Bio:
As Sahar started out as a Thrash Metal band during the golden era of 80's. To be exact, 3 souls - Barchiel (guitar/vocals), Hanael (bass) & Uriel (drums) initiated the move for the band in December 1987 as they were really moved by the intense & aggressive music.
Early jam sessions were content to playing covers of their idols - Venom, Metallica, Hallows Eve, Fantom Warrior, Mercyful Fate & Postmortem. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it took As Sahar till the end of 1993 to ever record their materials. By then, Metal with avant-garde elements had stormed the scene, which inevitably changes their musical tastes as well. The 2 releases As Sahar produced in 1993: -"2 track promo-tape" & the "Primitively Eastern Winds" demo were actually the band's earlier thrashy songwriting's but added with atmospherical/ambient essences.The fact that both releses received overwhelming & positive responses (minus the poor sound quality..of course) was a motivation for Barchiel, Hanael & Uriel to go further with their capabilities.As Sahar then undergone a 2-year period of 'meditation' to find their own identity & what came out through their "Santau" demo in 1995 was evident of this. As Sahar became the pioneer of Eastern Black Metal - melodically & atmospheric Black Metal combined with traditional Archipelago influences. Also, lyrically, As Sahar dig into the aspects of mysticism & magickal practices within various Malay ethnic groups. "Santau" was then licensed by Nebiula Productions for wider distribution in Malaysia in cassette EP format with a new title "Meditasi Embun Pagi". Total sales of 4000 units of that EP raised As Sahar's status as an elite force in regional Metal scene.Uriel soon left after the EP release & Iblyss who's got experince drumming for Abhorer & Impiety filled up that vacant slot. With Iblyss, As Sahar went on to be active in gigs around Malaysia & recorded songs for a few compilations as well. Their toughest period was the recordings of their first ever full-length album "Phenomistik" in 1996. The album, which was subsequently released in early 1997 under Nebiula Productions again, gained great response. Their brand of Malay-oriented Black Metal is highly regarded & they gained more fans that are fanatically obsessed by their cult art."Phenomistik" went on to hit the band's target sales of more than their "Meditasi..." EP. As Sahar's next project was a split album with Ipoh's uprising Silverian arts revelation - Hayagriva. Since both bands are tied with different labels, a 'neutral' label - Memories Records was chosen for that release entitled "Beyond Firmament". That's the latest material out in the market for the moment.As Sahar, then underwent drastic changes in their musical styles & identity. This was evident enough in their latest track "Senandung Suralaya" recorded especially for the compilation Storm Of Nebiula II. Gone were their aggressive music, image & identity....Also gone from the line-up is Iblyss for some personal reasons. The As Sahar of today is only Hanael & Barchiel plus few other sessionists that experimented with musical variations that they listened to. The result is a new-age-like Metal a new music which As Sahar themselves called "E-Lust:Ronika Gothrock". That is something which they have high hopes for - bringing a wider dimension Metal into the next millinium. At present, As Sahar are busy preparing for their next album release entitled "Baku Karama" which will once again be a testing period whether their presently planted experimentation would bear its fruits.Check out a track from their latest release 'Ekstasi Tektonis' entitled: "Silumaniac Dancacration".Currently working for their upcoming material called "Jaann" consists 10 tracks with Darkthrone styleDiscographyPrimitively Eastern Winds Demo, 1993
Santau Demo, 1995
Meditation Embun Pagi Full-length, 1995
Phenomistik Full-length, 1996
Casus Luciferi Full-length, 1997
Baku Karama Full-length, 1999
Ekstasi Tektonis Full-length, 1999
Casus Luciferi EP, 2000
Bomohymns Okultika Full-length, 2001
