producer, and graphic artist from Jakarta, Indonesia, who now resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is most notable as the former guitarist and front man for avant-garde/progressive metal band Kekal, and as the co-founder of experimental death metal project...
said that although this closed a door, Kekal would continue as a musical unit. However, later that year, Jeff himself stepped down, along with remaining member Leo Setiawan
Leo Setiawan
Leo Setiawan is a former guitarist for progressive metal band Kekal.-History:Leo joined Kekal on 1996, just after the band released their official demo, Contra Spiritualia Nequitiae...
, but it was decided that Kekal as an institution would remain in existence.
Despite the fact that the band is now member-less, Kekal has continued to function as a musical unit, with all 3 former members including Azhar contributing to the band's eighth studio album, entitled 8, which on late December, 2010 was made available for purchase from Whirlwind Records.
With Kekal
- Beyond the Glimpse of DreamsBeyond the Glimpse of DreamsBeyond the Glimpse of Dreams is the debut album by the Indonesian black metal band Kekal released in 1998. Vocalist Harry left the band after the album's release.-Recording:...
- 1998 - Embrace the DeadEmbrace the DeadEmbrace the Dead is the 2nd album by the Indonesian extreme metal band Kekal. It reached sold-out status in 2004. On August 15, 2010, a new, remastered limited edition entitled Embrace the Dead 1999 was released as a free download, for up to a 1000 downloads.-Recording:Embrace the Dead was,...
- 1999 - The Painful ExperienceThe Painful ExperienceThe Painful Experience is the 3rd full-length studio album by the Indonesian progressive black metal band Kekal. The title refers to the recording sessions for Embrace the Dead. Shortly after the release of the album, Leo left the band when he moved to Australia.-Reception:Kekal experimented...
- 2001 - 1000 Thoughts of Violence1000 Thoughts of Violence1000 Thoughts of Violence is the 4th album by the Indonesian progressive black metal band Kekal, released in 2003. The central theme of the album is moral decline and the violent nature of humanity...
- 2003 - AcidityAcidity (album)Acidity is the 5th album by the Indonesian band Kekal. It was recorded in celebration of the band's 10th anniversary, and was an official reunion album for the band. It marked the return of Leo to the band, and includes the vocal talents of founding member Newbabe...
- 2005 - The Habit of FireThe Habit of FireThe Habit of Fire is a 2007 album by the Canadian/Indonesian avant-garde metal band Kekal. Released on May 15 in North America, Japan & Australia and March 15 in Europe & South America, it is their 6th full-length album...
- 2007 - Audible MinorityAudible MinorityAudible Minority is the seventh full-length studio album by Canadian/Indonesian experimental metal band Kekal. According to the band, the album is titled "Audible Minority" because the music on the album is of extreme minority status, and is "entirely bleak, gloom and dark." They also said that the...
- 2008 - 8 – 2010
With Mournphagy
- Thy Word Abideth (EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
) – 1997 - For You – 1999
- Thy Word Abideth (re-release by Noise Squatch) -2000
- Self Krusher compilation: 5th Anniversary THT Productions - 2001