A NEW, politically charged hardcore band has emerged from the concrete jungles of Hong Kong. This is amid the constant pushback of its inhabitants against Beijing's ever-growing influence on the city.
Introducing Regret, a three-piece hardcore punk band that had unveiled their seven-track self-titled debut EP on May 7.
The EP, available on major music streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube Music, Bandcamp, delivers blistering guitar and groovy rhythmic work, coupled with fist-in-the-air chants of solidarity and youthful rebellion.
The release kicks of with the track 'Do You Believe', followed by 'Public Execution' and 'Can't Deny', all of which stretch around the one-and-a-half minute mark in the punk spirit of being short, fast, and loud. Whereas the fourth track, 'We Exist', lasts slightly longer at two minutes and sixteen seconds.
The band also recently released a lyric video for 'We Exist', which they dedicated to the people of colour and other ethnic minorities around the world.
The band's vocalist Riz, who is a veteran in Hong Kong's hardcore scene, notes that the release was born out of the events taking place in the city in recent times.
“The past couple of years has seen our city literally been turned upside down," Riz told The Vibes recently.
"To be able to process living through these tragic times, we channelled all our emotions into straight-ahead raw hardcore punk.”
The release from Regret comes as the city's dwellers have their lives and liberties reshaped by laws brought by the Chinese government, which had gradually come into play ever since the mainland had taken over the former British colony.
China's series of diktats over the city also reached a flashpoint when the city's administrators proposed the controversial Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement in February 2019, which erupted major protests in March that year until mid-2020.
Hardcore punk has always been a place where people try to address the issues plaguing their community."
Besides singing in the band Regret, Riz is also a member of the hardcore band Dagger and former guitarist for King Lychee. Both bands had performed in Malaysia in the past.
Riz also runs the widely-celebrated and respected underground music website UniteAsia.org, which features acts from all across Asia.
As mentioned, when it came to songwriting, the band looked no further than the events of their city to create some fiery songs. They cover police brutality, racism, censorship, and the changes the people of Hong Kong experiencing.
“Hardcore punk has always been a place where people try to address the issues plaguing their community. And that’s what we’re doing with this band as well,” said bassist and vocalist Kuro.
Kuro was specifically referring to the debut track ‘We Exist’ which touches on the plight of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. The band invited members of Hong Kong’s Pakistani, Filipino and Nepali communities to sing a couple of lines.
The debut EP is being released on cassette formats by Infree Records (Hong Kong), Real Deal Records (China), Freshtown Records (Malaysia), and Lawless Records (Indonesia). – The Vibes, May 23, 2021
Listen to Regret's EP here:
