History & Biography Laang, or cold in Mandarin, was founded in 2018. The band called its style “Terror black metal” and claimed influence from the founding members’ carjacking episode in the USA where he was shot. He found himself “medically dead” and in a place “beyond hell.” A demo called Huang was issued and billed as a preview. Another demo was called Haiyang (‘Ocean’) in 2018. This was re-issued on Talheim Records in 2019, receiving the Kaohsiung City National Culture Award and followed by concerts through Taiwan and Hong Kong. The act issued a single called Dongshang 冻伤 in anticipation of the upcoming 2021 release of its full-length album Xinteng 心疼 in July on Talheim Records. The band played in North America in May 2022. Laang's Riluo (日落 meaning 'sunset') album was inspired by the trauma and recovery of the band’s frontman Haitao Yang when shot and briefly declared medically dead. The band’s new included extreme instruments and folk rock pieces. Zak King was on session drums.
The band’s music was featured in films and video games like Panacea (2021) and Rehabilitation. The band hails from the city of Keelung known for its Ghost Festival. Yang was born in Taiwan, moved with his parents to Norway and more recently moved to USA.
The band should be approached cautiously by metal fans. It has synthesizers and uses ethnic Chinese instruments like erhu. Willy too is in a project called Bloody Tyrant that likes to folk Taiwanese style. The band's founder claims to be an atheist, but the lyrics weave into buddhism and taoism.
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