REVIEWS

DEMO REVIEW: cheeky things – demo

In the local DIY community today, Metro Manila outfit cheeky things arrived in the first quarter of 2023. Their URL story started with a Soundcloud page โ€“ a lone Duster parody โ€“ and a couple of noise pop covers. The five-piece follows suit to the IRL, championing a tweemo backdrop with the help of their […]

TRACK REVIEW: Toneejay – Parang Magic

Written by Elijah P. Since 2021, solo singer-songwriter Toneejay has gone through different phases: beginning in the trip-hop lockdown apocalypse of a debut concept album Odyssey and a woeful slowcore-folk of Kasama Kita. Now the Pasig-based artist has switched gears in โ€œParang Magicโ€ – a loosie based on leather jackets, fun green screen shenanigans, and […]

TRACK REVIEW: Showtime Official Club – ๐ŸŽ€ ๐’ฎ๐ป๐Ÿฉ๐’ฒ๐’ฏ๐ผ๐‘€๐ธ ๐Ÿ’ฎ๐น๐น๐ผ๐’ž๐ผ๐’œ๐ฟ ๐’ž๐ฟ๐’ฐ๐ต ๐‘€๐ผ๐’ณ แ‘ญแ—ฉแ’ชIGOY-แ’ชIGOY แ–‡Eแ—ฐIแ™ญ TIK TOK VIRAL 2023 !! ๐Ÿ’•๐Ÿ˜Š

Written by Louis Pelingen In the Philippines, noontime variety shows capture the attention of the general public. For the past few decades, every household looks forward to shows like Eat Bulaga and Itโ€™s Showtime for a few hours of joy. These shows have become mainstays in our entertainment consumption, observing different segments featuring games, contests, […]

TRACK REVIEW: Japanese Surplus – unceremoniously

Written by Elijah P. Soundcloud in 2023 is rich in material to the point that solo artists are still celebrated to this day, whether it would be a bedroom musician making random notes on a toy piano to the nearest black metal project found in your local barangay. And one of them that shares the […]

TRACK REVIEW: raccoon eyed ronan – kailan(cover)_05โ™ฅ01โ™ฅ23

Written by Louis Pelingen & Elijah P. In the Philippines, the 2000s is a decade filled with early technological booms with the Nokia phones and the internet; y2k fashion smacked on the pop glinting magazines, commercials, and internet forums; the trends that keep the 2000s kids enlightened from the likes of watching anime, playing pogs […]

TRACK REVIEW: kyleaux ft. Never Paco – angel

Written by Elijah P. Makatiโ€™s prodigies kyleaux and Never Paco rep the 25hearts banner in a hazy collaborative track titled โ€œangelโ€. After being filtered in webcams and IG love stories, the duo worked on a track that envisions a purple house show with smoke machines and contemporary r&bโ€”dousing in cloudy production and vocal layers that […]

TRACK REVIEW: CATBOY JEEPNEY DRIVERS – MAYBE MITSKI

Written by Kara Angan Laguna and Pampanga-based electronic duo CAT BOY JEEPNEY DRIVERS bares their drum and bass chops in their latest song โ€œMAYBE MITSKI.โ€ โ€œMAYBE MITSKIโ€ notes a significant departure from their more synth pop debut โ€œLOSER.โ€ The pair trades their electronic synth riffs for a fast-paced and prominent percussion lineโ€”a trademark of the […]

TRACK REVIEW: Sintasan – Sin In October

Written by Louis Pelingenย  Among the sea of up-and-coming bands slipping across blends of gentle and effervescent murmurs of Dream Pop and Shoegaze, and the thorny and magnified observations of Post-Punk and Emo, Sintasan wriggles on the latter side, bringing another niche along the way.  Popping up since early December of last year, this quintet […]

EP REVIEW: Shockpoint – Rhythm Zero

Written by Louis Pelingen  Right from the jump, Shockpoint breaks things apart like a Titan pummeling its way through with its heavy fists. They demonstrate their handle on Metallic Hardcore on their 3 track demo last year, equipping themselves with all forms of rage that they can muster; shredding everything apart as the drums crumble, […]

EP REVIEW: Goon Lagoon – Rocket Peace

Written by Nikolai Dineros Elev8 Me L8r has no shortage of young, explosive rock-oriented bands to their name, but Goon Lagoonโ€™s unapologetic take on grunge harkening back to the genreโ€™s โ€˜90s roots proves to be their one defining aspect. The last couple of years has also shown us bits and pieces of what the band […]