Cabanatuan METALCORE

OLUARIS

Current Line-Up

as of 2026 , the band is consist of Jek Martinez (Vocalist)

Richard leonardo (Riff Guitar) and Argie Punongbayan (Drums)

At present, the band does not yet have permanent members for the bassist and lead guitarist positions, as discussions for both roles are still ongoing.

Before becoming Oluaris, the band originally performed under the name Project Skyline. The name was created by the band’s vocalist, Jek Martinez. According to him, the word “Project” symbolized the idea that all of the members came from different bands and musical backgrounds, coming together to form a new group. Meanwhile, the term “Skyline” was chosen spontaneously, even Jek himself admitting that he could not fully explain where the idea originated.

Several months later, the band decided that a new identity would better represent their sound and chemistry as a group. The creation of the name OLUARiS unexpectedly came from a joke among the members. During a casual conversation, Ace, the band’s bassist at the time, jokingly remarked that the vocalist looked like a “siraulo” — a Filipino slang term often used to describe someone as crazy or eccentric.

Amused by the joke, Ace wrote the word down and decided to read it backwards. The result was “OLUARIS,” which the band eventually adopted as their official name. What started as a humorous moment among friends later became the identity that represented the band’s musical journey and brotherhood.

The Making of the Name “OLUARiS”

History Of The Band

Gathering the Members:

The formation of Oluaris began when Jek Martinez (Vocalist) first reached out to Argie Punongbayan (Drummer). Initially, Argie showed little interest in joining the project and even provided an inactive contact number. At the time, he had grown exhausted from playing drums, as his previous band was becoming inactive due to genre discrimination and the lack of performance opportunities, which caused him to lose motivation in pursuing music. However, after two weeks of reconsideration, Argie decided to give the band a chance.

Meanwhile, Jek struggled to find a guitarist for the group. He contacted four different guitarists, but all declined the offer to join. Eventually, Jek shifted his focus and contacted a friend, hoping to recruit a bassist instead. Although his friend refused out of loyalty to his current band, he recommended another guitarist and provided Jek with a contact number.

Jek immediately reached out to the guitarist and arranged to meet at a local mall. To his surprise, the guitarist turned out to be Richard Leonardo. Upon realizing this, Jek quickly called Argie and exclaimed, “Si Bigboy nga!” —

referring to a joke Argie had made the night before:

“Tapos si Bigboy pala ka-meet mo hano? Hahaha!” — Argie

The encounter was unexpected because Richard, Jek, and Argie previously had a history of band-related conflicts and misunderstandings. Despite this, Richard accepted the offer to become the band’s guitarist. At that time, Richard’s former band, The Altruist, was also inactive, and while working at a computer rental shop, he found himself with enough free time to return to music.

Shortly afterward, Richard secretly began contacting Ace, encouraging him to join the band through messages such as:

“Kelan ka uuwi?”
“Kelan uwi mo?”
“Uwi ka na, may banda na tayo!”

Excited by the opportunity, Ace decided to leave his job in Laguna and return to Nueva Ecija to pursue music with the group, even while searching for new employment.

While waiting for Ace’s arrival, Richard introduced his former bandmate, R.V., to temporarily fill the bassist position. When Ace eventually joined the band, R.V. transitioned into the role of lead guitarist.

New Line-Up (2015):
Ace’s Departure and the Introduction of Albert and Janjan

After R.V. left the band, Oluaris continued performing as a four-piece group for the next three months.

In August 2015, Ace announced that he would be leaving the country in pursuit of better work opportunities abroad. Although saddened by his departure, the band fully supported his decision and wished him success. Once again, the group faced the difficult challenge of searching for a suitable bassist. Eventually, Jek managed to recruit a bassist named Albert.

Not long after joining, Albert introduced the band to a lead guitarist named Janjan, who was reportedly looking for a band to join. The group immediately offered him the position of lead guitarist, which he accepted. With the new line-up complete, the band spent the entire month of October rehearsing in preparation for Musikalohiya 11, held on November 7, 2015.

Albert’s Sudden Departure and Renz’s Induction

Despite becoming part of the group, Albert never had the opportunity to perform live on stage with the band. Just four days before their scheduled performance, Albert informed the members that he would also be leaving the country on November 6.

Faced with another unexpected vacancy, the band once again began searching for a bassist. This time, Argie recommended Renz for the role, and he eventually accepted the offer to join the group.

this also what the fans and the band refer or called as the "SOLID LINEUP" a.k.a WOLVES ERA

Enter the Melody (2016)

Since the band’s earliest days, the members had envisioned incorporating melodic elements and synthesizers into their music. However, finding musicians capable of playing keyboards or synthesizers in their hometown proved extremely difficult, as most keyboard players were already involved in variety bands or show bands rather than rock or metal projects.

Before meeting the band, Dyrell was already part of another group, although he never had the chance to perform live with them. On the night of September 2, he was supposedly scheduled to play with his band, but the members felt he was not yet ready for the stage. While sitting alone and watching his band perform without him, a woman approached him, asked for his contact information, and later introduced him to Jek a few days afterward.

