HORROR stories and dark aesthetics have long shaped Filipino alternative band Fitterkarma, whose songs “Pag-ibig ay Kanibalismo II” and “Kalapastangan” have highlighted the eerie side of love. That influence is now set to take center stage through the group’s debut album and first major concert, a milestone that gives listeners a fuller look at the band’s range beyond the tracks that first drew attention.

The album, kung tayo’y nasa isang horror na pelikula, tiyak ako ang una mong papatayin, will be released worldwide on streaming platforms on Sept. 9. True to its title, the record is described as brooding, hazy and tense, with macabre folkloric references balanced by melodic pop sensibilities.

The four-piece lineup — Joao de Leon on vocals and guitar, Sophia Miranda on bass, Sanders Bayas on drums, and LORY on guitar — will present the project live at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila on Sept. 19. The concert will feature a collaboration with The Manila String Machine.

Mr. De Leon said the band wanted to create an album that explored different sounds. Reflecting the way Filipinos often grow up hearing horror stories from relatives, especially in the province, he said the album’s 13 tracks draw from “personal experiences and tastes in art.” Confirmed songs include “Purgatoryo,” “666,” and “Kung Bampira Lang Tayo.”

“We’d like people to hear the versatility of the band and, aside from the lyricism, the emotion that each track brings to the album,” he said. “My perspective when it comes to albums is, it’s like a movie. It has its own flow. There are ups and downs.”

The decision to include The Manila String Machine onstage, he added, was driven by the desire to “give the songs more life.”

“That’s the power of the orchestra. It’s so dynamic and expressive. That’s the reason we included them in the record and in the concert,” Mr. De Leon said. “It’s like putting the music on IMAX.”

Since forming in 2023, Fitterkarma has been open about its influence from Radiohead. The band’s name combines the titles of two Radiohead songs, “Fitter Happier” and “Karma Police.” The group also pointed to “Paranoid Android” as a key reference point.

“Lahat ng tunog nandoon. May choir, may rakrakan, may malungkot na part (All the sounds are there. There’s a choir, there’s rocking out, there’s a sad part),” Mr. De Leon said.

The band hopes to show similar range on the new album. Guitarist LORY, whose real name is Mikee Mendoza, said the record will offer sonic variety.

“I feel like we worked hard to make each track special,” he said. “At sana makilala kami (And I hope we’ll be known) not just as an indie rock band but for other genres also.”

Bassist Sophia Miranda said the group’s sound has developed through its growing bond as a band. “Our sound evolves as we bond together. Parang pamilya na rin ang turing namin sa isa’t isa. Dikit na. May chemistry (We treat each other like family. We click. There’s chemistry),” she said.

The concert, produced and organized by Fitterkarma and Gabi Na Naman Productions, will use an expanded stage design to accommodate the orchestral backing from The Manila String Machine, with the aim of adding “new dimension to the band’s already cinematic sound.” For a debut album launch, the setup turns the release into a live showcase of how the band is translating its recorded material for the stage.

The band members said the event is an important milestone, but they still have longer-term goals, including the possibility of touring abroad. Destinations they mentioned include the US, UK and Japan.

For now, they hope listeners will connect personally with the album and the concert.

“ Sana gawin nilang personal ang experience nila sa album (I hope they make their experience of the album very personal),” Mr. De Leon said. “It should be special to each person listening to it.”

Tickets to kung tayo’y nasa isang horror na pelikula, tiyak ako ang una mong papatayin: The Album Concert are available online via Ticketmelon, with prices ranging from P999 for general admission balcony seats to P2,999 for orchestra seats with soundcheck access, meet and greet, and a signed poster. — Brontë H. Lacsamana