DIVAHAR

Symphonic Black Metal
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DivahaR/108336862538569?fref=ts
http://de.myspace.com/divahar

Dev - Vocals

Urubani - Guitars

Skadi - Guitars

Freya - Bass

Session Members

Asta - Keyboard

Levon - Drums

Let’s start with the basic facts. Could you give us a little insight into the history of DIVAHAR.

I had the idea of forming a band long before DIVAHAR, but back then it seemed to be an unrealistic dream ... Back in 2008 when I had started playing guitar and already had some music composed, Urubani joined me and we started to work together on some songs which eventually grew to be the first DIVAHAR tracks. The outline of the band became more stable in 2009 when Skadi (guitars) joined the band. Soon after we chose the name DIVAHAR. The lineup of the band was completed with the affiliation of Freya (bass) in 2010.

Can you please explain the meaning of the name DIVAHAR to us. 

"Divahar" is originally an Armenian word. Most commonly it is translated as “possessed” or “possessed by a demon”. It also contains the meaning of the word “divine". The Armenian word for Demon is Dev or Diva. It has the same root and reflects the same idea as the word "divine". The roots of both are in the Indo-European language family. So what DivahaR actually means is "To be possessed by divinity".


How and when did you start to get into Metal?

Having discovered metal very long ago I am still a sincere fan of it. I remember that in the early days it was really hard to find metal CDs around here and basically anything related to metal. SLAYER and particularly Thrash Metal played an important role in my introduction to the metal world. Furthermore I was also largely influenced by such bands as Morbid Angel, Burzum, Dark Funeral, Bathory, Satyricon, Mayhem, etc.

After listening to your live videos on Youtube I think that you’re sounding very Norwegian. I hear a lot of Dimmu Borgir in your sound. Do you agree? You even covered „Towards the Pantheon“ by Emperor. What are your thoughts on Norwegian Black Metal? How did you get in touch with Norwegian Black Metal and what’s the fascination of this kind of music for you?

It was quiet predictable that we would sound Norwegian. Because to us the genre Black Metal first of all are the Scandinavian and particularly the Norwegian style of black metal. And it’s not surprising that DivahaR’s music was influenced by such bands as Burzum, Emperor, Limbonic Art, Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Satyricon….


And like the Norwegian bands you mentioned, you are also using pseudonyms and corpse paint when you go on stage. Is it just an image or do you want to give something else to the audience?

You can see DivahaR on stage both with and without corpse paint as we don’t have this kind of stereotypes. What about our pseudonyms, I think they help to distinguish and highlight the individuality of the band as well as to reflect the personality of each musician.


But why are you using pseudonyms from the ancient norse mythology? How does that go together with the Armenian word DIVAHAR?



In fact, some of the band members didn't take names from the Armenian mythology as pseudonyms due to the fact that almost all of these names are and were always widely used as ordinary female names in Armenia. For example some members of the band too bear names of Armenian goddesses. The only bad thing about this kind of popularity of mythological names is that they have lost their original identity and the merits they initially had, by being overused in the day-by-day life.


And what about the Nordic names?

Well, from our very childhoods we were deeply interested in and inspired by the legends, mythology and the folklore of our and other nations. We just had learn more about different peoples, their ideologies and the values they held high. And eventually we have taken on the names of characters that in many points stand closer to our personality and better reflect our own individuality, which by chance were from Norse mythology.

I’m quite sure people ask you this all the time, but what about the All-Girl-thing? Was it your decision or did it just happen?

Still in 2009 Urubani and I started to work together with some female keyboarders planning to create the band. In these early days the project consisted of three female members. As the working process with this line-up was quiet interesting and productive, the idea of having only female members was born.


Are there many girls listening to metal in Armenia?

The metal scene is very small in Armenia, but the gender apportion is almost the same as in the international metal scene. Of course, there are female metalheads, but the proportion of male fans is quite higher.

I understand Armenian society can be pretty conservative, especially outside the big cities. How does society react to you, being women and playing this extreme music? Did you ever get in trouble?

Yes, sure it’s hard, but I guess we’ve gained a kind of immunity during these years and we got used to the fact that many people don’t understand the real essence of our scope. Sadly we are facing this every day and each of us can change something only by struggling and fighting against this non-acceptable reality, but never by escaping from it.

Right on! Armenia is the oldest Christian country in the world. What is your view on Christianity and the church in Armenia?

It’s definitely not religion which makes us love and be proud of Armenia. What inspires us about our fatherland is it’s glorious past. It's that our roots are going back deep into time, and various values which sadly are unknown to the world.
In fact, DivahaR doesn’t follow any religious view as upon our comprehension the religion always was and remains a violent, rude form of control over humanity and nothing more.



