Crepuscular Dawn debuted at a Food Not Bombs gig in Carmona many moons back, which I had the absolute pleasure of seeing them play live at. Their sound encapsulates dark, moody vocals with a haunting rhythm section that takes you back to a time when the world witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union sometime late 80's-early 90's. This kind of music is best played by street wise kids who don't reside in posh condos and live off mom and pop's credit cards and surnames. In short, yung mga sumasabit sa estribo ng non-aircon buses in primetime Edsa rush hour.
Last Sunday, the 22nd, their latest full length dropped.
It looks like out of the 28 songs the band has made, 10 made it to their new LP.
I took the chance to do a quick catch up with their guitarist and vocalist to get the latest from their camp.
- Hi, tell us more about your band. What does the name Crepuscular Dawn represent? What is it's meaning? What were the circumstances that led to the band's formation?
Kirk: Hey Jep. The band’s name came from Paul Virilio’s book of the same name. We actually had a hard time naming the band, the initial plan was to use Russian words relating to despair, or anything that resembles world-weariness. Akin to bands like Guadalcanal Diary naming themselves after a book. We even had like an entire list of potential names before settling with the name we have today. Owing much from the concepts of Virilio himself, it’s a way of capturing the current mood of the era through music. In this hypercapitalist dystopia, even the dimensions of time and space gets diluted. In some cases, we never had much of a distinction between night and day, movement, and speed, which has been heavily influenced by capital that has severely affected the very essence of life itself in pursuit of labor. (lol what a fat pseud) Anyway, I remember that it was Archie that messaged me about starting a post punk band. I think he saw some Eastern European post punk/synthwave bands on my timeline, and this was during the time where I was just coming down from the noise/power electronics high. Miyong also mentioned about forming a post punk band during one of our drinking sessions in Romualdez. Makmak and Reidon were later on added to the ensemble and the rest is history. (although Reidon will be replaced by Louis sometime on)
Archie: It started with me seeing this fat kid hang out with the Pojax Kvlt crew. He looked very eccentric. I remember, we were seeing Urban Bandits and he was just cleaning it up on the pit, then almost collapsed because he apparently had fever. He lay there on the merch table and I gave him bottled water, really annoying at best. Then I saw he was posting a lot of these newer cold wave Slavic themed synth bands and I thought we might have something there. I had no idea he could sing, all I knew was he was into some type of noisy electronic demonic sounding shit, so I messaged him, assuming he had some sort of drum machine, synth and all that crap. I asked if he was interested in forming a new wave/post punk band. He was OK with the idea but the conversation veered away into doing an actual human band with a few other misfits that we mutually know. The first person we thought of was Miyong (no introduction needed). He was the only drummer I know who listened to the same type of music. Then I thought of getting the King of Self Loathing -Makmak, and Bahala Na Gang member Reidon.
- I saw you play your first gig in December of 2021. What has the band become, since? I've seen you start off with your EP "In Filmic Stasis" in 2022, and now we have your full length "The Fire Tomorrow"? Can you tell me more about this latest drop you guys made. When, where and how were these recorded?
Kirk: Much of the material for the first EP was made during the pandemic. I remember having a hard time to go around the metro during this period, and to think that the first recording studio that we recorded some of the tracks at was in a swanky subdivision near Greenhills. For the second half of the LP, much of it was recorded in Banana Rising in Alabang. I remember the band spending much of our weekends toiling to finish the tracks based on the budget we had, which was really tight. If my memory serves me right, it was Tweety who suggested that we approach a friend of hers – Dan of SPHC, in addition to Emman of DOT (I think it was Miyong who got in touch with Emman regarding the potential pressing of the vinyl). Both of them were really helpful in realizing this dream of ours ---- to be one of the best showbands in Japan (lol just kidding)
- Hoy! Pota ka!
Archie: The first EP was on its own, a very special one -recorded in the middle of the pandemic. So we heard Nonentities record their drum tracks in this studio in Greenhills and we decided to record everything there. It was really challenging due to the lockdown. The second half of the LP was done at Banana Rising right after we saw Punebre record the drum tracks there. I was too drunk all the time to remember the details.
- Something tells me there should be more to be expected from you. I keep hearing quite a lot of your songs played live that didn't make the cut on this release.
Kirk: Factory Guadalux aka Archie is like a sonic assembly line. He just keeps on producing new tracks that the band can use as a basis for new songs. Well, it is true that we have a lot of songs that did not make the cut for the LP, but we are definitely planning to release them in the near future. But yeah, given the constant need to run in the rat race, we still ought to earn moolah for the recording. (Thank god the artist’s copies got sold out recently – we might be able to record and buy a synth)
Archie: We are a very prolific writing band but putting it all into fruition is hindered by the fact that we are working class blokes in a pathetic and perpetual cycle of chasing the old Benjamin. A 2nd LP would be ideal if everyone in the band still draws breath in the next 2 years. I never even imagined we would see the day a label will be releasing our record. We owe it all to Tweety of Choke Cocoi, Emman of DOT and Dan of course... Oh and Kirk's diplomatic wizardry too.