Intifada Full-length, 2001As Sahar started out as a thrash metal outfit way back in 1987 - during the Golden era of German Thrash eg; Sodom, Kreator, Poison, Destruction, etc..These bands in addition to other greaat name like Mercyful Fate, Venom, Hallow Eve, Postmortem & Fantom Warrior, were among the bands early influences & inspirations. The band was founded by Malik Hanael (bass) & Sam Uriel (drums), later on joined by Malik's younger brother - One Barchiel (guitars). Efforts to find a suitable vocalist failed & One took that department as well. Early days of the then nameless band were confined within the walls of the rehearsal studios jamming covers of the mentioned bands. Factors such as institution & compulsory.National Service hindered the band's recordings, which explained why it tooks till 1993 for the band first recording. A 2 track promo-tape emerged in July that year. As Sahar thrash music had since mixed with melodical / atmospherical Black Metal. The promo-tape gained good reviews from fanzines worldwide which motivated the band to move further. 2 months later As-Sahar released the "Primitively Eastern Winds" demo. Its a demo in the vein of Nordic Black Metal musically - highly concentrated on melodical riffs with depression aura. The demo sold-well almost 700 copies worldwide (more now considering the re-released versions Nebuila Production), while As-Sahar's type of Black Metal was highly acclaimed by listeners regionally & worldwide. Fans starved for more releases from the band. After "Primitively Eastern Winds" the trinity of Malik, Sam & One went into "Meditation" searching for their own identity. They wanted As-Sahar to be something different, as a creator of a new Black Metal phenomenon. The result was seen in their "Santau" EP - released in 1995. "Santau" was rich in Malay - Archipelago mystical values. Musically, the As-Sahar trademark had a cocktail of traditional Malay melodies.Lyrically the band sang sorcery, black magic & the supernaturals within the Malay - Archipelago region. The band saw these as a nationalistic sentiment. "Santau" which was then licensed for release in the Malaysian market by Nebuila Production (bearing a new title - "Meditasi Embun Pagi") as the band hoped for , became a phenmenon. The overhelming acceptance was just too speedy, too massive. Even new bands emerged within the region idolized As-Sahar, used the As-Saharian nationalistic ideologies. As-Sahar became a creator, a pioneer of what is best termed as Malay - oriented Black Metal. Sam Uriel left the band shortly after the released of "Santau" due to personal commitments. It didn't take long to find Sam Uriel's replacement. Iblyss - a known figure, having drummed for 2 local greats - Abhorer & Impiety filled the slot. His first tasks were recordings of 2 tracks for Storm of Nebuila Compilation (released by Nebuila Prod) in 1996, took part in the Synchronoize 1995 gig in Penang(Malaysia) & the recordings As-Sahar's debut album in 1996. The new line-up took part in many gigs around Malaysia. With a firm fan base, Nebuila Productions released the bands "Phenomistik" debut album in 1996. The phenomenon arising from the "Santau" EP widened. The band's cult got more following - particularly from Malaysia. What was in As-Sahar's vision when they first brainstormed the ideas for the Malay - oriented Black Metal turned reality. "Phenomistik" became an icon for the underground Metal arena. As- Sahar continued thier dominion locally with the "Beyond Firmament" - split album with Ipoh's Hayagrivain 1998. Musically & lyrically, As-Sahar had not gone thru' drastic changes except for the introductionof the avant - garde elements. The split album was a special project by both bands whom chosed KL -based label Memories Records to release it. Memories Records wasn't a big label as Nebuila Production, as they failed to promoting the album. That didn't hinder As-Sahar's progress in the scene. "Beyond Firmament" confirmed the band's status as an amblem for Metal with Malay - Magick essences. Iblyss was seen out of the band in 1999 on diciplinary grounds. As-Sahar hadn't got a permanent drummer since then. Fauzzt, who was drumming for his own band - Hail as well as session for Kibosh Sybil Kismet, helped out As-Sahar in the recordingsfor their 2nd full length album. "Baku Karama" was released in 1999 by Nebuila Productions. The album was a big shocker for As-Sahar fanatical followers. It wasn't Black Metal this time around. It's an album which the band when back to thier Rocks roots (the days they started