SEMIC
STAINS
Semic Stains is a new band
from Greece. We are talking here for a really astonishing young band that
managed to deliver an incredible demo work, that has nothing to be jealous
of official releases of huge bands of the melodic death metal scene worldwide.
Do yourselves a favor and read the interview below, get in touch with the
band and ORDER the demo NOW!!!
1.FIRST OF ALL INTRODUCE YOURSELVES
TO THE READERS AND POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS OF THE BAND. WHAT
MADE YOU DECIDE TO FORM YOUR OWN BAND AND WHICH MUSICIANS DO YOU LOOK UP
TO?
We are Semic Stains from Ioannina,
Greece, we were formed in late October 2001 and up to now we have released
a promo cd entitled “Sworn to Silence”. What made us form the band was
our love for this music and the need to compose our own songs and express
ourselves. Two of the most important moments for us were our first live
show as support act to Rotting Christ and the nomination of our cd as “Demo
of the month” in the Greek Metal Hammer, which drew attention towards the
band. We all like bands like Death, old Sepultura, Annihilator and Megadeth,
and some of the NWOSDM groups like Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates.
2.WHY DID YOU NAME THE BAND SEMIC STAINS?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU? HOW DID YOU SELECT IT? WAS IT A COMMON DECISION?
The word “Semic” means Semantic,
that is “of meaning”, while “stains” refers to small amounts or drops creating
a combination that refers to “small amounts of meaning”. We believe that
it suits our style and is easy to pronounce and remember.
3.YOUR DEMO IS SIMPLY INCREDIBLE! AND
IT'S A PITY THERE ARE ONLY 3 SONGS... ANYWAY CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INFO
UNDERLINING WHAT YOU THINK MAY INTEREST US AND THE READERS? YOUR MUSICAL
DIRECTION, WHERE WAS IT RECORDED, WHO WAS THE PRODUCER, HOW LONG DID IT
TAKE YOU? WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE ANYTHING NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS READY
AND FINISHED?
Taking into account that it was
our first release we may say that we are all satisfied enough. A cd is
the band’s “picture” at a certain moment and that is how we believe that
one should look at it. Our style is a mixture of melodic thrash/death metal
with many influences of the American sound and some progressive elements.
We all listen not only to most metal genres but also to other styles of
music and we believe that is positive to be influenced from all these without
limiting your music to just one style. What is most important to us is
to combine all these elements well and create good compositions full of
power and feelings. The cd was recorded at Fragile Studios with producer
Vagelis Yalamas and it was done really fast, in less than a week.
4.THIS IS THE FIRST DEMO WITH SEMIC
STAINS. IS THIS THE FIRST DEMO YOU RECORDED OR DO YOU HAVE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
WITH OTHER BANDS AS WELL? THE REASON I AM ASKING IS BECAUSE THE DEMO IS
PERFECT FROM EVERY POINT OF VIEW, TECHNICAL SKILLS, PERFORMANCE, LAY OUT
AND OF COURSE THE PRODUCTION. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT FOR NEWCOMERS TO CREATE
THE SOUND THEY TRULY WANT?
Stathis has already recorded three
demos with Insight and he is the most experienced member of our group.
His experience was very important not only for his playing but for the
rest of the band too as he guided us all. For the rest of the members this
was just the first recording. Of course our producer Vagelis Yalamas has
a great part in this too as he was the right man to help us and bring out
the best sound concerning the time and situation being.
5.WHERE ARE YOUR LYRICS REFERRING TO
AND HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEY FOR YOU? WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE LYRICS
AND WHAT CAN TAKE THE INSPIRATION AWAY FROM YOU?
Lyrics are another special part
of our songs and are very important for us, as they also help us express
ourselves. Concerning the inspiration I would say that every strong feeling
and experience – especially the negative ones – can be really affecting.
The expression through music and lyrics is the most positive way to bring
out such energy. On the other hand routine and everyday life combined with
too much work act negatively for inspiration as it is then that time passes
by without great experiences and interest. For our lyrics please visit
our website at www.metalprovider.com/semicstains
where they are all included.
6.WE GET TO LISTEN TO SOME DIALOGUES
AND DECLAMATIONS DURING THE SONGS. WERE THEY TAKEN FROM A MOVIE OR ARE
THEY YOURS? WHAT ARE THEY SAYING AND WHICH IS THE CONNECTION WITH THE LYRICS
AND THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE BAND?
