Michael Lorenzo Manaog began his drumming journey at 15 as a garage band drummer in Quezon City,
Philippines, cutting his teeth on alternative rock and thrash metal. By 16 he was immersed in the death
metal scene, performing at legendary Manila venues including Club Dredd at KM19 EDSA, Mayric’s, and
70’s Bistro with his bands Morticide — playing tracks from Benediction and Deicide alongside their own
originals — and Spoliarium.
Spoliarium’s demos “Wilderness” and “Held Down” gained serious traction, with “Wilderness” becoming
a local radio hit on Manila’s LA 105 rock radio. In 1996, the band guested on LA 105, and they were in
contention for New Band of the Year and a performance slot at the 1997 LA Rock Awards in Manila
before disbanding.
At 18, Michael expanded into the variety band circuit, performing at pubs and venues across Metro
Manila including Cowboy Grill, Soundstage, Padi’s Point, and Chatterbox. His versatility earned him a
reputation as a go-to session drummer, recording and performing with various Filipino artists as both a
studio and live drummer. Throughout his Spoliarium and variety band years, Michael was under the
management of Tat’s Tone, led by owner and manager Luisito Villacorta.
His career then went international. In the Cayman Islands, he performed with Filipino bands, played
local concerts, and worked as a session drummer for bands including Smooth Bill and Suckerbox. In
Singapore, he gigged with local Filipino bands including TTT, playing Lamb of God covers, and other
outfits covering Pantera, as well as the band Came From Nowhere, which released the track “So Far” —
still available on YouTube. He continued performing through Bermuda’s local scene before settling in
Canada. In Toronto, he expanded his work behind the console as a sound tech for local concerts and
events, including live concerts for Filipino artists.
Today, Michael creates from his home studio, where he records cover videos and original compositions
for his YouTube channel — all featuring his Soultone cymbals. He discovered Soultone Cymbals and was
personally welcomed by founder Iki Levy, an experience that cemented his connection to the brand and
its family of artists.
Soultone Cymbals Setup
Explosion Series
• 15″ Explosion Hi-Hats
• 16″ Explosion Crash
• 17″ Explosion Crash
• 18″ Explosion Crash
• 19″ Explosion Crash
• 8″ Explosion Splash
• 10″ Explosion Splash

• 12″ Explosion Splash
• 17″ Explosion China
• 19″ Explosion China
• 21″ Explosion Ride
Gospel Series
• 14″ Gospel China
FXO Series
• 15″ FXO B6 Effect Crash
Drums & Hardware
Yamaha Custom Hybrid Oak 7-piece kit • Ludwig Carl Palmer piccolo side snare • Yamaha hardware •
Yamaha DTX & EAD hybrid electronics
Follow Michael
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mikemanaogondrums

The first thing that struck me about Soultone cymbals is how effortlessly they record and mix. As someone who works both behind the kit and behind the console, I immediately noticed how naturally they sit in a mix — no fighting with harsh frequencies, no endless EQ battles. They simply sound and feel amazing, straight out of the box.

I love Soultone Cymbals' versatility. I've played everything from thrash and death metal to variety band sets and studio session work, and these cymbals handle it all. Whether I'm on a loud stage or in a quiet recording session, they deliver. As Iki himself told me, they just sound great both live and in the studio — and he was absolutely right. Every drummer should try them, because whatever style you play, these cymbals will let you express it fully.

Soultone has made my job easier at every stage — from live gigs with my local band to recording tracks and mixing sessions. They've removed the barriers between what I hear in my head and what comes out of the speakers. And from day one, the Soultone family has treated me exactly like that — family. Being personally welcomed by founder Iki Levy and getting his honest guidance on my setup showed me this is a company that genuinely cares about its artists.