The grind, the system, the weight of it all—Salaryman lays it bare. Man Dead Set, rooted in Kuala Lumpur’s hardcore punk scene, uses these seven tracks to channel the frustration of living honest in a world that props up the corrupt. Fast, unflinching, and pointed – we dive into the details behing the hard hitting EP below
Man Dead Set was originally formed as a side project by a group of long-time friends, each with their own individual projects. What began as a shared love for fast-paced music unbound by rigid genre definitions quickly evolved into a band with a clear identity. Their first release, Too Early to Be Late (2020), captured their initial vision—a raw and energetic blend of ’90s and early 2000s hardcore with punk rock elements.
Their sound sharpened over time—faster beats, tighter riffs, harder vocals—yet they never shied away from weaving in melody where it mattered. Salaryman captures this evolution in full, each track punching through with raw intensity while leaving space for reflection, all packed into concise, deliberate bursts.
As its name suggests, Salaryman captures the frustration of being an average worker in a system that often feels rigged. The tracks cut through personal and political frustration, tackling betrayal, exploitation, resilience, and the fight to hold on to yourself.
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Man Dead Set wrapped up a West Java tour where Salaryman hit hard with local crowds. Now moving through Malaysia, they’re setting their sights on Southeast Asia and beyond.
Rooted in working-class reality, Salaryman turns personal and shared frustrations into sharp, defiant anthems. Let’s dive into the details behind each song, through the band’s commentary below.
1. Kau Setan
It’s a short and fast song in Malay language. It’s about condemning evil people who talk lies all the time just for their own good without thinking the repercussion it has to other people. This song can be personal to someone but in general can also be collectively about corrupted political figures in our system, be it in the corporate world but also in the system who govern us.
2. Aware
This song reflects the importance of being cautious with trust. As we navigate life, we realize that not everyone can be trusted. People in our personal lives, relationships, and workplaces will often exploit opportunities for their own gain. Honest person is hard to come by.
3. Stop (Sick of It)
This fast paced song expresses our frustration with two-faced individuals. These pretenders have caused havoc in our lives, leading to emotional and mental distress. Many of them could be people you work with or even close friends.
4. Getting Fired
it’s a song about a friend getting fired for no reason. This song gives some groovy interlude feel to the record.
5. Never Obey
This song carries a melodic hardcore punk vibe. It speaks to working-class people doing honest work while resisting the influence of leaders who manipulate the balance of power by spreading rumors to incite violence among the innocent.
6. Why
This semi fast paced song tells about removing toxic people around you. Sometimes to change things for a better, we need to cut ties.
7. Trapped in a Cage
The penultimate song on the EP, this one is slightly longer than the others. The first part is fast-paced, while the second dives into a more emotional and melodic tone. The song explores the theme of the daily grind—feeling trapped in a routine, living a boxed-in life, all for the sake of earning a wage.
