Mongrelblood

History

Mongrelblood, a Pinoy-thrash metal band from the mean streets of Iloilo city in the islands of Panay, was formed. Formerly, Mongrel... The name was coined in reference to the local, Askal, which literally means "mixed-bred" personifies the band itself, with its members coming from different backgrounds and influences but share the same attitude.

It was changed to Mongrelblood in 2009, when a foreign band of the same name elicited the change. The name, Mongrelblood also mirrors the band's beginnings when it had a shortage of members and with it resorting to having multiple and alternate members from the other local bands fill in the blank spots throughout its lifetime.

It all began when former callbox workmates, Dedrick Abad and Jonathan Yang who apparently were also former elementary school mates decided to form a project band which would play Pinoy metal, focusing on doing Wolfgang covers although, they each came from different and rather, contrasting influences. Dedrick was greatly influenced by thrash metal and the new wave of British heavy metal while Jonathan preferred progressive metal and glam metal. The original lineup included former Mindgrip drummer, Hans Cerillo and vocalist, Sanjay Armada was original plotted to play although he only went onstage with the band once. The band was set to participate in a local battle of the bands competition, (RUPTURED2007 by Upsilon Phi Sigma) as a launching step in the Iloilo music scene.

In the early stages of the band's development, rehearsal sessions were planned but apparently, Sanjay was too busy to show up which caused the band some trouble in rehearsing the cover songs. Dedrick then decided to recruit Dennis, former vocalist for Roadkill and a former roadie from his former bands (Anino, Kidlat) to fill in for Sanjay during band practice, formerly doing grunge covers with his old band, his major influence however was Pinoy metal and thrash metal. Dennis, who was also a callbox employee decided to take on the task and rehearsed with them until competition day, it was then when Dedrick decided to have Dennis permanently fill the vocalist spot and stay as a frontman for the band. The band wend onstage and marked its very first beginnings in the scene.

After the competition, the members decided that they would go on to play in regular gigs, now playing Dahong Palay covers. The band gained its very first recognition, when it joined a local band competition and won third place with an average score of 79.9%, and it was the very night, their first ever original composition, 'Esklabo', exploded through the sound system speakers. The band was then asked to play front-act for Urbandub, when drummer, Hans Cerillo decided to take a rest. This placed the band in a commotion but Dedrick then called up former bandmate and frat brother, Carlo Celiz (also of Anino/Kidlat) to fill in Han's spot as a drummer. Counting on Carlo's major influences in Pinoy metal and thrash, it solidified Mongrelblood's major lifeblood of genre which is Pinoy-thrash.

The new lineup defined Mongrelblood's image as the streetdogs of Iloilo's metal scene, playing alongside Iloilo's metal legends, Four Horsemen and Tyrant. As time went by, the members underwent personal problems and job problems but kept on maiming through the music scene. The hardest blow came when Dedrick decided to leave for the States and Carlo focusing more in his supermarket job. Dennis and Jonathan were left with the decision to either disband or continue playing. Although in the States, Dedrick never failed to have inputs in the band's progress. Pressing on, the band recruited various session artists to fill in blank spots at every available gig, this was but a life support to continue the band's existence at least until Dedrick returned.

When he finally did, Mongrelblood was relentless, still short of a mainstay drummer, Dedrick and Dennis asked the infamous Krematoria brothers, Julian and Jihad Selibio to play guitars and drums for the band temporarily. Their black metal and thrash metal roots and Dennis' discovery of a newfound powerful vocal approach but short of air, lead to the heavier Mongrelblood sound as it performed Slayer and Testament covers but still keeping touch with the Pinoy thrash sound. As of 2010, The band returned to the limelight and with Grindhouse Productions released the first 'Iloilo Extreme Music' CD compilation with their own single, 'Esklabo'. They had Karl Vito of Lostlines play guitars for them on that night and at least two more gigs before recruiting Jokjok Salazar of Trololo to fill the permanent spot for the second guitarist but sadly, Carlo Celiz had to quit the lineup because he is going to be leaving for Canada and job pressures kept piling up. Sadly, the group decided to let him go.

The band slipped in and out of the Iloilo music scene but never entirely disappeared as a result of the band members concentrating on their livelihoods as well. Presently, the band has recruited Blasphemerion's guitarist Makoy Camena to play drums permanently. This new lineup added an entirely new sound to the olded Mongrelblood sound as the group just recently toured Bacolod City, Dumaguete City, Cebu City, Panabo City and to the capital itself in Quezon City.

Expanding the horizons for their music, Mongrelblood also recently released a five-track self titled demo. Now seeking a deeper meaning and a broadened perspective on unleashing the most rabid force the Iloilo metal scene has ever known in its existence, the dogs of war are now maiming the scene with a newfound rage.The band was also one of the forerunners and member of the original Kapatiran. It is also one of the founding members of Grindhouse Productions, the ONLY metal music organization/production team in Iloilo City.

After several lineup changes, the band's current lineup is composed of Dennis Hubag on vocals, Dedrick Abad on bass and backing vocals, Jonathan Yang and Jokjok Salazar on guitars and Francis Pasadilla on drums.

Releases:
'Mongrelblood EP' (EP, 2010)
'Rabid Insurgence' (full-length album, 2013)
'Relentless Assault' (EP, 2014)
'Rabid Execution' (split EP with Paraphrenic Hostility, 2015)

(source: Mongrelblood, February 2017)