It's the Cavite Metal and Hardcore Festival again.

It's time once again for the annual Metal and Hardcore Festival happening in Cavite brought to us by the fine lads from Pag-asa. Really awesome sht going here. Great line-up, good venue and it's free! Mark your calendars.

It's the end of November and once again I'll be waiting and posting for your top ten (10) list for the year 2010. E-mail your list or whatever plus your fave pic to: xstepforwardx@yahoo.com. Let's end the year right. :D

Currently watching: Gangs of New York

First Blood 'Silence is Betrayal long sleeves.

First Blood is perhaps the one band that has sold the most merch in the current local scene. Go to any show (except maybe a ska show) and I'm willing to bet that you'll see at least one FB shirt, ls or hoodie.

I got this directly from the band when they almost sold out their merch at the FB show. I forgot to buy any merch from them because I was too busy handling show matters and then when I asked Carl how much for these LS, he just handed it to me without any cost and said 'Thanks for everything man. We had a blast!'.

This is the first time I wore this LS and noticed that the sleeve says 'Silence is Betrayal' which, incidentally, is the name of their new full-length. Check it out.

Currently listening to: The A-Team 'Discography', Fit For Abuse 'Demo'

Subhumans.

Danj wearing a 'The Day The Country Died'. Subhumans is of course a classic punk band but I'll always prefer Citizen Fish over them. We need more bands influenced by these bands. Just sayin.

Changes.

The Crimson Cartel rippin it at Baguio City during the Awakened Hope Anniversary show.

So...i've been slacking at posting some entries here again. I'm just getting thru some personal and professional sht which I hope will work out soon.

Anyway, Bystorm played the AH show in Baguio City last week and we had a blast. Saw TCC, Unforce as well as Baguio locals tearin sht up the stage. Always a good time hangin out at Baguio City. The weather's great. The food is awesome and the Bystorm crew had a good session. Ha.

Some shows happenin in the first week of December with a touring band from Japan - ASIAN CORE. I'll post the details soon.

Current series: Sons of Anarchy, Chuck, Big Bang Theory

Awakened Hope Anniv Show this Saturday @ Baguio City.

Almost forgot to post this show happening on Saturday. It is the first year anniversary show of the Awakened Hope Collective. Bystorm will be playing this show so I hope to see everyone there. Thanks to Keeyo and crew for organizing this show!

The weather has been pretty off this week, strong rains, hot sun, strong rains again. Weird.

Currently listening to: Waste Management, Step Forward

Review: Shirley Steinberg ‘Demo’ CD-R

This is the first recorded material of Malolos-based Shirley Steinberg. They got a cool name which according to an interview was taken from a list of dead women. This demo contains four tracks of Ebullition-styled hardcore. If you’re into bands like Orchid or Reversal of Man, you’ll definitely dig this. They have the long titles, gut screaming, complex riffs but the recording doesn’t do them justice. It’s decent but if you’re going to record this style, it’s better if you have really good recording in order for the sound to really come out. No cover provided but there is a lyric sheet insert. Vague lyrics too ‘I’ve spent a night smoking this shit. Oh you’re so ugly before. And now everything is beautiful’. I’m seeing good things for this band. No contact info provided.I can't upload the pic of the demo in my phone so I got this from their site instead. http://www.myspace.com/shirleysteinbergbulacan

Review: Nuclear Punishment ‘The Iron Mongoloid EP No. 1’ CD-R.

I got this at a recent show where the NP boys were selling these for the measly amount of Twenty Pesos. How good is that? This CD-R contains new recordings done by NP. This record starts out blasting with the title track. The drums on the first track is wild (waddup Timothy?). Good breakdown part too before going to the full blast beats. The rest of the tracks are just as solid and NP has really done a good job with this recording. NP has created the perfect hybrid of crushing metal and a tinge of hardcore. Dirty. Filthy. No holds-barred. No lyrics provided but with song titles like ‘Anak Ng Diablo’ and ‘Chilicon Carnage’, you know you’re in for a treat. The tracklist states that this record has 4 tracks but in listening to it I think they redid a song from their debut record as a bonus track.No other info provided but I’m assuming they recorded this at Positivity Studios. If you don’t kow how NP sounds like, then get out of your f’n cave and contact these guys: myspace.com/nuclearpunishment

Have Heart 'Pilipinas Tour' shirt.

Have Heart. Manila. Really, really good show. Awesome line-up. Everyone at the top of their game. Good crowd in a good venue. After a couple of months, Have Heart called it quits. From the start of their set until the end and the stage gave up because of the volume of the crowd, HH delivered one of the best shows in recent history. One of the best ways to remember a show is a one-off shirt. This shirt was done by Northern Territory but was not sold during the HH show but was printed much later. Good job. Large classic print. Black ink on grey shirt.

Currently: waiting for Pacquiao vs. Margarito, coffee after a slight running session. The new episode of SOA was awesome. Liam and McGee both dead, Belfast is burning and the priest slammed Jax on the table (after finding out that he was making out with his half-sister!). More SOA next week.

Chocolate Kiss.

Ever heard about this coffee shop/resto in UP? Never really cared for it until a friend and I had lunch over there and they had this Eggplant Lasagna thing going. Really good, cheesy, but its missing something but I can't figure it out. Maybe if you can try it, you can help me. And by the way that resto name is pretty ridiculous too. Hippy sht.

Currently listening to: One x More 'They say that you sold out', Lemonheads 'Into your arms'

A.D.A.

