Cromok is a thrash metal band from Malaysia. They are known to be the pioneers of thrash metal music in Malaysia. Consists of three members, Shamsudin Ali as Vocalist and Bassist, Khairul Anuar Shariff as Guitarist, and Tarmizi Mokhtar as Drummer.
History
Cromok was formed in 1986 by four young students, Shamsuddin Ali, Khairul Anuar Shariff, Kharuddin Muhammad, and Tarmizi Mokhtar. They were studying at the University of Wollongong, in Australia. While in Australia, to past extra time, they decided to form a thrash metal band and they frequently perform their music in small concert and gigs primarily in Sydney Metal Scene. They got positive responses and steadily gaining their fans, made their name within the Australian Underground Thrash Metal scene rising the ranks along with Australian Godfather bands in the likes of Enticer, SSDC, Mortal Sin, Frozen Doberman, White Trash, Addictive and Detriment. Their single, 'Misty' was their most popular song among their fans in those days. In 1992 Sam, Karl and Miji returns to Malaysia meanwhile Din had already go back to Malaysia the previous year, causing them to loose the spot as Motorhead opening act. After Din went back to Malaysia, they were using some of their friends as rhythm guitarist one of them is a guy named Erwin. Their first album/demo which was recorded during their studies, 'Images of Purity' were released in 1990 and were distributed among the tape traders of australian metal scene and later picked up by VSP Sdn Bhd to be distributed in Malaysia. They receive positive responses, mostly among the teenagers, and build a huge local fan base in a short period of time. Their songs such as 'Another You', 'I Don't Belong Here', 'Misty', 'Metallurgical' and 'Memories' were highly praised by their fans. However their success was limited due to limited acceptance of mainstream media by the Malaysian government at the time. Instead, they keep expanding their musical growth, releasing seven more stellar albums; 'Forever In Time', 'Yours Truly', 'Mean, Meaner, Meanest', 'Image of Purity' , 'What's Left?', 'Deafening Silence', 'Untitled' and a few special edition compilation. 'Forever in Time' was their most successful album to date, sold over 100,000 copies in Malaysia. Din died in September 27, 1997 caused by Malaria in Mersing, Johor. His body were buried in Tumpat, Kelantan. He was survived by his widow and daughter. Due some friction between Din and the three others, the band then continued as a trio. However, in 2001, Karl was seceding from Cromok because he wants to concentrate on his professional career and his family. Karl then was replaced by renowned guitar maestro in Malaysia, Hillary Ang from Malaysian rock icon band, Search. At the end of 2005, Hillary returned to the Search, leaving Sam and Miji as the remaining member in Cromok. Sam then announced that they were going on sabbatical hiatus and all band activities were suspended. After almost five years of sabbatical hiatus from music scene, on April 8, 2012 they held a Reunion concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at KlLive, consisting of three original members, which also celebrated the band’s 25th anniversary. This was one of the latest concert of Cromok, after their last performance in Hard Rock Cafe, Bangkok. They are now still performing whenever theres demand and the latest concert was NUSAFEST2020. On August 21, 2013, Cromok performed as an opening act for MetallicaLIVE concert in Malaysia.
Style
The group sings in English. They are also known to have at least one instrumental track in every album. Sam uses a teutonic thrash raspy vocal style, sometimes low guttural, while the band's music sounds similar to the Bay Area thrash metal with a touch of Malay/Nusantara feels. Cromok also often experiments with Malay cultural music elements and sounds, adding Malay elements to their artwork.
