Slapshock is the thunderous sound of Filipino metal. Composed of five diver… Read Full Bio ↴Slapshock is the thunderous sound of Filipino metal. Composed of five diversely skilled musicians, the band was forged in the musically rich landscape of the University in the Philippines in 1997. Slapshock emerged during the heyday of rap-metal in the USA and in the Philippines, becoming a pioneer of the movement and being responsible for its rise. While some would be in danger of being pegged in one genre, the band has stayed put in Pinoy rock’s consciousness for the past 13 years because of their evolving but always explosive sound. Slapshock draws you in with a concord of unforgettable and haunting sounds, only to have your senses assaulted with ragged and raw power.

Playing in the trenches of pioneering rock clubs Mayrics and Club Dredd, and inciting musical mayhem during college events helped Slapshock grab the audience’s attention and the recording industry’s. The band was signed by EMI Music Philippines in 1998, which resulted in their first platinum-selling album 4th Degree Burn, This album birthed many cult-favorite tracks and cemented Slapshock’s place in the annals of rock history.

Succeeding albums released through the years only proved Slapshock’s prolific ability to create successful albums that music lovers also revere. The list goes one, from their 2nd platinum-selling album Headtrip (2001), to the 3rd platinum-selling disc Project 11-41 (2002), the gold record award album Novena (2004), to Silence (2006), the greatest hits disc Recollection (2008) and the critically acclaimed album Cariño Brutal (2009). The latter’s single of the same name went on to become 2010’s biggest rock hit. Showing their penchant for music that crosses boundaries, the titular track was consistently played on mainstream radio, a feat rarely achieved by metal bands.

Slapshock has collected a number of awards throughout their career, including being consistent winners of the NU 107 Rock Awards. They were named Band of the Year and Listener’s Choice twice, and received Best New Artist (2000) and Bassist of the Year (2001). The recognition continues as the band received the award for Rock Artist of the Year at the 2010 PMPC Star Awards for Music.

Across shores, Slapshock has also gotten their fist in the musical arena. They became the Philippines’ representatives to the 2003 MTV Asia Awards in Singapore, presenting to musical contemporaries LINKIN PARK. Slapshock received the distinction of being the first Filipino, and Asian band for that matter, to play at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2008. They shared the stage with rock heavyweights KORN, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, VELVET REVOLVER, AS I LAY DYING, MACHINE HEAD AND MUSE AT THIS MOST PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL ROCK EVENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THOUSANDS OF ROCK AFICIONADOS WHO GATHERED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE GLOBE HEARD SLAPSHOCK, WITH MORE THAN A FEW LEAVING AS FANS.

After more than a decade in the music industry, the band stepped on a new plain and completed a USA-Canada Tour in June to July 2009. Slapshock toured the cities of San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Baltimore and Virginia, and the Canadian cities of Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. In another nonreplicable feat, Slapshock has shared the stage with big names in metal like DEATH ANGEL, SEPULTURA, SHADOWS FALL, THE DARKEST HOUR, TRIVIUM, LAMB OF GOD AND TESTAMENT.

Not inclined in any way to slow down, Slapshock became one of the founding members of the Asian super group PROJECT E.A.R. (East Asian Revolution). The latter is a collaboration of top artists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, which debuted during the 2009 MTV Asian Music Awards.

Thousands of their CDs have been sold, and played over and over. Thousands of fans have screamed their name and anthems. But one number makes the most impression: 13. Thirteen years and they are the only band still standing and actively playing among their contemporaries. Thirteen years of withstanding changing genres and music popularity with the same core members intact. Thirteen years of growing into their now distinct aural and visual performance that continues to astound its solid rock fan base and incite more to experience the same.

Countdown
Slapshock Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1, 2 All I got is a semi-automatic smile
Oh shit I gotta get high
Act now if you know who you are
You'll be lookin' at the picture
Just to see you're a star
The invisible, the great, the incredible
You talk too much
You talk about unspeakable

Stop the lies, never act surprised, what
You run away never pay the price

So you pull me down to get you high
Coz the sun won't shine for you to fly
~ Coz I don't know now so don't you try ~
So hide yourself and you deny

Brother, brother come on, got to get it on
I'm steppin' on the zone, I don't want to be alone
And I exercise my right to not give up the fight
Tonight is the night I wanna bring you to the light

Pre-chorus
So speakin' kinda easy
Losin' your mind, you're goin' crazy
I'm bringin' it back, holdin' it back
All you need is to react
Do you really wanna feel me
Everytime you try to hurt me
I'm walkin' away, flyin' away
Find myself another day
So tell me what you feel
Tell me what is real
~ Tell me what's the deal ~
With the pain you try to heal
So do you really care
Is this really fair
Better beware
Throw your hands in the air

Chorus
One! Maybe you can shine like the sun
Two! Take everything that is for you
Three! Open your eyes if you wanna see
Four! Check the mic and check the score
Five! Use your heart and try to survive
Six! Do you wanna die with crucifix
Seven! Your sins will be unforgiven
Even if you know how to stop from breathin'

3, 4 I better get some more
Yo mi casa es su casa never shut the door
And all the people in the place
Who really want to rock with me
We will never ever stop until the next century
I'm free, and don't you wanna stay with me
I'll be the worst thing that you'll ever see
So let it be, and let me see the real me
I will try to take you if you wanna bounce with me

