Back in October of 2012, Eminence made their live U.S. debut aboard Metal Insider’s CMJ boat show with Prong and For Sleeping Or Jumping. And to say that we were extremely impressed by the Brazilian metal outfit’s set is an understatement. Eminence put on a face-melting performance that night, making us anxious to hear their long-awaited follow-up to 2008’s The God Of All Mistakes. The wait won’t be too much longer, as the band has been in the studio working once again with Tue Madsen (Moonspell, The Haunted, Sick Of It All). However, Eminence are taking a break from the studio to perform at SXSW, marking their first performance on the West Coast.
While in Austin, Texas, guitarist and founding member Alan Wallace took a moment to chat with us about working with long-time friend/Sepultura bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr., how their original plans to work with producer Terry Date fell through, and the difficulties that come with being an unsigned band from Brazil. If you’re at SXSW make sure to check out Eminence’s show at The Jr. (603 Red River St.) on Friday, March 15.
Any found memories from your first American show aboard our CMJ boat show?
It was a great show! Lots of crazy motherfuckers on the boat and in a big mosh pit.
The group is currently working on its follow up to 2008’s The God Of All Mistakes. How did the group come to work again with producer Tue Madsen? Is it true that the group was originally in talks with Terry Date to produce the album?
Yes. We were talking to Terry Date about recording the album. But one week before the recordings [were supposed to happen], I received an email from his manager in L.A. saying Terry couldn’t come to Brazil due to visa problems.
The new album also features a guest appearance from Sepultura bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. To what extent does Paulo contribute to the album? How many tracks does he appear on?
Paulo is a good friend of mine. We play together in another project called The Unabomber Files [along with Eminence drummer Andre Marcio]. We worked together to come up with the bass lines and he recorded three tracks with us.
When do you hope to have the album drop in the U.S.?
I hope in August 2013. We are working on it.
Going back to The God Of All Mistakes, that album was originally released via Locomotive Records. However, shortly after its release, the label shut down. Can you explain how that affected Eminence in the years following that?
It’s been really hard for us to be unsigned during these past few years, especially for working in the U.S. In that time, though, we played all over Europe, Japan, and New Zealand without any label support! Now we are here in the States [during SXSW] promoting the band and we’re hoping we can get the right home to release the new album in America.
