3 former key members are Jeff Arwadi (guitars, vocals, programming, drums), Azhar Levi Sianturi (bass, vocals), and Leo Setiawan (guitars), all have left the band in 2009.
They started in 1995 as a more straightforward black metal band. Throughout the first 5 years, they developed their own style by incorporating many diverse elements from outside metal. This distinct style become most prominent in the third album "The Painful Experience", which marked as a starting point for the band to step more and more into the progressive metal and avant-garde metal and made further experiments with their music.
In 2003, they released "1000 Thoughts of Violence" and received positive media reviews. This led to their first European mini-tour in 2004, playing a string of shows in countries such as Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden. After that tour, they released their 5th album, "Acidity", in 2005. They made even further experiments on their 6th album, "The Habit of Fire", which found the band decreasing their early metal sound to give more room for jazz, avantgarde and electronic elements.
In 2006, right after the recording of "The Habit of Fire", founding member Jeff Arwadi moved to Canada while the rest of the members are in Indonesia, leaving the band unable to play shows and do touring. At the same time they left their longtime record label Fear Dark and status of the band was in question. After few months of uncertainty and rumors of break-up went around among their fans, they all decided to remain together and to keep the band only as a studio project. They quickly signed licensing deals with 2 record labels to release "The Habit of Fire" in 2007. The album received very well and it was nominated as The Best Avantgarde Metal Album in 2007 by Metal Storm, as well as CD of The Month by UK’s music technology magazine Sound on Sound.
Later in 2007, Jeff announced on the band’s Blog that the new Kekal album is on the way, which he has been working it all by himself. It was revealed later on, that the new album is entitled "Audible Minority", and it was released officially in December 25, 2008 with a total of 11 songs including an A-ha cover song.
On August 12th, 2009, Jeff decided to leave Kekal, citing a plethora of reasons including but not limited to lack of inspiration. As Leo has also agreed to leave if Jeff leaves, and that Levi has already left earlier, Kekal effectively has no members remaining. The band, however, will continue to “exist” as an institution, albeit with no active members.
In January 2010, Jeff announced that he has been working on a new material with a possibility to be released under the Kekal name. It came to surface shortly after, that all 3 former members have also contributed in working the new album titled 8, officially released in December 2010. But however, there is no sign that they will rejoin the band as members, leaving Kekal as a zero-member band.
With no official members, Kekal is still active to this date, limited only to make and release new studio material (albums, EPs). In 2012 another full-length album entitled Autonomy was released on CD as well as free digital download, followed by a 5-track EP called Unsung Division EP.
"Kekal" means "eternal" in Indonesian.
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Locust
Kekal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a harmless moon
All we can do
Is to assume
Our lives must change
A change is due
I hear you say
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
What are you want to do
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
Oh, weeping night
Oh, grieving sky
Oh, rabbit wind
You just flew by
Grant me this
Some small reward
Don't announce
The time of the final call
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
What are you want to do
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
My dream was this
Across the sky
A slate-grey cloud
That filled the eye
A slate-grey cloud
Comes through the dust
Locust
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
What are you want to do
I don't know, make it
I don't know, shake it
I don't know, break it down
Don't be afraid
It's a harmless moon
Don't be afraid
It's a harmless moon
The song Locust by Kekal is a song that is open to interpretation due to the lyrics that are used. The song essentially talks about change and the unknown. The first verse talks about the need for change and the uncertainty of what to do, with the lyrics "Our lives must change, a change is due, I hear you say, what are we going to do?" The refrain of "I don't know, make it, shake it, break it down" reflects the uncertainty and possibility of different outcomes.
The second verse talks about the passing of time and how fleeting life can be. The lyrics "Oh, weeping night, oh, grieving sky, oh, rabbit wind, you just flew by" shows how quickly things can change and pass by. The bridge of the song talks about wanting some sort of reward or recognition for the efforts put in. The use of "don't announce the time of the final call" may show the fear of the end, but also a desire to not have the end be the focus, but rather the journey that leads to it.
The final part of the song is a repetition of the first verse, with the emphasis on the "harmless moon". This may indicate how change is a natural thing and not something to be afraid of. The use of "locust" in the final line may be interpreted as a metaphor for change and the destruction it can bring about.
Overall, the lyrics to Locust by Kekal are thought-provoking and open to interpretation. It reflects on the uncertainty of change, the passage of time and the desire for recognition.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't be afraid
Despite the feeling of uncertainty, there is no reason to fear
It's a harmless moon
The current situation is benign, insignificant or posing no threat
All we can do
Our control or influence over the situation is limited
Is to assume
The only thing left is to make educated guesses or accept that we have incomplete information
Our lives must change
Our existence has been altered or will experience alteration
A change is due
The transformation or update has become necessary
I hear you say
Listening to the doubts and concerns of others
What are we going to do
Trying to come up with solutions or weigh in all the options
I don't know, make it
Feeling uncertain or unsure about a course of action, but wanting to try something
I don't know, shake it
Trying to disrupt or change the current situation, but lacking clarity or direction
I don't know, break it down
Attempting to dismantle, analyze or simplify the issue, but struggling to do so
What are you want to do
Asking for others' opinions or input on the matter
Oh, weeping night
Describing a situation that is sorrowful or bleak
Oh, grieving sky
The atmosphere reflects the negative emotions or events unfolding
Oh, rabbit wind
A breeze that is light, rushed or erratic
You just flew by
The events or people involved have already passed or moved on
Grant me this
Requesting a small or reasonable favor or allowance
Some small reward
Wishing for a positive outcome or compensation for effort put into a situation
Don't announce
Preferring to keep quiet or private about something
The time of the final call
The decisive or concluding moment is coming, and should not be rushed or announced prematurely
My dream was this
Describing a mental image, goal or desire
Across the sky
Visualizing something spanning across or filling the sky
A slate-grey cloud
An overcast or heavy presence that is emotionless or haunting
That filled the eye
Envisioning vividly and completely
Comes through the dust
An unknown or gritty entity that touches or enters our reality
Locust
The manifestation of a swarm or plague of insects, which can be seen as a metaphor for other destructive forces
Contributed by Maria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
InfinityPotato
It sounds so haunting
Jessica Lizarraga
@KEKAL so true, a-ha is a very dark band than what most people think, i love their music and this cover is amazing
KEKAL
Yeah, because the original is already very dark. The "Memorial Beach" album from a-ha is darker than most metal albums.