Gig Review: Freedom to Unite

After 14 hours of  exhausting work, I arrived at J4 greenhut bar around 8pm.





A Mob started to gather outside the bar all excited for the show Freedom To Unite, organized by NSC, Hermit Events and Edge Productions, the show featured bands from Manila, Laguna and Batangas.

At around 9pm, Vigil started the night off with a very abrasive set consisted primarily with covers from my favorite metalcore band Lamb of God. They were followed by Hardcore Giants from Batangas 12Tons.

Towards the End's set was abruptly cut because of technical difficulties, but it didn't matter, these guys still managed to give a killer performance. They were followed by Standout from San Pablo, Laguna, and Vagrant from Batangas.

 Chilidogs took the stage without Ival[Bass] and Fourth[Guitars], but Empoy of Edgepark  played bass for them that night. Before the start of their set, Jepoy announced that it will be their last gig in Batangas for 2011, cause they are set to take a break  cause they've been very busy for the last few months.
 Still they proved that their unique sound comes in full volume. though the moment right after their last note was a touching one, no tears nor blood was shed, but fist were raised.


They were followed by my new favorite, Forfeit.
While Lipa City's band-to-beat Strength From Within kept the energy alive at an all-time maniacal.

Ace of SFW making some final adjustment before unleashing mayhem

They were followed by  punkrock outfit from Manila, Disabuse. They impressed the locals with
their some covers and original materials.
But it was really LockFist who really brought the house down with an impressively tight and amazingly brutal set of originals, the entire place literally blew up in complete chaos ensued in the moshpit and spilled onto the stage, as Manila Hardcore acts Takedown and Destroy My Enemy exploded in a nonstop barrage of excellent musicianship. Next was Hardcore Heavyhitters from Batangas Failure who tore up the remnants of the crowd. Evening closers EdgePark in no way, took it easy and finished off the evening gloriously.

 

The Hyenas would like to salute the organizers of these show for a job well done.

Freedom to Unite

  June 25, 2011. Another skull crushing event will happen at J4 GreenHut Bar, Malvar Batangas.
Chilidogs
The Crimson Cartel
Disabuse
Failure
Lockfist
Destroy my Enemy
Vagrant
EdgePoint
Armas ng Lias
Off the Chain
Judgement
Not 4 Sale
Standout
Forfeit
Vigil
Strength From Within
Sakripisyo
Takedown
And you don't have to pay to see these great bands
FREE ENTRANCE!!! yeah!! see you there...

Gig Review: Batangas Bitaw gig

We arrived at the venue with just few people inside J4 Green Hut bar and the show haven't started yet, so we bought some liquor and waited outside. After a few minute, a group of people started popping out from nowhere, and they filled the place up. Then the show started.

While the show kicked off, we are just outside the bar chatting with friends, until Forfeit was introduced. So i stood up and entered the bar. I don't know them yet, but their name sounds familiar to me, maybe because of the LakeFest3 compilation CD, given away at the Lake Fest held at Lion's Club Hall, San Pablo, Laguna last April.

Then I saw these young individuals on stage.Excuse the pun but the moment they started to play, Damn i was blown away. I even forgot to take some pics of them because of the adrenaline started to push me to join the crowd that gathered in front of the stage.

Forfeit's performance was followed by Chilidogs. These hardcore heavyweight are from San Pablo Laguna formed in 1994. They already released their 4 track EP "New Breed".

noevic clearly knew how to handle the crowd

During their first song, I just took my time taking some pictures of them, Until they played "Wancho" and the pit was quickly filled with hardcore kids banging away, and I joined them.

Chilidogs' performance was then followed by Lipa Hardcore scene legends Strength From Within. At start, Terry (lead vocals of SFW) was telling jokes while other members of the band are setting up.

 One of the song the played was "Not Enough" which was also featured in the LakeFest3 CD compilation. It was really a markedly tight set.

After SFW, Hiphop performers took the stage, Honestly, I am no fan of Hiphop or Rap music, so i went out also to take a break. All of their names escaped me except for one, Mike Swift. When he was introduced, i went back to watch him, he did a freestyle and he surely knows how to deliver.

When the "gangsta party" was over, everyone braced themselves for the pride of Laguna, Piledriver.

 They capped of the night  giving crowd what they all came for. They clearly knew how to handle the crowd and left the stage with everyone screaming for more.(When you are doing 2-3 more encore songs, you know you are doing something good, I surmise even Freddie Madball would've been roaring for more).