Ian Antono’s influence is the backbone of these tracks. Even in the most politically charged renditions of their songs, the guitar solos remain melodic and bluesy, grounding the grand arrangements in pure musicality.
The word Laskar is Indonesian for "warrior," "troop," or "militia." This is the first clue that listeners are not entering the whimsical "Pot Head Pixie" realm of Gong's 1970s work. Instead, the opens with the sound of rain-soaked streets, police radio static, and a lone, detuned gamelan gong.
Released in 1993, is the second studio album by the Indonesian hard rock supergroup Gong 2000 . Following the massive success of their debut, this record solidified the band's reputation for blending high-energy rock with traditional cultural nuances and poignant social commentary. Formation and Context
: Perhaps the most enduring power ballad in Indonesian rock history. According to nostalgic fans on TikTok , it remains a "battlefield for the soul," blending emotional vulnerability with Albar's powerful, raspy vocals.
While the band released their self-titled masterpiece Gong 2000 in 1992 (featuring the massive hit "Lestarikan Alam Semesta"), the imagery of warriors and struggle remained a recurring motif in their discography. The band’s aesthetic—often featuring members in stylized, warrior-esque stage costumes—cemented this identity.
Gong 2000 was often viewed as an offshoot or "sempalan" of the legendary band , as it featured three of its core members: Achmad Albar (vocals), Ian Antono (guitar), and Donny Fattah (bass). The lineup for Laskar also included Harry Anggoman on keyboards and Yaya Moektio on drums. The band was born out of a musical community known as Bengkel Musik Gong , established by Ian Antono and his wife. Musical Style and Themes
Distribution outside of Asia was handled by a small French mail-order service that went bankrupt in 2002. Consequently, original copies of Laskar regularly fetch over $200 on Discogs. For years, the album was absent from streaming services, surviving only through lo-fi MP3s traded on obscure psychedelic forums. It wasn't until 2018 that the Gong estate, via the "Gong Global" reissue series, finally released a remastered double-vinyl edition, complete with a 24-page booklet of Allen’s Indonesian journal entries.
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Access the coursesIan Antono’s influence is the backbone of these tracks. Even in the most politically charged renditions of their songs, the guitar solos remain melodic and bluesy, grounding the grand arrangements in pure musicality.
The word Laskar is Indonesian for "warrior," "troop," or "militia." This is the first clue that listeners are not entering the whimsical "Pot Head Pixie" realm of Gong's 1970s work. Instead, the opens with the sound of rain-soaked streets, police radio static, and a lone, detuned gamelan gong. gong 2000 album laskar
Released in 1993, is the second studio album by the Indonesian hard rock supergroup Gong 2000 . Following the massive success of their debut, this record solidified the band's reputation for blending high-energy rock with traditional cultural nuances and poignant social commentary. Formation and Context Ian Antono’s influence is the backbone of these tracks
: Perhaps the most enduring power ballad in Indonesian rock history. According to nostalgic fans on TikTok , it remains a "battlefield for the soul," blending emotional vulnerability with Albar's powerful, raspy vocals. Instead, the opens with the sound of rain-soaked
While the band released their self-titled masterpiece Gong 2000 in 1992 (featuring the massive hit "Lestarikan Alam Semesta"), the imagery of warriors and struggle remained a recurring motif in their discography. The band’s aesthetic—often featuring members in stylized, warrior-esque stage costumes—cemented this identity.
Gong 2000 was often viewed as an offshoot or "sempalan" of the legendary band , as it featured three of its core members: Achmad Albar (vocals), Ian Antono (guitar), and Donny Fattah (bass). The lineup for Laskar also included Harry Anggoman on keyboards and Yaya Moektio on drums. The band was born out of a musical community known as Bengkel Musik Gong , established by Ian Antono and his wife. Musical Style and Themes
Distribution outside of Asia was handled by a small French mail-order service that went bankrupt in 2002. Consequently, original copies of Laskar regularly fetch over $200 on Discogs. For years, the album was absent from streaming services, surviving only through lo-fi MP3s traded on obscure psychedelic forums. It wasn't until 2018 that the Gong estate, via the "Gong Global" reissue series, finally released a remastered double-vinyl edition, complete with a 24-page booklet of Allen’s Indonesian journal entries.