Scorpio: How did it occur to you to start your own label?
Vadim: It's become a part of history already. In 1997 I was a member of the LUNACY band. We were sending out various promos, and I realized that no one would really care about our band except me. So we started Coronach Records. Some of the bands we started with are doing fine now — I mean FOREST STREAM, BY AUTUMN EMBRACED, and ATRA MUSTUM, of course, with former LUNACY member Visionary on guitars.
Scorpio: The name?
Vadim: Do you remember CATHEDRAL's Forest Of Equilibrium? Funeral lamentations, doom/death/black — the dark side of music. That's what we wanted to emphasize.
Scorpio: What have you done recently, and tell us about your nearest plans.
Vadim: We released our compilation and put out the AZAZELLO album "The Wings" (together with Straless Records). I'm not willing to make forecasts. The basic idea is that we will be releasing professionally outstanding musicians. We always pay close attention to sound quality.
Scorpio: Tell us more about your compilation.
Maxim: Well, I think we're done with compilations. There's no profit in it. It was good for the beginning and for promotion, but you can hardly earn enough money releasing compilations. We're eager to apply our experience to full-scale releases now.
Scorpio: Your CDs are not cheap at all (15 euros). Your site is in English. Are you trying to find your niche in the European market?
Vadim: Yeah, in russia CDs are damn cheap. Low prices mean low royalties — you need to understand that. Good things don't appear out of nothing. That's why there's no metal on TV, why there are low-quality studios, etc. Remember the basics of market supply and demand. Fortunately, some people are beginning to realize this and follow the European model. True, we've been more oriented toward the English-speaking audience, but right now we're working on a russian version of the site.
Scorpio: Is it hard to release CDs yourselves? How much do you invest?
Maxim: Let's call it a routine job. We try to do our job properly. We've gained great experience and finally want to release high-quality CDs on par with Western equivalents. It's a good goal, I dare say. Well, investments depend on sales. When we start doing something, we spare no efforts, time, or money.
Scorpio: What does Coronach do besides releasing CDs?
Maxim: Nice question. We do promotion within the moscow scene. I'd say it's good work done for russian bands.
Scorpio: Would you care to point out problems in the CIS metal business?
Maxim: I'd like to speak about what we've encountered. Many bands and musicians just don't really know what they want. We're facing a lack of producers, image makers, and stylists. Such people don't work for low pay. Vadim: The deeper problem is the low investment interest. The metal business here runs on pure enthusiasm. There are good bands in russia, and many of them have raised their sound quality. We intend to break old stereotypes and bring a Western approach to the metal business here.
Scorpio: Which bands do you single out?
Maxim: The most talented, of course. The ones who are good both in the studio and on stage. We've been promoting FLESHBOMB, REST IN PAIN, SCRAMBLED DEFUNCTS from moscow, AZAZELLO from Tinda, FACE X from saint petersburg, the A.Kostarev Band, NYL, ENS COGITANS, FOREST STREAM, ATRA MUSTUM, ROSSOMAHAAR, and more. There are some moscow bands we're planning to start cooperating with.
Scorpio: Tell us about your own musical projects.
Maxim: None right now. It's too hard to manage several things properly at once. But sooner or later we'll answer that question.
Scorpio: No problem. Your cherished dream...
Maxim: Peace everywhere. An impossible dream. Well, let me see. I wish to do my favorite thing nonstop — techno death.
Scorpio: Farewell words for our readers.
Maxim: Stay well and in good spirits. It's what forms our lifestyle, isn't it? Vadim: Yeah, be healthy and wealthy!