Rock the world 8 almost didn’t happened this year. Stories of sponsors puling out and some negativity surrounding the event. So kudos for Fat Boys for making it happen.

Fans at first are bitching about the lineup, where is Oh Chentaku? (I think there are still somewhere in Swiss) Where is Second Combat? Killeur Calculator? and so on, and so on. Rock The World fans are disappointed with the lack of heavy-metal bands in the line up this time. Check out the over 300 comments posted on Junk’s website.

However it seems that Rock fans and festival goers are all there. Punk, grunge, rock n’ roll.

Unlike the other major music festival throughout this year, Rock The World is all about the bands. There is not fancy art installation to showcase. It has always been that way.

Although I’m not that keen on the venue, The Secret Garden at Stadium Merdeka which is just a fancy name to call an abandon stretch of land next to Stadium Merdeka, but that’s just how Rock The World is.

A little rain and we have a mud-pit/mosh-pit area.

I’ve to say that I was somewhat disappointed with Komplot’s performance. It just doesn’t sound right. Maybe it was the setup, or maybe it was just them. I’ve been to a few of Komplot’s gigs and they really rock. One of the promising new bands I’ve to say. Then again, I’ve only seen them at small gigs in a crowded hall, maybe it was their lack of experience performing on big stage. Still, I manage to get their EP album.

It must not have been the setup, because Pure Vibracion put up a great reggae performance. With its signature flag carrying move, you couldn’t help but to think you were in some kind of revolution.

It’s when the sun has set, only then we got to see some hard hitting bands. OAG came out paying some of their hits. Radhi was too sexy and had to be covered up. Bittersweet, this little British band form Ipoh, gets the crowd wild. Estrange played some of their head-banging hardcore tunes, then again it was ‘Itu Kamu’ that most of the crowd enjoy.

Koffin Kanser was next. Just the sight of Aru and the rest of his dreadlocks ‘n roll gang, causes a few mosh-pits to erupt within the crowd, even before they start their first song. Never thought I would survive being in the epicenter of Koffin Kanser’s performance, but I did. Still in one piece, so does Sinatra_Z. I notice the young crowd at Rock The World are not that into head-banging.

The Times, One Buck Short and Butterfingers closes the show.

Almost twelve hours later, ankle deep covered with mud. Twenty-four hours later my body is still sore. Then again I’ve to say that I did enjoy myself at Rock The World.

Update: More photos on my Flickr Rock The World 8 Flickr set.