SEMBLANT
Interview conducted on September 27, 2016
By Dan Locke
One of the rapidly rising stars of their scene in South America, Semblant received international praise from the metal community with the release of the album “Lunar Manifesto” (2014), with the singles “What Lies Ahead”, “Dark of the Day,” and “Incinerate” combining for more than 30 million views on YouTube. Now, Semblant are ready for the next phase of their career with the upcoming release of the highly anticipated album “Obscura”. Formed in 2006 in Curitiba, Brazil when singer Sergio Mazul and keyboardist J. Augusto joined forces to create music that featured all the dark and aggressive elements they appreciated and loved in metal music. After a few years of changing line-ups, the group established itself with the addition of Mizuho Lin (female vocals), Juliano Ribeiro (guitar), Welyntom “Thor” Sikora (drums), and Johann Piper (bass) to the band.
What color is Mizuho hair now?
Mizuho: Still blue =)
You have been around since 2006. How did you get started?
Sergio: We started as a Tribute band for some groups we love: Sentenced, Lacuna Coil, Moonspell, until we decide to start composing. We released our first 3 songs EP in 2008 and since that moment, we put the band on the trails to become what we are in present days.
How did you put together the band?
Sergio: We had some line-up changes after our first album release (“Last Night of Mortality”), just me and J Augusto (keyboards) kept ourselves from the original formation. When Mizuho Lin joined the band, we recorded “Behind the Mask” (2011), a 4 track EP to introduce her voice to our fans, and our two new guitar players – Juliano and Sol. Thor was being invited to join the band since this period, but he accepted and started to work with us just 2 years later. From that time, “Lunar Manifesto” has begun.
Tell me about your background. How did you get interested in your type of music?
Mizuho: I joined the metal world in 2001 when a friend introduce me Nightwish. That time I used to listen some classical songs and Tarja Turunen was the lead singer in the band. That’s the reason I get interested in the band. After Nightwish I started to look for some female fronted bands like Within Temptation, After Forever, Epica and Tristania.
Sergio: I started at the of 13 singing in a garage band. Covers of Slayer, Sepultura, Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest and a lot of other “Monsters of Rock”. I started to search for different and new bands in Metal, collect CDs, compose my own songs and here we are!
How did you get your name Semblant ?
Sergio: Inspired by a title of an Epica song, “Semblance”. It made the word “Semblant”appears on my mind and it joined forces with our will to demonstrate personality, our own “semblant”creating Metal music.
What is the first Vampiric Metal’s band in Brazil? Who are some of the other Vampiric Metal bands out there?
Mizuho: Some journalist made a review of Semblant’s first EP and called us like that. At the time, perhaps had some reasons to call us ”vampiric metal”. We never hide that we like that theme, and that EP had one or two tracks about it on the lyrics. But today we don’t think that we deserve that label, we have so much things to write about.
Why did you pick using two seven-strings guitars? How are they different in playing then six string guitars?
Juliano Ribeiro: We decided to use seven-strings guitars because we always wanted to use lower tunings in our music and it is easier to do it using a seven-string guitar. Actually, there isn’t much difference besides having an extra string and the opportunity to explore a bit more with the lower sounds.
How were you discovered?
Sergio: Our videos for the songs “What Lies Ahead” and “Dark of the Day” on YouTube gave us a lot of views around the world. Many labels mailed us with different purposes, but David Ellefson`s EMP Label Group don`t included us as just öne more band in the label, you know what I mean? They gave us attention and a great space, so we signed with them without any doubts.
Who are some of the bands you have open up for?
Mizuho: We’ve open up for bands like Moonspell, Nightwish, Tarja Turunen, Angra, Tristania, Revamp and The Agonist.
What can you tell me about your new record what is it going to be like?
Mizuho: We have a title and a cover artwork. About songs, a lot of ideas are being compiled and we hope to start a pre production next year.
What is the release date for the record?
Mizuho: We don’t have any specific date yet. But we’re thinking about the next year’s second semester.
Did you have anyone special helping you get the record finished?
Mizuho: We’ll think about it as soon as the pre production is done.
I just love the video What Lies Ahead (Official Video). It was the first one I saw? Your voice sounds great in the video.
Sergio: Thank`s a lot. We`ve been singing together in the last 5 years and this experience reflected not only in this song, but also in the full album.
Why did you decided to do the video for The Shrine (Official Lyric Video)?
Sergio: Because this song represents very well our personality as a band. Agressive, dark, obscure, but at the same time, melodic, with catchy chorus and amazing guitar solos.
Any plans to tour the United States?
Sergio: Yeah! We’re planing to visit USA for the very first time, until the end of this year.
What is the Genre of your music?
Mizuho: Is hard to describe because we have a lot of different influences in metal. But I can surely say that we have a dark and obscure atmosphere in all our lyrics and songs.
What is your feeling about Vinyl?
Mizuho: It’s amazing! Specially for the collectors or loyal fans who loves to get different and limited stuff.
What are some of the bands which Influences your music?
Mizuho: Nevermore, Fear Factory, Moonspell, After Forever, Lacuna Coil, Epica, Dark Tranquillity, Cradle of Filth, Crematory, Chthonic and many more
What is the biggest crowd you have play for?
Mizuho: I believe it was a festival in our hometown in carnival with bands all over the world.
What direction do you see your music heading in the next 2 years and your long term goals of your music?
Mizuho: We’ll keep our evolution connected with the essence we built in the present album
What fest would you like to play?
Mizuho: Wacken Open Air and Graspop Metal Meeting for sure
Who would you like to open up for?
Sergio: Lot of bands. From Behemoth to Marilyn Manson, from Evanescence to Metallica. Impossible to tell you just one or two.
What artist would you like to record with and why? Living or dead?
Sergio: Living, always living. Moonspell could be an example. Not only me, I can answer for Mizuho too. They’re great guys and have an amazing essence. Evergrey would be awesome too. Beautiful, deep and inspiring songs.
What is on you ipod right now?
Sergio: Death Angel, Septic Flesh, Behemoth, Amon Amarth, Megadeth and a local band from our town, Sad Theory.Mizuho: Saratoga, Angra, Tarja Turunen, Epica.
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If you could pick any cartoon character who would it be and why?
Sergio: Can be comic carachters? Daredevil, Punisher, Moonknight, Spawn, Constantine and Ghost Rider are my favorite ones, ever.
What music do you listens to relax?
Sergio: Katatonia. Maybe some new age stuff too, with japanese instruments or songs from the Earth.
Anything you like to close with?
We’d like to thank you all for your support and this great interview. Stay tuned for really great news about Semblant very soon!
