NUGATORIA - Crust, D-Beat And Raw Evolution ! (Indonesia - D-Beat Punk'N'Roll - Interview with Mbinkhead & Tito).

Hello ! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you - your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you and what made you want to get into music? 
Mbinkhead: Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Mbinkhead, the guitarist of the band Nugatoria. I am an illustrator who supports the local band movement through visual artwork.
To me, music is energy and feeling. Ever since I was young, my parents introduced me to music through their cassette collection. I can feel a process of emotional release whenever I listen to music I love. Every sound that enters my ears can spontaneously shape my mood and spark my inner creativity—from drawing to imitating guitar riffs, and now going even further as I dive deeper to learn more about the bands I'm currently enjoying.
Tito: My name is Tito, the drummer. I was born to a local musician who played local wisdom music, Dangdut. Because of that, I have been listening to music from an early age. Through music, I've gained many connections, and it makes my days so much more vibrant compared to a dull, repetitive routine.



Tell me about the band... How you met - the current line-up - past experiences - and above all - WHY the need to form THIS band?
Mbinkhead: Around 2009, during my teenage years, there was an intense burning desire for creative outlets, ranging from adolescent rebellion to pure self-expression. I started meeting many friends through local gigs and, of course, outside of school. I eventually found a few like-minded people within the HC/Punk scene back then. We began hanging out regularly to do various things—from trading punk zines and HC/Punk cassette tapes, to taking action by making resistance posters and sticking them on bus stops and roadside walls, as well as organizing as a collective to put on gigs for our friends' bands. After years of building this friendship, we gained the conviction that we needed to form a band as our medium in 2010.
Tito: I joined Nugatoria around the 2020s. Initially, I didn't know much about the band and had only heard of them a few times. All I knew for sure was that it was a punk band. That night, I traveled from the northern part of downtown for our first music workshop in the studio, which eventually led to more frequent meetups. Even though this was an underground punk band, so to speak, it was run with solid management. Why did I feel the need to play in a band? Simple: because I don't like fishing or flying kites.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all cost ?
Mbinkhead: Crust, HC/Punk, and rock 'n' roll. In the beginning, around 2010, Nugatoria's debut album titled "More Raw Less Roll" was recorded as a raw production in a live-recording format. We played fast, rough, and raw rock 'n' roll punk, without paying much attention to the sound quality due to our limitations at the time. We considered it an initial phase of our process. After producing several albums, EPs, split albums, and compilation albums, Nugatoria just released an EP last July 2026. We have gone through a real musical evolution; we've progressed and paid closer attention to production and sound quality, which is our way of taking responsibility as musicians who are still active in the underground scene today. Nugatoria's journey is documented in the albums we've produced year after year. So, if you want to witness how this punk band has evolved in terms of sound and arrangements through its work, give it a listen and experience our journey through our albums.
Tito: Crust, D-beat, Heavy metal. What I feel is a blend of guitar riffs reminiscent of NOFX, Nirvana, and a bit of Seattle bands like Dinosaur Jr., influenced by experimental guitar soundscapes that spontaneously make my playing more lively, along with a punk groove—that's how I see it from a drummer's perspective. To me, it's a catchy mix that sets us apart from other punk bands, creating an atmosphere that is both aggressive and beautiful. If you want to refresh your ears, give Nugatoria a listen.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences ? How important are the lyrics for you ? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics ? 
Mbinkhead: Nugatoria is heavily influenced by Motorhead, Disrupt, Crass, Discharge, and Anti-Cimex. I agree with the saying: “If music is a weapon, then lyrics are the ammunition.” All of Nugatoria’s lyrics are the result of discussions between a few people and us, incorporating social issues into every song we create. We write songs about various things based on facts.
Tito: Yeah, all of those are cool and deeply inspire this band, but I draw more from the Seattle sound and atmospheric Black Metal. Lyrics are the product of thoughts, and music is the medium to convey them.

About the band's discography... Imagine someone who doesn't know your band at all and wants to get interested in.. Which release would you recommend to start with, and why? 
Mbinkhead: Of course! Our latest EP, titled "Triple Speed Bastard," shows that Nugatoria's ember is still burning to this day. We are still speeding at full throttle along the underground band track—an all-terrain vehicle, if you will. Personally, I’ve tried to bring Nugatoria's signature musical thread back to its Crust 'n' Roll roots in terms of arrangement, featuring wild yet simple guitar riffs and a grander sound production, with Krisna from Wildcat assisting us in the recording process.
Tito: The Rock 'n' Roll Emperor album was my very first recording album with this band.

