The Brazilian Metal scene has an especial feature: the miscegenation between Metal genres. It's not easy to find something playing a pure Metal genre on the country, and it's a consequence of the native eclecticism of people, and for the broader range of influences a musician has. And SEMBLANT, a sextet from the south region of the country, shows a fine work in the sense of multiple influences on "Obscura".

Many would label their work as Gothic Metal, but their work is based on a fusion of a melancholic insight on Symphonic Metal with some extreme influences (especially due the ample use of guttural grunts contrasting with tender female voices), some touches of traditional Heavy Metal (as can be heard on the guitar solos of "Murder of Crows"), and with a modern outfit binding together everything. The energy and personal insight given to the songs is amazing, and the contrasts between elegant parts with brutal moments are great. Then, there's no need to say that their work is truly good.

The sound quality of the album is very good, because gather together such amount of influences and glue them all in a coherent way on an album isn't an easy job. But it iwas done in a very good way that allows the listeners to understand what is being played and absorb the band's musical ideas. Of course that it could be better in some aspects, especially on some instrumental tunes (that could be worked on a better shape), but the final result is very good and fits on what the band wanted for its music.

The musical work presented on "Obscura" is really homogeneous, but the mix between some extreme influences with melancholic melodies shown on "Murder of Crows" (very good contrasts of extreme and clean voices, especially for the powerful singing of Mizuho), the extreme approach on guitar riffs (being tempered by charming keyboards) shown on "Left Behind", the heavy tempos and massive melancholy of the harmonic lines of "Dethrone the Gods, Control the Masters (Legacy of Blood Part IV)" (a very good playing of bass guitar and drums can be heard on this song), the beautiful melancholic parts of "Porcelain", the mix between Finnish Melodic Death Metal aggressiveness with symphonic ambiences of "The Hunter, the Hunger (Legacy of Blood Part V)", the absorbing and abrasive rhythm of "Barely Breathing", and the tender and silky touch given by "Daydream Tragedy" are the ones who will make the listener travel into a melodic and different universe in pure moments of joy.

Of course that SEMBLANT can do even better than is shown on "Obscura", but they're on the right path, so hear it and have your heart touched by their music.