ESKRIMA || DEMO ‘25

Photo Cred 📸: @waleyg

If DEMO '25 is Eskrima’s opening punch, consider the Ontario hardcore scene knocked clean out. 

With a runtime of just six minutes and fifty-two seconds, Eskrima's short but blistering demo is packed with powerful vocals and stank-face warranting breakdowns. Across four tracks, the band delivers a hardcore sound that’s as passionate as it is punishing. A DIY assault that bleeds through every clenched fist and tangled mic cable.

On the closer, Kiki of Dear Evangeline steps in like a final nail in the coffin, trading shrieks with lead vocalist Rizal Ignacio, in a full-on audible fight. It’s cathartic, chaotic, and deeply rooted in a raw cultural pride that gives the violence purpose. This debut doesn’t ask for your attention — it swings for the jaw and takes it.

Forged from Filipino pride and hardcore grit, Eskrima is a Toronto-based hardcore band made up of Rizal Ignacio on vocals, Ace Mendoza and Norman Regucera on guitars, Neil Cortez on bass and Ethan Hibionada on drums. The band’s roots trace back to a Filipino cultural event that Riz, Norman, Ace and Ethan attended and after spending the day feeling rejuvenated in their culture and heritage, they decided to form a band. One DM later, Neil joined, and Eskrima was born. Before they’d even written a single track, the band were invited to play More Reality Fest, giving them just four months to pull a set together, an effort that paid off with a strong first show.

Their debut release DEMO ‘25 came together amidst full-time jobs and other commitments, with the tracking split between two mutual friends.

“Getting this demo recorded took some time as most of us work full time, on top of Ace being in 9Million and Riz working out of town. We tracked all the instruments with our homie Matt when Riz was away, and when he came back we recorded vocals with our other homie Micah. Matt then stitched all together with the mixing and mastering and got it done.”

Drawing influence from other bands like Cold World, Bad Seed, Soul Search, Iron Age, and Integrity, Eskrima delivers a sound that’s steeped in hardcore tradition but sharpened by their heritage and their lived reality — a balance you can feel throughout DEMO ‘25.

“The demo touches on moments of release and reflection — things I’ve held in for a long time finally finding a voice,” Ignacio confessed..

“SOME TRACKS EXPLORE CONFRONTING UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS LIKE HOW PEOPLE SPOKE ABOUT A FRIEND WHO PASSED, OTHERS REFLECT ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS THAT COME WITH GROWING UP ASIAN-CANADIAN.

‘DIVINTY’ TOUCHES ON DISCOVERING A KIND OF LOVE THAT HELPS BALANCE OUT A LOT OF BUILT-UP FRUSTURATION. IT’S A MIX OF HONESTY, GROWTH, AND TRYING TO FIND CLARITY THROUGH THE NOISE.”

- IGNACIO, @ESKRIMAHC

Though Eskrima doesn’t have anything specific planned for the near future, their guitar player Norm is the vocalist of Pluto’s Kiss and they’re about to drop some new music and go on tour, and their other guitarist Ace plays in 9Million, who are about to go on a massive North American/Europe tour in the summer and fall. Show your love and support for those projects on their upcoming tours.

Keep an ear to the ground and expect Eskrima’s next round to hit even harder.

Eskrima is Rizal Ignacio on vocals, Ace Mendoza & Norman Regucera on guitars, Neil Cortez on bass and Ethan Hibionada on drums.

Checkout Eskrima online here: @eskrimahc

Writer : @maythisbeluv

Editor : @just_reidz

06/03/25

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