New albums from the underground: AninoKo, Namatay sa Ingay, DeathGlam, Dagger/Hrvst

New albums from the underground: AninoKo, Namatay sa Ingay, DeathGlam, Dagger/Hrvst

by rick olivares

One of the best things to happen in this new millennium and the availability of technology is the proliferation of independent and underground music labels and distribution labels or distros for short. 

These small record labels and distros have for more than 10 years now kept the international scene alive and vibrant. This has also allowed for bands and their music to cross borders they never thought they would.

Here are a few very recent releases from the underground.

Overrated Hype by DeathGlam (cassette release from Aklasan Records). 

The heirs to the New York Dolls are here. Fabulously discordant. The Bay Area-based DeathGlam torpedoes through the five tracks in under eight minutes in madcap fashion. The guitars are tortured air raid sirens amidst a twisted cat-fight chorus between vocalists Golda and Chu Chu (bass) and Glam Chowder (guitars). 

Gera Kontra Droga by Namatay sa Ingay (cassette release from Aklasan Records)

This New York-based punk rock band minces no words about what they think is happening back home. They show their imagination by using soundbytes with their blistering punk raging in the background. The band swears that all the songs are based on true-to-life stories from those affected by today’s events. 

When it is his turn to spit out the venom, guitarist AJ Santos’ vocals reflect the pain and anger. Bassist Levyn Herrera and drummer Simon Sabuero add the pain laying down a wall of noise close to metal. 

AninoKo/Namatay sa Ingay split (7-inch vinyl split EP from Ethospine Records and Aklasan Records)

A split EP that rages. AninoKo screams for unity and equality after cycles of oppression in their two tracks, “Paghugpong” and “Alipin ng Mundo” that is about the plight of migrant workers.

Pure angst.

Namatay sa Ingay, on Side B, also contributes two tracks – “Pagtapos ng Apoy” and “Ngayon ay Bukas.” The band out of NYC continues to thunder away at a corrupt system that has been in place for so long.

Dagger/HRVST split (7-inch vinyl split EP from Dangerous Goods in Singapore which is run by a Filipino expat with support from China’s Real Deal Records and Manila-based Mutilated Noise Records) 

A more diverse yet somewhat similar split record from Hong Kong hardcore band Dagger and Singaporean sludge metal crew, Hrvst (Harvest). 

Only 200 copies of this EP that pummels the listener have been pressed.

While there are no Filipino bands in this EP other than the two labels that helped make this happen, this is a perfect illustration of how the indie and underground scene works with small labels and distros chipping in to release music in different forms regardless of nationality. 

You will be amazed how there are Indonesian and Malaysian bands whose albums – sung in their native tongues – sell here among Filipino fans. And it is vice versa. Not just here in Southeast Asia, but all over the world.