Album review: Voice Of Baceprot – Retas

Voice Of Baceprot are one of those bands who tell you exactly who they are through their music. You won’t need to spend time unspooling any pretentious metaphors or subliminal messages in their lyrics, they’re straight up and honest in every aspect of their craft. Retas lays all their cards out on the table – they’re anti war, anti sexism, and pro peace and empowerment.

Opener What’s The Holy (Nobel) Today? attacks right from the start with its full force guitar intro, it carries a similar power to the gut punching force of Metallica. ‘Stop war, we hate war,’ sings vocalist Marsya. Her vocals are resonant and full, leading into classic rock-ish guitar soloing and chuggy bass.

PMS (short for perempuan merdeka seutuhnya, meaning “completely independent women”) brings in pop-rock vocal melodies, whilst on Age Orientated and The Enemy Of The Earth Is You spoken word elements shine through with messages that call out judgement and hypocrisy. The stand out of the record, though, is Kawani, an instrumental track that shows the potential the trio hold that we hope to see more of past this debut. It begins with biting riffage and constant bubbling bass, before double kick drumming gives a heavier flavour to this one.

Towards the end of the album, [Not] Public Property also impresses with a message that hits back at objectification (‘We have no place for the sexist mind’) and catches you off guard with guttural growls, whilst School Revolution’s looping riff keeps us hooked in during its rap-rocking vocal runs, making a fighting, fearless track.

Retas is an exceptional debut which holds a mirror up to society and sees it glare back with a scene of corruption and unjust violence. Voice Of Baceprot prove just how powerful music is as an activism tool on this record. With both anger and grace, they tie in an array of influences from classic rock, to thrash, to modern pop rock in a paradoxical collection of anthemic songs.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Rage Against The Machine, Metallica, System Of A Down

Retas is out now via 12WIRED