EMQs with ANCIENT SETTLERS
EMQs with ANCIENT SETTLERS
Hi Everyone. Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with European Modern Melodic Death Metal band, Ancient Settlers. Huge thanks to their Drummer Herman Riera for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
This is Herman Riera. I play drums in Ancient Settlers. I formed this band in 2020 with Carlos, the lead guitar player. We were working together in a previous band from 2004 to 2015 in our hometown Coro, Venezuela. After 2015 we stayed inactive for a while. Carlos was living in Spain and I was in Ecuador. But then I decided to move to Portugal in 2020, so since we were closer to each other again, we decided to continue making music with a new project. We started the song creation process and then contacted some of our old friends, Emmy, Rene, and Miguel and asked them to be part! They did not hesitate. Now there was just the singer left. We contacted some possible candidates but after Antony, the pursuit was over and Ancient Settlers was born.
How did you come up with your band name?
The name Ancient Settlers relies on the idea that all of us are immigrants. We all live in a different country from where we were born. Our world, our history, has always been in constant motion. My ancestors probably lived here where I am now! So, we would say that there is a small part of you in every place you go, every place you visit. All of us come from one place and settled in another which could have been the place when our ancestors once settled.
Where are you from and what is the Metal & Rock scene like there?
Most of us come from Falcon, Venezuela. Carlos and I are from Coro, a small town and capital of the state and Rene and Emmy from Punto Fijo, a slightly bigger city 80 km to the north! Miguel is from Barquisimeto, a big city in the state of Lara, about 300 km from our city and Antony is from Finland but is currently living in Ohio, US.
What is your latest release?
Our last single is ‘Into The Depths’, our fifth single and the second off our debut album “Our Last Eclipse”.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Pantera, Megadeth, Death, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, In flames, Periphery, in this specific order.
What first got you into music?
I have been into drums and percussion since I was a little kid. My family, even though they were not professional musicians, loved music, and in our celebrations, there was always live music. This led me to fall in love with it as my family did.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Misha Mansoor from Periphery.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Wacken. I personally believe that there is mystic power that goes beyond reality in Wacken stages.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
A poem from a girl in Brazil.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
To give the opportunity to new bands and new proposals. Music evolves, be part of it and don’t fight against it.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Chuck Schuldiner and send him to stage to perform all Death’s albums
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
The touring, I really like to go to different places and to have the opportunity of being heard. The thing I hate is how difficult it is to make a living being a musician.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
The need to squeeze one genre or music style when it starts trending. You have the power to diversify what people listen to. You will hear a lot of people saying, “The bands nowadays sound the same”. I mean it is true! But this is not their decision. They are just looking for the trending sounds and styles to be a part of the industry.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Cowboys From Hell” from Pantera, “Individual Thought Patterns” by Death, “Countdown to Extinction2 from Megadeth, “Follow the Reaper” by Children of Bodom, “The Panic Broadcast” by Soilwork, “Rise of the Tyrant” by Arch Enemy.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
I never was such a big fan of physical format. Downloads for me are more than good.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We supported Arch Enemy in 2009, in Maracay, Venezuela. There were about 2,500 people.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Dead. LOL! Probably stage technician or working in a studio. Something related to music.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Chuck Schuldiner, Dimebag Darrel, Bruce Dickinson, Rick Beato and Dave Grohl.
What’s next for the band?
There is the release of the third single of the album ‘Cast In Gold’ in February the first. We are also looking forward to the release of our first album “Our Last Eclipse” in April. There will be more updates in the upcoming months.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and Deezer are our main tools to take our music out there to the world.
Jaffa Cakes! Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Definitively a biscuit.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my thoughts. Keep supporting new bands as you do! I wish you the best!
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