REPUTDEATH - Only DEATH is real ! (Malaysia - Death Metal - Interview with Mika).
Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music?
Hey Fab! What’s up? Hope everything’s good. (All is fine - thank you - Ed.) I’m Mika. It’s a bit of a long story how I found my way into this “extreme” music scene. Before I even knew what metal was, I got into hardcore/punk when I was in early middle school. Hanging out with classmates who were totally into that world fired me up. Then, thanks to my cousin (a big metal fan), I got introduced to metal itself — I kicked off with Extreme Aggression by Kreator and also the album “Pendita Gila” by Sil Khannaz. I don’t really know how to explain it — for me, this kind of metal brings a huge flow of energy, it triggers a sense of independence and survival in everyday life. To most people it might just sound like loud noise and heavy distortion, but for us it’s way more — it symbolizes a musical tone with no boundaries.
Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Reputdeath started around the end of 2009, and we dropped our first demo Into The Cryptos in 2012. We’ve been putting out demos ever since. Back then, the lineup was Sam on vocals, Fastgore on drums, Red on bass, and me on guitar. We were all good friends — always hitting up local shows, hanging out, blasting our favorite tunes, and watching old-school horror movies together. Honestly, we didn’t plan on starting a band focused on old-school death metal at first. We were just huge fans of those 90s demo tapes — the raw, heavy sound and killer artwork really inspired us. One day we were like, “Why not start a band that pays tribute to that era and breaks away from the usual metal sound around here?” A lot has changed over the years. We’re still releasing stuff — demos, promos, splits, you name it. The lineup’s shifted too; now it’s just the three of us: Fastgore on drums, TJ. Andez on guitar, and me handling bass and vocals. This lineup came together around mid-2019 when we recorded the Putrefaction promo, and it’s been solid ever since.
Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
We’re playing death/doom metal with a heavy, raw Boss HM‑2 tone. We really dig bands like Autopsy, Anatomia, Impetigo and all that. To us music’s totally subjective — there’s no trick or push behind it. It’s about the melody or the vibe in a track.
Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ?
A good song carries a consistent value in every verse of its lyrics and also in the music created; it forms a unique atmospheric cycle (vibe) when it resonates in your ears. Our past songwriting drew heavily from horror-fiction stories and the like, often inspired by classic old horror films. During the demo “Dissecting Goryfication” around 2019/2020, we shifted our reference sources to everyday human experiences. Themes like depression, a lonely death, and other phenomena connected to us and the universe became notes in each verse of the lyrics, and also the message we aimed to convey to the listener.
About your latest release ?
We’ve got a few releases coming out before the end of 2025. One of them is the re-release of our demo “Dissecting Goryfication” by Noxious Ruin, this time on cassette. There’s also a CD version of the same demo being reissued by a local label here, Hutan Mati Records. On top of that, Basement Records will be putting out a 12″ vinyl titled “The Reek of Emptiness,” which gathers our last two demos that we recorded. By the time you’re reading this interview, the vinyl might very well be out—so hit up Basement Records if you’re interested in getting a copy. We’ve also got a few more releases in the works—still ironing out details with labels right now. And yes, we’re in the process of writing and trying to get our latest recording wrapped up as soon as we can. Stay tuned!
Future plans ?
We’ve got too many plans for the band looking ahead. Besides hoping we achieve them and succeed, we’re making hard work, staying focused on every step we take, and enjoying being together as a unit or family are all top priorities. Coming from this remote corner of the world, besides hard work and deep passion, we also give serious attention to our everyday careers. We’ve got a tour planned for next year and we’re dreaming of staying active, putting out releases in the future, and working with all kinds of labels, media/zines, and fellow metalheads.
Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Hey Fab — can’t hurt to dream, right? Maybe tonight we’ll just drift into that dream, picturing one day we’ll hit every corner of the map — take our music, make it the bridge of friendship between all of us who share this passion — a memory that’ll live on. Imagine doing a tour with Autopsy, Anatomia or Impetigo? Let’s dream big.
Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ?
You know, the highs and the lows can come from different directions — sometimes you’re heading toward something good and meaningful, other times you’re slipping into a pit full of rotten worms! And in the end, you’re just trying to crawl your way back up that ledge… whether you make it or not. For us, our time in the underground scene up to now is a beautiful memory. Every show, every tour — we hold them in our minds and tuck them deep into our hearts. Playing live, chatting face-to-face with fans and friends while we belt out our songs — that moment is unmatched. It doesn’t matter if the show was a hit or a miss; we’re all about the meaning behind it.
Next live-appearance(s) ?
Right now, the three of us are more focused on our day jobs. We’ve got a few gigs in discussion with promoters, but nothing’s locked in yet. The daily grind can be a wall we need to break through — we’re trying to step outside, get some fresh air, and shake off being stuck indoors too long.
Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ?
Over the past few years, the “death metal-underground” scene in Malaysia has really been picking up. There are so many awesome bands — both old school and newly formed — coming out with solid, high-quality recordings. If you’ve got some free time, you should check out bands like Lavatory, Disrotten, Deathevoker — their demo got some good coverage for being raw, filthy old-school death metal. Also give a listen to Obscurial, The Casket, Miscreation, Dreaming Dead, Gravehammer, Insinner, Carcinus, Body Rag — and many more if you dig deeper. Labels like Necrolatry Records are also doing a great job bringing in stuff from overseas to our local scene. It’s exciting to see this level of activity locally — it means the underground is alive, and there’s plenty to explore if you’re into this kind of music.
Last word is yours..
Hey Fab! Big thanks for this interview — we really appreciate it! Apologies if our replies were a bit slow. (No problem, thanks for the nice answers ! Ed.) Wishing you and Rough Times all the best and much success ahead! Hopefully, we’ll cross paths someday on this planet. Until then, stay ugly!
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