Grindcore Band Flattbush Join Forces With Punk Band The Exsenadors To Address Extrajudicial Killings

Los Angeles based subversive grind outfit, Flattbush have recently teamed up with Quezon City hardcore punk band, The Exsenadors to release the collaborative single, “Iturol ang talim (Point the blade)”.

The recently released track focuses on the extrajudicial killings in Negros Island, a region in central Philippines. Since the implementation of Operation Plan Sauron, by virtue of an Executive Order of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, in Late 2018, more than a hundred farmers, civilians, lawyers, and activists have been the victims of summary executions believed to be perpetrated by state forces. The latest victim was human rights defender and paralegal officer Zara Alvarez, shot to her death at least 6 times while walking back to her home in Bacolod. Both of the bands express their vehement condemnation of the killings in the said island and in other parts of the Philippines.

The collaboration between the two bands started when Arman Maniego, Flattbush’s bassist, went to the Philippines in 2018 to visit relatives. After a few months of communication, bass and drum track for the song were sent to The Exsenadors. Actual recordings started in 3rd quarter of 2019 at Arman’s studio in Los Angeles and at Redverb in Quezon City. After months of being stalled, the track was finalized in August 2020.

“Iturol ang talim (Point the blade)” will be included in a collaborative album by the two bands with no definite date of release.

https://www.facebook.com/flattbush.band/

https://www.facebook.com/TheExsenadors/