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Valley of Chrome is a Philippine metal band originally from the province of Laguna. They are currently very popular in the underground scene, with hundreds of thousands of fans liking their Facebook page. Band members Rogel Africa and Jordan Constantino, in particular, are active in social media promotions for their band.
History
The first iteration of the band was formed in Los Baños, Laguna in 2000, under the name Batch 98. They would then rename themselves as Valley of Chrome, the name taken from a song title by Cypress Hill (Valley of Chrome, Skull and Bones album). Another source states that their acronym, VoC, is so chosen to be similar to VoD, or Vision of Disorder.The band released three EP albums in their early years (Transparent, Beyond Definition, and Anthems for the Sell-Out Youth) before being signed in 2004 to Viva Records. They came out with Love and Devotion at that point, and toured with label mates Chicosci and Typecast to promote their album. However, by 2007, they returned to Tower of Doom Records, who had helped them record Anthems of the Sell-Out Youth (2007). They then participated in the 2007 and 2008 Siege Tours, and coming out with the Valley of Chrome album Never the Lifeless in 2008. The song by Valley of Chrome, Forever Young, would become an informal anthem for the Siege Tour bands.
It would be some time before they would record again the longest album hiatus in the band’s lifetime. However, the band broke the hiatus with the self-titled Valle of Chrome in 2012. The album is notable for using the Filipino language exclusively for all songs, the product of a writing challenge between Rogel and producer Eric Perlas. This later became a marketing windfall, as it helped the band attract a larger local market.
The latest release is the 2014 EP, Dark Horse. The album has a rerecording of Vengeance Unleashed, from the 2002 Transparent EP album, and a cover of Rumblebelly’s Anino, featuring vocalist Alvin Baes.
Music
The band’s music is considered as metal, with hardcore punk and metalcore elements. They also mix in hard rock and pop influences, in the form of melodic riffs and vocal lines.
Influences that have been mentioned in online articles about the band have ranged from In Flames, Atreyu, Shadows Fall, and Killswitch Engage. Not surprisingly, Metallica, Iron Maiden and Guns ‘n’ Roses have also been named as influences, given the more melodic and rock-oriented aspects of their songs.The third album, the eponymous Valley of Chrome, is notable for having all songs use Filipino-language lyrics. According to interviews, this happened due to Rogel being challenged by producer Eric Perlas to come up with a Filipino-language follow-up song to Dagat ng Apoy. Rogel obliged, and proceeded to rewrite all Valley of Chrome lyrics for the album into Filipino.The band is known for excellent live performances, both in terms of musical skill and performance levels from all band members.Valley Of Chrome Album and Songlist Discography
Beyond Definition (2001)
Transparent (2002)
1. Pain and Suffering
2. Vengeance Unleashed
3. Existence
Anthems for the Sell-out Youth (2003)
1. Cast No Shadow
2. Empire
3. Weakness
4. Wound
Love and Devotion (2004)
1. Conquering Hades
2. Forever Young
3. Girls With The Softest Lips Lash
4. Heroes In A Dying Age
5. Love And Devotion
6. We The Dying
7. When Everything Turns To Dust
8. Waiting For Nothing (The Ultimate Catalyst)
9. Twilight
10. Breaking The Barriers Of Frustration
11. The Art Of Letting Go
Never the Lifeless (2007)
1. Kiss of Medusa
2. Snake Eyes
3. Scourging at the Pillar
4. Enter Psyklonus
5. Extinction Agenda
6. Never the Lifeless
7. Dasal (Sa Gitna Ng Panganib)
