SACRILEGION (band)
edit- Sacrilegion is a death/thrash metal band from the Philippines. It was formed in 1994 with Renato Cariño on guitars and vocals, Ronaldo Gojar doing bass and vocals, and Mike Malvar on drums. Later within that same year, a lead vocalist named Ronaldo Enriquez from Crematorium and a second guitar player named Marlon Malgapo joined while Ronaldo Gojar was relieved by Henry Reyes from his bass playing duties.
- In 1995 the recent reformation of its members gained some extent of popularity from the underground scene since the metal crowd mistook the group as the newly reformed Crematorium which during that time had already been established and tagged as the Philippines' first death metal band and had already gained a number of followers. This line-up had some exposure from some notable events in the emerging punk and metal scene which were held in public sports and recreational centers of various communities and campuses inside and outside Manila. The crowd would soon distinguish Sacrilegion from Crematorium since the two bands sounded differently regardless having the same lead vocalist. Sacrilegion straightly played original compositions and may be regarded as the first Filipino death metal act who incorporated the blast-beat technique and also one of the Filipino metal bands (along with KnK, D.A.B., Brimstone in Fire, Rumble Belly, Akeldama, etc.) who pioneered in applying some minor experimental chord progression to their songs.
- In 1996, Reyes was replaced by Joseph Parangue on bass and Malgapo was replaced by Podz Mallari on guitars. Also in that same year, a lead vocalist named Bernard Clemente from the recently disbanded "Sacrilege" filled in to replace Enriquez.
- In 1997 the current line-up was able to record a proposed 15-song album titled "Bleeding Asia" but did not completely materialize for release due to lack of funding for printing, mass production, and distribution. In frustration and uncertainty of the band's success, four of its members quit and opted to take care of their familial duties.
- Cariño remained and reformed it in 1998 with Edward Santos (Corrupt Insanity/Guardian's Crucifix) on bass, Oliver Roque played briefly on drums until Melvin Reyes replaced him. The line-up hardly lasted a year yielding to its second hiatus. During this period, a band named Guardian's Crucifix (another old school thrash metal band)managed to covering some of Sacrilegion songs their gigs at that time.
- When the Guardian's Crucifix disbanded in 2003, guitarist Mark Anthony Ocampo and lead vocalist Erwin Guinto were joined by old Sacrilegion members Parangue and Carino along with (soon-to-be HatanKaru) drummer Elmer Glino.
- After a series of gigs, Parangue left the band in 2006. The bass playing duties were then helped in their gigs by bassists including Alvin Quinones (Mortal Fear/SIN), Edward Reyes (Corrupt Insanity), and Angela Ocampo (Whorelocke). Ocampo, who happened to be Guinto's spouse, permanently played bass for more than a year and was relieved after giving birth to their first child. Her replacement is a slinky bass player named Dante Pilande.
Current members:
- Mark Anthony Ocampo - guitars
- Renato Cariño Jr.- guitars
- Elmer Glino - drums
- Erwin Guinto - vocals
- Dante Pilande - bass