Semnai profile picture

Semnai

About Me

Semnai was founded as Arbor Vitae in the autumn of 2005 by drummer Jari Ketola and keyboard player and songwriter Thomas Sundell, both members of a previous band that split back in 2000. The members of Semnai successively gathered until early spring 2006, when bass player Juha Ollikainen became the last member to join.

In October 2006, Arbor Vitae recorded a four-song demo EP called "The Plague", consisting mainly of new material but to some degree also of modified material that Sundell and Ketola brought with them from their earlier band. The tracks were "Eye for an Eye", "Journey of Many Ends", "The Plague" and "Paria".
In late August 2007, the band changed its name to Semnai, which literally means "the venerable" and is a euphemism for the Erinyes, the incorporations of vengeance in Greek mythology. The reason for changing the name was that the band felt a need for a simpler and shorter name that also better described the more aggressive style of music that had evolved since the recording of "The Plague".
Semnai plays progressive, melodic metal that combines aggression with melodies, growl with clean vocals and altering keys with altering meters. The lyrics are largely metaphorical with an emphasis on various aspects of human nature and everyday life.
In early October 2007, Semnai recorded a new demo titled "The Lotus Effect". It features four songs with a more rhythmic and aggressive style, yet still being faithful to the melodic style of "The Plague".
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 31/10/2006
Band Website: http://www.semnai.com
Band Members: Denis Hautaniemi (vocals), Pekka Kaakinen (lead guitar), Juha Ollikainen (bass), Jari Ketola (drums), Thomas Sundell (keyboards, backing vocals). Rhythm guitar player Mikko Majanen left the band in August 2008.
Influences: Pantera, Opeth, Machine Head, Amorphis, Paradise Lost, Dream Theater, Iron Maiden and many others
Sounds Like: A mixture of our influences and something unique of our own
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Semnai is no more

After playing together for roughly three and a half years, Semnai has decided to part ways. We wish to thank all fans for the support and encouragement and hope you will continue to enjoy our music ev...
Posted by on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:06:00 GMT

New member

Lauri Hakala has joined Semnai as the new guitar player after Mikko Majanen left the band a while ago. So now the band is ready to start producing new material after a far too long break.
Posted by on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:49:00 GMT

Semnai looking for guitar player

Rhythm guitar player Mikko Majanen has chosen to leave the band and Semnai wishes to thank him for the past years - we've had some great fun playing together. This also means that Semnai is currently ...
Posted by on Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:49:00 GMT

"The Lotus Effect" is out

Semnai has now released its second demo "The Lotus Effect". Enjoy the music and post your comments to our guestbook at www.freebok.net/books/Semnai/view.html.
Posted by on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:30:00 GMT

Arbor Vitae is now Semnai

About a month ago, we dropped the name Arbor Vitae and are from now on known as Semnai. A new website at www.semnai.com is in the making, and we will soon enter the studio to record a new demo EP. The...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:38:00 GMT

live show!

jou biaaatch! we have a minor gig coming up. we play short, propably a four song set at "taiteiden yö" vaasa. we play at the market-square but we don´t know the exact time yet. schedule coming up on w...
Posted by on Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:27:00 GMT

AV currently writing new material

Hi there! arbor vitae is currently writing new material. we are hoping that we could head to studio to record our second demo in somewhere near next autumn. It has been couple of months since our last...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 03:05:00 GMT

Hardcoresounds.net review of our demo!!!

Hi everyone, our new demos review has been done now!! You can find it at www.hardcoresounds.net/modules.php?name=Band_List&file=c dviewer&func=3353 if that link doesn't work just go to www.hard...
Posted by on Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:35:00 GMT

New Demo!!!

hi folks, our new demo is finally ready!! the demo consists four songs that are available to download from our website (www.arborvitaeband.net) , and the ones that are here on myspace! so contact the ...
Posted by on Tue, 07 Nov 2006 06:35:00 GMT

Arbor Vitae!!!

Hi all!!! Just to let everyone know that if u wish to download our music, it is possible to do that on our website!!! www.arborvitaeband.net  !! Post a comment also if u wish to ;) thnx!
Posted by on Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:11:00 GMT