Naarm, Melbourne-based Sri Lankan hardcore band ILLAN KAAPAN have released their UNDENIABLE EP, serving up their heaviest hitting material to date. Tough, harsh and full of energy, the band are delivering the high-impact sound ILLAN KAAPAN are known for, whilst sonically pushing boundaries, with the addition of traditional Sri Lankan thammattama drums.
The EP follows on from THE RISING TIDE / KEEPS ME ALIVE, a double single that was released earlier in the month. The singles served as the first taste from ILLAN KAAPAN’s EP, UNDENIABLE, out today on Reason and Rage Records and Life.Lair.Regret. Records. “Our new tracks THE RISING TIDE and KEEPS ME ALIVE are songs about two homes- one’s for Melbourne and one’s for Sri Lanka” explains vocalist Asela Marcelline.
Asela Marcelline On The Meaning Behind The Tracks
Speaking on the deeply personal meaning of the two tracks, Asela Marcelline shares:
THE RISING TIDE was written about this weird, intense and intimate scene and what it means to be part of it. KEEPS ME ALIVE is very much about being an immigrant. Especially being Sri Lankan and brown. Being Lankan is such an important part of who we are. For me, to move somewhere after you’ve fully formed your life and personality without losing that sense of where you came from, despite how much the world tries to mute that part of you is everything. Being Sri Lankan and being an immigrant kept me alive, and it never kept me down.
From over-capacity DIY shows to church domes and living rooms, ILLAN KAAPAN take every opportunity they can to put on an explosive and unforgettable show. With the help of Prad Sen, a Sri Lankan director, ILLAN KAAPAN have captured the energy of their high-powered live set, dropping visuals filmed directly from a recent all-ages Melbourne show.
The video moves straight from the stage to an after-set traditional meal- with the band feeding over seventy people with homemade Sri Lankan food. Vocalist Asela explains “I feel like I go into every show and walk out with a hundred stories and experiences – ranging from absolute joy to total hurt – from the Rising Tide of people in these rooms”.
You can watch the video for “THE RISING TIDE / KEEPS ME ALIVE” HERE.
Following on from last year’s debut, The Demo, these tracks pave the way for ILLAN KAAPAN’s new chapter. The new 6-track EP features unmistakably sincere and raw lyrics, interrogating the idea of community and belonging. The cover features the artwork Cultural Death by Sri Lankan artist Thilini de Simon.
Off the back of support for Orthodox (US), the band will continue to champion DIY venues and all-ages shows, teaching a masterclass in controlled chaos. The Melbourne AA EP launch show is already SOLD OUT, but you can snag tickets to the Sydney show HERE and keep an eye on their socials for upcoming show announcements.
Balancing the raw integrity of hardcore with a modern take, the band are asserting their authority, proving to be both a vital and refreshing piece of the Australian hardcore scene. Asela states; “That is what this whole record is about lyrically – the undeniable power of being part of something.”
Upcoming Live Shows: