Cromok

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Cromok
Cromok performing live in the late 1980s
Cromok performing live in the late 1980s
Background information
OriginShah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
GenresThrash metal
Years active
  • 1987–2006
  • 2010–present
LabelsEMI Music Malaysia
Associated actsF.T.G, Langsuyr, Amuk
Websitecromok.my
MembersShamsudin Ali (Sam)
Tarmizi Mokhtar (Miji)
Khairul Anuar Shariff (Karl)
Past membersHillary Ang (Hill)
Kharuddin Muhammad (Din)
Che Dean (Denan)
Muhammad Fadhil (Mat Puck)
Nik Ramzee (Ji)

Cromok is a Malaysian rock band. They are known to be the pioneers of Malaysian thrash metal music.[1] Formed in 1987, current members consists of Shamsudin "Sam" Ali (vocals and bass), Khairul Anuar "Karl" Shariff (guitarist), and Tarmizi "Miji" Mokhtar (drummer).[2] The band best known for their songs "Misty", "Another You", "I Don't Belong Here" and has released 8 studio albums to date.[3]

History[]

Cromok was formed in April 1987 by four young students, Shamsuddin Ali (Sam), Khairul Anuar Shariff (Karl), Kharuddin Muhammad (Din), and Tarmizi Mokhtar (Miji). They were studying at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia.[4] While in Australia, to past extra time, they decided to form a thrash metal band and they frequently perform their music in small concert and gigs primarily in Sydney Metal Scene. They got positive responses and steadily gaining their fans, made their name within the Australian Underground Thrash Metal scene rising the ranks along with Australian Godfather bands in the likes of Enticer, SSDC, Mortal Sin, Frozen Doberman, White Trash, Addictive and Detriment.[5] Their single, "Misty" was their most popular song among their fans in those days.

In 1992 Sam, Karl and Miji returns to Malaysia meanwhile Din had already go back to Malaysia the previous year, causing them to loose the spot as Motorhead opening act. After Din went back to Malaysia, they were using some of their friends as rhythm guitarist one of them is a guy named Erwin. Their first album/demo which was recorded during their studies, Image of Purity were released in 1990 and were distributed among the tape traders of Australian metal scene and later picked up by Valentine Sound Productions Sdn Bhd to be distributed in Malaysia. They receive positive responses, mostly among the teenagers, and build a huge local fan base in a short period of time. Their songs such as "Another You", "I Don't Belong Here", "Misty", "Metallurgical" and "Memories" were highly praised by their fans. However their success was limited due to limited reception of mainstream media by the Malaysian government at the time (Rock/Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal was unacceptable. Always being discriminated, and banned during late 1980s and early 1990s in Malaysia by Malaysian government and media). Instead, they keep expanding their musical growth, releasing seven more stellar albums; Forever In Time (1993), Yours Truly (1996), Mean, Meaner, Meanest (1999), What's Left? (2000), Deafening Silence (2002),[6][7] Untitled (2004)[8] and a few special edition compilation. Forever in Time was their most successful album to date, sold over 100,000 copies in Malaysia.[9][10] A digitally remastered version of their debut album was reissued in 2000.[11]

Din died in September 27, 1997 due to Malaria in Mersing, Johor. His remains were buried in Tumpat, Kelantan. He was survived by his widow and daughter.[12][13][14] Due to some friction between Din and the three others (based on the inlay notes in D'Cromok 7 Years and 7 Days Part 1 and Part 2 albums), the band then continued as a trio. However, in 2001, Karl was seceding from Cromok because he wants to concentrate on his professional career and his family. Karl then was replaced by renowned Malaysian guitar maestro, Hillary Ang from iconic Malaysian rock band, Search.[15]

In April 2005, Cromok performed live at the Planet Hollywood Kuala Lumpur.[16] At the end of 2005, Hillary returned to Search, leaving Sam and Miji as the remaining member in Cromok. Sam then announced that they were going on sabbatical hiatus and all band activities were suspended.[17] After almost five years of sabbatical hiatus from music scene, on April 8, 2012 they held a Reunion concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at KLive, consisting of three original members (Sam, Karl, and Miji with Shah Ziri from Nrocinu as rhythm guitar sessionist), which also celebrated the band’s 25th anniversary.[18] This was one of the latest concert of Cromok, after their last performance in Hard Rock Cafe, Bangkok.[19][20] On August 21, 2013, Cromok performed as an opening act for Metallica LIVE concert in Malaysia.[21]

On February 3, 2018, Cromok performed alongside XPDC at the Konsert Cromok & XPDC Live in MAEPS, Serdang.[22][23] That same year, they announced that they will introduced a new concept of Malaysian thrash metal music, which known as Thrashditional, a portmanteau of 'thrash metal' and 'traditional'.[24][25][26]

They are now still performing whenever theres demand and the latest concert was NUSAFEST2020, but due to COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed until further notice.

