Mamat Records Is Flying The Flag For Malaysian Metal

By Lara Kramer  •  06 May 2026 in Features

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In a time where most people discover music through whatever the algorithm decides to throw at them, there’s still something reassuring about walking into a record store and knowing every CD, vinyl, and patch on display was put there by people who actually give a damn.

That’s exactly what Mamat Records has been doing for Malaysia’s underground metal scene.

Founded officially in 2018 by Nazri Kubur and run by a small but dedicated team of four, Mamat Records didn’t start out as a store. It began in 2016 as a production initiative focused on recording and releasing music by local metal bands, at a time when physical releases still meant something and getting your hands on one felt like scoring treasure.

The name itself says it all: Muzik Arus Metal Anak Tempatan. (which translates to Local Homegrown Metal Music)

It’s a pretty straightforward statement of intent. This has always been about championing local metal, giving Malaysian bands a platform, and making sure the scene continues to grow on its own terms.

Before shelves were stacked with records and merch, Mamat was already working behind the scenes helping local bands get their music out there.

Over time, that effort expanded beyond production and into live events, building a strong following within the community.

The shop was originally owned by Rock Nebiula Production before later transitioning fully under Mamat Records. Even after the handover, both continue collaborating on CDs, vinyl releases, and merch for local acts.

And yes, they’re still pushing physical formats hard.

In 2024, Mamat Records released its latest vinyl production, which honestly feels kind of refreshing in an era where music gets consumed, skipped, and forgotten in under thirty seconds. There’s still something sacred about holding an album in your hands, staring at the artwork while the record spins.

Metal people get it.

Then there’s Mamat Fest, probably one of the store’s biggest contributions to the local scene.

First launched in 2016 at Black Box Publika, the festival became an annual thing up until 2019 before moving to UDG at Central Market in 2020.

Then, like basically every live event worth caring about, it got knocked out by the pandemic. It made its return in 2023 at Bsync Live and has been going strong since.

What makes Mamat Fest matter is that it’s not boxed into one corner of heavy music. It gives space to all metal subgenres, whether that’s old-school heavy metal, death, black, doom, or the weirder experimental stuff that’s harder to pin down.

That kind of openness matters for a scene like ours.

At the end of the day, Mamat Records is doing more than selling records. It’s helping preserve a culture that’s always survived through community effort, stubborn passion, and people refusing to let it die.

The next Mamat Fest is happening on 1 August 2026, and if their track record is anything to go by, it’ll be another reminder that Malaysia’s metal underground is still very much alive.

Loud, local, and absolutely not going anywhere.

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