Interview with Marc of Amaranhig 2018

 

AMARANHIG

By: Aldwin

Tortured growls and disorienting twisted lyrics. That is how I will describe the way Marc Barbasa have created and contributed to a death metal band called Amaranhig

1. For those who are not familiar with you and the band, please introduce yourself and the rest of the members.

Marc: We play  death metal, members are Jon Ramirez (guitars), Hans Borres (drums), Joey Magillano (bass) and yours truly on vocals.

2. Any previous and current band affiliations?

Currently none. After Amocrass was disbanded in 1998 I used to play with JC Paterno of End of Man and Hans. By that time he was in a Band called Tomb i think, if my jagged memory is right. But that was so short lived 2001 or 2002 i think and we have only done 2 shitty gigs that's no one have ever heard of haha! No videos Pictures and whatsover, and yes its death metal with some punkish riiffs and a lot of heavy drinking. Hans is currently playing also with Commit Arson.

3. Can you tell us a bit of history on how you guys came about as a band to the death metal scene?

Amaranhig was formed in 2012 from the ashes of Tomb as a 3 piece band. Hans, Jon and Redford on bass/vocals. Due to some conflict in schedule of Redford, they decided to look for a replacement. Hans emailed me on April of 2014 asking me if i wanted to join the band. He told me about the band's concept, goals and style which i think its all ok and good to me so I give it a shot. Redford was still in the band then, but his schedule and dedication is still questionable. We played gigs as a three piece without a bass player and we dont give a fuck about it. We continued the band as a three piece until Joey was added to the fold to play bass and everything goes well so far.

4. Who was the brain of naming the band Amaranhig and why?

 It was Hans sick and twisted idea. Amaranhig are creatures in Visayan mythology, particularly among Hiligaynon speaking groups. They are Aswangs/undead who failed to transfer their monstrosity causing them to rise from their graves to kill humans.

5. This one is kind of a funny question, did you ever try suggesting to change the name to Amocrass?

Not at all man hahaha, it didn't even cross my mind.

6. Who were the bands major influences that made you guys want to play raw death metal?

We all love old death/heavy metal. Me personaly i grew up listening to Autopsy, Carnage, Murder Squad, Carnivore, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Slayer, Deicide, Dismember, Entombed. Jon and Hans are into Cannibal Corpse, old Hypocrisy, Obituary, Massacre and mostly early 90's death metal /extreme metal. Joey, when he first came to the band he's more into the modern death metal style but we dont have any problem with that since he's the youngest so its acceptable but we slowly poisoined his mind by injecting some of the old stuffs that we like, specially when he is chilling in my house, torturing him with endless

spin of Autopsy's Mental Funeral hahaha!!

7. Who is the lyricist of the group?  And when it comes to composing, what's the most challenging part of the process when writing new songs?

I write most of the lyrics ever since I joined the band, but at the end of the day, we still have to agree on what i have written. It must be ok to all the guys in the band. I think the most challenging part is the arrangement process and also paying the studio that we rented is also a major challenge to us hahaha!

8. What is the band's lyrical themes?

We write all our songs in Tagalog specially in our Kinain ng Buhay E.P.  Our lyrical themes are about the Philippines dark mythology, zombies, local supernatural creatures and phenomenon, which i think makes Amaranhig different and unique among other death metal bands.

 

9. Did you try to retain your vocal style from your previous band to this band? Or did you change everything all together?

There are styles that I retain but its a bit more mature now. I just dont smoke cigarettes and as much as possible I want  the melody to always be there not just the "urggh, urghh. wahhhh!"  usual style.

10. What were your reaction when you were asked to join Amaranhig?

I was flattered of course. Ive known Hans for a quite a while before i joined Amaranhig. Just like what I have said we used to jam before and I was really so thankful to them for remembering me and giving me the trust to spew death vomits for Amaranhig.

