Out of the quiet town of Dengkil, Malaysia, comes GEMPITA, a band that feels like a storm ripping through still air. Their name, which translates to “thunderous” in Malay, fits like a clenched fist. From the first trembling note of their debut demo, Batil Harkatnya: Demo Dalam Dua Fragmen, you feel their intent—to unsettle, to cut deep, to expose raw nerves.
They carve it out of their surroundings: a mix of blackgaze, skramz, and crushing ambient tones. Think the suffocating beauty of SHOW ME A DINOSAUR or the desperate screams of OATHBREAKER, but through the lens of Southeast Asia’s growing underground. Their influences—regional titans like AILLIS and AVHATH—give their sound a haunting familiarity, but there’s something deeply personal about this band. Something that bleeds.
The lyrics feel like a knife wrapped in silk, blending classical Malay prose with the sharp edges of modern disillusionment. The band writes about greed, destruction, and the soul-sapping grind of capitalist life. They don’t shy away from the ugly truths. “Our words are hyperbolic,” they admit, “but so is the world that breaks us.” Every scream, every tremolo riff, feels like an attempt to claw out of a collapsing system.
Their day-to-day reality—balancing the weight of day jobs with the hunger for a more meaningful life—feeds their intensity. That frustration is etched into every layer of their music. It’s not just catharsis; it’s survival.
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Malaysia’s underground music scene is flourishing, an ecosystem of relentless creativity and community support. Key independent labels such as RAPI RECORDS, FRESHTOWN, GETMONEY, INTO THE FRAY, RUAS, RVDA, HARDCORE DETONATION, STONEVILLE, UTARID TAPES, DOGKNIGHTS MY, and RAPKOT are central to this transformation.
The bands, too, are carving out space with both passion and visible presence in the international underground music media.
“The Malaysian scene is diverse and thriving” – says the band. “With talents such as No Good (punk rock), Krusty (hardcore), Playburst (emo), Pasca Sini (punk rock), Mirthless (post black metal), Moneybag 1327 (hardcore), The World Ends with You (shoegaze), Heavener (shoegaze), Iron Gaze (crossover thrash), Tools of the Trade (grind), Plague of Happiness (third-wave ska punk), Piri Reis (emo violence), Nonpareil (skramz), Daighila (emo violence), GATS (powerviolence), Rect (grindcore), Memorial (powerviolence) and much-much more hardworking bands that we can’t list here who have been making notable contribution in the scene. ”
“Piri Reis stands out as a beacon,” GEMPITA shares, pointing to the screamo band’s 10-year anniversary LP Antologi, released under Dog Knights label.
” They are making their ways to Indonesia for a Tour with Indo’s screamo heavyweight Swarm this coming December, be sure to check them out if you have the opportunity.” – comments GEMPITA.
GEMPITA has ambitious plans for the future. Their limited physical release of Batil Harkatnya is slated under their own label, SUBMERGED, a testament to the DIY ethic that defines their approach. For the band, the demo is just the beginning. It offers a glimpse into their vision for full-length releases and the immersive energy of live performances yet to come.
“Malaysia’s DIY scene has reached a new level,” they remark. “It’s not just about playing music anymore. It’s about building a sustainable, thriving community.”
“As for our journey, we’re just beginning,” they say. There’s no hesitation in their tone.
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