There is only one part taken from
“Devil’s Advocate” in “Sworn to Silence” track. The rest is part of our
lyrics and are important not only because they help the story evolve but
also because they give variety to the singing and songs. They act like
short narrative parts expressing either the hero’s thoughts or the story
itself. For example the opening phrase in Sworn to Silence is : “Gnosis’
cost is incomputable” as the track refers to a person that finally acknowledges
his state and this leads him to really negative conclusions. Sometimes
ignorance helps people be happier.
7.DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS?
WHAT SHOULD THE METALLERS EXPECT FROM A SEMIC STAINS LIVE SHOW? SHARE
SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES FROM YOUR LIVE SHOWS WITH US...
We really like playing live although
till now we didn’t have the chance to perform many times. People can expect
from us a live full of energy, as our songs are really aggressive. A great
live experience for all of us was when we supported Rotting Christ and
the crowd was shouting and moshing not only during the cover songs we performed
but also during our own tracks. It’s an amazing feeling to see that people
really like your music and that you can transmit your energy to them.
8.WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE THAT
DOESN'T KNOW YOU, IN ORDER TO INTRIGUE HIS INTEREST? WHICH IS YOUR MOST
APPEALING ELEMENT ACCORDING TO YOU?
We believe that the combination
of various elements from different styles of metal gives us a sound that
is not usual. We also try to compose songs that bring out strong emotions
while keeping a level of technique and this is a great challenge for us.
9.IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT
WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?
We believe that the dominant feelings
of our music are Anger, Hatred, Bitterness, and sometimes Loss. If it would
be a picture it would be a dark room with shadows hunting a person leaning
out of an open window…
10.IF YOU HAD A PROPOSAL TO DO A VIDEOCLIP,
WHICH SONG OF YOURS WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND HOW DO YOU IMAGINE IT TO BE?
I guess our choice would be “Sworn
to Silence” since it is the song that represents more aspects of our music
in total. Fast, slow, mid tempo and some more technical parts. Imagine
it? Pretty hard. It would surely be something aggressive and maybe in black
and white picture…
11.WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARTWORK
AND WHAT DOES IT WANT TO SAY? WHAT DOES IT EXPRESS? WHY DID YOU NAME YOUR
DEMO "SWORN TO SILENCE"?
Our guitar player Stathis is the
one who designed the booklet of the cd and he has also designed our website.
We are all really satisfied about the artwork, as we believe that it represents
the band’s style and image. Despite the cover’s complexity and its abstract
form, we believe that in a way it represents a part of our music as it
expresses its versatile directions and influences in a uniform combination.
12.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO TRAVEL
BACK IN TIME, WHICH HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHY?
I believe that although during
history everything seems to change, in fact the associations remain the
same. We would like to travel forth in time and see what happens next.
13.DO YOU THINK THAT PERHAPS GOD GOT
SO FRIGHTENED OF WHAT HE CREATED THAT HE MOVED TO HEAVEN IN ORDER TO KEEP
DISTANCE FROM HIS CREATIONS? :))
May we answer with some new lyrics
from a new song? Shaking I touched the seed of denial…Leading my Fall towards
the wisdom’s gate From then on I started to exist…And die each moment that
passes by…
14.LET'S SUPPOSE THAT WE LIVE IN A
WORLD WITHOUT MUSIC. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN SUCH A CASE?
Awful...I guess we would try to
invent it (laugh). Hopefully we would succeed.
15.WHICH FAMOUS PERSON WOULD YOU LIKE
TO MEET AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM/HER?
Vasilis: I think that I would like
to meet Aristotle and I would ask him more about his theory on feelings.
He lived so long before most philosophers and he talked about most sciences
long before they were really evolved. His mind and thought is beyond any
imagination and scientists cannot explain how could his thought go so far
beyond his time.
Stathis: Since George and me study
physics it would be really interesting, although it sounds quite common
as an answer, to be able to meet Einstein. It would be intriguing to hear
from first hand his “Theory of Chaos”.
16.IN WHICH MOVIE SOUNDTRACK WOULD
YOU LIKE TO HAVE TAKEN PART OR HAVE COMPOSED?
Something with great passion and
scenes of aggression. Maybe lord of the rings..
17.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU'D LIKE TO MENTION?
Just that anyone who wants to contact
us can do that through our website or through the band’s e-mail which is
[email protected]
and that we want to thank you for your interest and support and to wish
you the best for your website!
Christine
Parastatidou
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