MANY Filipinos have gone abroad to work not only to support their families, but also fulfill their dreams. Some of them are also bent to play music.
Meet Maticrust, an extreme grindcore (a meld of extreme heavy metal and hardcore punk) four-piece based in Dubai, where the band was formed and all four members are now based. Don Collado (vocals) and Dennis Tana (guitars) are both Filipinos; the other half, Nishit Ramesh (bass) and Rippon Madtha (drums), are Indian.
Outside their gigs, 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.
Within Maticrust’s five-year history, it had first release, “Their Lies,” by American underground label Placenta Records in 2014, and a nine-track, cassette-tape issue on the Polish label Extreme Terror Productions.
The band has performed in Dubai, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom. Last year, the quartet made a triumphant two-date debut on Philippine soil, the first of which was at Malate’s old Darkside Bar in July 2017.
The venue was packed that evening as fans braved the inclement weather to catch two of their rockin’ compatriots who just had a two-night show in the country (the next one was in Pampanga). They also had a local full-length release, Inhumane World Deprivation Year, via underground label Threshold Records during their local shows.
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 Collado, he is still amazed at their unlikely journey. During their show in Manila, the lead growler reflected on such: “Kakaiba yung kapalaran ng banda namin na sa ibang bansa muna kami nagsimula at nakahanap ng opportunity.”
Much to Collado’s surprise that even in an Arab state (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.”
“Dati ang genre lang dito is trash metal, death metal, hardcore and punk rock. Now, lahat ng styles,” he added. “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 yung iba, into extreme music talaga.”
Maticrust was also fortunate to have performed alongside their heroes from India and Germany: Gutslit and Stillbirth. “We delivered a solid performance that night, 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.”
A tour of Australia early next year and the recording of new tracks for another release are in the works for the band.
Image credits: Chi Baluran