27/12/2019
NATAL CLEFT INTERVIEW(CEBU TECHNICAL PROGRESSIVE METAL)
Music always wins is a mantra that these metalheads always take heed. Marriage and other life concerns aside, their tenacity to bring their music to the world has always been their constant priority. Despite comings and goings of band members, they still kept the faith and moved on. The band is Natal Cleft, spawned out of UP Cebu. The band plays technical progressive death metal.Founding members are Jecar "Zeekevil" Sahilan(vocalist) and Jonathan Bruce Elias(guitarist).Current members include Rex Bontuyan(bassist),Dennis Moga(drummer) and Cholo Lanza(guitarist). Zeek, the vocalist and founding member considers this their strongest lineup so far.
And rightly so.
The band was able to catch the attention of Signmeto, Roadrunner Records answer to the digital age of discovering new artists. The band made it to #1, being described by the label as "Some seriously evil s**t from the Philippines." This paved the way for the band to be featured on TV, Radio and web platforms.
A full length album entitled "Particles of Hate" will be released next year. Let’s just put the reviews of industry heavies on this rag so you have an idea:
Words of Karl Sanders(Nile) towards Natal Cleft's music: "Very cool and unique.Loved it.Keep up the great brutal work my friend.I am looking forward to hearing more of your amazing brutality."
Paul Allender(former Cradle of Filth guitarist): "Pleasure my brothers.Great tunes and the world needs to hear you guys."
Marcel Verdurmen(Altar guitarist): Great fu***ng death metal.Awesome vocals!Outstanding band!"
Philippe Tyrant Boucher(Beyond Creation drummer): "Sick stuff!"
I was able to talk to Zeek, their vocalist about some stuff and the scene. It was actually more of a discussion, not an interview. But well.
ZEEK:Thanks bro.Appreciated a lot.What place u from?Hope we can play in your place or in your prod?
Joe Pesci: Im from Cagayan(up north). The production is Middle Class. We always welcome new bands to play in our DIY gigs.
Fi
ZEEK:Very awesome bro.hows the metal/hardcore scene in your area?
Joe Pesci: Not really as strong as we want it to be. There are lost of bands and and there is no metal, or hardcore only shows. Its always mixed. We try to do something different now and then, but the community and those attending gigs are not yet ready for a purely hardcore/metal lineup. It’s a balance and a risk, since productions have to pay for these gigs. But the scene is alive and well.
ZEEK:hellyeah thats the spirit.much love and respect for being a game changer.
Joe Pesci: More like an outsider looking in bro. I may be the only one patient enough to do reviews. I get the flak, but the reaction from people, negative or positive is always priceless. Hahaha.
ZEEK:how far is cagayan valley from manila? About 12 hours by land, 1 hour by air.
hehehe dami crabs sa metal scene din.when we made it to the international scene,everyone is pulling us down.ang pinoy nga naman.
Joe Pesci: Opportunities to prove people wrong I think. Mosty agendas lang yan eh. May mga agendas sila. Keep on pushing yours bro.
ZEEK:Uso pa din regionalism.mga manila bands threatened din sa mga bisaya. Not that I am aware of, if there is, hassle. But again, nosi balasi di ba? hahaha
We will just focus in our music and our goals.hahah bahala sila. That’s the spirit bro.
Life is too fu***ng short bro for that s**t.
you know
Joe Pesci: Hey invite ko kayo sa music festival ko come summer 2020?
ZEEK:when yan bro?
Joe Pesci: Usually holy week.
ZEEK:awesome.just let us know in advance.big event yan sa inyo?
undergorund bands or mixed?
Joe Pesci: Mixed, but will definitely push for some awesome UG punk, hardcore and metal into that soup.
ZEEK:ok lang kami sa mixed.we are open minded.
if we will come,ilang shows you can give us?
Joe Pesci: If walang aberya like typhoons or any of that stuff, prolly 3 gigs.
ZEEK:anong mgal lugar?
Joe Pesci: Isabela and Cagayan.
ZEEK:we are interested basta libre kami fare,food and accomodation.
Joe Pesci: Matik naman yan bro haha.
ZEEK:our raw live performance recently.our other guitarist did not make it.daddy duties.
2 venue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9yAkSmoHBI
3 venues
Joe Pesci: That’s very nice man. Yan din usually ang mga rason kaya nagdidisband and Im seeing despite that, you still try to maintain the band.
ZEEK:may severe diarrhea ako sa last gig at insomnia.mas ok may onstage defecation hehehe
Joe Pesci: METAL hahahahahah
ZEEK:pray for my mom bro,may stage 4 lung cancer.tought times.yung album namin ay dapat tapos na but our sound engineer died.
transfer kami studio.
Joe Pesci: will do bro, will do.
ZEEK: ah mamas boy tayo hehehe in a good way.
how old are you?
Joe Pesci:40s hahahaha
Joe Pesci: im 38.warner music loved our song when we were teenagers.they wanted us to be based in manila but nah we were just innocent teenagers.kaya heto,for legacy na lang hehehe waving the pinas flag. yep we were recommended to play with judas priest and in 70,000 tons of metal.hopefully nakatadhana.and we have a north american booker/promoter interested to promote us.hopefully 2020 will be our year.
Joe Pesci: Wow. That’s super cool man. Too bad you weren’t able to do that, hirap din ng metal kasi I market. The Filipino audience is not as adventurous. But my prod will definitely support any band who is willing to take the risk of bring new sounds to the fore.
ZEEK:Cool.astig.thanks bro.ill give u a natal cleft shirt soon as a sign of my friendship and respect to u
i can wear your band shirt or your prod too.lets trade
you're family now bro.thanks kapatid!
Joe Pesci: Thank you man, come here next year and let me handle your tour up North!
ZEEK:oo we will bro.this is destiny hehehe .a cliche but true para ma promote namin album namin dyan
im all out for this drug called metal hehehehe
hellyeah we will devour your place sonically hehehe
Joe Pesci: Ill have my crew here in Cagayan wait for your aural assault then!
ZEEK:here are our demo songs.these are included in our album.re-recorded them for album versions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoyidN0S8zA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py6KzzbWY14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRJs2aQHfiQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9O-XbKY2kw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpJo7Ca4kdQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgBEyOMXb74
wait check ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44xU8M9OEc
kilala mo si carlo manucan?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsmoLZoqE30
manila for a w
Joe Pesci: Alright, thanks for the interview man, have your guys ready for next year!
