REAKSI from Melbourne Australia are three immigrant punks from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The band delivers direct, hard and pungent lyrical protest in their native language Bahasa. The songs attack political issues that every Asian punk knows too well, the rights of and the struggles of immigrants (Tidak Ada Manusia Ilegal, Tidak Menyerah), police brutality (Awas) and songs of struggle and freedom (Punk Asia) that is highly relevant to the Myanmar’s people current uprising against military coup junta.

“Esok Hari Kepunyaan Kita” translated “Tomorrow belongs to us” was recorded last year during harsh COVID lockdowns in Melbourne, this debut five track E.P combines the solid attack of UK 82 of THE PARTISANS, CHAOS U.K, the anthemic Oi! sound of THE 4SKINS, BLITZ and also drawing influence from traditional archipelagic hymns. Featuring members of ENZYME, KROMOSOM, PISSCHRIST AND INTRUSION.

At first listen/ glance, the sound production and art of this record could easily be mistaken as a record off the NO FUTURE catalogue. Featuring art collaboration by Nicky Rat and Hafiz (SIAL), sound production by Joshua Wells (PRIORS), Maxime Smadja (RIXE, CONDOR) and Yeap. REAKSI “ESOK HARI KEPUNYAAN KITA E.P” is a love letter and a call to arms for Asian punks everywhere. (Fahmi Reza)

Our take: La Vida Es Un Mus brings us the debut EP from this new band featuring Yeap from Pisschrist on guitar and vocals. Before I give you my take, I want to direct your attention to Fahmi Reza’s words on the EP. I didn’t read what Fahmi wrote until after I’d listened to  Esok Hari Kepunyaan Kita EP quite a bit, and I’m ashamed to say that most of what Fahmi said about the band and their lyrics went over this monolingual white American punk’s head. But that’s why we’re into this shit, right? The reason we search out records and bands from all over the globe is because we’re interested in those people’s perspectives… we want to understand better what the world looks like through their eyes. I was pretty fucking stoked on this record before I knew what the words meant. (To tell the whole truth, I wasn’t even sure what language they were in. They’re in Bahasa, an Indonesian language that Google Translate seems to have no trouble with. “Reaksi” means “reaction” and “Esok Hari Kepunyaan Kita” translates as “Tomorrow Is Ours.”) Reaksi cops a lot of moves from the No Future catalog (particularly the Partisans and Blitz), but they do it well, with the same anthemic sensibility of Rixe but with a tougher edge… I’d bet money these folks really appreciate the Ultra Violent EP. I also like the track “Awas” (“Watch Out”), which has a Ramones-y feel. Anyway, come for the music and the bad-ass alligator on the cover, stay for the education…