Biography
Slapshock matches the ferocity implied by its name through music marked by extreme volume and aggression. Observers routinely place the group alongside Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Slipknot because its fusion of hip-hop and heavy metal satisfies demand for confrontational rap-rock. The band originated in Manila, Philippines, on February 14, 1996, featuring vocalist Reynold Munsayac, bassist Lee Nadela, guitarists Leandro Ansing and Jerry Basco, and drummer Chi Evora. Nadela, Ansing, and Munsayac first connected while studying at UP Diliman. Seeking a shift in style, the members dismissed Munsayac and installed Basco’s cousin Jamir Garcia, recently arrived from the U.S., where he had led the band Bruce Lee’s Curse and absorbed the East Coast hardcore rap environment—an experience that steered Slapshock’s emerging direction. The ensemble cultivated an audience through Manila’s underground venues and was soon grouped with Cheese and Greyhoundz, acts viewed as local parallels to overseas counterparts. After supporting the alternative metal outfit Wolfgang on its Serve in Silence tour, Slapshock stirred enthusiasm among angst-ridden Filipino teenagers while drawing condemnation from conservatives who viewed the bleak, abrasive sound as detrimental to youth. Older listeners dismissed the group as opportunistic imitators. Its debut album, 4th Degree, still achieved solid results in 1999. On August 30, 2002, Slapshock played the Folk Arts Theater in Manila, becoming the first rap-metal act to fill its 8,000-capacity hall. The band’s tracks maintained strong rotation on Philippine modern rock stations when the third album, Project 11-41, appeared the same year. Although Project 11-41 introduced melodic elements, reviewers maintained that the band remained overly imitative for serious consideration. Even so, the release ranked among the Philippines’ top-selling albums of 2002, and Slapshock received the Artist/Band of the Year honor at the NU-107 Rock Awards.