Shards Of Ice is a metal/rock band based in Manila. Angelo Garcia and Dean Rosen started the band, and later recruited Lex Adarme to be their drummer and Griff Chatwin to be an additional guitarist. Shards Of Ice is greatly influenced by old school metal. Metallica has always been one of their favourite bands. Their debut album, entitled "The Monkeys Have Landed" was released in late 2004, and was recorded it when band members were between 13-15. In July 2005, Angelo moved to Cairo, Egypt. So for the past 2 years, Shards Of Ice has remained a three piece band. In November 2004, they were featured in PULP magazine. Then in February 2005, the band won first place in LSGH's "Overdose" Battle Of The Bands competition. Later on in April, they played in the PULP Summer Slam, and in June, the Fete De La Musique. They were also featured in The National Inquirer newspaper, featured below. (http://you.inq7.net/music/index.htm) Currently, they are working on their second album release.
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GONE are the days of heavy metal -- or so people say. Being the purist that I am, I had my mind set on believing that all of today's teens have been swallowed up by the bubblegum world of mainstream pop. To my surprise, three kids have shown great respect of the '80s classic metal genre, which surfaced long before they were old enough to rock any world outside of their mothers' wombs.
Raising my respect for today's not-so-jilted generation of post-'90s musical babies, came Shards of Ice, a three-piece metal band, with an average age of 14 1/2 years old, dedicated to playing what they love the most, classic metal.
The band is composed of three talented youths, Dean Rosen, 15, on vocals/bass Griff Chatwin, 15, on guitars and Lex Adarme, 14, on the drums. Their main influences are Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer and, more recently, Sum41 and System of a Down.
For their age, the three members of the band demonstrate skill and knowledge of metal music far beyond their years, which support their growing popularity, as they have broken out of their school's audience (British International School), churning out metal that the local music scene has started to listen to.
Shards of Ice started a little over two years ago, led by Angelo (a former founding member who moved to Egypt) and Dean. After Angelo's departure, Shards of Ice was left with their existing three-piece lineup. Among their achievements are the album released last year, winning this year's battle of the bands in La Salle Greenhills and played in the PULP Summer Slam event.
I watched them at one of their jam sessions at Lex's house. I was gladly surprised and blown away with the songs that they played, ranging from classic metal tunes such as Metallica's "Master of Puppets" and Slayer's "Reign in Blood" (a song that I've only heard pro bands cover) to the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" and even a fun rendition of the Beatles' "Twist and Shout."
They showed talent and youthful energy with every head-banging riff and arm-flaying move they made. I was truly floored.
Dean's frantic head banging and raging vocals were impressive, as well as Griff's rock steady strumming, flowing from rhythm to lead guitars no sweat. Lex's abilities behind the drums were amazing.
The room was stocked with just a few amps and a drum set, and Shards of Ice really exuded the youthful garage-band vibe, truly making and playing music for themselves, the way independent music should be.
Asked if they were dark, angsty and suicidal teenagers since they played metal, they replied, "No! That's the crowd's job, we just wanna have fun playing metal. There's no better genre!"
They told me how they dodged beer bottles on stage during the Summer Slam gig and set off the first moshpit of the event.
My Shards of Ice experience ended with nostalgia, as I found myself in an intense metalhead discussion about their favorite bands and idols, and they even ordered their Metallica albums of preference (which is my staple test for any metal fanatic)!
They are now making songs for their second album, also to be released under Tiger Records. To get a well-worth-it listen, you can purchase their first album at any Odyssey, Tower Records and Music One outlet. Visit their website at www.shardsofice.cjb.net.
These guys really sent icicles down my spine and I'm sure that freezing hell over would just be their beginning. Keep an eye out for Shards of Ice, because for sure, you'll be hearing much more of them in the future!
Contributed by Paulino Servado
SHARDS OF ICE - I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE Music Video
