Battle of the Bands
There’s something sweet about watching passionate music lovers team up to form bands. Nearly every band you know and love had humble beginnings, whether it be in a garage, or a comment section. Battle of the Bands 2025 was a stepping stone for these groups to show off their talent on stage. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about people, some who met weeks ago, some who’ve played for years, coming together to make music that meant something.
From the start, the energy was real. Our emcees, Kashveeny and Bernice brought charisma and enthusiasm, which kept the crowd hooked without overdoing it. Opened with a heartfelt speech by the Sunway Foundation Programme’s Director and fellow rock music lover, Ms. Suzana. Followed by a speech by the chairman Seemar, who opened with a simple but clear message: this isn’t just about who wins. It’s about expression, risk, and doing something that matters.
And that’s exactly what every band on stage did.
Batu-Batu kicked things off with Michael Jackson’s iconic Billie Jean (yes, including the dance moves and MJ’s HeeHee) and Green Day’s Basket Case led by Lee Hong which made us believe that Billie Joe Armstrong was on stage. They were strangers once, thrown together by chance, but they’ve since carved out real chemistry from chaos. Their performance was genuine, raw, and faithful to the original artist’s rendition. Some concertgoers in the crowd felt as if the King of Pop himself was there in JC1.
Then came Sunway Goreng Tambah Monash, a band barely a week old, formed on a whim. But you wouldn’t know it from the way Sarah powered through Paramore’s This Is Why, or how Tommo owned Foo Fighters’ most beloved song by all generations, Evermore. SGTM managed to capture Paramore’s Pop Punk aesthetic, while having the flexibility and range to match Foo Fighters’ more Post-Grunge sound.
Moving on, Garlichead, formed last-minute out of pure spontaneity, leaned into their chaotic beginnings and delivered a set that was unpredictable in the best way. Winning the crowds heart with a song named Bad from a Korean band, Wave to Earth and Tell Me Why by J Shean, Garlichead did a spectacular job at performing that night.
Next, No Jamz, with Alex Croft’s beautiful voice on vocals, broke genre boundaries. They blended cultures and sounds, from Dumdum by Jeff Satur to Menghapuskan Jejakmu by Peterpan and it definitely worked. Their music felt real, as a result from the energy within the crowd and the band’s performance.
During the short intermission, special guest band, Milo Ais Gao Gao took the stage. This wasn’t just a guest performance, it was a showcase. Born out of a CMAT final-year project, Milo Ais Gao GAO’s 12-piece lineup delivered a full-stage experience that showed just how far passion and practice can go.
Unruly Posers followed with shoegaze-grunge fusion that felt both nostalgic and new. Radiohead, Nirvana, and Smashing Pumpkins influences ran deep, but their voice was their own with no imitations here, just heavy emotion and fearless distortion.
Haywire brought that school-stage fire. Driven by Cobain-style grit, and with Beanz by Kurt Cobain being their musical muse, they played like a band that just wanted to have fun and play loud, and that’s exactly what they did.
Then came Asri, a group of strangers turned bandmates, delivering a classical twist on the usual BOTB lineup. Their version of Skyfall was stunning. Shanessa’s vocals, enchanted with violin and keyboard support, brought a haunting calm to a mostly rock-fueled night.
The Pisang Gorengs, crowd favorites and experienced performers, played Green Day and Lake Street Dive with soul and precision. Ryan Gerald’s stage presence stood out so strongly, he walked away with Rockstar of the Night.
Finally, The Unlimited closed the show with Broadway hits, and left everyone speechless. Their lead singer nailed the Defying Gravity high note, channeling Cynthia Erivo and Idina Menzel’s powerful vocals as Elphaba. It truly made the audience feel as if they were watching both Wicked on Broadway and on the movie screen. The harmonies, especially from the keyboardist-turned-Glinda, blended perfectly with the three backup vocalists. The set was musical, theatrical, and completely captivating. They weren’t just performing; they were telling a story, and that’s what won them the championship.
Open Mic performances brought unexpected joy with Amanda’s show stopping rapping skills combined with Mervin’s impressive beatboxing skills, it gave a performance that was bold and clean. Additionally, Ms. Suzana’s rendition of Pupus by Dewa 19 was simple, emotional, and deeply appreciated. She didn’t just sing,but too, she connected with the audience.
This year’s successful Battle of the Bands wasn’t just a music competition. It was a reminder that beginnings don’t have to be perfect, that chaos can create magic, and that music is still one of the most honest ways to connect people together, with all the audiences agreeing that the event was above satisfactory with all of them being at the edge of their seats.
Winners Recap
• Rockstar of the Night: Ryan Gerald (The Pisang Gorengs)
• 3rd Place: Batu-Batu & The Pisang Gorengs
• 2nd Place: Sunway Goreng Tambah Monash & Unruly Posers
• Champion: The Unlimited