In 1996, Philippine metal/hard rock band,
Wolfgang, released
Semenelin, its second album and its first for a major label, Epic - Sony Music Entertainment Philippines. The daring, hard driving sound achieved on the band's debut, 1995's
Wolfgang, is furthered on
Semenelin. The searing riffs and solos of guitarist Manuel Legarda, so vital to the sound of
Wolfgang, are expanded upon in
Semenelin. Vocalist
Basti Artadi, who possesses a strong voice, feeds off the guitar to complete the forceful impact, as heard on "Love & Despair," "Mula sa Kamandag" (From the Poison) and the powerful "Weightless." As on
Wolfgang, the power of
Semenelin comes via the band's precision and tight group interplay. There is also room for expansive creativity, as heard on the title song, "Semenelin," a lengthy endeavor which explores various key changes and musical directions. "Blue 11" is a most tender instrumental outing, and astonishes with its beauty and grace, performed in a folkish, sweet manner. The lyrics of
Semenelin, as on
Wolfgang, are written in a stream-of-thought-consciousness touching on various observations, including the horror of child molestation, as heard on "Bought & Sold." Ten songs are performed in English, and two in Tagalog, the Philippines' national language. A celebrated and popular album,
Semenelin made
Wolfgang a near-household name in the Philippines, quite an achievement in a country where sweet, syrupy love songs rule the roost.
Semenelin was released in the U.S. on the Epic label on July 4, 1997, with the two songs originally in Tagalog re-recorded in English. The all-English version of
Semenelin was released in Japan in 1998.