ALBUM REVIEW: Retas – Voice Of Baceprot

It’s been a delight for anyone who’s followed VOICE OF BACEPROT to see their evolution from internet sensation to a smash success critically and commercially. As their sound has evolved and they’ve taken on a consistent spotlight as phenomenal players in their own right, we are treated to their debut album Retas.

Fans will be aware of songs God, Allow Me (Please) To Play Music, School Revolution and (NOT) PUBLIC PROPERTY. Politically charged, socially conscious, these are the tracks that announced what VOB could do outside of kickass covers. There’s even an especially exciting live version of God, Allow Me (Please) To Play Music taken from the band’s performance at HITC Jakarta 2022. These songs kick just as hard as they always have, and it’s great to have them on this record; it is however the newer songs that we’re most excited to hear and experience.

You can absolutely tell the influence that 90s bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE have had on VOB. The scrappy nu-metal, grunge-era guitars, visceral vocals and blunt messages are as influential now as they were when they were first popularised. Phrases like ‘stop war’ within What’s The Holy (Nobel) Today? are interesting in not just a cultural context, but also in the way that the influence on the sound from bands like RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE comes through. The push of bands in America against the government through the 90s and 00s has been rebirthed in VOB, with massive appeal, screaming vocals and very chantable choruses.

While it’s bang on for the Y2K nostalgia of the moment, it’s obviously also bang on point for the issues of today and the message people really need to hear from talented, raging bands like VOB. The Enemy Of Earth Is You has some beautiful technical playing that’s as much a show of how accomplished VOB are getting while also being a belter of a tune. There’s an old school metal feel, with harmonising guitars, bittersweet riffing and barking drums. While there’s plenty going on, it really is very well produced and not overplayed.

There’s a good mix of stylistic arrangements too, with songs like Age Orientated blending a real ‘fuck you’ thrash attitude with some tasty groove. PMS is a brilliant twist of soft fem vocals with funky, pop-punk sounds that hit that sweet spot in guilty pleasure chord progressions. The solo might feel a little out of place with its heavier tone and attack, but the bass and drum breakdown pulls things right back into that funky feel-good rock.

Infused with their own message, musical personalities and cultural identity, VOB have nailed combining thrash, nu-metal and grunge into their sound. They’re as punk as they come, managing to feel authentically Indonesian, female and brimming with a rare anger that’s hard to come by. Catchy, edgy, Kawani is potentially the slow burn of this album. This might be an odd statement once you’ve listened to it, as it’s a blast of massive instrumental textures, from low bass drippings, gnashing guitar solos, and snapping drums. However, being the only instrumental track, it’s also a lovely moment to allow the music to do the heavy lifting as much as anything sung in Sundanese or English.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a better debut from a better band this year, with VOICE OF BRACEPROT taking their established title as ones to watch and levelling up to one of the best in the game. Retas proves that the band can successfully combine sheer talent and drive with massive appeal. They’ve something to say, and they’ve only just started.

Rating: 9/10

Retas is set for release on July 13th via 12WIRED.

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