Part of a package to be sent to a friend. Here is a shirt from Laguna's undying AGGRESSIVE DOG ATTACK. These guys have been around for more or less two (2) decades already and they're still active playing shows! That's really something! Someone should put out an ADA discography CD or something.

Currently listening to: Operation Ivy 'Energy' (waddup Z?)

Skrewheds Reunion Show.

I was looking for a show happening this weekend to post but saw none so I'll go ahead and promote this show - the SKREWHEDS reunion show happening on the 19th at their hometown of Binan, Laguna.

I first heard SH in the classic 'Never Forget The Cause' tape put out by Middle Finger Productions with their infamous 'Salot Sa Lipunan' song and got to see them a couple of times in Laguna and other places in the metro. They also contributed two songs (I think) in the much maligned Alpha Numeric Sampler.

This show promises to be a great one with SH probably tearing sht up. I'll try and make it to this show...

Artwork done by England of Eskapo fame. Really good sht!

Currently listening to: Noose 'Demo'

Review: Coffeemug zine Issue no. 9

I can't believe that this zine has reached issue no. 9 already and it's been almost a decade. Kudos for having the energy to do so. This issue has the classic CM layout and features interviews with Legarda (2nd time the editor interviewed Keith Dador - the last issue had him talking about photography), Standout (local San Pablo heroes - didn't know they have a demo, if the band is reading this, I'll be glad to review it here), Jade Tree Records (nothing interesting really), Half the Battle (always a pleasure reading Easy's interviews - you can just feel the energy and positivity in the way he answers the questions) and Gerry Alanguilan (legendary local comic book writer - awesome stuff!). It also features some articles, show reports (always good reading show reports, gives you another perspective of a show you were also present) and a bunch of reviews. Best issue so far. Contact Jade at: coffeemugazine@yahoo.com

Review: Believe zine Issue no. 1

Here is the debut issue of San Pablo based BELIEVE zine. This issue comes with a free CD-R demo of SHIRLEY STEINBERG (I have a demo of them already but somehow I failed to review it). This issue's got interesting interviews with Walk Me Home (San Pablo), One Voice Asia (Singapore - with little chime-ins by Charles of Queen City Crew), Tiger Pussy (We're in UBEC and Lechon is LECHON! High Blood Crew!) which is the most interesting interview of this zine by the way. Last interview is with Our Lady of Sorrow Photography who's a Filipina photographer staying in Italy. Good cut and paste layout with colored paper cover which reminds me of a lot of zines from the 90s. It also features a couple of reviews but one thing that's lacking is more content from the editor. Really looking forward to hear from her in the next issue. Contact: hapihapiranran@yahoo.com

Currently watching: Friends Season 2

Hatebreed.

Went to the HATEBREED show last night which was a surreal experience to say the least. Haven’t been to a “rock” show in a while. Last one I think was either Rage Against The Machine or the “Alternative Nation” tour back in the 90’s with Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth and Foo Fighters. It was really f’n weird to say the least. Good thing there were a lot of familiar faces in the crowd though I got to say that the Pulp crowd unfortunately overshadowed the hardcore crowd contingent.

The Hatebreed set was sonically great. It was like watching straight out of the DVD or something. They played a long set to make your 1000 bucks worthwhile. Materials from Satisfaction to the newest materials. Crowd went apeshit to every song. Too many assholes in the crowd for me. I enjoyed the sets of the opening acts greatly (except Intolerant) but was disappointed when each band just played 3 – 4 songs. What the fck is wrong with that you ask me? These bands traveled from as far as Baguio City and Cebu just to play this show and they can’t even play a full set? Fck that sht. Good job done by Bison, Piledriver and Queen City Crew!

Currently listening to: Onyx ‘Bacdafucup’

Tiring night.

Off The Chain at Center for the Arts, Quezon City.

As promised, last night was a blast even with the continuous rain. The Pints from Australia were pretty god-damned punk rock band in the vein of Operation ivy and some other Bay Area bands. Really good stuff. The Rush ID set went well despite playing after the main act. Bystorm also played a short and tight set at Center for the Arts for the Queen City Crew show. Too bad we missed QCC's set but we're gonna see them play tonight at the Hatebreed show. Had a very lengthy pizza session afterwards. Very good night.

Yeah, I've made up my mind to go see Hatebreed. Nothing to lose except money anyway.

Currently watching: Chuck, Big Bang Theory, Sons of Anarchy new episodes!

Giants finally win WS.

The Giants have finally won it all. The Freak outdueled the Cliffhanger in a classic matchup until Renteria hit a 3-run homer. Good stuff.

Currently listening to: Damad 'Rise and Fall'.

Bystorm @ Earth Decay.

Another great video posted by Sannee of Crapsalad. Enjoy!

Bystorm 'Lungsod Ng Mga Patay Na Buhay' Free Download.

Last month, BYSTORM released 'Lungsod Ng Mga Patay Na Buhay' - a collection of selected live material recorded for the past couple of years thru Sannee of Crapsalad Videos fame. The release was limited to 100 hand-numbered copies given away at the Forum show as a way of thanking those who have supported the band throughout. In order to make it more accessible to those who weren't able to make it at the show, here is the download link for the record. Enjoy and share to your friends. Spooky Halloween!

http://www.mediafire.com/?xkbn17b1les9lqv

Good stuff: Giants win this morning. Listening to Aunt Audrey's 'Radio Friendly Teenage Diary' on a rainy November 1. Sign of things to come as we cruise on the last two months of the year.