<![CDATA[This study examines a unique phenomenon within the Indonesian metal music scene: the collaboration between the metal band Down For Life and elements of traditional batik culture, specifically the Parang motif. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach and Roland Barthes’ semiotic analysis, the study analyzes five segments from the BBC News Indonesia video "Down For Life: Metal Music, Batik, and Gamelan Rocking Germany" at the levels of denotation, connotation, and myth. The findings reveal that at the denotative level, batik appears simply as the attire worn by Down For Life members during performances. At the connotative level, batik serves as a signifier of Indonesian cultural identity, pride, courage, and a fighting spirit, while simultaneously illustrating the intersection of traditional culture and the character of metal music. At the level of myth, batik is constructed as "war attire" or "armor," representing Down For Life as a "warrior troop" and symbolizing their fighting spirit. The study concludes that batik functions not merely as clothing but as an integral part of Down For Life’s cultural branding and visual identity, bridging local culture with the expression of metal music.]]>
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