Concrete Youth is a new band made up of musicians who have long been part of Indonesia’s hardcore scene. Vocalist Widi and guitarist Firdi first talked about starting the band while playing together in Rage of Despair. They wanted to add more melody to the heavy music they had been making for years.
“We wanted to mix hardcore with a pop-punk touch,” Widi tells No Echo. “We had played heavy music for years, not because we were tired of it, but I felt it was time to try something new while still staying true to our roots.”
The project stayed on hold until late 2025, when Firdi sent Widi some songs that made him want to turn the idea into a real band. They brought in drummer Iksan and bassist Indra Chino, both from Final Attack, which Widi led from 2004 to 2012. Another Final Attack member, Ray, later joined as the second guitarist.
Concrete Youth’s music combines fast, aggressive hardcore with melodic flair, influenced by bands like Lifetime, Set Your Goals, and Gorilla Biscuits. “It’s actually been a bit of a challenge for me to sing in this band because I’ve spent so many years screaming in hardcore bands,” Widi says. “We’re trying to make something that still feels rooted in hardcore but brings a different energy than what we’ve done before.”
The band recorded their 3-Song Promo release in several places, with Firdi handling production, mixing, and mastering. “It’s basically about dealing with life as you get older and everything that comes with it,” Widi says about his lyrics.
Widi also sees Concrete Youth as part of Indonesia’s growing hardcore and punk scene, which now reaches far beyond the biggest cities. He says Malang and Surabaya are especially active and recommends checking out bands like Dazzle, Bleach, No Excuse, ZIP, Firestorm, Raw Blue, Remuk, Centra, Ezalor, Expect, Crime 84, and XDefianceX.
Concrete Youth are now working on their first EP, which they plan to release in early 2027. Vinyl will come out through two European labels, and an Indonesian label will handle the cassette. The band also have upcoming shows and are thinking about a weekend tour in West Java.
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Concrete Youth on social media: Instagram
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