Take A Trip Down Memory Lane Celebrating 20 Years of Nervhous Records

BUILD YOUR OWN SCENE!
20 years of Nervhous Records

Who would have guessed, the record label that I started in 2000 is still productive releasing music until today, the year that seems so far and so futuristic back then, 2000. In 1999, my friends and I formed a band called Jellybelly and recorded a demo in 1999. In order to release the cassette Shah (the bassist) and I formed Nervous Entertaiment.

Before we released that tape we released another demo tape from our friends’ band, The Mojos. Shah just brought his mini tape recorder to one of their jam sessions and recorded it live and rare. Later on, we joined to release a compilation tape, Bollok Wok vol. 2 –featuring bands from our hometown.

We were inspired by local labels such as Alternative Garage Entertainment, Crashover Records, Dull Entertainment Programme as well as foreign labels such as Straits Records, Dischord Records and Epitaph Records. I am always more inclined towards melodic punk music style and intrigued by local bands while the local scene was blooming with crustcore, grindcore and hardcore during those days in the late 90’s. I am also into old school hardcore and indie pop and released various styles of music including grindcore.

The initial plan was to help to release our hometown and friends’ bands then changed. We expand with bands from all over the country as well as releasing foreign bands too when I moved to Kuala Lumpur for good in 2005. This includes Greenwell from Japan who have chosen us to release their album ‘Break The Wall’ in 2013.

In 2006, we had to change the spelling of Nervous Records to Nervhous Records when a long-running UK rockabilly with the same name emailed us in anger and a threat.

In 2008, Nervhous had strong supports from people like Rizie (Dum Dum Tak), Amert (Stick No Bill) Fael (Skunkfix), Tobek (Always Last), Shah (The Mindless Show), Andax (The Liberals) and the others. We started to organize shows in Kuala Lumpur, plan our releases together with regular meetings at mamak stalls and do launching shows. I also organize some shows with the title ‘Nasik Dagang Raya Jam’ and ‘Tengkujuh Fest’ in my hometown Kuala Terengganu. Nervhous Records also had the chance to help in organizing shows for big bands such as No Use For A Name, Anti-Flag and also The Casualties.

On 27 May 2014, I announced that I was going to end Nervhous Records. I even wrote a press statement about it. Go here to read it: https://nervhousrecords.blogspot.com/

At that time all of my friends in the scene were getting married, I was getting really sick and caught up with family and work commitments. I felt it was hard to sell CDs at that time, it was the era when physical music format was falling apart. But somehow, we made a comeback in November 2015 by co-releasing a local compilation ‘Penentangan Berterusan’ that was initiated by Youthcrime Records to raise fund for local gig venues.

Living in Malaysia, it seems impossible to make Punk Rock as a full time job. But with the recent rise of physical music format, I started to release CDs and cassettes again. Many indie and punk record stores opened too, this phenomenon is a big help for me. With my unemployment status since last year after being constructively dismissed from my lecturer job that I did for 11 years, I am more determined to make the Nervhous Records a serious record label once again. Just like how it begins. After all, I’ve been doing it for 20 years.

Bands and creative people, do get in touch.

Releases that are still available: Give & Take Vol. 2 CD, Dum Dum Tak ‘Dinoda’ CD, RTJ ‘Rumah’ CD, TIM ‘2008 EP’ cassette, Membarai Lebaran CD, Duckhead ‘Always Late’ CD, Inikah Hidup ‘Soundtracks of War and Destruction’ CD.

Upcoming releases: Dirty Deeds ‘Demo 2020’, Bollok Wok vol. 5 and more.

To view all of our releases: http://nervhousrecords.blogspot.com/p/releases.html

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1) PELIGROSOS – Media Sosial
taken from Brainwash, 2017

2) DIRTY DIVIDER – Not My Baby
taken from Bollok Wok Vol. 3, 2006

3) TIM – Benci
taken from EP, 2019 (reissue)

4) ALWAYS LAST – Jom Layan Punk
taken from Antidotes, 2009

5) TOXICTOY – The Blind Pianist
taken from Amazingly Realistic Puke!, 2009

6) DUM DUM TAK – Api 13 Mei
taken from Dinoda, 2019

7) SOUL SAVIOR – Sifar Rasisma
taken from Give & Take Vol. 1, 2012

8) 50K PROMISES – Doris
taken from 2 Hours and Still Waiting, 2006

9) GREENWELL – Roofie
taken from Break Your Shell, 2013

10) SKUNKFIX – Hey There! (AKA Jamban)
taken from The First Two Demos, 2008 (reissue)

11) BRAYOK – Lagu Rakyat
taken from Let’s Go!, 2014

12) STRAIGHT ANSWER – Hentam Prasangka Buruk
taken from The Complete Discography (1996-2007), 2008

13) MARJINAL – B.E.B.A.S.K.A.N.
taken from Predator, 2007 (reissue)

14) STICK NO BILL – Nobody
taken from Nobody, 2010

15) THE OBVIOUS – The Last Letter
taken from The Twosome Takeover, 2006

16) JELLYBELLY – Holiday
taken from The Twosome Takeover, 2006

17) CHANNEL X – Makhlok Perosak
taken from Come Again, 2009

18) FAILING FORWARD – Grizzly Grimms
taken from Does This Look Like a Punk Rock Compilation?, 2009

19) CARBON 4’TEEN – Up
taken from Give & Take Vol. 1, 2012

20) NOT THINGS! – Dear Letter
taken from Wounded Dignity, 2016

21) INIKAH HIDUP – Inilah Hidup
taken from Soundtracks of War and Destruction, 2005

22) THE MOJOS – Letterday
taken from Cappucino Sold Here, 2000