Hubris

by Gerry D
October 3rd, 2005 No comments

Officially formed at their first gig in UP Manila on February of 1992 with former drummer Richard Casiquin where they dished out originals “Ormoc City Blues” and “Manhid,” HUBRIS is composed of Rons Cabrera on drums and percussion, Allan Carlos on lead guitar, Gerry Diwa on bass and Judge Jurado on rhythm and lead vocals.

The name HUBRIS is a Greek word which means “overweening pride” or plain “superciliousness” especially towards the gods. It is the band’s belief that man’s fate is with his own hands, with prudence and wisdom in one’s words and actions, one can overcome the hands of fate, just as Greek mortals would challenge the whims of the gods.

HUBRIS is not a metal band. Although their originals display heft and deft found in many a metal band, the sheer diversity of musical styles imbued in their originals would leave many metal heads perplexed. Their influences run the whole gamut of music, all of which being present in any song, and are not taken as an end within itself, but rather meld together so that the final product is just different from the source.

Crazy not to repeat itself too much that everything is predictable and becomes a bore, a live HUBRIS set is an exciting journey of odd time grooves and ambient textures and styles that will find the audience struggling for a hint . Some would see the light, while some would come out screaming their heads off, the average ratio being 1 to 100.

All the while, people seem to find it difficult to dig their songs. They intended that to happen in a way but have perhaps exceeded the tolerance level of the average human being. Sync grooves is one, inverted chords another, but the melody at least, even that doesn’t stick so easily. There must really be some active and conscious effort on the part of their audience: to understand what’s going on’, they’re not a “puesto” band after all. Constantly told to mellow down, don’t be too deep and put on a costume, say what?, stuff, they struggle to keep their spirits together and not fall into the hit song “alternative band kuno” stuff. Yeah, there are some really stupid people out there dumb and dumber enough to dish out these base and aesthetically demeaning “listen to me, I know what I’m saying, I’m gonna make you a star” cRap.

Current song titles include “Requiem,” “False Pride,” “Burned-out,” “Anghel ng Kadiliman,” “Break this Fuckin’ Chains,” “The Cave,” “Mirror,” “Pag-ibig Sana” and many more in the process of arrangement and refinement. If ever their songs talk about social and political issues, they are taken in the universality of the person and his time. Very picky about song themes and lyrics, expect not a “kwela” song as a passport to fame, they’d rather do a fuck song than a love song which in all probability will not land in a slum note’s fav theme song or hummed to death by ignora­muses addicted to monotonous and cliched to death music. So check HUBRIS out and see for yourself whether you have something to say, or just keep your mouth shut.

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