Scorpio: Greetings! What's the latest news from your camp?
Iron: We've finished work on the first song for a new album, but I haven't come up with a name for it yet.
S: Your debut album was self-recorded. Really, no label paid attention to you? Especially since your style could be called "trendy" in metal these days. DIMMU BORGIR never leave the top of the metal charts, especially in the CIS.
Iron: The thing is, before recording "Sacrilege," the band made no real effort to be heard by anyone outside our godforsaken small town. Just a couple of shows in our republic, that's it.
S: How many neighbors did you force to plug their ears during the recording? Were there many angry pensioners? :)
Iron: No official statistics were kept, but considering that we mostly worked during the daytime when the majority of neighbors were at their jobs, unfortunately very few of them got to enjoy our album. Kostia: You forgot that two old men were taken away somewhere by an ambulance! As it later turned out — to the local psychiatric clinic with a diagnosis of DOWN SYNDROME... Now they're our fans!
S: By the way, congratulations on your 10th anniversary! DIMMU BORGIR are also turning 10 this year, but their popularity is a bit bigger than yours. And how do you think — why isn't the russian and Ukrainian scene well known in Europe? Give us your assessment of the CIS metal scene.
Iron: Thanks for the congrats! I conducted a survey among teenage girls a few days ago, and here's what I found out: in our city, we're more popular than DIMMU BORGIR! Kostia: You see, in our country people are totally consumed by everyday life — house, family, work — for many, those are the top priorities. That's why most musicians can't fully devote themselves to their art... Iron: Bullshit! Our scene simply doesn't do anything to get noticed, or does too little. There are tons of examples of people who also work regular jobs yet achieved worldwide recognition and have normal families. There are plenty of great bands in Ukraine and russia, so let's kick ass all over Europe!
S: Let's talk a bit about the band's history. Your name is typical for grind. Or are there doctors among you?
I.: The band was founded in the city of Perm, Komi Republic, in 1993 under the name "DOWN SYNDROME." Then Konstantin Grehnev joined on guitar, Oleg Poliakov on bass, and Dmitrii Kriukov on drums/vocals. In 1993 we recorded a demo called "DOWN SYNDROME." A year later, with the addition of another guitarist, we re-recorded that material and added a few new songs. In 1996, the three of us again gave birth to another demo, "Eternal Flesh." After that, Kriukov left. But in 1999, in a new lineup (a new vocalist and bass player joined, along with a drum machine, the Alesis SR-16), the album "Blooddecay" appeared, recorded on CD-R. A year later, the lineup changed again — a keyboard player, a drummer and I joined. In this configuration we recorded "Sacrilege." We recently added a second guitarist, and if he doesn't pull his weight, the lineup will undergo changes once again. There are no doctors among us — it's just that in the early days the band played thrash/death metal. Hence the fondness for all sorts of gross/anatomical themes and various diseases. But since the lineup changed frequently, the concept evolved accordingly.
S: Will the russian army interfere with the band again?
I.: I hope not. The keyboard player will return soon — he's the last one to be demobilized. The rest served long ago, except for the second guitarist, who doesn't want to serve in the army.
S: What goals has the band set for itself right now, and what's the biggest dream?
I.: Something to drink, somebody to screw! Ha-ha! We also dream of finally getting a proper live drummer. And we'd love it if some russian label would take on releasing our albums!
S: What can you tell us about the metal scene in your region? About your active participation in it?
I.: A scene? There's only one metal band in the whole city! There are also some hardcore bands, punks and industrials. We all play at the local House of Officers from time to time, entertaining the small local crowd.
S: What do the musicians do besides composing and playing music?
I.: Apart from the keyboard player, who's currently serving in the navy, everyone else works. In our free time we like to have a few beers and listen to good music. I also enjoy having educational conversations with members of the "Jehovah's Witnesses" sect, especially with the female members.
S: Tell us your favorite joke, preferably one related to heavy music.
I.: One day, Kristian Vikernes (Burzum — ed.) walks into a church...
S: What about hobbies: books, films, music?
K.: I don't read anything, I watch good Soviet films, and I listen to European heavy music... I.: My biggest hobby is doing absolutely nothing. I'd happily do it my whole life! When it comes to books, I can't stand Castaneda and similar stuff. I enjoy reading Pushkin's poetry (my favorites are "Variants in Honor of Mademoiselle NN" and "Christ is Risen"), "The Silmarillion" by Tolkien, and the Bible. Favorite films: "Love and Doves," "Snatch," "Dogma." As for music — there's a lot I like, so it's easier to list what I can't stomach: chanson, so-called russian rock (Zemfira and similar garbage), so-called russian rap, and I also dislike bands like Aria and IN FLAMES. Our second guitarist watches films like "American Pie," reads fantasy and detective novels, listens to Euro-metal and especially loves IN FLAMES and Aria. The bass player reads, watches and listens to various nonsense like Korol i Shut (King and Jester — russian punk band — ed.)... The keyboard player mostly listens to black metal and reads letters from family and friends...
S: What festival do you dream of playing?
K.: One that would put us in a good mood... I.: ...and give all the girls in attendance an orgasm. Better yet — two orgasms.
S: Any final words for our readers?
K.: Citizens of Ukraine! Send us real "horilka" (Ukrainian vodka — ed.), and also a big piece of salo for our glutton vocalist!
S: I wish you success!