Interviews
1914
1914
The MetalList returns after a long hiatus, and our first piece is a conversation with one of the most compelling voices in contemporary extreme metal. 1914 are a Lviv band who turned meticulous WWI archive research into their own musical language. In November 2025, they released Viribus Unitis — their fourth album, recorded during the full-scale invasion, with one guitarist having joined the military just before the studio sessions. At the end of March the band sets out on their first proper European tour in five years, and in May comes Maryland Deathfest in the US — if the American bureaucracy finally backs down. We talked about everything: from archive work and the book inside the deluxe edition to vinyl collecting, dungeon synth and gorgonopsids. We're glad this conversation became the first after our return.
SONATA ARCTICA
SONATA ARCTICA
It's been almost two and a half years since we interviewed Tony, SONATA ARCTICA's leader. During this period the band toured the world, the album "Unia" went gold, and moreover SONATA ARCTICA visited russia for the first time. Now with less than a month until the release of the new album "The Days of Grays", we were able to talk to Henrik, the band's keyboardist.
AYREON
AYREON
What should every metal fan know about Netherlands, except tulips, gays and drugs stereotypes? Of course such great metal bands, which work in different styles, as - The Gathering, Gorefest, After Forever, Ayreon. Think, the most worldwide popularity got AYREON – progressive metal/rock project of multiinstrumentalist, vocalist and just an interesting and nice man Arjen Lukassen. Each AYREON's album features many famous musicians (not only the ones involved into metal music). Formed in 1995, AYREON released already 8 full-length albums, including the last one, «01011001», released on January 28th 2008. So, 3 days after album release we're talking with the Arjen Lukassen.
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1914
1914
The MetalList returns after a long hiatus, and our first piece is a conversation with one of the most compelling voices in contemporary extreme metal. 1914 are a Lviv band who turned meticulous WWI archive research into their own musical language. In November 2025, they released Viribus Unitis — their fourth album, recorded during the full-scale invasion, with one guitarist having joined the military just before the studio sessions. At the end of March the band sets out on their first proper European tour in five years, and in May comes Maryland Deathfest in the US — if the American bureaucracy finally backs down. We talked about everything: from archive work and the book inside the deluxe edition to vinyl collecting, dungeon synth and gorgonopsids. We're glad this conversation became the first after our return.
BLACKFIELD
BLACKFIELD
Aviv Geffen and Steven Wilson discuss what makes Blackfield special, their first moscow concert, and the unique chemistry behind the project.
SONATA ARCTICA
SONATA ARCTICA
It's been almost two and a half years since we interviewed Tony, SONATA ARCTICA's leader. During this period the band toured the world, the album "Unia" went gold, and moreover SONATA ARCTICA visited russia for the first time. Now with less than a month until the release of the new album "The Days of Grays", we were able to talk to Henrik, the band's keyboardist.
SHIVA IN EXILE
SHIVA IN EXILE
The project's mastermind talks about moving beyond guitars, discovering new sounds, and the creative direction of their latest work.
KYPCK
KYPCK
Many metal bands from russia sing in English, but surprisingly a band was created in Finland that plays doom metal and sings in russian! The band name is short but strong — KYPCK (written this way, pronounced "KURSK"). The lyrics are written by the band's vocalist, who studied and worked in st. petersburg for a while. When I heard that Erkki sings almost without an accent, I contacted him for an interview for The MetalList.
AYREON
AYREON
What should every metal fan know about Netherlands, except tulips, gays and drugs stereotypes? Of course such great metal bands, which work in different styles, as - The Gathering, Gorefest, After Forever, Ayreon. Think, the most worldwide popularity got AYREON – progressive metal/rock project of multiinstrumentalist, vocalist and just an interesting and nice man Arjen Lukassen. Each AYREON's album features many famous musicians (not only the ones involved into metal music). Formed in 1995, AYREON released already 8 full-length albums, including the last one, «01011001», released on January 28th 2008. So, 3 days after album release we're talking with the Arjen Lukassen.
STILLIFE
STILLIFE
The hope of the russian gothic scene — Rostov-based darkwave project STILLIFE has existed since 1998. Over ten years the group has recorded two full-length albums, one MCD and a remixes compilation. Their last studio album came out in 2003, and now, five years later, a new STILLIFE record entitled "Destiny" is due in February 2008. A perfect reason to talk to the project's founders — Stanislav Ivanov (Stan_I.) and Mikhail Sokolov (MS).
69 EYES
69 EYES
Finally, this interview is being posted. Due to some reasons we couldn't do it earlier, and it had been sitting in the archives of our portal for a long time. Sorry about that. But it hasn't lost its relevance. Enjoy!
