Biography:

They Will Kill Us All are a band that is obsessed with making great music that lasts the test of time. That has always been the singular focus on the band. No one can adequately describe how the band sounds like. It is always an amalgam of influences and experiences. But it was a long and arduous journey to get to where there are now.

It all started out as a weekend project between Edwin Raj and David Leong in 2003. Both of them were old friends from different bands that ended prematurely, and when the opportunity came Edwin and David sat together making plans for a band moulded in their vision of music. Their first mission was to find a vocalist and this is where Hafizul Azim came in. To complete the band, many other friends were approached and auditioned but they finally settled with Amir Shazlan and Ihsan Ariffin on bass and drums respectively in the year 2005.

The band, now with a settled line-up, began working feverishly on their recording. Like any other bands, they also played live shows to solidify their music and made themselves known. Word begins to spread about how unique the band is. And this kept up the pressure on the band to deliver a worthy debut release. It took a long time, but they finally released ‘Secret Episodes’ in 2008. The album was self-produced by the band with the help of co-producer Keith Yong. It was greeted with good reception from fans and critics, some describing it as a great benchmark in the annals of home grown local music.

But the excitement was cut short after Hafizul Azim left the band in 2009 due to personal issues. Losing a frontman is something that can break up bands, but They Will Kill Us All was adamant to stay on for the long haul. The search for a new vocalist was not an easy task. After a long pursuit it was obvious that outsiders find it hard to gel with an already tightly-knit group. To resolve the deadlock, Edwin finally stepped up and took on the frontman role.

Brimming with confidence, the band worked hard to create music that suits the vocal styling of Edwin. This process revitalized the band. It made them look hard on what worked in a song. And most importantly, it gave hope that everything will be great again. Along the way, they managed to grab Wandi Saat on keyboards to complete their new sound. Soon they began to enter studios for their second release.

Which brings us to their second self-titled album. Dubbed ‘Vulture’ by their fans due to the album’s cover image, it is a great leap forward for the band on every level. The album is proof that at heart of this musical unit is a desire to always push their boundaries beyond the comfort zone.

The songs are now more stripped down and minimal in sound, but never losing their emotional intensity. Melodies are the key focal point of every song, but the sonic treatment for them is more diverse. From the Cure-like melody of the first single ‘Sirens’ to the inspiring, uplifting anthem ‘Sons of the Fearless’, the album reflects the growing confidence and maturity of They Will Kill Us All. If their first release ‘Secret Episodes’ showed the potential they hold waiting to be unleashed, in ‘Vulture’ the band took full flight.

The new album for They Will Kill Us All is, in many ways, a triumphant statement from the band. They have been through numerous situations would have broken the spirits of many other bands. But the band persevered and survived intact. In fact, the music blossomed. For the band, that’s the final thing that matters. Good music will prevail.

The band that was once was, now is.