8/14/2019 Do It Yourself Death

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Do-it-yourself deathWritten by MIGUEL PAOLO CELESTIALPhotos by MARK “DARCKE” BAUL / darcke.com Published in The Philippine Star, 28 November 2008 

Let me tell you about Russell, Kaira, Katrina, and Paula, and how I met themover at the dark side of Serendra on an otherwise predictable night of costumeparties.

“Eternal Death Wake 6: Grand Gothic Ball 2008” was my first brush with theworld of goth, its music, aesthetics, and practitioners—not to mention the firstever Halloween party I dressed up for. Begun in 2002, the event has become anannual gathering for musicians, music lovers, and enthusiasts to call on the deadwith their eerie screeches, morbid dressing, and heavy black make-up.

When I arrived, the bands hadn’t started playing yet and a small group all inblack were gathered in front of mag:net at Bonifacio High Street, the venue of thegig. They all seemed to know each other, and their talk sounded half in secretcode. Funny, the punk photographer didn’t even recognize me as I approachedand asked about the night’s schedule.

The outfits of the small advance group captured the costume classifications of the eventual crowd. Among women, the most prominent were Morticia Addamsensembles in long lace dresses and gothic lolitas in short skirts and fishnetstockings. The guys were mostly in black jeans and shirts, donningheadbangingly long hair, Mohawks, or striped skinheads. I was surprised nobody

came as a vampire.

Paula was really the first to surprise me. Her hair dyed red, she wore a long coat,high-heeled boots, and what appeared to be a gas mask. She told me that part of her outfit was borrowed from the “industrial” side of the goth movement. It wasonly later in the night that I discovered that she had leather, studs, and bondagechains under her coat. Their combination with the gas mask was uncanny, to saythe least.

When the music finally started, I caught sight of two more of our deathly ladies,Russell and Kaira, a guitarist and vocalist, respectively, for the goth-metal band

Oremuz. Russell, with her shaved head, quickly reminded me of Deborah Dyer,vocalist for Skunk Anansie, but more feline and, in spite or because of her gothattire, even more feminine. Russell wore synthetic tights and big ringed belts thatmatched her hoop earrings. Kaira, on the other hand, had dread braids over her undercut hairstyle. Though her asymmetrical apron skirt worn over skinny jeanswas more masculine, it was nonetheless edgy.

8/14/2019 Do It Yourself Death

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I didn’t expect to like goth music, but I did. I enjoyed Oremuz and Skies of Ember, a shoegazing/goth rock band. After getting used to the volume and thethroat-scraping, I got carried away by the heavy beats, and even sometimes bythe melodies. The songs pulsed together with the flashing lights—mostly mad, attimes ghoulish, but at other instances plaintive, and even pleading.

The goth rock Scattertears was another group I enjoyed. And it brings us to thelast member of our feisty foursome, Katrina, the vocalist of the band dressed in asatin and leather, harlequin-meets-the-joker outfit. She looked the most demureamong them, but also the most capable of mischief.

Another band of note was Funeral Frost, a male group made up with black andwhite faces, not very different from 70s rock band KISS. One guitarist displayedtattoos all over his torso—the best non-fabric fashion statement in the event.

Many impressions were made that night. Though much of the audience only

came to listen to the bands and were not really into the goth subculture, attireand all, those that were in the thick of the gothic movement were thriving.

Music is at the heart of goth, expressing the rebellion inherited from the punkgenre, but I think that the fashion, which is mostly specially ordered or made andassembled by the people themselves, is equally important. Goth attire gives itswearers license to deviate and to stand apart. For Halloween-only enthusiastslike me, it grants us a chance to see in the dark.

Captions

1 Highly unusual suspects: Four very differently dressed goth girls2 Death pose: (From left) Russell, Kaira, Katrina, and Paula3 Fatally feline: Oremuz guitarist Russell brings no bad luck4 Eternal peace: Nobody messes with Oremuz vocalist Kaira5 Haunting harlequin: Scattertears vocalist Katrina knows how to make you

cry6-7 Poisonous steam: Paula combines industrial with bondage8-9 Transparent evil: Oremuz lead singer Sensi in lace and fishnet10 Corpse bride: Nothing but Scarlettears11 The design of death: Tattoos of a Funeral Frost guitarist12 Gothic gamble: The portrait of the author as an initiate