Excapelabs

Bulacan hardcore band EXPEL turns frustration, conviction, and groove into a voice that refuses to be silenced.

The Philippine hardcore scene has always been fueled by authenticity. It is a space where emotion is louder than perfection, where every breakdown carries weight, and where every lyric reflects the realities people live through. Among the newer names making their mark is EXPEL, a Bulacan-based hardcore band whose music blends groove-heavy riffs with themes that challenge corruption, question society, and confront personal struggles.

Although relatively new, EXPEL has already built a reputation for delivering music that balances aggression with memorable rhythms. Their songs carry the intensity expected from hardcore, but underneath the heaviness is a clear intention, to make listeners think while keeping them moving.

Their journey did not begin with an elaborate plan. Like many stories rooted in local music communities, it started with simple encounters.

A Band Born From the Scene

Before EXPEL became a band, its members were already crossing paths in the Bulacan hardcore community.

According to the band, everything began when guitarist Joshua Dale reached out with a simple message.

“Noong una nagkaka-tanguan lang kami ni Joshua Dale sa eksena dito sa Bulacan. Isang beses nag-PM siya sa akin na magbuo daw kami ng banda.”

From there, the lineup slowly came together through friendships and connections that already existed within the scene.

Joshua introduced drummer Setset. Former CONTINENTS bandmate Eys joined on bass, while Eys invited Thurs to handle another guitar after meeting through their shared interest in motorcycles. Vocalist Erick eventually completed the lineup after being introduced through Rohnell of Death By Encore.

Rather than being assembled through auditions or advertisements, EXPEL grew organically through people who already shared a passion for hardcore music. Every member entered the band through trust, friendship, and the local community that continues to connect musicians across Bulacan.

That sense of community remains one of the band’s strongest foundations today.

Why “EXPEL”?

A band’s name often becomes its first statement, and for EXPEL, that statement reflects everything they want their music to say.

The members explain that the name naturally aligned with the themes they wanted to write about.

Their songs revolve around subjects such as corruption, life, personal beliefs, and the realities people experience every day.

Instead of choosing a name simply because it sounded aggressive, EXPEL chose one that represents pushing against injustice, questioning the systems around them, and expressing convictions through music.

Those ideas would later become the heart of their first EP.

Heavy Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Groove

EXPEL openly credits bands such as Expire, Snapcase, Terror, Suburban Scum, and Rotting Out as major influences.

While those names have helped shape the band’s musical direction, EXPEL isn’t interested in copying anyone else’s sound.

Instead, they focus on one quality they all enjoy.

Groove.

The band explains that they naturally gravitate toward music that feels rhythmic and energetic. Even when the lyrics are filled with anger or frustration, they believe listeners should still enjoy the experience.

As they put it:

“Mahilig kasi kami sa groovy ang vibes na tunog. Kahit galit yung mga lyrics namin, para sa amin hindi dapat mawala yung tunog na mae-enjoy ng lahat.”

That philosophy gives EXPEL a distinct identity within hardcore. Their music hits hard, but it also invites movement. Every riff is designed not only to communicate emotion but also to create energy inside a live venue.

It is the kind of music built equally for reflection and for the pit.

Total Chaos, Searching for Peace Through Conflict

EXPEL’s debut EP, Total Chaos, reflects the environment surrounding its creation.

The band explains that while writing the record, they witnessed major events unfolding both locally and internationally.

During that period, protests in Manila resulted in deaths, while wars overseas continued to dominate headlines.

Those events became the emotional foundation of the EP.

Rather than writing fictional stories, EXPEL chose to respond to the realities they were witnessing.

The songs continue their recurring themes of corruption, life, belief, and personal conviction, but they also carry a larger message about resilience.

The band’s perspective is summarized in one statement that defines the entire EP.

“Naniniwala kami na Total Chaos brings true peace.”

For EXPEL, chaos is not simply destruction.

It represents struggle.

Whether someone is standing against corruption or fighting battles within themselves, they believe conviction is what ultimately leads people toward meaningful change.

As they explain, whether the fight is against the government or within one’s own heart, belief becomes the force that guides people toward the future they truly want, for themselves and for the world around them.

That perspective gives Total Chaos a deeper purpose beyond its heavy sound.

The anger is not empty.

It points toward hope.

Building Songs One Riff at a Time

Behind every EXPEL song is a collaborative process that develops gradually rather than all at once.

The writing almost always begins with guitar riffs.

Once the instrumental ideas begin taking shape, the band heads to Francia at Solarium Records to record raw drum tracks. Hearing those early recordings helps everyone understand the overall mood and direction of the song before moving forward.

Only after the musical atmosphere becomes clear does vocalist Erick begin writing lyrics.

The completed ideas are then brought back into the rehearsal studio, where the band jams together and refines every section until everyone is satisfied.

Once the arrangement is finalized, they head to Aldi at Groove Grid Records to record the final vocal tracks.

It is a process built on patience and collaboration.

Rather than forcing lyrics into unfinished music, EXPEL allows each stage to influence the next, ensuring that every song grows naturally from its original riffs into a complete composition.

Earning Their Place

Breaking into the Philippine hardcore scene is never easy.

New bands constantly emerge, each trying to establish their own voice while earning the respect of longtime supporters.

For EXPEL, the response has been encouraging.

The members say they are grateful that listeners continue waiting for new releases while receiving consistent support from both friends and family.

Beyond online engagement, they have also experienced strong energy during live performances.

Whether performing alongside veterans or newer acts in the scene, the atmosphere remains positive.

Every gig becomes another reminder that the hardcore community continues to welcome new voices willing to contribute honestly.

That support motivates the band to keep creating.

Looking Beyond the EP

Although Total Chaos introduced EXPEL to listeners, the band already has its eyes on something much bigger.

Their next goal is a full-length album.

Recording has become the current priority, and the members also revealed plans to feature numerous collaborations throughout the project.

If everything goes according to plan, they hope to release the album next year.

For supporters who have followed them since the beginning, that announcement represents an exciting next chapter.

The band’s final message remains simple but heartfelt.

“Maraming salamat agad sa inyong lahat.”