www.Slapshock.com
Jamir Garcia - vocalist
Jerry Basco - guitarist
Lean Ansing - guitarist
Lee Nadala - bassist
Chi Evora - drummer
Slapshock is one of the premier rapmetal bands of the Philippines. The band was signed in 1998, when rapmetal acts were being signed left and right by the major recording companies. Six years into the business, it can be safely said that Slapshock is no flash in the pan. To date, they are the only band amongst those signed during that particular genre's boom that is still visible and active. While most acts have gone back to the underground, Slapshock now has four major albums to their name.
Whilst the band entered the business playing rapmetal, the members are influenced by a lot of rock sub-genres: Grunge, Metal, and glam, to name a few. It is upon hearing Rage Against the Machine that all the members of Slapshock all connected at the same time and decided that yes, they want to do something as prolific as Rage.
Slapshocks debut album, 4th Degree Burn was released in November 1999. Agent Orange, the first single off the album, presented a very crunchy but still catchy type of rapmetal. Follow up singles, Evil Clown and Sick Curtain proved Slapshocks craftsmanship and talent.
Their second album, Headtrip proves there is no such thing as a sophomore jinx for Slapshock. Released in 2001, Headtrip earned for the band a Platinum award. With songs like Get Away, Shezzo Wicked, and Purple, the band easily established themselves away from the growing rapmetal crowd.
It is with their third album, Project 11/41, that the band earned both commercial and critical acclaim. Four singles were released from the set, proving the strength and power of a Slapshock song. The band soon released a remix album, Back To The 2 Inch, which contained creative and innovative remixes of their songs. Famed and respected local artists such as Raymund Marasigan (Eraserheads, Sandwich), Anton Ramos (Chillout Project series), and Rico Blanco (Rivermaya), collaborated with Slapshock.
This year, Slapshock releases their fourth studio album, Novena. The album displays impressive growth amongst the musicians, as well as matured songwriting and arranging. No longer caged in the rapmetal category, Slapshock explores different genres like Latin and Japanese music, a bit of reggae, and jazz as well.
It is hard to brush aside a band as talented and hard working as Slapshock. Never negligent nor lenient, the band continues to grow, experiment, and mature. As such, Slapshock continues to make believers and fans of regular listeners and casual audiences.
