When SANDWICH released two albums under a major label and one album released independently which all scored hit singles and bagged numerous awards in six years of their existence in the music industry, SANDWICH is again happy to come along for the ride with their new label home, EMI Philippines and a new hit-making album FIVE ON THE FLOOR.

After six straight years of touring behind three albums endeared the band to both critics and listeners alike, Raimund Marasigan on vocals and guitars (Eraserheads, Cambio, Pedicab), Diego Castillo on guitars, Mike Dizon on drums (Teeth, Pedicab), Myrene Academia on bass (Imago), Mong Alcaraz on Guitars (Chicosci) dubbed SUGOD as the album’s first single. SUGOD delivers a catchy tune which will get more attention from radio and fans whenever “Sugod mga kapatid…” breaks in between roaring drumbeats with its music video directed by the award-winning music video director Marie Jamora.

The album’s first single, SUGOD was inspired by the 70’s pinoy rock band Juan dela Cruz song KAHIT ANONG MANGYARI. Marasigan explains, “It was the first song in their reunion concert last year that Diego and I attended. We wanted to write a celebratory-show-opener song like it. We are all big music fans in the band and the lyrics actually describe how we act and feel when we go and watch and/or play a show.”

WALANG KADALA-DALA, is Sandwich’s follow-up to Sugod which is now also enjoying its massive airplay on radios. And as Sandwich’s music videos are going to make a trade mark for the band, another music video of the latest single is also now to hit the airplay on top of the charts.

Sandwich is one of the hard rock bands that primed for stellar success with past albums from GRIP STAND THROW (1999), FOUR TRACK MIND (2001), THANKS TO THE MOON’S GRAVITATIONAL PULL (2004) up to their latest album which includes hits that should scale in no time. With tracks like SUNBURN to rock the summer season, to DVDX expresses the band’s creativity to play with Pinoy pop culture and other hits which everybody in the band contributes with its music, writing the lyrics and arranging the parts. The band claims that the stories of their songs deal with everything from fictional and personal experiences, to just words that sound great together.

FIVE ON THE FLOOR started as a pun on the “four on the floor” disco beat. The story goes on and definitely gives brand new experience for the band with the help of Raymund Marasigan’s ex-band mate Buddy Zabala (Eraserheads) who produced the album and recording engineer Shinji Tanaka.

“A major difference for this album is the departure of Marc Abaya, who is an excellent guitar player, songwriter and soulful singer. But at the songwriting stage, everybody stepped up and took up singing duties and instrument parts. For this album we also challenged all our “songwriting comfort zones” and found different ways of playing our instruments, getting comfortable with odd measures, singing a lot of harmonies, messing around with tempo and groove changes and tried different approaches to the basic song arrangements, and recording techniques that we were used to,” Marasigan said. Considering the band’s new line up, Mong Alcaraz on guitars also contributed lot of fresh ideas and good vibes to the band.

EMI Philippines signed SANDWICH in December 2005. EMI considers Sandwich as one of the most popular hard rock acts in the country today with a dedicated fan base and widely acclaimed live performances. They redefined the parameters of heavy music, revolutionizing the genre by matching unsettling guitar textures and volcanic rhythms with jagged, introspective lyrics and intense vocal styling.

“It was decided by the band that if we were going to go back to a major label, it would have to be EMI, because we were impressed on how they worked with their other artists, who also happen to be our friends. We are still busy working on the videos, the website, album art, posters, the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao launch and rehearsals. But we are all very excited because 2006 will be off the hook,” Marasigan shared regarding issues of going back in studios under a major label.

The album’s single SUGOD has been playing on radios and music channels. FIVE ON THE FLOOR is now available in all record stores released by EMI Philippines.