Simpulmati is one of the latest death metal bands to come out of Indonesia. They formed in Surabaya in 2015 and they released their first full-length Opera Merah last year. That archipelago is a wellspring of metal talent, and this band is no exception.
The production is pristine, as it sounds both clear and heavy. The drums are played by Zanek, a former member of Gerogot. The blast beats are the best part of his performance, for they are fast and ferocious. In between these blasting sections he plays mid-paced rhythms that are infused with groove. There are also moments when he plays upbeat passages full of thumping double bass. He occasionally includes some d-beats as well as a few complex arrangements and plenty of elaborate fills.
The vocals are handled by Bima. His growls are hoarse yet vicious. The aggressive nature of the music is further enhanced by the inclusion of gang vocals. The guitarist is named Arda, and as with so many other Indonesian metal bands, his performance is the best part. His mid-paced chord progressions are not only groovy, but constructed very well. Breaking these up are rapid and fiery palm-muted riffs. He also plays some tremolo riffs that have more of an old school vibe. Then there are the solos, which are aggressive, complex, and melodic.
This album does not make any drastic changes to the death metal formula, but it does use that formula extremely well by creating music that is strong, energetic, and compelling. Simpulmati is more proof that Indonesia has one of the best metal scenes in the world right now.