As Sahar: more than 30 years creating evil

As-Sahar, the pioneers of Malay-oriented Black Metal

5 min readMar 22, 2022

Alternating between Malaysia and Singapore and with more than 3 decades of creations, and an equal number of recordings, As Sahar’s trajectory is more than established. To this we must add that they are considered the creators of Eastern Black Metal. About these and other details Hanael, bassist and one of the founding members of the band tells us.

Hi Hanael, how are you, a pleasure to interview you?

How has the pandemic taken you so far?

Hi, great to hear from you. I’m good & currently on vacation back home in Malaysia after almost 2 years stranded in Singapore. Pandemic sucks as all our tour plans had to be cancelled.

As Sahar has been created for almost 3 decades, so it will be a bit difficult to summarize so much history in a few lines. Could you briefly tell us about the beginnings of the band?

Well let’s see, we started out in 1987 consist of me, Barchiel & Uriel. Started playing covers song such as Metallica, Sodom, Merciful Fate etc. Only in in 1993 we decided to write out own material & recoded a 2 track promo demo. Later recorded a proper demo “Primitively Eastern Winds”

Who are the current members, for sure in so many years they must have changed?

Yes, you are correct a lot of lineup changes along the way, the current lineup is:

Me on Bass.

Vocal: A. Altrajalia

Guitar: O. Pagan

Drum: A. Blackheart

I noticed that the band defines itself as the creator of Eastern Black Metal. What bands influenced you in defining the genre of As Sahar?

Most likely the Norwegian scene inspired me in the genre of As Sahar as they idolize their nature & culture. It inspires me to do it on our own cults & arts.

What impact has this had on the rock scene in Singapore, where you are from?

This does not impact the rock scene at all at they are mostly mainstream & we still remains & known as underground bands. We prefer it that way. As for me I’m born in Malaysia & raised in Singapore, I’m closer to the Malaysian scene than in Singapore.

Could you tell us about the rock scene in Singapore, as I have no knowledge of rock there?

The rock scene here is almost dying as not much to none rock concert for a very long long time. Early great rock bands in the 90’s are Rusty Blade, Rockers, Sweet Charity & Helter Skelters.

Is there variety, both in terms of styles and bands?

Hell yeah there are some are into Black Sabbath, Helloween, Motorhead, Twisted Sisters etc.

Do you have any government support or is it all independent?

All are independent.

Let’s talk about “Le666ion of Nusantara”, the band’s most recent record that will be released at the end of February, which is also a Split. How was the editing and recording process?

For As Sahar since all my bands mate are in Malaysia while in stranded in Singapore, I will make the skeleton of the song structure then email to the band mate. They will study the song & once ready they will record their individual department in studio of their own choice for the raw file. Once completed they will have emailed back to me, I will record my bass parts & did a rough mix for postmortem. The rough mix & the individual raw tracks I will email to my personal sound engineer in Malaysia where he will do all the mixing & mastering at his studio for the final output.

How many songs are included? 4 songs were recorded for this split release.

Any audiovisual material? Unfortunately, no.

As I said before, this new record is a Split, in this case it is with the band Warkvlt. How was the work with this band?

It’s been great working with Warkvlt as I have known them for 20+ years.

How did you choose the songs?

Those were the left over unrecorded track from our latest album, “D.O. A” (2021).

Regarding the Split. How do you plan to promote and publicize it?

Mostly thru social media & hell yeah both the labels did a great job promoting this release.

Have you already organized the shows?

Only time will tell once this pandemic is over.

With “Le666ion of Nusantara”, As Sahar now has almost 30 albums. What is your inspiration to create and compose, in a general way, the band’s songs?

Hahahahahahaha I just write songs/melody that hit my minds while preserving As Sahar trademarks.

Do you want to transmit any message?

What we wrote in our lyric is remembering those forgotten Eastern myth, arts & cults that most younger generation might have forgotten or unknown to them.

Back to the band. As I said at the beginning, you have been created for almost 3 decades now. How could you evaluate the band’s trajectory so far?

Well the band have been great as it has inspired newer band to emerged taking As Sahar as their inspiration etc., hearing them covering our songs at their rehearsal room giving me the chill feeling.

Do you think you’ve managed to accomplish everything you have set out to do?

Most of my targets have been achieved but I’m always hunger for more.

How do you see the future of the band?

I will continue writing songs, making music’s & album as long as I’m still able to.

Well Hanael, that’s all. Thank you for your time and just wish you the best of luck. Before finishing, something you want to say.

Thanks for this interview bro, I hope more Asian bands could get recognition or getting signed by euro, us etc. label as what we have achieved. KEEP THE EASTERN FLAME BURNING!!!