- Why won't we ever see you play pop festivals, when you guys don't necessarily fit into the mold of the punk and hardcore shows I only ever see you play?
Kirk: I sold out to the government for a fistful of pesos already a few years back, so I think that will not be a good idea. Kidding aside, selling out will surely alienate our audiences. It was you guys, punks and metalheads that consume much of our material. The band does not wish to play in such festivals or venues; I feel like we are too rowdy and divisive enough to get banned in the first place! Seriously, I think it just goes against the ethos of the members. And to think that some of the old ageist “chongs” would rather give a sloppy one to some DJ to flip wax than to listen to new material. I mean, there’s also the indie crowd but I feel like we’re gonna feel like some fish-out of-water types in a scene dominated by kids. (I mean, “none of us are saints” but you do you mate) But I believe that the DIY principle, ethos, and lifestyle just runs too deep in our blood to play in those kinds of places, let alone be invited in the first place. I think we’re okay with the current state of affairs.
Archie: I feel playing for the sell out crowd would possibly alienate most of our very few friends in the DIY scene. Take note, no one was interested in us except the metalheads and punks who found their soft spot with our work. Our demos have been around, word gets around and still, only the DIY scene has supported us. Additionally, it is more likely that people who listen to underground or extreme music will have the tendency to have a broader taste which will include bands that sound like us, than it is for people who listen to indie or whatever the fuck, to appreciate metal or punk bands.
- I still call you a new wave punk band. People tell me it's post-punk. I'm gonna let that process internally for a bit. What would you say is the future looking like for post-punk in the Philippines?
Kirk: I sometimes feel that we’re somewhat in between, and in some cases I feel like the band is toeing the fine line between power pop and the Madchester sound. I mean, it’s still punk I guess given the band’s strong connection with the DIY community. I feel that there’s a difference between playing live and the recordings itself. As for the future, heck, I don’t know. I mean there’s a resurgence of shoegaze/indie acts for almost a decade now, maybe? But let’s hope that happens. It will be interesting to see a rather fresh interpretation of the genre, especially that some of the new heads out there are really good, music wise.
Archie: There is no future for post punk here because it is not profitable. Old wavers would rather die in front of a DJ and their 80s records than to give new acts like us a chance, and I don't blame them, it is their right to do that. I have been listening to bands that shaped our sound since I was a kid and I still don't know the difference between new wave and post punk. But we do tend to be in the center of it. We are generally new wave sounding but with a punk approach to recording and playing live.
- Which New Wave bands should come to the Philippines next year?
Kirk: Let’s stretch the question a bit to include some post-punk bands. Pretty much of a pipedream but I really wanna see Sad Lovers and Giants and Skeletal Family live but that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. But I’ll definitely watch The Chameleons this year. Just can’t miss it.
Archie: The Chameleons / Mark Burgess are coming this November. Fuck everyone else.
- Anything you'd wanna say to Duran Duran, last words, where in Asia and elsewhere should folks snag your records?
Kirk: "Duran Duran, sumayaw ba si BBM sa Girls On Film?” HAHAHAHAHAHA Jesus man, I can only imagine. What a fucking time to be alive. Also, you can get our records from the following labels:
SPHC Records (US)
Armageddon (Boston, MA & Providence, RI)
Sanctus Propaganda (Poland)
Symphony of Destruction (France)
F.O.A.D. Records (Italy)
Archie: Duran Duran? well I hope they were up early and had breakfast with our local royal kleptocracy, or else they will be the 2nd group of English lads who'll get roughed up from their hotel room to the airport innit. Not claiming to be clairvoyant, but one of our new songs called 'While Rome Burns' exactly describes this. For getting ahold of our LP - anything outside of this shithole - it's best to reach out to Delusion of Terror or message our page.
- Ahahahaha! Putanginamoka talaga, Chie! Thanks, fellas. we'll see ya's laters.
Archie: The fact that the sheep take sides in the butcher's argument does not change the fate of the sheep.
Man, that's OLD.
So hey, you can go peep their band page at Bandcamp: and FB: and for the semi-burgis Spotify users:
Order "The Fire Tomorrow" locally in the Ph at Delusion Of Terror Records.
Watch out for the other bands they are involved with: No One Wins (Archie is their social media manager/influencer), GOO (Louis is their tour/booking manager) and Salot (Miyong is their Radio Promotion and Distribution manager).
PS: I have confirmed that one of their members is the page admin aka DJNitor of Radyo Kantutan. Check it.
PPS: Further reading: They have a more proper, respectable feature with Kirk coming out next week on the Paco Wordslinga's cut and paste, xeroxed fanzine. On actual glorious 8.3 x 11.7 inches printed paper. Also peep Archie's sporadic web zine Tinnitus Thoughts.
Thanks to Ms. Rachel Capul Gutierrez, and Florlando Isla Marudo for the band pictures.
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