About your latest release ? 
Mbinkhead: Nugatoria has just released an EP on July 7, 2026, titled "Triple Speed Bastard." There is a difference in our release process this time around; for previous releases, we put out cassettes and CDs first, and only uploaded them to digital platforms after some time had passed.
As for the visuals, I still handled them myself. I intentionally designed this cover with more white space, featuring someone playing tire rolling. The artwork is my personal take on a simple neighborhood game that could be made from scrap materials. I am sure kids in the 90s must have played it—it represents genuine creativity and an attitude born out of limitations regarding play when the video game boom hit. Since some kids didn't have the means to afford video games, an attitude emerged that sparked this creative idea: BALCOBAN (Balapan Dorong Ban / Tire-Push Racing).
The aesthetic and visual artwork depicts a young Mlepoz (Nugatoria's iconic mascot) playing a legendary neighborhood game: running down the street while rolling a used motorcycle tire with the help of a stick to build the speed and stability needed to keep it spinning—except this time, the tire is doused in gasoline and set on fire. This visual isn't merely childhood nostalgia; it is a manifestation of a rebellion transforming from its roots. Adulthood today demands speed, because slowing down even slightly means falling or getting run over by others. It reflects a readiness to endure hardship for the sake of stability in life: even when your body feels the burning heat, life keeps spinning.
This time, we intentionally released it digitally on Bandcamp, distributed a press release, scheduled a showcase, and have begun discussing physical formats with record labels.

Future plans ? 
Mbinkhead: Finished a dirt-jump bike build project that had been abandoned for years. Which I named Iron-Punk.
Tito: Exploring the songwriting process even deeper than before, because the more you learn, the less likely you are to stay stuck in a rut.

Your most insane dream with the band would be ?
Mbinkhead: Turning *nugatoria* music into a culinary creation.
Tito:  Could feature Robert Pires 😄 (You mean the french footbal player ? how come you know him ? haha ! Ed.)

Your BEST & WORST concert - as a band - and why ? 
Mbinkhead: The album release showcase for our 4th album, Rock n Roll Emperor, back in 2023 was the best and coolest. It was an intimate show hosted at an art gallery in downtown Malang, but packed way beyond capacity. Everyone from street punks, hardcore heads, skinheads, grunge folks, to metalheads all gathered under one roof. The worst was when we had an out-of-town gig; we had just arrived in the city only for the show to be shut down by local authorities on the grounds of "public peace and quiet." LOL
Tito: The worst gig was getting a 3 AM set time on the rundown. The best gig was while I was playing drums, I saw two couples making out right there—it was crazy, felt like I was in a movie.

Next live-appearance(s) ?
We will be holding a show for our latest EP soon, alongside several other bands. Details will be announced later.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ? 
Mbinkhead: Malang’s local music scene today is progressing super fast. With the help of technology and social media, it’s much easier to grow a band and build network connections outside the city.
Neurosesick: Dark hardcore and grand crust.
Glitch: Fresh and threaten HC/Punk.
Primitive Chimpanzee: Hardcore/Crossover with serious music but wild stage antics—the members always wear various costumes.
Oligarkill: D-beat Street Punk, as tough as the streets.
Freund: A Celtic punk band that knows how to liven up the scene in Greater Malang.
Self Revolution: Clockwork punk rock; the first band I ever saw live, and now we’re friends.
No Lips Child: Punk 'n' Roll; the first punk cassette I ever owned. Now they're friends, and one of them is currently a guest artist for our band's merch.
No Man's Land: Legendary Oi! Street Punk—a huge inspiration when it comes to networking.
Confusion Bitch: An annoying Grunge Rock band (Gerankrok Manasati).
Crob: Melodic punk with intricate song arrangements; definitely stands out from other melodic bands.
These are just a few bands making moves—there are plenty more great bands in this city.
Tito: It's getting better alongside tech developments, constantly regenerating on its own without any central coordination.

What’s the question you’ve always dreamed of answering but have never been asked? Just a heads-up: I’m also waiting for the answer that goes with it...
Mbinkhead: If you were given a choice between a career in music or drawing, which would you choose? >>> Answer: Drawing in Music!
Tito: What if a suitcase containing 100 million rupiah fell into your house from the sky? >>> Answer: I'd buy a top-tier drum kit, build a recording studio, and use the rest to open a Soto Gagak food stall.

Last word is yours.. 
Mbinkhead: More Raw, less Roll !
Tito: If life feels stuck in a rut, well... just play in a band.