The name Kowloon Walled City is one of those rare, long names that is able stay in your mind. Normally bands that wish to have that catchy factor, they would just pick something short, easy to spell and catchy. However, like most good band names, they well reflect the band's sound and mystique. When you first hear the name, it sounds as if it's an element of a fantastical series, like Kyuss, who took their name from Dungeons and Dragons.
The word "walled" conjures up images of fortresses like Helm's Deep but when you think back, the name actually refers to something more earthly. The name refers to an old demolished part of Hong Kong, known for it's dangerous red light districts, immortalized in old Hong Kong movies, as dirty dens and raunchy adventures. Despite it being down to Earth, it has the mystical vibe that is a cross between a time gone by, as it no longer exists but it has an aura of fantasy attached with it, along with the association of vices. That reflects well in it's music too.
The band plays a blend of Sludge Metal and Post-Hardcore. While jumping into Sludge Metal, one, would conjure up images of hurricane stricken wastelands in America and hard pounding riffs, like a cult-summoned Sabbath riff, played in the basements of Eye Hate God fans. However when you listen to this, you get something more down to earth. A much more melodic sound, slow brooding, something that you would associate more with Atmospheric acts like ISIS or Pelican, but not as heavy. Even ISIS or Cult of Luna isn't the best descriptor as the band does not in any form follow or try to imitate the Post-Rock leanings the bands mentioned above had.
The melody that those two bands mentioned are well integrated into this band. The structure reminds me more of Fugazi in the 90s, which coincidentally represents the vocals too. The screams aren't harsh screams of a drug addled alleyway of southern cities, but akin to underground venues of Washington city. It's the voice of a time gone by in the 90s, the scream that was the grandfather to Skramz bands, that Ian McKaye would pull off. Just like the real Kowloon Walled City, this band's music references a region, only captured in our imaginations, through the filter of a time gone by. People today, would view the city as a giant wall, surrounding massive structures, just like how this band utilizes the elements of an angry massive music sound, filtered through nostalgia of the 90s.
In other words, this band is Fugazi on steroids, reminiscing life, with the crushing weight of the genre's past. Post-Hardcore fans will think this is too Sludgy, while Sludge fans will think this is leaning too much on the Post-Hardcore side. If you are able to balance yourself in between, you'll be able to enjoy this band.
PS/ All of their albums are free on their bandcamp. Container Ships just happened to be my favourite album from this band.
Bandcamp (for free downloads):
http://kowloonwalledcity.bandcamp.com/
Facebook page (Click like on their page, they've given you good free music, that's the least you could do you ungrateful fuck): https://www.facebook.com/kowloonwalledcity
Too lazy to download? Just click on this youtube video:
Terence A. Anthony commutes between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. Co-Founder of Aural Chaos. He also writes for Greater Malaysia and Opinions Unleashed.