Primitive Origins is a column where we’ll look back at proto-metal and early metal that deserves a bit of your battered eardrum’s attention. We’re keeping it loose and easy here: there’s no strict guidelines other than it’s gotta be old, it helps if it’s obscure, and it’s gotta rock out surprisingly hard for its context. Pscyh-ed out proto-metal from the late ’60s? Of course. Early attempts at doom metal from the ’70s? Hell yeah. Underground Soviet metal from the early ’80s? Sure. Bring it on. Bring it all on.
I’ve gotten several tips from people since starting this column, and it’s always led me to great places, Decibel readers being nothing if not astute when it comes to matters of metal and, in this case, proto-metal. So when Indonesian band AKA was brought to my attention, it sounded like something worth checking out, and it was, the band laying down some truly excellent proto-metal alongside some… really weird stuff that is nowhere near proto-metal. They’ve got lots to check out, but we’re going with their 1970 debut, Do What You Like.
The title track kicks things off with an extremely impressive proto heaviness, the band getting heavy in both vibe and attitude here, the sounds a great mixture of heavy, heavy southern rock and crashing, bashing Detroit rock, AKA totally rulin’ it out of the gates here with this cool number. Check out the killer guitar work throughout, and the vocals have a rawness to them that puts them closer to metal than lots of other proto-metal bands of the era. An excellent song, one that alone makes this worthy of your proto-metal explorations.
Next up is “Akhir Kisah Sedih,” which switches gears drastically, to something I didn’t realize existed until recently: ’70s Indonesian pop. I have no idea what’s going on here, but it’s somewhere between tripped-out psychedelic rock and stoner carnival music and I can’t really get behind it. Man, how about that title track, though, eh?
“Panorama Pagi” confirms that people did drugs absolutely everywhere in 1970, and stays clear away from proto-metal to deliver a more upbeat, rollickin’ take on psychedelic pop. So, this is what I was warned about: AKA—like many bands of the era—had a tendency to deliver a couple proto songs per album before hopping back to softer terrain, in this case, it’s the band’s flowery, love-child Indonesian ’70s pop, which basically makes me want to run for the hills, or at least sit impatiently waiting for the next proto song.
Then we have “Bukan Mesiu,” and I’m kinda considering just bailing now, but then I think about that raging title track again, a song I will undoubtedly revisit in the future, and I think, fine, I’ll sit through this crap attempt at a ballad, just this once. The lead guitar work isn’t half bad, I suppose.
“Alam Tanah Air” spices things up a bit, and although it’s not proto-metal, by this point we’re all just happy for an increased bpm, even if it ends up sounding like some horrid, genreless 8-track you found in grandpa’s den in 1982. But how about that title track?
Well, hello, “Glenmore”! The band opens up side B of the original vinyl press here with this proto number, finally giving me some reason to pay attention after a super bizarre side A. “Glenmore” rocks fast and concise, the band delivering a surprisingly passionate and hot-rockin’ take on brisk proto that stops for a half-time southern rock part that also sounds like KISS at their best. If this band put out a 7” with the title track on side A and this on side B, it’d be a proto-metal classic. Great tune; it loses the plot a bit a the three-quarter mark, but Zep did that a bunch and we politely tolerated it, so we can with AKA too.
“Diakhir Bulan Lima” stinks but, man, we’ve got two proto ragers here so this has already paid off, regardless of what happens next.
“We’ve Gotta Work it Out” is what happens next, and look at that, we have a third proto-metal rocker here, the drums crashing, the riffs flying, the vocals soulful and soaring… is this even the same band as on the non-proto songs? This feels more like a compilation than an album, but these proto songs just destroy, the lead guitar work on here charming in a go-go-go! kinda way, the song not quite as heavy in sonics as the other two proto ragers here, but it definitely has the speed and energy to qualify as a proto-rager, this one with a great groove to it when the band locks in and locks down. A harmonica solo? Sure, why the hell not?
“Keagungan Tuhan” closes off this truly insane album and it’s back to that genreless grandpa 8-track stuff. Avoid. But the title track, “Glenmore,” and “We’ve Gotta Work it Out” absolutely make this one noteworthy in proto-metal history, AKA totally killing it on those three songs, the band carving out their own strange, strange place in proto-metal with this strange, strange album.
AKA’s Do What You Like: The Decibel breakdown:
Do I need to be stoned to listen to this?: Much of it, yes.
Heaviness factor: Title track, way up there. Two other songs, quite high. The rest, not even approaching heavy.
Obscura Triviuma: As the story goes, the band name is an acronym for Apotik Kali Asin, which is the name of the pharmacy the band practised at; it was owned by vocalist/keyboardist Ucok Harahp’s father.
Other albums: Lots; the band had a pretty prolific run up until 1977.
Related bands: Duo Kribo, SAS Group.
Alright, fine, if you must: Whatever drugs were popular in Indonesia in 1970.
