Great to See Vietnam and Philippines Represented On a New SE ASIA Comp

Stoked to see the Philippines and Vietnam represented on a brand new 5 way Southeast Asian hardcore comp. Check out the full write up below:

“Beyond the Wire” isn’t just a split; it’s a statement. This 5-way collaboration tears down borders and amplifies the raw power of Southeast Asia’s underground hardcore scene, uniting five blisteringly passionate bands from across the region. Each track feels like a clenched fist raised against oppression, injustice, and complacency — with every band bringing its own regional flavor, yet unified by a shared urgency and DIY spirit. This CD is a sonic manifesto of rage, resistance, and solidarity across borders. Each band brings its unique perspective and local grit, but together they form a unified front: loud, uncompromising, and fiercely relevant.

The production strikes a perfect balance between grit and clarity — it doesn’t polish the rage out of the music, but it also lets each guitar chug, scream, and blast through the speakers with purpose. The drumming is relentless, and the vocal performances are feral yet articulate, channeling decades of punk ethos into every bark, scream, and growl.

Lyrically, “Beyond the Wire” tackles heavy themes: colonial hangovers, state violence, economic despair, cultural identity, and survival in hostile systems. It’s hardcore with a message — urgent, unfiltered, and regionally rooted. What’s most striking is how each band maintains its own sonic identity — whether leaning more into powerviolence, d-beat, crust, or metallic hardcore — while fitting seamlessly into the overall sonic narrative.

Here’s a fully updated and more personalized review of *Beyond the Wire: The Southeast Asian 5-Way Split , incorporating the specific bands:

Empathize (Vietnam) / @empathize.hc

Kicking off the split with sharp, metallic precision, Empathize unleashes a chaotic but tightly controlled storm of anger. With roots in Vietnam’s growing hardcore scene, their sound fuses hardcore punk urgency with heavier metal-tinged breakdowns. Lyrically, they take aim at systemic injustice, and their delivery is both furious and focused.

Extincted (Indonesia) / @extinctedforce

From the always-explosive Indonesian scene, Extincted brings a raw, crust-laced barrage that balances chaos with clarity. There’s a distinct H-8000 metallic hardcore foundation here, driving songs that feel like anthems for the disillusioned. The production captures their live energy perfectly — gritty, fast, and cathartic.

HEX (Singapore) / @hex.hc

HEX delivers some of the most technical and rhythmically diverse material on the split. Their Singaporean roots show in their precise instrumentation, but their message is anything but sterile. HEX is political and poetic — their sound is sharp, almost surgical, yet emotionally crushing. A perfect balance of intellect and aggression.

Krusty (Malaysia) / @krustyhc

With thick, distorted guitars and growling vocals, Krusty throws down with a heavy, sludgy approach that leans toward metallic hardcore. But it’s not just noise — their songs carry an unmistakable urgency, built on themes of cultural identity, corruption, and survival. Malaysia’s underground rarely gets this kind of spotlight, and Krusty proves it’s long overdue.

No Remorse (Philippines) / @noremorsehardcore

Closing out the split is No Remorse, delivering an explosive blend of old-school hardcore and modern beatdown bone breakers. Their tracks are lean, mean, and emotionally raw — a pure shot of adrenaline. Drawing from the socio-political landscape of the Philippines, their lyrics are confrontational and empowering, with a DIY fire that burns bright.