On January 17, Miguel Matutino, the drummer of Cebu-based band Dymphna, announced on Facebook that their widely celebrated album Meggido will soon be released on Bandcamp and Spotify with the support of independent music label Melt Records. This announcement is not only for the local scene in Cebu to revisit and celebrate, but also for the rest of the world to experience their unique brand of Cebuano nu-metal.
Earlier in their career, Dymphna crossed over into various communities within Cebu City, even representing the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur, at Connect2Create, an event under the biannual ASEAN Summit. Despite exploring a genre of music that is largely perceived as inaccessible, the band has made sure they reach out to a diverse range of audiences. In doing so, Meggido stands as a bold statement of the scene they were part of.
Dymphna’s groundbreaking album arrived when the band was firmly established as a local rock staple. It was packed with heavy rock influences — think mid-tempo, heavy riffs reminiscent of Incubus’ Morning View, and the experimental slow tracks of Deftones. This is the essence of Meggido during its time. And now, it has finally made its way to streaming platforms. “There were no expectations,” vocalist Carlos Mesina says. “We always had this punk rock mindset to do whatever we wanted, regardless of the outcome.”
In addition to marking the milestone, the decision also honors the album’s producer and close friend of the band, Brian Sacro, who passed away in 2019 following the album’s initial release. Meggido is an album approved by not only the producers but also the Cebuano community that supports the band through and through.
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