Slapshock

Slapshock is the thunderous sound of Filipino rock/metal. Composed of four diversely skilled musicians, the band was forged in the musically rich landscape of the University in the Philippines in 1997. Slapshock emerged during the heyday of rap-metal in the USA and in the Philippines, becoming a pioneer of the movement and being responsible for its rise. While some would be in danger of being pegged in one genre, the band has stayed put in Pinoy rock’s consciousness for almost two decades because of their evolving but always explosive sound. Slapshock draws you in with a concord of unforgettable and haunting sounds, only to have your senses assaulted with ragged and raw power.

Playing in the trenches of pioneering rock clubs Mayrics and Club Dredd, and inciting musical mayhem during college events helped Slapshock grab the audience’s attention and the recording industry’s. The band was signed by EMI Music Philippines in 1998, which resulted in their first platinum-selling album 4th Degree Burn, This album birthed many cult-favorite tracks like Agent Orange which became the rock anthem of the youth during those times and introduced Slapshock to the underground and commercial scene.

Succeeding albums released through the years only proved Slapshock’s prolific ability to create successful albums that music lovers also revere. The list goes one, from their 2nd platinum-selling album Headtrip (2001), to the 3rd platinum-selling disc Project 11-41 (2002), the gold record award album Novena (2004), to Silence (2006), the greatest hits disc Recollection (2008) , and the critically acclaimed album Cariño Brutal (2009). The latter’s single of the same name went on to become 2010’s biggest rock hit. Showing their penchant for music that crosses boundaries, the titular track was consistently played on mainstream radio, a feat rarely achieved by metal bands. They released their 8th album Kinse Kalibre (2011) still with EMI Music before they got signed by Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.Ap under his own record label BMBX . Slapshock’s best sounding album Night Owls released in 2014 was all recorded, mixed and mastered in Los Angeles, California. It was produced by Apl.de.Ap (Black Eyed Peas) and Shavo Odadjian (System of A Down) and mixed by big names in the recording industry like Ben Grosse and Terry Date.


Slapshock has collected a number of awards throughout their career, including being consistent winners of the NU 107 Rock Awards. They were named Band of the Year and Listener’s Choice twice, and received Best New Artist (2000) and Bassist of the Year (2001). The recognition continues as the band received the award for Rock Artist of the Year at the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for Music. They were also awarded Favorite MYX Live Performance at the MYX Awards 2011 the following year.

Across shores, Slapshock has also gotten their first in the musical arena. They became the Philippines’ representatives to the 2003 MTV Asia Awards in Singapore, presenting to musical contemporaries LINKIN PARK. Slapshock also received the distinction of being the first Filipino, and Asian band for that matter, to play at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2008. They shared the stage with rock heavyweights Korn, Killswitch Engage, Velvet Revolver, As I Lay Dying, Machine Head and Muse at this most prestigious annual rock event in the Middle East. Thousands of rock aficionados who gathered from all parts of the globe heard Slapshock, with more than a few leaving as fans.


In another nonreplicable feat, Slapshock has already shared the stage with big names in metal like Death Angel, Sepultura, Shadows Fall, The Darkest Hour, Trivium, Lamb of God and Testament. Another feat for the band happened in 2010 when they were handpicked by the Macau Cultural Center to once again represent the Philippines at the MACAU Hush Music Fest last November 2010. They played with other Asian artists from Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi.
2011 was another exciting and defining year as they were tapped to open for the shows of two of their childhood rock heroes and two of the biggest bands in the world – Deftones (February 2011) and Korn (August 2011) when they played in Manila. They were also chosen to open for Avenged Sevenfold a year after in 2012.

Slapshock also became one of the founding members of the Asian super group PROJECT E.A.R. (East Asian Revolution). The latter is a collaboration of top artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, which debuted during the 2009 MTV Asian Music Awards.

The band is nearing another milestone in their career as they are celebrating their 20th anniversary next year. Not inclined in any way to slow down, they are due to release another studio album and launch a nationwide tour in 2017.

Thousands of Slapshock CDs have been sold, and played over and over. Thousands of fans have screamed their name and anthems. But two decades in music is a feat only a handful artists can achieve. Slapshock has without a doubt cemented its place in the annals of Philippine rock history. They are the only band still standing and actively releasing new works among their contemporaries. Two decades of withstanding changing genres and music popularity with the same core members intact. Two decades of growing into their now distinct aural and visual performance that continues to astound its solid rock fan base and incite more to experience the same.