to play music in the early 80's) The rock era was re-introduced thru' this album - highly influenced by D'Febians, - doing what theyHelter Skelter, SYJSofea, etc..The album was best seen as ' underground attitudeby' the band - doing what they felt like doing, a freedom of creation. "Baku Karama" saw many of As-Sahar's Black Metal fans drifted away from supporting it. Such saga don't kill a band. As-Sahar knew what they doing & had anticipated whatever outcomecince Day-1 they planned on the Rock album. Suprisingly, " Baku Karama" sold well in Malaysia market. By 2001, Malik Hanael was no longer in the band. Apart from concentrating on his own band Requiem (in fact he formed Requiem even before As-Sahar), Malik had his own commitments as he got married the year before. Stablizing his own family was his main priority then. One Barchiel continued the reign of As-Sahar , producing the "Intifada" album in 2001. One Barchiel got the helping hands of sessionists in Jadam (Necrotic Chaos / Gorb / Profane Creation)- drum programmings & Dark-E (Sil-Khannaz / Vociferation Eternity)- lead guitars for this album. "Intifada" was experimental - mixture of As-Sahar's known musical trademark with electronica. As the album had at least 70% of what As-Sahar used to be known for musically, the fans who deserted them since the "Baku Karama' days returned. "Intifada" made it into Top 20 of Malaysian top-selling albums & best remembered for the anti-Zionist messages One Barchiel delivered in the lyrics. 2001 also saw Nebuila Productions re-release As-Sahar's 1993 "Primitively Eastern Winds" demo under a new title "Casus Luciferi" (more on refreshing actually rather than marketing strategy as some critics see). Also a live EP was out the same year entitled "Bomohymns Okultika" - recordings from As-Sahar's involvementsin Noctournal War gig at Penang in 1998. Some worthly releases good for the collectors. Malik Hanael returned to As-Sahar's line-up in 2002. As-Sahar also recruited Najasakthee of Hayagriva in the drums department. The new-look line-up turned Swedish Black Metal - as the "Al-Rischa" EP(released by Nebuila Prod. In November that year) had highly influences of bands such as Nagflar, Dissection, & Lord Belial. "Al-Rischa" was rich in terms of melodical riffs while the moods found in the EP was depressive throughout. "Al-Rischa" , musically brought back memories of As-Sahar "Phenomistik" days except the the lyrics were non-evil. The entire concept of the EP was about estronomy & the mysteries of it's colossal connections. The return of the old Black Metal As-Sahar was more then welcoming for their fans. The exit of Najasakthee after "Al Rischa" wasn't too good news. Najasakthee had delivered well in the recordings. To have him permanently in As-Sahar would be disastrous as the distance factor (Najasakthee live in Ipoh, while the 2 brothers lives in Singapore - about 7 hours drive away!) was a big hindrance. 2003, it was One Barchiel turns to settle down, start a family. Having viewed that for at least 2 years As-Sahar would be inactive, the brothers - One & Malik , got Nebuila Prod to release their rare & unreleased materials in the form of "Devillation Master's" demo - a demo which had an aggressive Black Metal style, a combinantion of retro - Thrash, Death Metal & Black Metal. The demo which originally recorded in 1994 with As-Sahar's first line up , was digitally mastered & released in 2003. "Devillation Masters" was a bonus for As-Sahar's fanaticsas the band decided to take a 2 years break, in particular One Barchiel. Malik Hanael, meanwhile was involved in other bands like Istidraj & SADIZTIK IMPALER. End of 2004, As-Sahar were ready to record their new materials. It's gonna be an album, a 4th full-length. Fate said that SamUriel will re-join the brothers Malik & One for the recordings of "JAANN". Sam joined as sessionist drummer this time around. As-Sahar idolized 3 Malaysian great Black Metal bands thru' this new albums, namely Bazzah, Nebiras & Rator. In their eyes, these 3 bands are the masters of raw & intensed dark stuffs. "JAANN" bear all these essences & qualities. "JAANN" was recently released by Nebuila Productions (July 2005). The journey of As-Sahar, - perhaps one of the most established names in Malaysian underground Metal arena, continues....
