Band: Tajuk
From: Pontianak, Indonesia
Their formation story:
(Aldo, vocals): "The band was born from small hangouts, late-night conversations, and a shared love of heavy music. It started casually—covering songs, jamming in tight spaces, and recording with whatever gear we had. From those moments, a natural chemistry grew. We realized this wasn’t just a hobby but a necessity—a way to release our frustrations and tell our life stories through music. Tajuk wasn’t formed by a grand plan but by the same feeling: loud, honest, and alive."
Their sound in their own words:
"Our sound follows the path of new school hardcore—heavy riffs, sharp breakdowns, aggressive tempos, yet still groovy and full of two-step energy. The vocals are loud and confrontational, with lyrics about real life, social pressure, and resistance. It’s a balance between chaos and control, between heaviness and emotion.
"Our music is made for moshing, but it always carries a message. We’re heavily influenced by the new school hardcore wave, with touches of metalcore and beatdown."
Latest release info:
"Our latest release is titled Chaos Within // Unspoken Wounds, a darker, more personal, and more aggressive body of work than anything we’ve done before. The songs were born from bottled-up anger, unspoken emotional wounds, and the constant pressure of everyday life. Sonically, we pushed everything further—rougher riffs, harder-hitting breakdowns, faster and more chaotic tempos—while keeping grooves that explode with energy in a live setting.
"Lyrically, it’s raw and honest, dealing with internal conflict, trauma, loss, and the struggle to stay standing amid chaos. For us, this release isn’t just music—it’s a form of release. A way to survive."
Future plans:
"Our main focus right now is finishing and releasing a new EP. The material is heavier, sharper, and more mature conceptually—still hardcore at its core, but with a bolder, more exploratory approach. Alongside recording, we’re planning to play more live shows, join more gigs, and bring this new energy directly to the crowd. For us, the stage will always be home. This EP will mark our next step—more solid, more furious, and more honest."
What other bands from their region should we check out?
"Some hardcore bands from our local scene you should definitely check out are:
"MAIR - a Pontianak hardcore unit known for intense live shows and their album Rebellious, full of raw energy and local anger.
Minimal Tension – a melodic hardcore band that channels anxiety and emotion through their EP Born Inside Your Grief.
Your Unsettling – a punk hardcore band with their debut EP Prefer to Blind, filled with rage and sharp criticism.
Elevate – a hardcore/punk unit with a strong DIY spirit and their self-titled debut EP.
Minority HC – a hardcore punk band with socially and politically charged lyrics, known for their single, 'Respect or Shit.'
"For a bit of history, our scene also has Secret Weapon, a legendary Pontianak hardcore band that has toured extensively outside the city. Together, they represent the diverse sounds and spirit of the West Kalimantan hardcore scene."
Tajuk on social media: Instagram
Tagged: tajuk
