After five years since their last concert, ONE OK ROCK (ワンオクロック) came back to Malaysia to deliver an explosive solo performance featuring their new album, “Luxury Disease,” on their Asia tour at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil. The Japanese rock band took to the stage at 8:30pm and kept us awake with good vibes and great music.
Despite being active for over 19 years, the band hasn’t lost its touch, as they have performed new and old songs alike with electrifying energy. Taka was able to serenade the crowd with his smooth voice as easily as he was able to make them jump when Ryota’s bass, Tomoya’s drums, and Toru’s guitar kicked in.
As the lights went dark, a familiar guitar riff filled the room as Toru led the crew with their opener, “Wonder”. However, before the concert began in earnest, the big screen first showed the band’s route all throughout their Asian tour as the band took their places, from Taipei all the way to Bangkok. And the crowd simply lost it when the words “TODAY: KUALA LUMPUR” flashed on the screen.
As soon as the first song finished, ONE OK ROCK wasted no time in playing their next song, “Save Yourself”. It was easily the crowd’s favourite song, as most had practically the lyrics etched into their hearts and minds and were able to sing along with Taka’s mesmerising voice. Those who aren’t familiar with the song, however, were still able to keep up with the lyrics projected on screen, giving newer fans a chance to join in on the vibe.
If fans weren’t feeling it then, they surely did with “Taking Off,” a classic song from 2016 from the band’s eighth album that brings out the angst in anyone in the crowd. Tremors could be felt all the way to the bleachers as everyone made the stadium jump. Things mellowed ever so slightly as Taka reintroduced the crowd to the band, saying, “It’s been a while, Malaysia.”
Then, immediately afterwards, they dropped the beat with “Let Me Let You Go”. But of course, Taka wasn’t the only one in the spotlight, as each member of the band had their own solo moments. Taka hid away from the lights as Tomoya let out one of the sickest drum solos of the night, and Ryota gave an almost-jazzy feel on the bass. Then Toru swooped in and returned the song to its original format with an electrifying guitar rift before ending the song with a triumphant sing-along with the audience.
Seeing the potential in the crowd, Taka moved forward and became their conductor during the bridge for “Clock Strikes”. At that time, Taka took the opportunity to stun the crowd with awe as he held a single note for over 30 seconds. From that point on, the crowd became the best backup singers of the night, chanting the lyrics from “I Was King” all the way to “Renegade”.
Taka then exited the stage, leaving the rest of the band to flex their Malay skills. The band has been addressing their adoring fans in their native tongues throughout their Asian tour. The first up was Ryota, who repeatedly said, “Terima Kasih.” Toru went a little further and said that they missed their Malaysian fans, and he also thanked them for coming out that night. But Tomoya had the most fun speaking to the crowd, professing his love for Roti Canai, Petronas Twin Towers, and the fans before leading into an epic and electrifying trio performance intermission.
Right after that, Taka came out once more, but this time holding the Malaysian flag as they performed “Neon Lights,” which set our souls on fire. He then snatched our hearts and proceeded to “Vandalize” it with a blood-pumping performance. They proceed to run away with it by performing their breakout hit song, “Make It Out Alive”.
Following all the adrenaline-rushing excitement, it was time to dial it down. Ryota and Tomoya exited the stage for a short while, giving the floor to Taka and Toru to perform the perfect song for the couples in the crowd, “Your Tears Are Mine”. The duo invited everyone to sing along as the lyrics were projected on screen to help those who weren’t overly familiar with the song. The audience lit up in the arena with their phone’s flashing lights like a sea of stars.
However, the lights came back on and were as lively as ever as Ryota and Tomoya returned to the stage to perform “The Beginning”. Those at the very edge of the arena’s runway were perhaps the luckiest of fans of the night as Taka jumped onto the railings and held their hands as he sang the bridge of the song.
The lights dimmed once more, and Taka’s voice reached out to the audience, inviting them to sing “We Are” with him. An unbroken 15-second chant came from the crowd that was so loud that the very hair in our ears trembled. It was all up from there, as they also played “Stand Out Fit In,” which blew the roof off the arena and left us wanting more. Toru even gave the camera a cheeky, flying kiss, which caused everyone to lose their minds right when the beat dropped.
But like all good things, the concert was nearing its end, but not without something that kept the fans at the edge of their seats. As they moved on to the last song of the night, Taka confessed that the band is hard at work making a new album, promising that they will definitely come back to the country to tour once more. They topped off the night with a triumphant “Wasted Night,” a bittersweet song to end the night that was anything but wasted.
With such a stellar event, fans clamoured for more, cheering “we want more” for three minutes. Their wish was granted as lights flooded the stage once more as the band members stepped on the stage, with Taka noticeably sporting a black tank top on top of his original attire (an important detail later). The Japanese band reequipped their gear to serenade everyone with “Wherever You Are,” an encore that was as gut-wrenching as it was, for lack of better words, beautiful.
But as an ultimate form of flattery to the adoring fans, the band was willing to do one more song with a twist: the audience gets to choose what that would be. After the countdown, everyone screamed the all-time classic “Dreamer”, an exhilarating performance that was just fire.
A heart-robbing performance wasn’t enough as the ONE OK ROCK members came down to the runway and gave a sincere bow, thanking all who made the effort to come and watch them live. And as a special treat, they tossed souvenirs, such as guitar picks, drumsticks, and shirts. The lead singer then removed the black tank top and tossed it deep into the crowd and into one lucky fan’s arms.
It was truly a night to remember, and it is one that many will not easily forget. Writing the performance down does not give the electrifying experience due justice, something that is truly meant to be experienced firsthand. But those who weren’t able to catch the Japanese band this time around shouldn’t feel so blue, as they promised that they would come back to the country featuring their new album, and we, for one, can’t wait for them to rock our hearts all over again.