You crucify and then you lie
Coz you don't see the crime, you testify
I talk to you, you don't reply
Stop dreaming now, open your eyes

I never wanna take it
All I wanna do is break it
I'm so sick of you, all I wanna do is fake it
So forget it, I never wanna think about it
I spit, I quit, I never wanna hear it

Pre-chorus
So speakin' kinda easy
Losin' your mind, you're goin' crazy
I'm bringin' it back, holdin' it back
All you need is to react
Do you really wanna feel me
Everytime you try to hurt me
I'm walkin' away, flyin' away
Find myself another day
So tell me what you feel
Tell me what is real
~ Tell me what's the deal ~
With the pain you try to heal
So do you really care
Is this really fair
Better beware
Throw your hands in the air

Chorus
One! Maybe you can shine like the sun
Two! Take everything that is for you
Three! Open your eyes if you wanna see
Four! Check the mic and check the score
Five! Use your heart and try to survive
Six! Do you wanna die with crucifix

Seven! Your sins will be unforgiven
Even if you know how to stop from breathin'

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Slapshock's song "Countdown" seem to be a call to action for the listener to rise up and take control of their own destiny. The first verses reference drugs, perhaps as a coping mechanism for the pain and frustration of feeling invisible or unimportant. The chorus offers suggestions for how to break free and live a more empowered life - shining like the sun, taking what is rightfully yours, and using your heart to survive. The pre-chorus offers a message of resilience in the face of those who try to hurt or deceive the listener, encouraging them to react and not give up the fight.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and passion, conveyed through the energetic rock music and the powerful vocals. The song seems to be a rallying cry for those who feel like they are being held back, whether by external forces or their own insecurities. It encourages them to be brave, to stand up for themselves, and to find their own way in the world.

Overall, "Countdown" is a powerful and inspiring song, full of energy and emotion. It speaks to the struggles that many people face in trying to find their place in the world, and offers a message of hope and empowerment to those who need it most.

Line by Line Meaning

1, 2 All I got is a semi-automatic smile
I'm putting on a fake smile because I'm not genuinely happy or satisfied with my life

Oh shit I gotta get high
I need to escape reality and feel something different

Act now if you know who you are
Take action and be confident in your identity

You'll be lookin' at the picture / Just to see you're a star
You're seeking attention or validation from others

The invisible, the great, the incredible / You talk too much / You talk about unspeakable
You have a big ego and brag about things that are inappropriate or exaggerated

Stop the lies, never act surprised, what / You run away never pay the price
Stop living a dishonest or cowardly life and face the consequences of your actions

So you pull me down to get you high / Coz the sun won't shine for you to fly / ~ Coz I don't know now so don't you try ~ / So hide yourself and you deny
You're trying to drag others down with you because you feel stuck and hopeless, and you're avoiding dealing with your problems

Brother, brother come on, got to get it on / I'm steppin' on the zone, I don't want to be alone / And I exercise my right to not give up the fight / Tonight is the night I wanna bring you to the light
I'm trying to motivate someone to take action and fight for what they believe in, and I want to help guide them towards a more positive mindset

So speakin' kinda easy / Losin' your mind, you're goin' crazy / I'm bringin' it back, holdin' it back / All you need is to react / Do you really wanna feel me / Everytime you try to hurt me / I'm walkin' away, flyin' away / Find myself another day / So tell me what you feel / Tell me what is real / ~ Tell me what's the deal ~ / With the pain you try to heal / So do you really care / Is this really fair / Better beware / Throw your hands in the air
Don't dismiss my feelings or struggles so easily, and consider how your actions affect me and our relationship. Are you willing to put in the effort to truly listen and understand?

One! Maybe you can shine like the sun / Two! Take everything that is for you / Three! Open your eyes if you wanna see / Four! Check the mic and check the score / Five! Use your heart and try to survive / Six! Do you wanna die with crucifix / Seven! Your sins will be unforgiven / Even if you know how to stop from breathin'
These are steps you can take to improve your life and make a positive impact on yourself and others. Don't let your mistakes or negative experiences define you, and consider the potential consequences of your actions

3, 4 I better get some more / Yo mi casa es su casa never shut the door / And all the people in the place / Who really want to rock with me / We will never ever stop until the next century / I'm free, and don't you wanna stay with me / I'll be the worst thing that you'll ever see / So let it be, and let me see the real me / I will try to take you if you wanna bounce with me
I'm seeking more of what I crave, and I want to welcome others into my life and share experiences with them. We can keep going and growing together, facing our fears and flaws. Let me be myself and show you who I really am, but be warned that I have my own struggles and flaws too

You crucify and then you lie / Coz you don't see the crime, you testify / I talk to you, you don't reply / Stop dreaming now, open your eyes
You're being hypocritical and dishonest, and you're avoiding acknowledging your wrongdoing or taking responsibility. You're not willing to communicate or listen, and you need to face reality and stop living in denial

I never wanna take it / All I wanna do is break it / I'm so sick of you, all I wanna do is fake it / So forget it, I never wanna think about it / I spit, I quit, I never wanna hear it
I'm tired of dealing with this situation or relationship, and I don't want to continue pretending or trying anymore. I'm over it and want to move on

Contributed by Jonathan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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