Half-Life Half-Death

The quirky Filipino alternative rock band Half-Life Half-Death didn't record its first album until the '90s, but they never left the '80s. Even in the grunge-dominated '90s, Half-Life Half-Death proudly raised their new wave flag. However, Half-Life Half-Death's strange brew of violins, punky guitars, weird sound effects, and songs about chickens and crabs defy description. Half-Life Half-Death formed in 1988 in Manila, Philippines. Alfie Mella (vocals, plastic guitar) was originally a member of JARPband, a collective of teenagers covering new wave tunes for birthdays and dance parties. Half-Life Half-Death embarked on a similar route; the band spent the early years of its existence performing new wave tunes by Echo and the Bunnymen, the Lotus Eaters, and the Smiths at small gigs. In 1996, Half-Life Half-Death was signed to Viva Records, and they recorded their debut album, Pymyth Prahn, with unusual songs sung in Tagalog and English. On Pymyth Prahn, Half-Life Half-Death let their creativity break from its leash, sampling familiar noises from chickens and frogs on tunes influenced by the Violent Femmes and the Cure. It was probably too bizarre for the masses, and Half-Life Half-Death's underground cred was left intact. Personal differences ripped the group apart later that year. Mella joined the short-lived outfit Dream Kitchen, named after a Frazier Chorus tune, in 1997; in 2000, Half-Life Half-Death reunited. ~ Michael Sutton(γΡ, All Music Guide