8. The Night is Ours
9. Hell Within-Hopes Springs Eternal (Damnation in 2 Chapters)
10. Undefeated
Valley of Chrome (2012)
1. Pagbangon
2. Agimat
3. Duelo
4. Dagat ng Apoy
5. Pangako
6. Itim
7. Japan
8. Pagliyab
9. Patungo sa Dilim
10. Sa Aking Mga Kamay
11. Sanib
12. Wakas
Dark Horse EP (2014)
1. Vengeance Unleashed
2. Cast No Shadow
3. Wound
4. Anino (Featuring Alvin Baes of Rumblebelly)
5. The Plague
6. Dagat ng Apoy (Mecha Remix)
7. Pangako (Mecha Remix)
Other Releases / Compilation Albums:
Pulp Summer Slam 3 (2003)
Tower of Doom (2006)
Colt 45 Lords of the Loud (2011)
Valley of Chrome Members
Current Lineup
Rogel Africa - Vocals
Kaloi Cambaliza - Guitar
Tatel Marcelino - Guitar
Jordan Constantino - Bass
Paul Eusebio - Drums
Past Lineups
2000 (as Batch 98)
Jericho Vocals
Jervee Guitars
Jordan Constantino Bass
Kimmy Baraoidan Drums
2000-2002 (as Valley of Chrome)
Jericho Vocal 1
Rogel Africa Vocal 2
Jethro Mendoza Guitar 1
Jervee Guitar 2
Jordan Constantino Bass
Kimmy Baraoidan Drums
2002-2003
Rogel Africa Vocals
Jethro Mendoza Guitar
Tatel Marcelino Guitar
Jordan Constantino Bass
Kimmy Baraoidan Drums
2003-2009
Rogel Africa Vocals
Jethro Mendoza Guitar
Tatel Marcelino Guitar
Jordan Constantino Bass
Voltaire del Rosario Drums
Other Band Member Related Information
Valley of Chrome has gone through many lineup changes, with only Jordan Constantino being the constant members across all incarnations. It is important to note that Rogel has been present in all incarnations of the band as Valley of Chrome.
The current line-up has been stable since 2009. All members have other bands, or have come from other bands within the local music community.
Rogel also sings in the band Til Kingdom Come. Kaloi is also the guitarist and vocalist of the band Sultans of Snap. Tatel is known historically in the music scene as a member of Rumblebelly, which had a single, Anino, in 1994. This was released in a Philippine death metal compilation album. Jordan Constantino is also the bassist for the band Read Between the Lions. He was also the drummer for Apollo Creed. Paul has also been in the drummer’s seat for the bands Balatek and Katoliko.
Valley Of Chrome Music Videos and Other Media
Valley of Chrome arguably is one of the artists that most frequently comes up in the Tower of Doom’s Tower Sessions. However, they have also had some success in mainstream music video outlets, with the following:
Live Performance Videos (Playlist)
Official Music Videos (Playlist)
Official Lyric Videos & Other Content (Playlist)
References
https://www.facebook.com/valleyofchromemusic
http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/groupe-groupe-Valley_Of_Chrome-l-en.html
http://www.last.fm/music/Valley+of+Chrome
http://musicrocknation.blogspot.com/2012/03/music-rock-nation-valley-of-chrome.html
https://metalmusicmania.wordpress.com/2009/04/29/valley-of-chrome/
http://ricecooker.kerbau.com/2001/06/26/sea-diy-network-report-4-june-26th-2001-archive/
http://amplify.ph/artist/index/valley-of-chrome
http://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Rumblebelly/8140
https://www.facebook.com/pages/R-U-M-B-L-E-B-E-L-L-Y/366701926639
http://fandalism.com/mistergago/bd6E
http://rakista.com/blog/15711/album-review-valley-of-chrome-love-and-devotion/
http://amplify.ph/news/spotlight-valley-of-chrome
http://amplify.ph/news/index/spotlight-tower-of-doom--the-early-years
http://amplify.ph/news/spotlight-tower-of-doom--the-label--siege-tour-years
http://splintr.com/thedailysplintr/page/559/COVER-STORY-Valley-Of-Chrome-Remains-Forever-Young
http://splintr.com/thedailysplintr/page/568/REVIEW-Valley-Of-Chrome-Dark-Horse-EP-2014
http://splintr.com/thedailysplintr/page/573/INTERVIEW-Valley-Of-Chrome