Scenic was formed in 2001, but your debut album, “Untrodden Thoughts of Illusion,” was released more than 20 years later. What was the reason for this long break, and why did you decide now was the right time to release a full-length album?
Actually, it wasn’t like we planned, it just kind of happened. Life had been so messed up for all of us, and the band went through a lot of ups and downs over the decades. There were a ton of things in the way: it was so hard to find suitable musicians, recording wasn’t as easy as it is today, and playing live and rehearsing took up so much of our time that we couldn’t really focus.
After 2005, we stopped playing completely. To be honest, I thought the band was dead and buried. But I was wrong. Somehow, we found a way to revive it, and we recorded our first full-length album. It just felt like the right time.
How has your approach to creating music changed since the band first started?
Our inspiration has evolved over these years. The world has changed a ton since the band started, those changes have impacted our feelings and our music. Even though many of our songs are still based on ideas and compositions from the beginning, I am sure that if we had recorded them back then, they wouldn’t have the same depth that they do. I’m glad we waited, because we and our experiences have grown and have made our music grow stronger as well.
Your music combines technical and melodic death metal, and the influence of the legendary band Death is very audible. How big of an inspiration is Chuck Schuldiner’s work for you, and which of his albums do you consider the most important?
Well, for us, Chuck Schuldiner is a genius—he’s as important to us in terms of composition as Tony Iommi, Tom Jobim, Beethoven, and so on.
If I had to pick, “Human” and “Individual Thought Patterns” would be the highlights for me. They have the best lineups, arrangements, and production.
What was the inspiration behind the title “Untrodden Thoughts of Illusion”? What is the main concept behind this album?
We wanted a title that would capture the essence of everything on the album, the music, the lyrics, the atmosphere, and the themes. “Untrodden Thoughts of Illusion” felt like the perfect way to sum up all the ideas and emotions we put into these songs.
On the album, the bass parts really stand out. Was it your intention from the very beginning to highlight them so much?
Absolutely! From the very beginning, we wanted the fretless bass lines to really stand out taking inspiration from the master Jaco Pastorius. Highlighting the bass was always intentional, as it adds a unique texture and depth to our sound.
The sound of your new album is quite raw but also very clear. Are you happy with the production, and was this the exact effect you wanted to achieve?
Yes, I’m really happy with the production. I think the album sounds organic and natural because it was truly played, just like those classic old-school productions. Nowadays, a lot of bands have their bass and drums programmed to sound absolutely tight, but we wanted a more real and alive sound. We’re especially proud that the album has a ’90s vibe, but with a bit of modern polish.
For the next album we’d like to do things a little differently and also use only real amps for the guitars, instead of plug-ins.
What are your favorite tracks from “Untrodden Thoughts of Illusion,” and why are these particular songs special to you?
It’s really hard to choose a single track, they all feel like our children in a way. But if I had to choose, I have a special connection to the single, because it was actually composed way back in ’98 or ’99.
In the song “Out of Sight,” there are parts that sound very improvisational. Does improvisation play a big role in your creative process, or is it the result of precise planning?
I agree, it really sounds like improvisation, but it actually isn’t. We just really love jazz and bossa nova, and wanted to capture that vibe and inspiration in the song. It was actually really fucking challenging to compose those parts! (laughs)
How did your collaboration with Misanthropic Records come about? How do you rate this partnership, and does it meet your expectations?
Absolutely. They’ve been a highly influential partner for us, both here in our country and internationally, ever since we started working together. The partnership has definitely met our expectations.
You’re from Juiz de Fora. What is the local metal scene like in Brazil, and how would you assess its current state? Are there any bands from your region you would recommend to fans?
There’s actually a lot going on here. We’ve had festivals like Whoever Plays Cover Is Out and The New Bands Festival, which go way back to the ’90s, and The New Bands Festival is still happening every year. These festivals have always been great for showcasing local bands, talented musicians, and keeping the local scene alive. If I had to recommend a few from our region, I’d mention Abstract, Thessera, Autumn Flowers, Kyndra, Hagbard, Sadistic Gore and many others.
How do you rate the quality of the music press and media in Brazil? Are there any magazines or channels you particularly value and would recommend?
We have a lot of music press and media outlets here, sometimes it even feels like there are more channels than listeners! (laughs) There are definitely some great ones, like Loudness Cast, Na Lâmina da Foice, and several others that do a great job supporting the scene.
How would you describe Juiz de Fora as a city?
It’s a major city with around 600,000 inhabitants, sometimes it is like a bustling metropolis, other times like a small country town. But overall, it’s a safe place and a great city for raising children.
Do you play concerts regularly? What are the best places you’ve performed, and why do they stick in your memory?
We haven’t played concerts regularly since 2005. Right now, we’re really focused on working on our next couple of albums, but after that, we definitely plan to get back to playing live shows.
If you could go back in time to 2001 and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Good question. I’d tell myself to focus! Record the album first, leave the live shows for later. We spent a lot of time rehearsing, performing, and I think it actually set back our progress a bit.
What are Scenic’s plans and dreams for the coming years? What can we, as fans and listeners, expect from you?
Another great question! Our goal now is to have three full-length albums in our discography as soon as possible. We already have the second fully composed, and we are planning the third.
