You know what made growing up in the late 90s so good? Pop punk and alt-rock were everywhere—on the TV, in your burned CDs, blasting from your old speakers. It was loud, messy, sad, and had just the right amount of attitude. You grew up with it, and somehow it made life feel okay.
So when you hear new tracks that slaps you with that same kind of emotional punch, it hits different. That’s exactly what The Waiting (Swan Song) by The Uncs did to me. It’s nostalgic. It’s raw. It’s real.
The Uncs is a four-piece band from the Philippines, born out of post-pandemic boredom and college friendship hangovers. Formed in Quezon City in 2022 by Sean Pascual and Jeremy Simangan, they didn’t set out to change the world—they just wanted to make noise again. Soon after, Benjamen Dela Cruz and Axel Dancel joined in, and things got real
Their first EP Yugto came out in 2023. Four tracks—Manda, Ayoko Na, The End, and FTC. Raw as hell, emotionally loaded, and totally DIY. But now, it’s 2025. They’re back with something louder, heavier, and more sure of itself. That something is The Waiting (Swan Song).
We called it Swan Song because that’s what it felt like—a final performance, a last cry before everything goes quiet. But in that silence, there’s also a strange kind of peace.
Right from the first seconds, you feel it’s a step up. Clean mix. Balanced layers. You hear the details—every snare hit, every vocal break, every background texture. It doesn’t sound like a demo from a garage. It sounds like a full-on release from a band that knows exactly what they want to say.
And what are they saying?
This isn’t some love song built on fake poetic lines and recycled sadness. It’s like a void from the inside. Heavy, real, and hard to shake off. It’s like, you’re in a moving car at night. No one’s talking. City lights blur outside. You’re in the passenger seat, eyes closed, pretending you’re fine. This song plays, and suddenly you’re not alone in that silence.
One thing’s clear—The Uncs didn’t make this track to preach or look cool. They made it because they felt something. And they wanted you to feel it too. The lyrics hit like real conversations you never got to finish. The guitar work isn’t flashy, but it sticks with you. The drums? Tight. Controlled. But never lifeless. The vocals carry this perfect mix of frustration and surrender.
What makes The Waiting special is how open it is to interpretation. Maybe to you, it’s about waiting for someone to come back. Maybe it’s about waiting for something inside you to calm down. Maybe it’s just background music to a breakdown you don’t want to talk about.
But whatever it is, this band isn’t here to fix you. They’re not pretending to be better.
They’re just here to tell stories—loud, honest, and exactly how we need to hear them. It’s like they’re just saying: “We’re here too. We get it.” and honestly, that’s the purest kind of connection music can offer.
So yeah, that’s my review of this song. Go stream The Waiting (Swan Song).
Catch ‘em before they blow up and start charging for meet-and-greets.
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About the Author
Al Sangga is a music curator and writer. An annoying guy! He’s been writing music blogs since 2011. Although he has a degree in Management, he decided not to go the usual office job route. Instead, he followed his heart and chose a different path that revolves around his love for music.
