AFAIA Is the Cavite Deathcore Band That Wants to Set You Free

There is a line in one of AFAIA’s songs that stops you cold. “Some forgive and forget, more forgive and remember, most forgive and remind.” It is not a lyric trying to be clever. It is just the truth, laid bare, wrapped in something heavy enough to match the weight of it.
AFAIA, the Cavite-based deathcore band formerly known as As Far As I Am, came back to the Philippine underground scene in 2025 with a renewed sense of purpose. Six songs in, a music video on the way, and a full album in the works, they are not easing back in. They are going all the way.
This is their story.

From Metalcore Roots to Deathcore Identity

AFAIA started in 2017 under the full name As Far As I Am, shaped by the metalcore wave that dominated the local scene at the time. Bands like Killswitch Engage were in constant rotation, and the sound they built reflected that era.
When they returned in 2025, something had shifted. “We wanted to be more honest with ourselves and finally show the genre that was really close to our hearts, which is deathcore,” the band shared. It was not a rebrand for visibility. It was a correction toward something truer.
Deathcore remains one of the more niche corners of the Philippine metal underground. The fanbase is small. The path is harder. AFAIA knew this going in, and they went in anyway.

The Name Still Means Everything

Shortening to AFAIA was a practical move, but the meaning behind “As Far As I Am” stayed with them. The band described it as a philosophy rooted in equality.
“You can only walk as far as I am,” they explained. “It means we all have our own journey and our own path in life. The goals may be different, and the paths may not intertwine, but at the end of the day, we’re all bound to the same destination.”
In a scene where the pressure to break through fast is constant, that philosophy is grounding. Not everyone moves at the same pace. That is not failure. That is just life.

The Sound: Aggression, Emotion, and Six Songs That Hit Hard

Three of their deathcore tracks are already out. “Last Breath of Regret,” “Jester’s Demise,” and their carrier single “Berserker” are all available for free streaming and download across platforms. Three more are in the pipeline for release in the coming months.
Their sound did not arrive overnight. “There wasn’t really one specific moment that triggered it. It was more of a slow build-up through the years,” the band said. Over time, the aggression, heaviness, and emotional intensity of deathcore became the language that fit them best.
Every song is built collectively. No single composer owns the direction. Everyone brings riffs, ideas, structure, and emotion to rehearsal, and the song takes shape from there. New members who joined after the hiatus brought fresh energy that pushed the writing forward.
“It’s really about collaboration and trust within the band. Tulungan lang talaga,” they said.

On Writing “Parasito”: When Forgiveness Is Earned, Not Given

Their debut single “Parasito” came from a real place. The song is about a mistake, and what follows after one. Not just guilt, but consequences. Not just apology, but the long, uneven road of what comes next.
“We all know ‘Parasito’ is a song about a mistake, and how forgiveness is actually earned, not given freely,” the band said. “It has a very emotional context because it happens in real life. People make mistakes, and it’s not something that is easily accepted.”
The layered line about forgiveness, “some forgive and forget, more forgive and remember, most forgive and remind,” came from watching how people actually handle pain. Not how they should. How they do.
“‘Most forgive and remember’ — that’s very real. Even if you say you’re okay, the memory of what happened is still there. And ‘some forgive and remind,’ that’s when the pain is still present and it gets brought up again and again.”
It is heavy. It is meant to be.

Why All Their Music Is Free

Every AFAIA release, past and present, is available for free download. No paywalls. No exclusive tiers. Just the music, open to whoever wants it.
The reason is straightforward. “Our main goal is not to earn from the music itself. Our goal is to spread our music to as many people as possible. We understand that not everyone has the same capability or access, so we want our music to be as accessible as possible.”
In a streaming era built around monetization, it reads as counterintuitive. For AFAIA, it reads as consistent. Music, they said, is something to be shared, not kept.
You can stream and download everything on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music now.

The Gig They Will Never Forget

More than a hundred live shows into their run, across small stages, big events, and competitions, the one that stays with them most is not the largest. It is the most intimate.
A small bar in Cavite. Everyone there was a friend. The applause was genuine. The energy in the room felt like something real.
“Even though we’ve played bigger stages and more intense competitions, the most memorable for us are those kinds of gigs. Intimate shows where you’re playing for people who genuinely support you and are there for the music and the bond itself.”
That says a lot about who AFAIA is as a band.

What’s Next for AFAIA

The next few months are going to be busy. A music video for “Berserker” is currently in production, with a target release around June. A full album is in the works, with the hope of dropping it before the year ends. More releases, possible additional MVs, and album-related live shows are all on the horizon.
For a band that only returned to the scene months ago, the momentum is striking. Six songs written. Three released. A full project taking shape. And still, the message stays consistent: the music is for you, it is free, and it is coming.
“Sana kasama pa rin namin kayo sa journey all throughout the way.”

Conclusion

AFAIA is not trying to go viral. They are not chasing a wider audience by softening their edges. They are making the heaviest music they know how to make, giving it away for free, and trusting that the people who need it will find it.
In a scene still figuring out where deathcore fits, that kind of clarity is rare. They know who they are. They know what the music is for. And if their first run of songs is any indication, the full album is going to hit hard.
Follow them. Download the music. Show up when they play Cavite. Some bands are worth being early for.