Scorpio: Hello Odessa — the pearl of the sea. Hey Sergey!
Sergey: Hi!
S: Not many people in Ukraine know about WIVERN outside of Odessa, so tell us something about your band.
Sergey: Our band was formed in 1999. We've taken part in various festivals and played in Odessa and other cities. In 2001 we recorded a demo, which you can find on our website.
S: By the way, what does your band's name mean?
Sergey: Wivern — in English it means "winged dragon."
S: What's the lineup of your band?
Sergey: Sergey Shatukh — vocals Vladimir Dorienko — guitar Al Hellheart — guitar, backing vocals Sergey Novicoff — drums
S: What kind of music does Wivern play, and who does your sound resemble?
Sergey: Our sound resembles us, and our style is hard'n'thrash.
S: I've heard you have new material, and maybe enough for a new album. Tell us about it.
Sergey: We do have material, but we've had frequent lineup changes and can't get around to recording it.
S: You said you want "to record the new material as soon as there's an opportunity." Is it that hard to record and release a new album in Odessa? And what do you mean by "as soon as there's an opportunity"?
Sergey: In Odessa, just like everywhere else in Ukraine, it's impossible to properly record, release and sell an album. But there's no point in making a low-quality recording and then selling it in a run of 100 copies. So as soon as it becomes possible, we'll record a demo and then we'll see what to do with it.
S: On your website a dragon greets visitors. Do you like fantasy? Who are your favorite writers?
Sergey: No, I don't like fantasy. The dragon is our band's symbol. As for favorite writers — Ray Bradbury and Bram Stoker.
S: Do you take themes for lyrics from books?
Sergey: No, we take themes for our lyrics from our grim reality — or as Tom Araya said, if our lyrics are horrific, reality is even more horrific.
S: In metal bands, especially those playing black or death/grind, musicians often adopt different stage names. What's your take on that?
Sergey: Everyone has the right to choose a name, especially in a creative context — our guitarist does it, for example. Personally, I think it's fine, but without some added "Graf" or "Baron" — that sounds ridiculous.
S: Imagine you could choose when and as whom to live on Earth. What would you do?
Sergey: I want to live in this time, to be myself, and to live only my own life.
S: Odessa is the capital of Ukrainian humor. Tell us how the band members joke about each other.
Sergey: We don't joke about each other, but we do enjoy humor.
S: You play a lot of concerts in Odessa. What can you say about shows in other cities?
Sergey: It's a shame that organizers in other cities actually give us better conditions than in Odessa. That's why we often play in other cities, no less frequently than in Odessa. And this year, we want our first shows to be in other cities too.
S: Stay healthy! I hope to hear about your debut album and see you on a Chernivtsi stage!
Sergey: Thanks, all the best to you too! It's easy enough to see us on a Chernivtsi stage — just invite us and set up proper conditions.