Guillotined - Demo 2013

I am very pleased to be writing about yet another unsurprisingly promising group from the Philippines.  Guillotined are a Brutal Death Metal band that has been around for a few years now.  They released a full length in 2010 entitled "Souls Eternally Devoured," a decent debut that contained an equal mix of super technical guitar parts and heavy, chugging, memorable slower riffs.  That album, for whatever reason, seemed to go unnoticed by many.  It is a rather impressive release considering it is only two guys; AC Estandian on guitars and drum programming and Bin Bautista on Vocals.  The bands first material was actually on a 2008 Demo.  At the time, they went by the name Uteral Regurgity.  I kind of wish they would've kept the name!  With only one remaining member of that band, I guess a new name was in order.  If you are a new fan of Guillotined, check out their first full length as well as this three song 2013 demo I am about to talk about.

Since then, the band has lost one member and added three new ones.  AC Estandian, also in the band Anal Fissure, stands strong as the only remaining original member of Guillotined.  If you like the guitar riffs on this demo, and you will, then you've him to thank.  This demo premiers a brand new vocalist, drummer, and bassist.  No wonder things sound a little different!
It is safe to say that the addition of vocalist Myke Pardo has greatly improved the bands range of dynamics, something they struggled with before.  Also the drummer for Anal Fissure, Myke Pardo is apparently a man of many talents.  Choppy, accurately placed, and much lower gutturals give these three tracks a rawness that Guillotined adopt very well.  Guitarist AC Estandian provides his usual brand of stop and go palm muted riffs, only at a slower pace than "Souls Eternally Devoured" had us accustomed to.  Things are not presented in a neatly wrapped package but rather laid out before the listener as a raw sample of what is to come.  That being said, I think there will be some very good things to come from the band's new and improved line up.  The debut of the band's first human drummer, Em Lozano (Discreate), is a very effective one.  He brings these recordings alive with his blasts and oddly timed fills.  Red Mendoza is the bassist on this demo.  Unfortunately, his low-end thickening is thwarted by the production.  The mixing here sends the listener on a scavenger hunt for any bass guitar at all.
At under twelve minutes, this demo is a very quick listen.   A listen that effectively leaves you hanging and hoping for more.  Soon.   Not to worry, Guillotined is currently working on their second full length album, hoping to have it released by the first quarter of year 2014.

GUILLOTINED

Interview with Stephen Espiritu of Sagrado - 2011

The Philippines has always been producing some of the best in brutal, slamming death metal.  Here is a brief interview with Stephen Espiritu, vocalist of a lesser known Filipino group, one to watch out for, Sagrado.





Cerebral Reviewment-  What is the history of Sagrado, and how old are you?



Stephen Espiritu-  It all began in a small restobar called “Kapt. K”, located at Baclaran,Paranaque City Philippines; originally formed by Migz, Jin, Jeff and Kiko. The band had undergone a lot of member changes; the former members were Ian (vocals) Jm Herrera (vocals) Melchor Lirio (bass) Patrick Olarte (bass). Until the line up was completed in April 2010 and gained stability. Migz Kintanar (drums) Jin Calagos (guitars) Jeff Escasinas (bass) Kiko Manzo (guitars) and I, Stephen Espiritu as their new vocalist that time and I am 25 years old on this coming April 8.


CR-  Why the name Sagrado?



SE-  It is all about a sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege. So we decided the name “Sagrado” that means Asylum.



CR-  What can you say about the scene in the Philippines compared to the United States?



SE-  I appreciate your question, the scene here is great!!!  You should visit here someday.  Because many Metal Filipino fans are very supportive when it comes to different kinds of metal music.  They’re Moshing like there’s no tomorrow.  Banging our heads on to the limit.  As far as I know the scene there is same too and hopefully if there’s a chance to spread our music me and my brothers from Sagrado could play our music there. \m/




CR-  Who are some of your favorite Filipino bands?



SE-  Bands like Bloodshedd, Down From The Wound, Pus Vomit, Anal Fissure, Discreate, Fuck Bellias, Axed to the face, Vasodilator, Rust Phantom, Religious Nightmare, Lost of Control, Guillotined, Erectile Dysfunction, Necroholocaust. 



CR-  Who are some of your favorite American bands?



