MANILA -- Twenty-nine years after its last release, there is a new product from Twisted Red Cross -- "Rescue Ladders and Human Barricade: The Fourth Order" (TRC-18).

The new album was spearheaded by Renmin Nadela, Wendy Villanueva, and Al Dimalanta of Jam 88.3’s The Punk Connection.

"Rescue Ladders and Human Barricade: The Fourth Order" is available on compact disc and features 14 tracks from modern Filipino punk bands such as Throw, T.S.A., Against Man, the Go Signals, the Republicats, Isidro Project, Absolute Play, Vagabonds, Santelmo, Dead Sperm, Red Corps, and Minority Bollocks. Plus, there are old warriors Eddie Siojo and also G.I. and the Idiots.

During its heyday in the 1980s, Twisted Red Cross (TRC) put out 17 cassette albums featuring bands from the country’s nascent punk rock scene. The first was titled "Rescue Ladders and Human Barricades" (TRC-01) and featured many of Philippine punk rock pioneers such as the Urban Bandits, Wuds, Betrayed, Dead Beat, and Private Stock to name a few.

Cover-wise, that album was inspired by the Clash’s self-titled and ground breaking debut. "Rescue Ladders and Human Barricades" was no less different. Although Ocean Zoo can be said to be the first ever do-it-yourself release, TRC had the moxie to consistently put out original releases that the mainstream record labels didn’t touch. And they changed the local music scene.

The last of the cassette albums the original TRC put out was "Philippines: Where Do We Go From Year?" that came out in 1989.

Many titles have been released on bootleg cassettes, while there have been official records rereleased on vinyl.

Today, the local underground punk rock scene has flourished with bands constantly putting out product whether via vinyl, cassette, or compact disc.

"Rescue Ladders and Human Barricade: The Fourth Order" is available at local distro Mutilated Noise (check them out on Facebook) and during The Punk Connection show on Jam 88.3 every Saturday.