Galang walked into Ibung’s coffee shop and the conversation drifted backward — to when South Pemalang had its own lane, when kids were locked into youth crew and people half-jokingly called it “Pemalang Youth Crew.” Somewhere in that back-and-forth, Ibung cut through it: “why don’t we start a band?”
CLUE came out of that moment in late 2025, with no real plan beyond trying it. Galang already had loose ideas sitting around, leaning toward a more mutant strain of hardcore, and the project became a way to finally push those fragments into something concrete. For Ibung, it was different. He’d been around hardcore for years but never actually played in a band. This was the first time stepping into it from the inside.
They pulled in people they already trusted. Wilhan, known from Tangent and earlier bands like Lotekan, took bass. Ari, coming from Restless and SumDest, joined on drums. The lineup settled quickly: Ibung on vocals, Galang on guitar, Wilhan on bass, Ari on drums.
The sound landed somewhere between instinct and memory.
Youth crew still sits underneath it — the stuff they grew up on, bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Champion, Primitive Blast, Get The Most — but it’s pushed into something less controlled, closer to the restless feel of Freedom, BIB, SPY, or The Rival Mob. Like dragging familiar ideas through a different headspace.
That shift also came from what was happening locally. Hardcore in Pemalang has been picking up speed again, but not always in ways that felt exciting to them. “A lot of newer bands lean toward the same beatdown style,” they say, so CLUE leaned the other way, even if it meant sounding rough around the edges.
The demo reflects exactly where they’re at. They recorded everything using a cheap locally-made soundcard, outdated laptop, borrowed pedals, and whatever instruments were available at the time. Even the drum gate came from an Android app. Galang handled recording, mixing, and production himself.
“So if the sound comes out rough or imperfect, that’s just how it is — it reflects exactly the conditions we’re working with.”
The only outside help came at the final stage, with mastering handled by Ardian from Spiritum Records, pulling the recordings into a more coherent shape without sanding down what makes them feel immediate.
Across its five tracks — “Psalm (Sinners Scoffers),” “Mistake,” “War (Game Of Tears),” “Consider,” and “Still Hold On” — the demo sticks to direct themes: everyday pressure, friendship, hope, and a clear anti-war stance.
Outside the recordings, the band operates in the same conditions as the demo suggests. There aren’t many proper venues in South Pemalang. Shows happen wherever they can — Ibung’s coffee shop, small improvised spaces, whatever’s available. Sometimes it works, sometimes it falls apart. Local authorities can step in, or the usual DIY problems just stack up.
The self-titled demo was released February 1, 2026 through Trueline Records, with Galang Kalacakra responsible for production, recording, mixing, and composition, alongside Ikbal Maulana on lyrics.
Recording took place between Trueline Studio, Spiritum Studio, and Ato Studio. Artwork and layout were handled by Arendtfat and Delgahand, with photos by Azum Jundi Muhamadi and video work by Faiz.
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