Indonesia’s hardcore scene continues to evolve in exciting ways, and Compassion stands as one of the clearest examples of how global influences and local identity can collide into something distinct.
Formed in late 2015 in Malang City, Compassion came together with a very specific mission. At the time, the Malang City Hardcore (MCHC) scene lacked any straight edge presence, something the band set out to change immediately. “The scene was completely devoid of any straight edge bands,” guitarist Din tells No Echo. “We had the same desire to form a straight edge band unit that played ’90s hardcore/punk… closely related to the roots of ’80s Youth Crew but with a more melodic touch.”
Initially, the primary influence was pulled from bands like Carry On, In My Eyes, Champion, and Ten Yard Fight, but Compassion didn’t stay static. Lineup changes and time naturally pushed their sound in a heavier direction.
“Now we play hardcore that is more raw and has a bit of a groove-stomping feel like the ’00s Boston era,” Din explains, pointing to influences like Step Forward, Mental, Righteous Jams, and No Tolerance. That shift doesn’t just show up in the riffs—it carries through into how the band records and presents itself, giving newer material a noticeably tougher edge compared to their earlier work.
Din’s own path into straight edge mirrors that sense of evolution. While the band was built on that foundation, he was initially the outlier. “I was the only new member of Compassion who was not an edger,” he says. That changed on April 15, 2020, when he made the decision to fully commit to the lifestyle. The transition wasn’t without friction.
“At first, it was difficult for some of my friends to accept… some labeled me a straight edge poser.” Over time, though, consistency spoke louder than criticism. “After passing these six years, they slowly began to accept me… I am still wholeheartedly and consciously a straight-edger.”
Musically, Compassion has been steadily building toward something new. Recent releases like “Rat” and “From the Inside (F.T.I.)”—issued as 2 Songs Demo ’24 through Set the Fire Records—marked a turning point, coinciding with Edge Day 2024 and signaling a shift in direction. The band followed that up by revisiting older material, re-recording a key track from their 2018 album The First Step with what Din describes as a “rawer spirit and feel,” released via Brightside Records on Edge Day 2025.
Looking ahead, Compassion isn’t slowing down. “We will release an EP with much rawer and more surprising material,” Din says, hinting at the band’s most aggressive work yet.
Beyond their own output, Compassion is part of a growing straight edge movement within Indonesia. Bands like xDEFIANCEx, xHellrazorx, No Excuse, Ezalor, As We Stand, and Bright-X are all helping push things forward, while labels and promoters such as Set The Fire Records and Brightside Records—along with Malang crews like Progression and Dive Hard—continue to build infrastructure for the next wave.
For Compassion, it all circles back to the same idea that sparked the band in the first place: creating something meaningful where it didn’t previously exist, and pushing it forward with conviction.
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Compassion on social media: Instagram
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