DEFY.

POST-DEFILING EUROPE TOUR

Now, we're back from our Defiling Europe Tour and been busy playing few shows all these while.

Tools of the Trade will be put under hiatus mode for a month of November and December.

It's time to catch up with the web programme that we have left ever since.

New updates will coming up, very-very soon.

Thanks for checking us up.

(October 2012)

AD BENEFICIUM

Tools of The Trade is not an extraordinary band.

They are the same as most DIY Hardcore Punk bands that you see around you.

They never appear on the cover of Karisma and never played at Rock The World.

They are not attractive or well-endowed in anyway (except for Ian Han).

They did not release any split with major bands like Brown Attack or Bunkface.

They are not exclusive at all- in fact, they routinely played for free at small and humid venues.

So what's so special about them again?

Nothing.

And they never wish to be any special.

That is why they are easy to be spotted at small shows that usually have no prospect to pay them even a cent. And they never asked for ridiculous charges for their releases because for them;

DIY Hardcore Punk is not something to be bought and sold.

They are not preparing to head to Europe at their own expense, savings collected from earnings obtained through hard work, without 1Malaysia allowances or any support from Ministry of Culture. They are not the only, or the first band that has played there.

It is quite obvious how ordinary they are.

Really.

They have been living peacefully, having their career and family just like the rest of 28 million Malaysians. So why the hell do they risk everything by choosing this path?

We believe it is not merely for Nasum, Poison Idea and Discharge.

And how many still believe in their own capability to overcome the obstacles when everything seems impossible, cemented by their own personal commitments?

We salute this spirit of theirs.

Bon voyage, Tools of The Trade.

[Terjemaahan]

Tools of The Trade bukanlah satu band yang luar biasa.

Mereka adalah sama seperti kebanyakkan band DIY Hardcore Punk yang sedia ada.

Tidak pernah menghiasi muka depan majalah Karisma dan tidak pernah bermain untuk Rock The World.

Tidak mempunyai rupa paras dan rekabentuk fizikal yang elok (kecuali Ian Han).

Tidak mempunyai split bersama band terkemuka seperti Brown Attack ataupun Bunkface.

Tidak eksklusif langsung malahan kerap beraksi di pentas yang sempit dan panas secara percuma.

Jadi apa istimewanya mereka?

Tiada.

Mereka tidak istimewa.

Dan mereka juga tidak pernah berharap untuk menjadi istimewa.

Oleh sebab itulah mereka mudah ditemui beraksi di show-show kecil yang berpotensi untuk tidak memberi pulangan langsung kepada mereka walau satu ringgit pun. Dan mereka juga tidak pernah mengenakan caj tidak masuk akal untuk tiap rilisan mahupun stuff lain yang mereka miliki kerana pada mereka;

DIY Hardcore Punk bukanlah sama sekali perkara jual beli.

Dan kini, mereka sedang bersiap sedia untuk ke Eropah dari kos yang ditampung sendiri dari hasil simpanan kerja keras selama berbulan-bulan kerana tidak mendapat biaya elaun 1 Malaysia mahupun sokongan daripada Kementerian Kesenian dan Pelancongan. Malahan mereka juga bukanlah band pertama atau satu-satunya dari Malaysia yang akan menjejakkan kaki ke sana.

Jadi, jelas tiada apa yang istimewa dengan mereka.

Benar.

Namun selama ini mungkin mereka telah hidup dengan stabil, berkerjaya tetap dan berkeluarga sepertimana yang di idamkan oleh 28 million rakyat Malaysia. Jadi untuk apa mereka memilih untuk merisikokan kestabilan sendiri?

Rasanya bukan semata-mata untuk Nasum, Poison Idea dan Discharge.

Dan berapa ramai yang masih percayakan keupayaan sendiri untuk menidakkan halangan saat segalanya telah dihadkan oleh batas komitmen?

Tabik hormat atas semangat ini.

Selamat jalan, Tools of The Trade