Slapshock thrilled to front for metalcore band Killswitch Engage
The country's top metalcore band Slapshock has every reason to feel great even if they're only billed as a front act for a rock show tonight at the Skydome.
Well, the main act is Killswitch Engage, an American band credited by MTV “as one of the founders” of the metalcore genre, a fusion of extreme metal and hardcore punk.
Even with Slapshock's reputation as toast of loud’n’rowdy Pinoy rock shows since the late 90s, this is one gig they'll be happy to play as undercard.
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Five years after
"Malaking bagay ito sa amin. Killswitch is one of the best bands in the U.S. today, is in the forefront of metalcore, and in a big way has influenced Slapshock's current sound," said front man Jamir Garcia in an interview Tuesday night at Golden Leaf restaurant along Roces Avenue in Quezon City.
Slapshock is fronting for Killswitch Engage in a concert scheduled tonight (July 31) at the SM Skydome in SM North EDSA. A couple of years back, Slapshock opened for the band Korn at the Big Dome.
Killswitch Engage members just arrived in Manila yesterday. Interestingly, they shared the bill with Slapshock back in 2008 at the Dubai Rock Festival.
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The best audience
Garcia related, "Sa Dubai nakita namin paano sila tumugtog. Yung professionalism nila and care for equipment really amazed us. May mga naobserbahan kaming bagay just being with them, like masaya sila sa tour. Sharing the stage with them helped build us more confidence as a live act."
One thing Garcia and the rest of Slapshock hope to happen is for the visiting major rock act to experience the Filipinos' affinity for rock either as performers or fans.
"Gusto ko makita nila paano ang rock sa Pinas. The Philippines is a rock country and we're one of the best audiences around," the lead vocalist said.
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Metal reflects life story of Pinoys
Asked to elaborate, he said, “As a third world country bagay sa atin ang metal music kasi puno ng angst at anger mga tao dahil sa hirap ng buhay. Yun ang life story ng Pinoy, full of struggles. Listening to metal music is an escape."
Jamir added, referring to Killswitch Engage, "Ang rakista fans ng Pinas deserve this kind of band. They're coming here to support ang eksena ng metalcore dito."
Slapshock is bound for Los Angeles in California. either in September or October to work on an album with foreign producers, including apl.de.ap, who signed them on his own label Jeepney Music.