LAKE OF TEARS
LAKE OF TEARS
‘Life is a sad place’, as the song “The Greymen” - out of their last longplay, “Black Brick Road” - says. Proficient music craftmen and the masters of blistrous gothic performance, LAKE OF TEARS have combined two, at a glance, opposite forces - of intellectual art progressive and soft atmospheric metal. From its very beginning - «Greater Art» (1994) album – the unusual band has been thrown in the ultimate vanguard of Sweden underground scene. «Headstones», «A Crimson Cosmos», «Forever Autumn»… Nowadays those titles are legendary. Whole a decade the band has been moving forth, spanning across style-scapes, splitting up and after coming back together. With the 2002’s release - «The Neonai» - they were caught in a landslide of unauthorized criticism. Rumors grew, LAKE OF TEARS are finally over. Yet, they have stood. They have got back to take us for a black brick road…
DEINE LAKAIEN
DEINE LAKAIEN
Germany's pioneers of synth-goth-darkwave-pop DEINE LAKAIEN are loved by many and need no introduction. Last year the band celebrated their third decade — a worthy occasion to reach out to the charismatic frontman Alexander Veljanov and discuss the latest news, releases, and burning questions about the band's future.
U.D.O.
U.D.O.
U.D.O. are among the most frequent visitors to russia, and fans there love them dearly — proof of which was yet another sold-out show at Moscow's Tochka club on September 21, 2007. Just over a year and a half had passed since the last visit by this veteran of the German heavy scene. A few hours before the show, we had a wonderful opportunity to sit down with Udo Dirkschneider himself and put a few questions to him. The 55-year-old musician was remarkably calm and affable — nothing in his demeanour hinted at the storm he unleashes on stage; on the contrary, his voice was quiet, measured, and even gentle.
SONATA ARCTICA
SONATA ARCTICA
SONATA ARCTICA is the band, which became popular already with the debut album. I liked their first CD "Ecliptica" so much, that became their fan, and next album "Silence" was in my player for 2 weeks non-stop. Talented Finnish metallers prepared for us their fifth studio album "Unia". About the new CD, SONATA ARCTICA activity and about music we talked with band's singer Tony Kakko.
STATIC-X
STATIC-X
STATIC-X are definitely stars of the alternative scene. Their songs can be heard not only on radio and TV, but also in movies and computer games. In early April they released their fifth full-length album, and the American quartet is already on tour. Band founder and vocalist Wayne Static found time between shows to answer our questions.
GAIA EPICUS
GAIA EPICUS
GAIA EPICUS haven't been on the power metal stage for long, but have already made a good impression. The band survived a breakup with their record label, lineup changes, and a tragic event — but the musicians managed it all and earned their "Victory". That's the name of their third full-length CD, released this year.
DRAGONFORCE
DRAGONFORCE
Best band of 2006, best album of the year — that's the verdict in England, where the DRAGONFORCE musicians are based. Massive American tours, with Los Angeles alone visited four times — and three more shows there already booked for the coming months. An unprecedented success for a European power metal band outside of Europe, all the more remarkable given that the band released their debut album only in 2003. Since then, two more records have followed — relentlessly fast, melodic, with a strikingly original sound. On 9–10 February 2007, the band will visit russia for the first time, playing two shows in St. Petersburg and Moscow. On the eve of those concerts, the band's keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov — who spent his first fourteen years in Ukraine and therefore speaks russian fluently — gave a phone interview to our portal.
SUMMONING
SUMMONING
Protector and Silenius discuss the long-awaited new album, the challenges that delayed its release, and the more aggressive guitar sound fans can expect.
LETHAL GUEST
LETHAL GUEST
LETHAL GUEST is a relatively young band, but audiences already know them well. They've built a small but dedicated following. Due to some technical issues, this interview disappeared from the site for several months — now restored, it was originally conducted shortly after the recording of the band's debut album.
COMATOSE VIGIL
COMATOSE VIGIL
There aren't many doom bands in the CIS, let alone funeral doom acts. So when we learned about an upcoming interview with COMATOSE VIGIL on ShockWave online radio, we immediately set out to record it. For reference, this is the second officially released band in this style from the CIS — the first was AUTUMNIA. This interview was conducted jointly by ShockWave radio and Themetallist.com.
ORGAZMADROM
ORGAZMADROM
ORGAZMADROM are not newcomers. The band started in the early 90s in Perm as a very promising thrash metal act. They were young roughnecks and no wonder they got a firm position within the local scene. Last year they made a convincing comeback, releasing a new mini album of four tracks. Let's see what the band has to say now.
Malinconia
Malinconia
On December 4, 2005, the international final of the 'Premiere of the Century' festival took place in Kherson, featuring musicians from Ukraine and other CIS countries. Our editorial team interviewed one of the participating bands — Kyiv-based Malinconia.
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