This introduction eventually led to Dyrell becoming part of the band’s journey and helping bring the melodic and synthesized sound the members had always envisioned.

Bassist Paradox and New Arrangement (2017)

Following the Muziklaban event, Renz decided to leave the band in order to focus on his studies. Before departing, he advised the members either to search for a new bassist or officially recruit Loui, who was already close to the band and familiar with the members personally.

The group ultimately chose Loui as their bassist because of their strong connection and familiarity with him. However, only a week later, Renz announced that he wanted to return as the band’s bassist once again. He later spoke with Loui and suggested that they share responsibilities during live performances and gigs.

On February 23, 2017, the band finalized its decision by officially appointing Loui as the permanent bassist, while Renz would serve as the band’s session bassist whenever Loui was unavailable.

Later that same year, in November 2017, the band decided that Dyrell would step away from the group. According to the members, the decision was made due to inconsistencies and unsuitable improvisations during live performances, which affected the band’s musical direction and stage presentation.

Austin's arrival (2018)

During the middle of 2018, Janjan gradually informed the members of Oluaris about his intention to step away from some gigs. His decision was mainly influenced by personal matters, family responsibilities, and financial difficulties.

When Janjan shared his plans with the group, the members immediately realized how difficult it would be to replace him. His playing style and technical ability had become a significant part of the band’s sound, and the members believed that losing him would greatly affect their musical identity and overall performance. Because of this, the band viewed his departure as one of the biggest challenges they had faced at the time.

Despite the uncertainty, the band decided to continue performing as a four-piece group while searching for a new lead guitarist who could complement their style and chemistry.

Approximately two months later, some members began mentioning the name Austin as a possible addition to the band. The group spent an entire week discussing the idea before finally deciding to contact him and invite him for a jam session.

Although Austin was not known primarily as a lead guitarist like Janjan, the members quickly noticed that he blended naturally with the band’s sound and atmosphere. More importantly, they felt that his personality and musical approach were in sync with the group. Because of this strong connection and chemistry, the band eventually invited Austin to officially join the line-up.

From that point onward, Austin regularly filled in whenever Janjan was unavailable for rehearsals, live performances, or events. This arrangement allowed Oluaris to continue performing without significantly affecting the band’s overall sound and stage presence.

The setup continued successfully for several years, with Austin serving as the band’s supporting guitarist until 2022.

Chaotic Collapse : Silent Exits , misunderstanding , broken bonds (2023)

The year 2023 marked the most chaotic and challenging period in the history of Oluaris.

By the end of 2022, Janjan had already become largely inactive within the band. He was no longer consistently available for rehearsals or performances and often failed to respond to messages, with replies sometimes taking several days.

This growing communication gap created uncertainty within the group regarding his long-term role.

Although Austin remained part of the lineup, the band did not consider him as a Lead Guitarist. This was primarily because they were specifically searching for a dedicated lead guitarist rather than a support guitarist for Richard (Riff Guitarist). As a result, The band doesn't event know how to to explain this situation.

In an effort to resolve the situation, Richard introduced Mack to the band as a potential replacement for Janjan. Mack was not a stranger to the group, as the members were already familiar with him and had an established relationship. Following discussions, the arrangement was finalized with Mack taking the position of lead guitarist, while Austin would serve as his substitute whenever necessary.

By the end of the first quarter of 2023, internal tensions began to surface. The band was affected by growing rumors and misunderstandings, particularly involving Austin. The members believed that Austin may have spoken negatively about the band behind their backs. Although the situation may have stemmed from his status as a session or temporary member, it led to a gradual distancing between him and the group. Despite this, they remained on amicable terms.

As the year progressed, deeper internal conflicts began to develop, particularly between Jek and Richard. During the second quarter of 2023, Jek expressed concerns regarding Richard’s creative output, questioning why he had not been producing new riffs or material for the band. At that time, Richard was also involved in a side project band where he had already developed foundational riffs for new compositions.

Jek felt that Richard’s attention was being divided and that the main band was not being prioritized. Richard, however, explained that his side project had a different workflow and collective responsibility, which allowed them to create music more efficiently. This exchange created tension between the two, and Richard reportedly took offense to Jek’s remarks, later responding by criticizing Jek’s behavior and attitude, particularly when under the influence of alcohol.

These accumulating misunderstandings and unresolved issues ultimately contributed to one of the most turbulent and emotionally difficult phases in the band’s history.

THE REUNION!!! (2026)

Stay Tuned :)

Timeline

Current Members :

Jek Martinez – vocals (2013–present)
Richard Leonardo – riff guitar (2013–present)
Argie Punongbayan – drums (2013–present)

Former Members :

R.V. – lead guitar (2013 - 2014)
Ace – bass (2013-2015)
Albert – bass (2015)
Renz – bass (2015–2017)
Janjan – lead guitar (2015–2022))
Austin – support/backup guitar (2018–2022)
Dyrell – keyboards/synth (2016–2017)
Loui – bass (2017–2023)
Mack – lead guitar (2023–2023)