By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 16: Rhemaung Berih, the first Dayak comic that delves into the dark legend of pengayau (headhunting), has chosen Miri-based thrash metal band Dire Crown to be its official musical voice—uniting indigenous storytelling with the raw power of heavy music.
The decision, made by Kuala Lumpur-based indie publisher Platipus Studio, signals a bold creative direction for what is set to be the first Dayak comic of its kind, eschewing romanticised tropes for a narrative rooted in vengeance, exile, and spiritual rebirth.
According to Platipus Studio chief executive officer S. Mark, the comic’s creator had spent over 20 years refining the storyline, determined to avoid cultural clichés and instead create a mature, emotionally complex saga. He said Dire Crown’s lyrics and sound captured that exact tone.
“We were searching for a local band that writes with honesty and emotional weight—not one that rides on cultural identity just for commercial gain.
“‘Rhemaung Berih’ demands a theme that conveys deep-seated rage, resurrection, and identity. Dire Crown was a natural fit,” he said.
Set to be reissued in mid-2026, Rhemaung Berih follows the journey of a warrior cast out by his tribe due to his mixed heritage from two feuding clans. But an external threat, darker and more menacing than the divisions within, emerges to test the tribe’s very survival.
Dire Crown, formed in 1999, caught the studio’s attention when their extended play (EP) Governance of Poison was submitted to a local music studio and later reached Platipus Studio.
The band is currently working with Hybrid Mix Production Studio and Mad3sign to produce a music video for the track, which will serve as the comic’s thematic soundtrack.
Band manager Stephen Lalo said the group is committed to creating more heavy music that speaks to the younger Dayak generation—challenging stereotypes that Dayak music is limited to Gawai songs or sentimental ballads.
“We write in English to reach international audiences, but every lyric is carefully crafted to deliver meaning without relying on profanity,” he stated. — DayakDaily