Style[]

The band sings in English. They are also known to have at least one instrumental track in every album. Sam uses a teutonic thrash raspy vocal style, sometimes low guttural, while the band's music sounds similar to the Bay Area thrash metal with a touch of Malay/Nusantara feels. Cromok also often experiments with Malay cultural music elements and sounds, adding Malay elements to their artwork. They also known for incorporating unicorn on their album cover.[27][28]

Members[]

Current members
  • Shamsudin Ali (Sam) - lead vocals, bass guitar (1987–present)
  • Tarmizi Mokhtar (Miji) - drums (1987–present)
  • Khairul Anuar Shariff (Karl) - lead/rhythm guitar (1987–2000; 2010–present)
Former members
  • Hillary Ang - lead guitar (2000–2005)
  • Kharuddin Muhammad (Din) - backing vocal, guitarist (1987–1992; died 1997)
  • Muhammad Fadhil (Mat Puck) - guitar (1987)
  • Che Dean (Denan) - guitar (1987)
  • Nik Ramzee (Ji) - bass (1987)

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Album details
Image of Purity
  • Released: 1990 (demo), 1991 (studio album)
  • Reissued: 2000
  • Label: Valentine Sound Productions
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
Forever In Time
Yours Truly
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
Mean, Meaner, Meanest
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
What's Left
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, casette, digital download
Deafening Silence
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
Untitled
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
Untitled+Raw
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download

Live albums[]

Title Album details
Image of Purity & Live
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette

Compilation albums[]

Title Album details
Engraved In Eternity
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
Anthology
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, boxset

Other albums[]

Title Album details
Mentera Metal
Cromok & FTG
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: EMI Music Malaysia, Pony Canyon
  • Format: CD, cassette
XPDC & Cromok
  • Released: 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Malaysia
  • Format: CD, digital download

Concerts[]

Headlining
  • Cromok Reunion Thrashing Kuala Lumpur (8 April 2012)[18]
  • Konsert Metal Legends Cromok & XPDC (3 February 2018)[22]
Opening act
  • Metallica LIVE in Malaysia (21 August 2013)[21]

References[]

  1. ^ "Cromok terus dengan thrash metal" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 25 December 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Cromok terus popular tanpa publisiti" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 28 October 1999. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  3. ^ Meor Aziddin Yusof (23 October 2014). "Cromok, underground dan kehidupan" (in Malay). The Malaysian Insider. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ Akyem Samad (21 March 2019). "Bercakap menerusi muzik, lagu lama Cromok masih syahdu didengari zaman ini" (in Malay). Maskulin. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Karl Cromok The Interview:". The Bullet Belt. August 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Kumpulan Cromok bernasib baik" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 22 June 2002. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  7. ^ Aizawati Ahmad (7 July 2002). "Dunia muzik dari kaca mata Cromok" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  8. ^ Khairull Azleyana Ishak (20 October 2004). "Cromok kembali dengan Untitled" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  9. ^ Samsor Junet (29 March 1993). "Album Cromok untuk pasaran dunia" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  10. ^ Seri Intan Othman (28 March 1993). "Cromok guna muzik Malaysia" (in Malay). Berita Minggu. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Cromok rakam album guna teknologi terkini" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 6 September 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  12. ^ "Din Cromok meninggal dunia" (in Malay). Berita Harian. 27 September 1997. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Din Cromok meninggal akibat malaria" (in Malay). Harian Metro. 27 September 1997. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Cromok's Din dies from malaria". New Straits Times. 27 September 1997. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Cromok mendapat sentuhan Hillary" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 5 December 2000. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Cromok - Pecah tradisi Planet Hollywood" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 6 April 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  17. ^ Abdul Aziz Itar (10 May 2005). "Cromok terus 'hidup' tanpa publisiti" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 14 May 2005. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Faten Saphilla Mohamed Isa (13 March 2012). "Konsert reunion Cromok" (in Malay). Kosmo!. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  19. ^ Azhariah Kamin (4 April 2012). "Living the memories". E-Central. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  20. ^ "Cromok to perform in concert after 20 years". My News Hub. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Metallica: Live in Malaysia (21st August 2013)". Sputnik Music. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b Hasnurul Mohamed (25 January 2018). "Cromok, XPDC dalam Live Concert 3 Februari" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  23. ^ Zaidi Mohamad (3 February 2018). "XPDC, Cromok bertarung aksi di MAEPS" (in Malay). Berita Harian. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  24. ^ Ardini Sophia Sina (20 August 2018). "Nantikan Thrashditional Cromok..." (in Malay). Harian Metro. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  25. ^ Chris Mohan (28 August 2018). "Cromok to unleash new concept of thrash metal dubbed Trashditional". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Cromok perkenal genre 'Thrashditional' sempena konsert di Pasir Gudang" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  27. ^ "Sesi diskusi dengan Cromok" (in Malay). Utusan Malaysia. 20 January 2001. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  28. ^ Jad Mahidin; Khairunnisa Hussin (3 July 1992). "Going under the scissors with Cromok". New Straits Times. Retrieved 19 August 2018.

External links[]

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