11. What can you tell us about the song ‘Pulutan’? What was the song all about?

 It was a song written by Jon Ramirez, our guitarist before i joined the band. It is one of my favorite sick tune from them. Its just all about the undead feasting on human flesh that comes their way. Pretty heavy shit, and I enjoy performing it live.

12. What's the sickest show for Amaranhig ever been a part of and why?

For every gig/show that we are invited to play, we always assure ourselves to be on our very best and get drunk afterwards hahaha! Every gig is sick and filthy because we dont play with "rakista" bands and other mainstream trendy crap, so to all productions you know the drill in inviting us hahaha! Dont be so softhearted and dramatic when we say NO! Its because your line up or style is so jolly and jumpy, and we dont fit in that kind of shit.

13. You as an individual has always been notorious when it comes to stage performance, and getting peoples' ears fucked up with your unclean harsh growls making them bang their heads and all that shit, what's your reaction to that?

It feels good when people digs what you are doing. I am not going to change my style, we dont play to please people or for them to like our songs, we write songs to fulfill our sick and twisted appetite, love us or hate us, we play uncompromising death metal, raw, honest, horrific and true!!

14. Will Amaranhig do a cover of "Life Denied" by any chance? That would be sick.

I dont ever think of that. Lots of people used to ask me that question. We are focused and will stick on the band's concept.

15. Do you still get in touch with your previous metal band members? Do they still listen to death metal or metal in general until now?

Not that much, and I dont even know if we are on the same path nowadays or wavelength but we are still good friends. The only bandmate in Amocrass that i have constant relationship with is Richmond Ubalde, our rhytm guitarist way back then. He's a citizen in the U.S. now. We always talk almost everyday.

16. You have been in the underground metal scene for quite sometime, from the 90's Club Dredd days to the present era. What do you think are the differences in terms of shows, gig promotions, tradings, metalheads, etc. Is the metal scene currently broader than it was before?

It is more way ahead D.I.Y. before than now. Posters are mostly hand written and posted on street walls, shops in recto (Nizzle Dazzle, Tandem, etc.) Having a shitty demo tape is a big deal in the early days. The underground scene is very intimate in the late 80s early 90's. All are hardcopy (die hard shit). No instant bullshit during those days. So to those who remain true from the start, All hailz. We have all seen and tasted it.

17. Lately Ive been seeing a lot of new bands promoting fancy shirts on social media without any demos or music samples to share to the public which I think is lame. Any thoughts on that?

Yes that is rampant nowadays in this internet age. But i dont pay attention to them to tell you honestly. Amaranhig has a demo and 2 E.P.'s but we dont have any lousy shirt or other cute merchandises. We always put our musick on top of all.. Promote your band with your music you pathetic fucks!!!

18. In my own understanding, demo songs are draft ideas/music. It is fair to say that "full length album release shows" are well deserved events. Do you think "demo launch gigs" should be held? What is your insight on this? 

 Its a bands option...we dont give a fuck if they wanted to have a demo launch.

19.  What would be the best description for Amaranhig as a band aside from being a death metal group?

We are a tight unit that will never succumb to modern trends and other glamorous shit... and we always operate as one! We play what we want not what they want!!

20. Can you give the readers a run down of Amaranhig's discography?

Amaranhig demo(2012)

Pulutan E.P. (2014)

Kinain Ng Buhay E.P.(2015)

21. Any upcoming releases?

Yes we are currently recording our first album which is untitled yet. We already finished 5 songs... but still unmixed. Thats an infection to watch out.

22. Can you tell us maniac readers how we can get ahold of Amaranhig, and how to grab CD's/Merchandise from the band?

You can contact the band in our Facebook page Amaranhig and in our email address: lamanloob15@gmail.com

23. Horns up Marc! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to make this interview possible! Any last words?

Thanxxx man... more rotten flesh and metal spikes to NO BULLSHIT ZINE! Support and buy underground extreme metal releases.. Stop asking for free copies if you are really a children of the underworld!!! Stay true and uncompromised!!! DEATH FUCKING METAL!!!!