Punk and gothic with 360

ONE can't help but wonder what sort of people would spend their time listening to punk and gothic music that not only sounds macabre but also offers anything but joy to the listener.



The recent Joy Division tribute at Paul's Place in Damansara Utama drew a motley crowd.


The sort who like to listen to music which seems to emphasise the grotesque, the mysterious, and the desolate.

"Music is like food. It's all about preference. Some like roti canai while others prefer nasi lemak," said Rafil Elyas, front runner, vocalist, songwriter and guitarist of 360 degree Head Rotation.


"People like me, we like punk and goth."


360 Degree Head Rotation (aka 360) was formed as a gothic /punk outfit in December 2003, with Rafil, 37, on vocals, rhythm guitar, Jack Nathan, 38, on the lead guitar, Nazrul Ahmad, 25, on bass and Mohd Nuhi Adha Selamat, 26, on drums.


"I just came back from the United States and haven't played for at least 10 years. After a while, I decided to form my own band with Jack Nathan,"said Rafil.

Jack, a long time friend of Rafil, was helping to set up the stage at a night spot called Paul's Place.

He also plays the guitar there and noticed two budding underground musicians, Nazrul and Nuhi.
"Jack is a great friend of mine and a great guitarist. Nazrul and Nuhi were chosen because, to me, they are the raising stars in the underground scene."


Claiming inspiration from Joy Division, The Cure, Tom Waits, Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Bauhaus, 360's music, just like their idol's, are very depressing, dark and terrifying.


360 perform predominantly original work. Most of their songs are based on short stories written by Rafil.

"What I love so much about the gothic influence in the music are the intense lyrics, coupled with brilliantly timed music all throughout the songs."


And intense they are. The feeling of existential dread, expressed with a sense of torture through distortion-drenched power chords and monotone vocals, suggesting so many different mental elements and conditions, confusion, depression, frustration and hate fuels their songs.

"It is all about contrast. All about yin and yang. You cannot find happiness if you were never sad, depressed, deflated. There is no joy without grief," said Rafil.


Even their band name has some sinister tone to it.


"I was forced to think up a name for the band quite quickly. At that time, I was really looking forward to watch the director's uncut version of the Exorcist and the first thing that popped into my head was the scene when Linda Blair's character Regan's head began to turn 360degrees.

"That's how I came up with the band's name."

The band were introduced to the public when they were invited to play two gigs organised by Lemang Music, a publishing, production and promotion company.


The first was on Jan 4 at What's the Alternative? and on Jan 28 at Tuesday Acoustic Jam at Paul's Place along with well-known veteran Hassan Peter Brown, Markiza and Broken Scar.

They organised their own gig on April 24 and called it Strange Occurrences I. It went so well that the band organised another on July 24 as a tribute to Joy Division, a band which has the greatest impact on them, along with other local underground bands Hike, Crimson, Sick Society, Lurks, Hike, Triple Six Poser and Fazi.


"Not many will like the music but what we are trying to do is show the public that there is another type of music. A different dish with a different flavour."

Rafil writes the lyrics and conceptual musical framework while Jack does the lead compositions, direction and final arrangements, Nuhi the drum patterns and Nazrul the bass lines.


As for their future, Rafil says they are in the midst of discussing when the band can get together and record our materials. With about 15 songs ready, all they need now is sometime off to recordthe songs, which is not quite easy as they all have day jobs.

With songs that carry frightening titles such as Blood, Bury, Control, Edgar, Head Set in Stone and None Shall Worship You, it may not be everyone's preferred choice of music, but gothic and punk fans will not be disappointed.


For further information on the band, visit http://www.360dhr.com/. - NST 01/08/2004