Pinoy hard rock continues to thrive with Here+Now as the metal band unveils their first single for 2024.
Comprising vocalist Paco Santos, guitarists Patrick Poblador and Lance Camposano, bassist Gab Palanca, and drummer Franco Aguila, Here+Now stands as a quintet and torchbearers of the rock music scene.
Their latest offering, "Still Alive," maintains their signature blend of emotive songwriting, heavy riffs, and heart-thumping drumbeats—a sonic signature carried forward from their 2023 debut and echoed in previous hits such as "In My Head," "Runaway," and their inaugural chart-topper, "Paglaya."
Exploring themes of grief stemming from a fractured relationship, "Still Alive" delves into the struggles of moving on from a significant emotional attachment. Lead vocalist Paco Santos elucidates, "The song follows a character who is in the midst of moving on from a long-term relationship, with apparitions of the past haunting him to this day."
Here+Now articulates these poignant sentiments through a fusion of technical riffs and aggressive instrumentals, drawing influence from modern metal, pop, and electronica. For newcomers to Here+Now, the band's style and delivery evoke reminiscences of early-aughts emo bands.
Santos reveals the profound emotional investment poured into the recording of "Still Alive," sharing that the intensity of sorrow and despair led to tears flowing during the session. "I felt an intense sense of sorrow and despair, and I really wanted that to come across in the way I performed the song."
Listeners can experience the cathartic journey of "Still Alive" by streaming the single on all major music platforms.