Gangrene: Takes a turn in the spotlight

Finally, after four years of hangin' out together, jammin', and arguin' to achieve perfection of instrumentation, local indie band "Gangrene" will roll up sleeves and hog limelight this Saturday, July 8, 8:30 pm at Handuraw Events Café in Mabolo for the launching of their self-titled album. A labor of love, a concrete image of the group's contagious passion for music, their album is presented in en sepia effect to match memories of the transistor radio and highlighted by the juxtaposed letter Gs.

Derived from the Latin word "gangraena" which means an eating sore, gangrene refers to death and decay of a body part due to deficiency of blood supply, or is a medical term for the death of a patch of tissue.

Despite the negative undertones, the pack took on the name seeing a positive side to the kind of trouble gangrene gives to the one inflicted that makes him remember the shooting pain.

"Sa music we would like to be remembered for this aching sensation. Mora'g gikangrena ba, makatawag ug pagtagad ang kangulngol or ang kangutngot. The audio appeal is warm and swelling. And because gangrene spreads rapidly, we would want our music to be that infectious," explains Vann Aznar, guitarist, in an interview.

Thirdz Sato (bass guitar), Michael Vincent "Salmo" Salvador (guitarist), John "Gorio" Aznar (drums), Neil Plan (vocals) and Vann Aznar (guitarist) fused in musical style-influences from death metal to progressive rock, to reggae and grunge music, to alternative and trance and thus were able to come up with a sound typical of foreign music artists, but words written in the vernacular in homage to mother tongue.

"However, we would not be limiting compositions by confining lyrics in Sugbuano. Our first set of songs is written in English and we decided to retain that. We are not so particular on storylines, by the way, as our focus is on the honing of our instrumentation. We leave the songwriting to Neil's hands which is his forté," explains Vann.

After Neil got over with his former band "Mop", John of his "Chill", Salmo of his affiliation with "Powerpuff" and Vann of his involvement with "Mother Mayhem", they converged to see if they fit into each other's shoes, which later on saw the completion of an 11-track album.

"Much as possible we would want our music to take a different path. We want to sound differently from other existing bands. We would want to prove that local bands could also take on a foreign sound and could play so much better," Vann said.

This Saturday, featuring other local indie bands Nyor, Whats the Frequency, Kabobo, Mantequilla, Glass of Dirt, Phylum and Aggressive Audio, Gangrene is expected to tear down audio tissues and infect listeners with the power of its 11 "Clostridium-ic" songs in their album featuring "Ood sa Purol", one of most requested Bisrock songs.

Quite funny though because how ever the group would want to instill a sense of purpose in all of their songs, "Ood" was delivered in a wacky, double-meaning fashion that the boys could only laugh at it today for its just being "pakatok". ...

"si Yanyan hilig sa pagkaong bibingka, basta budbud ug bingka siya ang bida/labi na'g may sikwati siyang mainom/hurot tanan tilapan hastang dahon/...tungod sa kahangol ang bingka gisu'd sa purol/gi ood gi hulmigas/... wa gyud siya matagbaw/ang utok way kalinaw ..."

Further, it was learned from Salmo that expected also to gain an impression on launching night are tracks "Pagmahay" on regrets of pouring attention for somebody unworthy of affection as manifested by the lines ...pirmi ka sa huna-huna/ambot kung ingon ka ana ka gusto ko mahibaw ka/nga tanan nakong oras diha ra nimo/dakong pagmahay kanimo inday/sa gugma kong imong gitamay/maypag itagay na lag Tanduay...

And of course there's "Wasted" which provides a melodramatic thought on the law of diminishing return once one already had his share of peaks opportunity-wise. As the clouds hide the sun/I'm not expecting anyone/who could hide above/mess in by heavy loads, make counted on the sun/and help those flowers bloom in May/time is wasted/time is slow/I can feel how my life was changing/like falling leaves burning to ashes/I'm past your past/nothing will last."

Gangrene the album will also be made available at the front desk in Handuraw for those who would want to grab a copy sold at P150 each. Gangrene-emblazoned shirts are up at P150. After this, the group eyes negotiation with outlets like Manu Ent-Emall, JB Music, and A. Salonga Music Center for the distribution of their album, shirts and accessories.

As for those residing in Urgello, Gangrene the album is made available at Jickoy Internet Shop. Gangrene the band would like to express their thanks to 93.1 Smash FM, Rey Carlo Jaguros (former drummer), Aznar family, Sato family, Salvador family, Plan family, Escoto family, DJ Ram and Bré Ambungan, Backyard Recording Studio, Vanrock Recording Studio, Jickoy - Zac Internet Shop, and most of all to the Lord God.

Today, catch them live in an interview over dyLA 909 kHz via the showbiz program "OkRyan" at 3-4 pm. You may also stream their music through www.purevolume.com/gangrene. For inquiries, email [email protected].