Filipino grindcore band Maticrust rocks the desert and Eastern Europe

Filipino grindcore band Maticrust rocks the desert and Eastern Europe

by rick olivares

Many Filipinos have gone abroad to work not only to support their families, but also to fulfill their dreams. Some of which are music.

Meet Maticrust, a four-piece extreme grindcore (a meld of extreme heavy metal and hardcore punk) based in Dubai. The band – Don Collado on vocals and Dennis Tana on guitars are both Filipino while Nishit Ramesh on bass and Rippon Madtha on drums are Indian – was formed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2013 where all four are now based. Collado makes a living as a graphic designer. Tana is an estimator who handles data. Ramesh is a sales team leader while Madtha works with an external affairs department of a company handling public relations and communications.

The band was formed in 2012 and in their five-year history, have had their first release, Their Lies, released by American underground label, Placenta Records in 2014 and a nine-track cassette tape release on Polish label Extreme Terror Productions. They have performed in Dubai, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, and last year, made their triumphant two-date debut on Philippine soil; first at the old Darkside Bar in Malate in July, 2017.

The venue was packed that evening as fans braved the inclement weather to catch their compatriots who had only a two-night show in the country (the next one was in Pampanga). They also had a local full-length release titled Inhumane World Deprivation Year via local underground label, Thresthold Records during their shows in the Philippines.

The band at that time was coming off a stint in the Obscene Extreme Festival in the Czech Republic where they were one of 60-plus bands who performed in the five-day-long concert.

For lead growler Dondon Collado, he still is amazed at their unlikely journey. During their show in Manila, Collado reflected on this opportunity. “Kakaiba yung kapalaran ng banda namin na sa ibang bansa muna kami nagsimula at nakahanap ng opportunity.”

Much to Collado’s surprise, even in an Arab country (moderate though in its views), there was an underground music scene that thrived with a lot of the audiences, locals and expats. “Mas active yung scene now than before, but iba’t iba yung style ng music,” bared Collado. “Dati ang genre lang dito is trash metal, deathmetal, hardcore and punk rock. Now lahat ng styles. Gulat nga ako accepted yung mga extreme styles lalo na sa Arabs na gusto nila ng extreme kumpara sa karamihan dito na into rap music. Gusto rin nila maging unique kaya ung iba into extreme music talaga.”

Maticrust has also been fortunate to perform alongside their heroes from India and Germany, Gutslit and Stillbirth. “We delivered a solid performance that night last September 21 in Dubai,” related Collado. “We are overwhelmed because hindi man kami well known, nabibigyan kami ng chance tumugtog abroad para ma-express passions namin.”

The band is looking to go on tour of Australia early next year while recording new tracks for another release.