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Metal Vocals, Throat Singing and Ritual Sounds Converge on ENSEMBLE TIKORO’s “Tortoise”
Metal Meets Ritual
Emerging from the Bandung underground scene in West Java, Indonesia, ENSEMBLE TIKORO have announced their new album "Tortoise", a work that combines extreme metal vocals with throat singing and traditional ritual instruments. Featuring recordings from the group’s performance of the same name in 2026, the album will be released on cassette and digital formats by newly established Indonesian label Jangjang on October 23.
What makes "Tortoise" particularly striking is not simply the meeting of metal vocals and traditional vocal techniques, but the way the work is structured around the seven chakras. The album’s "Tortoise Part 2" consists of seven short pieces titled 'Root', 'Sacred', 'Solar Plexus', 'Heart', 'Throat', 'Third Eye', and 'Crown'. Across these pieces, extended vocal techniques drawn from death metal, black metal, thrash metal, hardcore, and punk are combined with singing bowls and shamanic drums.
The second part of the album also incorporates singing bowls, shamanic drums, and tingsha, Tibetan ritual cymbals, alongside the vocals. While "Tortoise Part 1" is performed exclusively in live settings, "Tortoise Part 2" and "Tortoise Part 3" comprise the sections recorded for the album.
The album’s first preview, 'Tortoise Part 2 – Root', is already available via Bandcamp and YouTube. Jangjang has also announced that additional previews will be released in the weeks leading up to the album’s release.
ENSEMBLE TIKORO’s approach brings contemporary music written in classical notation together with traditional elements of Sundanese culture. In keeping with the group’s name, which translates as "Throat Ensemble", they combine extreme metal vocals with throat singing, placing their music at the intersection of heavy metal, traditional healing rituals, and avant-garde composition.
Founded by Robi Rusdiana in 2012, ENSEMBLE TIKORO have created more than 50 works for dance, theater, visual art, and experimental projects. In 2021, the group collaborated with Melbourne-based contemporary dance company Lucy Guerin Inc., bringing heavy metal vocals and traditional throat singing together with contemporary dance. ENSEMBLE TIKORO’s previous album, "Hell Chamber", was released in 2024 by Italian label Artetetra Records.
"Tortoise" was recorded by Ade Syaepudin at Pilarin Corp, with mixing and mastering handled by Robi Rusdiana at 7 Kerikil. The album’s artwork was created by Tandani Mutaqim.
"Tortoise" also marks an important international release for the newly established Jangjang label. Founded by J. R. Fritsch, former head of Baltimore-based Public Guilt, Jangjang aims to bring international artists’ work to Indonesia while also introducing Indonesian musicians to audiences beyond the country. ENSEMBLE TIKORO’s album will be among the label’s first releases to represent the latter side of that mission.
The ENSEMBLE TIKORO lineup features Arum Dwi Hanantoro, Ardyansah, Handriansyah Nugraha, Mahatma Adi Hartoko, and Robi Rusdiana. "Tortoise" will be released on cassette and digital formats on October 23, with preorders now available.
https://www.instagram.com/ensembletikoro.id
https://jangjangrecords.bandcamp.com