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NOVENA BIOGRAPHY

Until now, Novena had been formerly known as Sintada. But after rigged with different changes in the line-up and musical style, the band has decided that altering the band name as well was an apt choice. The band came up with the name Novena since it distinctly relates to how the band is strongly rooted to God above all things which despite the band's dark ethereal music, every song remains a tribute to.

Moanna Tan had been playing bass for the Cebu-based, all-girl metal band Turkei and the Shouting Monkey(2002) and was experimenting on making new basslines for the band when she accidentally stumbled on new steady, offbeat basslines. Liking it, she set it aside, and focused on heavier bass lines for Turkei. It was not until a year after when she met Kniel Nangit (Muscats bassist), that the idea of an ethno-tribal band began to take form. After recruiting Ryan Tejana (percussions), Alhex Radjah (percussions), and Vanessa Ybanez (flute & back-up vocals), and with Kniel as bassist and Moanna as lead guitarist and frontwoman, Sintada started playing acoustic with Moannas original compositions at Kahayag Café.

After a few months steady flow of gigs, Kniel then invited Muscat bandmates Randy Russel(drums) and Eddie Ybanez (lead guitar) to complete the line-up. Finally, with Kniel, Randy and Eddies punk rock influence, bringing crazier basslines, heavier guitar riffs and jarring drum rolls in addition, Sintadas music lithely evolved into the gothic progressive pace. Thus, Novena was born.

Late 2003, experimenting with the bands newfound feel, Novena began playing at handuraw café, Casbah and Kahayag perking up old compositions with more distortions, soaring Choral and String arrangements and aggressive drum strokes. The band plays with different tempos and altering paces that are heavy yet melodic. Moannas voice soars through the ethereal and Vanessas second voice just about rips through the sentients, giving you the impression your listening to seraphs accompanied by dark heavy rock music. On 2004-2005, fiery, passionate and confident with their new identity, Novena offered heavier and melodic songs with Orion, 3 little pigs, and the new crowd favorites, Firesky and Ako nalang. Fresh out of Zzubus recording Studio, their set to release their first single Alay which is bound for distinct airtime very soon.

Recently, Novena has produced new material that emphasizes their newfound style. Heavier tracks such as Morphine and Requiem are coming out with much promise for the band. And this has definitely proven their maturity as songwriters and musicians when they won the 5th leg of the Battle of the Bands in Handuraw, The Events Cafe alongside with Shadowbox Serenade.

Novena is everything black and white. It is heavenly morbid and disarmingly beautiful. It emphasizes dark progressive music while incorporating it into a modern silhouette of wordly sonatas. It appraises its own original sound while at the same time integrating it into different musical genres. It carries enchanting vocals in eccentric rhythms and collaborates with heavy yet rythmic guitar and bass lines. Novena's music delves into the universal soul, thus creating a new sound that resonates with both the ethereal and the earthly. .

Why Novena?

The band came up with the name Novena since it distinctly relates to how the band is strongly rooted to God above all things which despite the band's dark ethereal music, every song remains a tribute to. The new line up has given way to crazier basslines, heavier guitar riffs and jarring drum rolls in addition, Sintada’s music lithely evolved into the gothic progressive pace. Thus, Novena was born on 2004.

Tidbits
Novena formerly had 9 band members including 4 percussionists and one flutist while it transitioned from the progressive rock to the goth progressive pace and where originally known as Sintada then. The percussionists were headed by Ryan Tejana, Alhex Radjah, Poko Petallar and Kniel's younger brother Cliff Nangit. Vanessa Ybanez who played the flute while doing back-up vocals for Moanna still sessions every now and then when she finds time off work. It is interesting to note that it was the flight of the percussionists due to personal and difficult "growing up" phases that led the remaining members Kniel, Eddie, Randy and Moanna to make do with what was left and accidentally stumbled into the band's current goth progressive feel as it began to sound edgier and heavier without the tribal percussions. Serendipity led from one thing to another and Novena emerged as a goth metal quadruplet. All are still neighbors and are undoubtedly very good friends.