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Semblant: Vermilion Eclipse

(Melodic) Power Death Metal

3.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 12.04.2022 | Released: 15.04.2022

Brazilian metal sextet Semblant makes their return with their fourth long player, Vermilion Eclipse.. The band founded by keyboardist J Augusto and vocalist Sergio Mazul has been trudging along since 2006, with many personnel changes and spotty output. Now with a more stable lineup and the support of a major label, Semblant has been more consistent and successful (hopefully).

Semblant

The simple description of Semblant is melodic power death metal with some notable prog metal influences. On a positive note, that latter element seems to have risen within the new album. Alternatively, the death metal influence comes from the dirty male vocals which compete with more melodic harmonious female vocals. But its no competition really. With few exceptions, Purified being one of the better ones, Ms Lin is buried in the arrangements like an afterthought. Without doubt Mazul is the primary voice for Semblant. He offers some clean vocals sometimes, but mostly he growls and screams his way through the album like a legion of demons.

Why all my emphasis on the vocal elements? Most readers know that I abhor death vocals like Trump and his traitorous supporters. Next to song melody and harmony, vocals make or break most albums for me. Personal interests aside, if horrid growling vocals are your thing, then have a grand time with the new Semblant album. Otherwise, my conclusion remains the same. Eliminating the male death vocals makes Semblant's melodic progressive power metal the best thing about the band. Which permits the better than average score. And, I've said enough.

If horrid growling death vocals are your thing, then have grand time with the new Semblant album. Otherwise, my conclusion remains the same. Eliminating the male death vocals makes Semblant's melodic progressive power metal the best thing about the band.

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This experience deserves mention for one very good reason: Finland's One Desire is one of the best classic AOR melodic hard rock bands in the genre and, perhaps, the world, right now So, I also apologize, in ... [ Read More ]

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