The small city where Typecast hails from has a storied history when it comes to post-hardcore bands. In San Pedro, Laguna, these four hometown heroes carved their path by performing emo classics and heart-wrenching originals in DIY and independent venues far from Metro Manila. 21 years later, the band will celebrate the release of its iconic sophomore album, The Infatuation Is Always There, with a performance and exclusive vinyl signing in Viva Cafe in Cubao, Quezon City on February 17.
Picture this: It’s 2002, and a young Typecast is singing in whiny vocals at Pacita Astrodome.The album Worship and Tribute by American post-hardcore band Glassjaw has just come out — a sound that would later influence Typecastin their first album Last Time, released independently. Two years later, in 2004, Typecast released their sophomore album, The Infatuation Is Always There, under EMI Records. This was a first for its kind in the Philippines, where a post-hardcore band would be signed by a major music label.
Still, the band had to borrow gear from their producers whenever they made the trek from Laguna to the recording studio in Marikina. The twist? Their producers were heavyweights in the industry. The album was produced by none other than Sandwich frontman Raimund Marasigan, guitarist Diego Castillo, and sound engineer Shinji Tanaka — a powerhouse team that added even more weight to the band’s growing legacy.
The album not only featured Typecast’s crowd favorites — like the soaring guitar riffs of “Another Minute Til Ten,” the emotive “Breathe Through the Glass,” the slow and contemplative “Clutching,” and the cult-classic self-titled track — but also offered a heavy amount of highlights to pick and choose from. This variety helped the album’s longevity outlast that of typical mall emo or screamo bands making waves at the time.
Typecast released more albums and EPs in the years following their sophomore effort. Yet, The Infatuation is Always There continued to resonate deeply with both “elder” emos and new fans alike. Last December, independent distributor Eikon Records Philippines helped the band repress the album on vinyl containing a 2-colored LP set with an unreleased bonus track, plus a 16-page booklet of lyrics, fan notes, and photos.
The performance and exclusive vinyl signing will take place in Viva Cafe in Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City. Vinyl signing is from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the performance at 9:30 p.m. onwards. Door charge is P400.
