ICONOCLAST is changing its name and updating its sound...don't worry we're not gonna trend out and do whatever is the flavor of the month...stay tuned for more info! You won't be disappointed!
2005 sees the band of many tribulations in fine form once again, with the release of its second long-player entitled The Jesus Disease, the first fulllength record in 8 years. It has been a turbulent year for the band and was at the verge of a breakup, citing the usual personal and artistic differences as the culprit. Not one to back down from adversity, Marc forged on and recruited ex-guitarist Chris Morris, and re-invented the band as a tighter, indestructible unit.
From its humble beginnings from pioneering deathdoom band to international underground phenomenon, ICONOCLAST has come a long way since its inception in 1993. Rooting from drummer/ singer Marc Anthony H. Bertones bleak vision of his own version of death metal, and lifting the name from a Rotting Christ 7 Dawn of the Iconoclast, the original concept was to create a large, dark and overtly evil atmosphere, at a time when grindcore and thrash metal was the norm. Yearning for his own sound, he fused the best elements of 80s gothic, industrial and doom and death metal riffs, without the pretentiousness. From gathering talented musicians around school and friendly acquaintances, ICONOCLAST unknowingly started the funeral doom sound in that side of the world, the Philippines to be exact, much to the chagrin of their grindcore and punk influenced peers. After recording the now legendary Themes of Madness compilation tape, they quickly followed it up with their first demo entitled Unveiling the Aftermath with a sound so ugly and uncompromising, reminiscent of AUTOPSY at its best and WINTER at its slowest. It got good reviews around the local scene, and its primitive sincerity was unequalled by most at the time. After constant gigging and making a name for themselves, they were picked up by local major label Ivory records, for a compilation tape to capitalize on the growing phenomenon that is death metal. It was a success, and gave the band a good marketing push. Once relegated to small, self organized shows; the band is now opening for major commercial acts and playing the best venues around Manila. This led to the attention of Robert Javier, a local musician for a commercially successful rock group, to producing the first full length entitled Aurevana: Bloodworks and Moonshine". After major shows and rave reviews from neighboring countries fanzines and the tape-trading network, it was established that ICONOCLAST is one of the first to combine clean pop-like singing with rough death-metal vocals and atmospheric female backing vocals. Unfortunately, endless line-up changes, internal turmoil and lack of promotion hindered the band of recognition as a pioneering doom/gothic/industrial/noise manifesto.
Being jaded as he can get, Marc packed his stuff and left for the United States permanently. Recording 2 e.p.s, The Irrelevant God (2002) and Judaswhore (2004) respectively, and now the recently completed The Jesus Disease full length, ICONOCLAST is more than ready to make its mark in the increasingly competitive music scene. Regarded by many as the best kept secret waiting to explode, ICONOCLAST will take their place in the upper echelons of the metal world.
That or die trying.
- ICONOCLAST 2005
