Review by Kayla Hamilton (@kaylazomboid)

ANNALYNN w/The Rocket Whale & Bad Baboon
DECOMMUNE, Bangkok, Thailand
August 3rd 2024

Emblazed across the back of the shirt it stated, “It Was Like Hell On Earth, But I Survived The ‘Failure Will Find Me’ EP Launch Concert On August 3, 2024”- that was the moment when I wondered what I had gotten myself into.

Walking into Decommune, a venue close to Bangkok’s more party district Khao San Road, a spattering of people were spread out around. Even though I had arrived at doors open, I was told gleefully by ANNALYNN’s frontman Bon “you are early, this isn’t Tokyo”.

Nothing wrong with being early, as it gave me time to scope out the venue. Heading into the room where the action was going to take place, it felt like a coliseum of sorts. With raised standing room and an arena in the middle where surely the carnage of the pit was going to be taking place, those who were also a little early had started to set up camp close to the stage. The MC/DJ was chucking down some ripper 90’s-00’s hip hop jams, adding to the party atmosphere. The visuals behind the stage stood out, the screen animated, reminding us why we were all here.

Despite being told I was early, the show kicked off pretty much on the dot. Opening the show was Bad Baboon, a heavy indie rock band with a funk edge. With basslines that slap harder than Stephanie McMahon in the Attitude era (niche reference I know) and an intoxicating groovy energy- this tongue in cheek band was impossible to not fall in love with. Those who made it out on time and decided to stand in the mosh arena quickly were moving and singing along. Others, like myself who were new to Bad Baboon gazed upon the quartet with a healthy curiosity, bobbing our heads along. All in all, the band did surprise me. Mainly because I have been still getting used to again attending shows where the openers are stylistically quite diverse from the headliner, but it is a trend I will welcome with open arms as growing up in a small-town music scene- it felt a little like home.

Once the dynamic and funky Bad Baboon had said their piece, it was time for The Rocket Whale. As I had not looked up this band before the show, wanting my first exposure to be live, I was very curious at what they had to offer. Within seconds of their set starting, I knew what I was in for. If Bad Baboon had given a little tap of nostalgia, then The Rocket Whale was about to drown me in it. Now drenched in post-hardcore vibes, I floated happily, with my emo heart keeping me buoyant. While the genre was nostalgic, the sound was fresh. Taking the skeleton and soul of the early to mid 00’s side fringe vibes, but giving it a sonic make-over, it was a shining example that if we allow this genre to flourish, we can be treated to some incredible talent. A small but energetic pit finally had the courage to kick on, and again, as an onlooker unfamiliar with this band until tonight- their significance in the scene did not go unnoticed. To put it simply, both openers were a wonderful way to ease into the chaos and heaviness that was about to be bestowed upon us.

By the time it was ANNALYNN’s time to take the stage, the room had started to pack out. Those eager to mosh were starting to warm up and it was obvious that the second the lights would dim- bodies would be moving. In an efficient stage set up, the guitar cabs were off the stage, leaving a solitary drum kit in the centre- framed by the microphone stands. The lowering the lights signified it was go time and the introductory vocal loop to ‘Circle The Flame’ rang out. Entering the stage first was drummer Mong, with the “Participate In the Ritual” emblazed across the backing screen. The rest of the band entered, cheered on by a crowd that sounded as if they had been holding their breath- waiting for the metalcore maestros to take over the stage. Vocalist Bon urged the room to move up, and once those anthemic drums sounded, he ripped into his opening command. A hero’s welcome, and in a way that only ANNALYNN can do, the energy of venue launched into the stratosphere.

Keeping things trekking along, they immediately thundered into ‘Bathed In Sin’, showcasing the reason why we were all there that night- to celebrate the release of the sonic representation of this bands constant evolution and hard work. An impassioned crowd belted out the chorus, or maybe that was just myself I could hear (I could not resist). Those math-core inspired guitars just hit different. A circle pit was demanded, and it happened. The ANNALYNN fans determined to show their love through a display of brutality and energy. Taking back to 2021, the band then played one of their ‘softer’ tracks ‘Scars And Wounds’ and that is when we saw our first glimpses of crowd surfing/stage diving.

If you thought you had found a safe place to stand, you hadn’t. ‘Leveling God’ turned the room feral. Possessions lost, limbs flailing and if you tried to film, expect dramatic footage- because from the wall of death in ‘Closer To The Edge’ it just became the wild west. Pulling out inflatable beach balls, a massive duck pool float and tracks from their earlier days, the fine line between pit and party was blurred as the everything became just that little more unhinged. One thing to note though, despite the violence and mayhem- it was smiling all round. From the band and the fans, nobody could wipe the grin off their faces, even those who hit the deck.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get crazier, members from one of Thailand’s premier hardcore acts Whispers came in to join the fun. Two stepping, crowd killing and insanity- it was a high-octane affair that truly showed off the band’s heavy hardcore roots. Eventually, it was time for everybody to take a breath. With people still picking up the pieces of what had fallen out of the pockets, been ripped off their person and ultimately, tried to pull air back into their lungs- it became a lot more of an emotional affair.

The opening riff of ‘Home’ tugged at the heart strings and as the members exchanged looks, there seemed to be this feeling ache intertwined with relief that swept over the room. If anybody had something troubling their mind, this was the time it seemed to be released. A wholesome moment as during the song, Bon entered the crowd, and the room sang around him. It felt like therapy. It felt like community. It felt like family. It felt like in that moment that the world just a little bit easier to handle. In that moment, as corny as it may sound, I truly felt and witnessed the power of live music and the way it brings people so much peace.

Giving everybody that moment of togetherness, it was time to keep the show moving and of course, there was Damage Control. Taking on Masato from Coldrain’s feature was Kao Jirayu, the guitarist of Bad Baboon, singer of Retrospect and for those not in the know (like myself) a well-known actor and model. Showing off his pipes at an impressive rate, his appearance just added to what was already such a memorable set.

By this point, the night had started to become a bit of a blur. They played all the songs you wanted to hear: ‘Disappear’, [019001] and after a very exhausted, but enthusiastic encore demand- they returned to the stage for one last brutal display- treating us to ‘Holy Gravity’ and ‘Deceiver/Believer’. It was guitarist Pob’s turn to enter the pit, throwing down not just heavy riffs but moves too.

Finishing off the night with a fan signing session, it was truly a remarkable sight to witness. For those outside of South East Asia, ANNALYNN may feel like a young band but to truly appreciate the impact they have had on their scene then you need to see them play to their home audience. They have cultivated not just a solid community around them, but an atmosphere that is unlike any other. Their humbleness and joy to share their music shines through their fans and despite the violence in the pit, it honestly was one of the most wholesome shows I’ve ever attended.

So if, this was hell on earth- I don’t need to see heaven: take me to hell every single time.