SE-  Oh! Yes here are my favorite bands in America .  Dying Fetus. Nile, Devourment, Disgorge, Disavowed, Guttural Engorgement, Abominable Putridity, Braindrill, Necrophagist and Cephalotripsy



CR-  Who are some of your favorite vocalists?



SE-  That would be Matti Way, Big C, Shaune La Canne, Simone Plujimers and Phil Bozeman

CR-  What are your lyrics usually about? What inspires your lyrics?


SE-  Its all about a Gutted Woman’s Vagina, Anti Perverted Homosexual Priest that rapes a young boy, Mouth Menstruation, Splattered Fecal, Sex Slaves that are electrocuted , Fucking Demon Cunts, and the most important of all is Stabbing with a knife to the Spine!.

What inspires me is a typical serial killer, a murderer that hides his inner personalities to his dungeon.  Lets just say I like to watch many suspense movies, I think that’s the one main good or bad reason.







CR-  Can you tell us about what the future holds for Sagrado? Are you guys writing new material?



SE-  Currently were composing our new songs and hopefully in the near future we can play it live on stage. We are also planning to record or songs again and search for a record label so that we could launch our E.P or Album.




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Thank you Stephen and Sagrado!




Check these guys out and stay updated HERE

Discreate - Contingent Development of Inanimate Modifications - 2011 Demo - Viceral Vomit Records

This demo is a very strong one from another Filipino group, Discreate.  Let's dive right in.

“Thought Form Perverted” starts by blasting your face off and then Michael Carlos (guitar) and Em Larzano (drums) spend the rest of the song proving they can write creatively and have played together for a while.  At first I didn’t think I would like this track.  It seemed so far from what I was expecting.  Experimental.  I actually like this a lot!   The guitar tone is raw, nothing is over produced, and this track serves as a nice foreshadowing promise to great songwriting.   I can’t wait to see how the vocalist will fit in with this band but I am pleased to hear an entire instrumental track.

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EDIT: I wrote the above portion of this review before receiving the actual demo, on which ‘Thought Form Perverted’ had been re-named ‘Thoughtforms’ and did in fact contain vocals.  It is also a live version on the demo.   If I had never listened to the first, instrumental version, I probably wouldn’t like this song at all.   I am glad I did though because now I know that once this track is actually tracked and rerecorded, or possibly recorded live better, it will be great.  I think that Miko did a great job with the vocals on the demo track, I only wish everything could be heard and parts determined.   All that being said, it is still better than most demo tracks from bands trying to be technical on their first demo.

“Multiple Stabwounds” has good vocals and drumming over strange guitar riffs.   I am loving the creative flow between all three instruments here.   Yes, the guttural voice is an instrument; one that is not very often utilized to it’s fullest potential.   Miko Pareja, however, sounds well on his way.   For a 3 piece and no bass, this sounds huge!   The guitar solo is literally all over the place on this track but always starts and ends in a good spot.   Guitar and drums move together and are very tight. There is a main ‘chorus’ riff that is returned to a few times and it kind of holds everything else together.   All three members prove in this single song that they are all very talented at what they do.   If I were going to be picky, which I have to be, I would say that this song needed more structure.   It does, however, contain the kind of songwriting you would expect on a bands first demo.  I really hope that Discreate stays a three piece.   They are managing to get a unique sound and their songwriting is already quite creative and distinct.   If anything, they overdid some things here.   The solos on "Multiple Stabwounds" got to be a little much and at certain points throughout the demo things just felt a little rushed.  Their riffs are weird and creative enough to stand alone without too many technical fills.



"The Pleasure of Eternal Killing" starts with a sort of bouncy, simple riff that made me smile.  Awesome drums here as well.  Then I was thrown right into a hectic spiral full of quick riffs and deep gutturals steadily marching forth until the song slows down to an almost totally unstructured break (in a good way) and then builds back up again.  I am having some trouble describing this sound.  There are a lot of interesting/awesome tones and sounds coming from these three dudes, so buy this demo and listen closely!

Very happy to read this quote from the band: "we are amateur musicians with complicated passion for continuous learning”

Discreate pushes the boundaries of brutal death metal and obviously plan on continuing to do just that. I am very excited for more from this band!

Discreate is currently working on a full-length debut for 2013.

VICERAL VOMIT RECORDS