With Metabolic, Cebu’s Kubra Commander (the solo project of local scene veteran Bobbi Olvido) has cemented himself as the country’s best Britpop act. While previous records have drawn mostly from Oasis’ psychedelic side, his third long-player channels post-1995 British rock references like Doves (“There’s Something On My Mind”), Kula Shaker (“On The Outside”), early Coldplay (“Life On The Moon”), and The Verve (“So Don’t Fade Now”). But what ultimately makes Metabolic succeed is Olvido’s natural ability to craft dramatic buildups and climactic choruses, not skimping on synths, strings, and other instruments he could add to achieve the desired effect. Meticulously produced and melodically rich, it’s a record that deserves to be immersed in.