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Adrian Barrios of Diablo Royale (Photo by Chester Del Mundo)
The Neuro-scientist Daniel Levitin wrote that the world has no sound. Only humans and some animals perceive it– it is all in the head.
Sounds exist only in the brain. In the physical world, the sounds we hear are mere frequencies caused by vibrating molecules– no pitch, no timbre– just waveforms of energies.
If things do have a sound of their own, independent of animal perception, how would they sound? No one knows for sure except for the sound of molten steel.
If molten steel has its own sound, it will sound like Diablo Royale– probably the hardest rocking Fil-Am fronted band in Brooklyn.
Diablo Royale. Photo by Sheryl Garcia-Reyes Diablo Royale music is pure rock– dying to collide with anyone’s head and give that head an explosive butt.
There is plenty of Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, ACDC, Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses and Megdeath in their sound, and it serves them well– their adherence to the classics removes them from a path leading to crappy, soul-less Nu metal bands.
In action
The Poptimes Magazine staff attended a gig featuring Diablo Royale at the Blue Room in Secaucus, New Jersey a couple of weeks back. From the onset, I could tell that the band is driven to succeed.
Even before the first power chord rang, the band hoisted up a banner announcing their band to the whole wide world: DIABLO ROYALE!
The band wasted no time and played songs from their self-titled debut album released in February 2007: Casanova, Remedy, Don’t Mind Me, Dead at 21, and more. The set was a sonic avalanche. Thunderous, fiery, sweaty, and gritty, just how rock should be.
With a big sound like theirs, a tinge of cockiness on stage would come naturally, and it sure works for them – except perhaps for a little too much on the part of the bassist, who went as far as scolding the Secaucus crowd for not responding wild enough to one of their numbers. It is the crowd’s fault for sure.
The band is picture perfect for their music. They all appeared and performed like the rock gods of yore, claiming souls with their tight trousers, seething guitar licks and syrupy screams.
The band was started by guitarists Eric Choy, Gerard Steixner and drummer Mike Sankari in 2005. They searched for new members after formulating the band’s concept and direction. Soon the trio found Filipino-Amercan singer Adrian Barrios and bassist Jason “Sweet” Leaf. In 2006, they hit the studio to record.
The vocalist
The band’s lead singer, Adrian, is a Filipino-American, and is very proud of his heritage. He came to the US in 1998 with only two things in mind: to work and to rock. He is doing both right now.
Back in the Philippines, he had bands that played hard rock music. He said he emulates and admires Wolfgang’s lead vocalist Basti Artadi ever since he started doing music. “ I am a huge Wolfgang fan," he said.
Adrian wants to break Diablo Royale into the Fil Am scene, since most of the band’s gigs are in mainstream clubs and events. “It would be awesome to share the stage with Fil-Am bands and contribute to our scene,"he added.
Contrary to initial impressions, Adrian speaks fluent Filipino.
Visit: www.diabloroyale.net
Tags: Diablo Royale Brooklyn Fil-Am music Fil-Am rock Filipino New York album CD Filipino music scene Fil Am music scene Secaucus New Jersey |
