Saturday, April 9, 2011

Dahong Palay

By Ramon Zialcita from an article originally entitled "Goth Group Shows Promise"

There is no doubt that Dahong Palay will go down in Pinoy Rock history as one of the finest heavy metal bands of the 1990's. They were part of the "Big 4" in their era which included Wolfgang, Death By Stereo and Backdraft. Dahong Palay first formed in 1993 and were composed of Andew "Eurd" dela Hostria (vocals/ bass), Jed Sison (guitar) and Derrick Periodico (drums). "The Kings of Dark Metal" toiled the underground scene for almost a year until they received their first big break in the compilation album issued by Vicor Music entitled "Mga Himig Natin: Pinoy Rock Revisited. Dahong Palay carved a grunge-metal version of Florante's "Pinay".

Dahong Palay carried on with this line-up seeing action in four more various artists projects until 1995 when Sison was replaced by Booths Oca. Better known as "The Guitar Demon," Oca was an understudy and a replacement of guitar legend Noel Mendez (ex- The Dawn) when the latter was still playing for Hayp and FrancisM. Oca was primarily responsible for bringing the Dahong Palay sound to a higher level. The group finally issued their opus "Kapatiran ng Bakal at Apoy" on Ivory Records' Tone-Def label and appeared in 2 more compilations. For the record, Dahong Palay recorded seven compilation albums in the 1990s, the most number of appearances ever by a metal group. Oca and Periodico eventually bailed out toward the later part of the nineties and dela Hostria carried the group on his back with different members on a fragmented tour of duty until 2004.

After a year and a half absence due to personal reasons, dela Hostria the only original member left has re-assembled Dahong Palay in Cagayan de Oro city in 2006. Dela Hostria, a resident of Gusa CDO, is surrounded by a cast of musicians he personally recruited, are all based in Cagayan de Oro city. The current roster features new recruits Allan Innovero on guitars and Karlo Lim on drums. The band is currently working on new material. " There were a lot of pending songs for the next album," says dela Hostria, who also goes on the air for Mellow Touch 95.7FM CDO as Dr. Drue. Eurd is actually back to writing songs again hopefully to be released in a major label . Basically the tracks still talk about immortal warriors, Heaven & Hell, the triumph of good over evil and the dark and heavy music Dahong Palay is known for." Dela Hostria's observations on the Cagayan de Oro rock scene reminds him of how it was when he was starting Dahong Palay: "The rock scene here is pretty amazing. It feels just like when LA 105.9 (MANILA) was on the air. There are a lot of good rock bands here who have indie albums out already. Basically, I don't feel I'm in a different place because it still kinda' brings me back to the good old days." Dahong Palay has not only been active in Cagayan de Oro but has also been barnstorming other parts of the region with raging impunity.

They are currently doing club stints, campus shows thru invitation all over Manila, Cagayan De Oro and out of town arena shows as well. Hopefully, the group will also be launching their Visayas - Mindanao tour within the year.

DAHONG PALAY, one of the Philippines' prime movers in the underground metal scene is about to unleash it's venom once more via their up-coming show, the biggest annual rock show in the country COLT 45's PULP SUMMERSLAM XI: RESURRECTION headlined by ANTHRAX, HELLYEAH & DEATH ANGEL together with 24 other local bands this April 30, 2011.

Who could ever forget Dahong Palay? Heavy, Aggressive, Dark, Melodic and Intimidating music is what you could expect from this group.

The band is composed of

* EURD DELA HOSTRIA - Bass and Vocals
* BOOTHS OCA - Lead Guitar
* CARLO BALITA - 2nd Lead Guitar
* DERRICK PERIODICO - Drums

“PANAWAGAN SA LAHAT NG KAPATID AT KASAPI NG KAPATIRAN NG BAKAL AT APOY!!!! NALALAPIT NA ANG AMING MULING PAGLALAKBAY” - EURD

Now on its 18th year, Dahong Palay is dead set on delivering true metal once more!

DAHONG PALAY (KBAP) EURD, DERRICK PERIODICO, BOOTHS OCA & CARLO BALITA - WILL BE ROCKING AT PULP SUMMERSLAM XI: RESURRECTION!!!! WE WILL SEE YOU THERE!!!! \m/

For Bookings Contact:

c/o DXBL 95.7FM Mellow Touch
No. 1 Agudo Road, C.M. Recto Ave. Cagayan de Oro City

(088) 856-9570
09179437007
09222992235
09185584777