So your lyrics aren't religious or satanic either?

DivahaR’s lyrics comprise emotional and psychological aspects, sometimes even combined with psychedelic and allegoric elements. They are about the spirit and force of Nature, the Truth, the prospect of Light and the eternal struggle…

Can you tell us a little bit about the current state of DIVAHAR. As far as I know, you haven’t released an album yet. Did you record anything so far? Are you planning to release an album? Are you looking for a label?

We are still looking for a label as so far we haven't found a convenient option yet, judging from the proposals made by various labels. It’s almost been a year since we started to do our first album, but every time some external factors, like problems concerning the recording studio or people we cooperate with to realize the record, impede our plans. As a result the record still remains unfinished. But lately once again we have started the album recording process and we’re doing our best to realize our first album in the near future.


Sounds good! What was the greatest moment of your life as a musician with DIVAHAR so far?

The most impressive moment I had as a Divahar musician was when I perceived that Divahar really inspired some people to feel and to be more powerful, to struggle for their beliefs and to go on searching for a light


What are your five favourite Black Metal albums?

1. Burzum - Filosofem
2. Dark Funeral – Diabolis Interium
3. Limbonic Art – Moon in the Scorpio
4. Emperor – Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk
5. Mayhem – De Mysteriis dom Sathanas


Good choice! Thanks for the interview!

PSYCHONAUT 4

Depressive Black Metal
http://www.myspace.com/psychonaut4
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Psychonaut-4/130368643662027
http://www.lastfm.de/music/Psychonaut+4

Nepho - Drums

André - Bass

Drifter - Guitars

Glixxx - Guitars

Graf von Baphomet - Vocals

Every scene needs some bad boys to keep things interesting, to fuck stuff up, to deliver the scandals for the stories told in the pubs of this world, in short: to keep metal dangerous. There's a fine line between genius and madness, between transcendence and chaos. One band to tread this fine line between fire and fire are PSYCHONAUT 4 from Tbilisi. The suicidal live antics of these maniacs have a grim reputation which has already started to spread to Europe. Is it all just about image? All just show? Like it or not, but PSYCHONAUT 4's music can definitely live up to the hype. Their split EP with UNJOY and EURYTHMIE is pure gold and their current album "Have a nice trip" even goes one step further and totally lives up to any international standards. 
One of the standout trademarks of P4's sound is the sick vocal performance of singer Graf von Baphomet, which is disrupting the depressive atmospheres with feeble screams from the abyss and a creeping hysterical madness, only the likes of It (ABRUPTUM) or Varg Vikernes managed to deliver. Graf von Baphomet, how do you come up with weird stuff like this?

Graf von Baphomet 

Thank you for such a high evaluation of our work. I don't know where the similarities between my vocals and It's vocals lie. To be honest, I can not fully explain how I manage to sing in such a manner. During the recordings I listen to the instrumental recordings of the song I'm gonna sing on, I try to come to the necessary mood, and then I ask everyone to leave the studio. I turn off the lights and then I start singing. Also considering the fact that I'm always writing my vocal lines when I'm not sober, it's not a surprise that such hysterical cries run out from my throat.


Your first demo was titled "40%", which is the amount of alcohol in Vodka. How does Vodka influence your songwriting?

Vodka plays a very "important role" for our band during songwriting and also the recordings in the studio. I can't say that I am an alcoholic, but I like to drink. Probably, vodka helps us to open our soul and to write and to record tracks that many users like because of their sincerity.


While listening to your stuff I somehow felt reminded of BURZUM's "Filosofem" and the early SHINING (S) material. Which bands are the most important influences on P4's sound in your opinion? 

I never thought that our music could be compared to BURZUM's music. Nevertheless everyone sees different influences in our music. Many people think that we're taking inspiration from the music of such bands as SHINING or LIFELOVER. I can't say that they did not influence us at all, it would be silly to deny. We greatly respect the music of these bands. But I am a more versatile person to derive inspiration only from music similar to P4. Talking about inspiration, I've been greatly influenced by the image of a vocalist of one Georgian post punk band called "Grapefruit" – the image of a silent, modest, sometimes pretentious, psychopathic addict. Also I've been influenced by such bands as AGATA KRISTI, NAUTILUS POMPILIUS. Regarding Black Metal I would choose such bands as: HORNA, SATANIC WARMASTER, DEATHSPELL OMEGA, LEVIATHAN, BURZUM, GOATMOON and many others. I can't name everyone, one blog wouldn't be enough.

You've been around since 2010. Can you please give us a short history of PSYCHONAUT 4?

As you probably already know, we formed P4 in the summer of 2010. We started out with a different drummer, Borger, but he left the band for personal resons. Anyway we are still close friends. Our first concert was a shock for Tbilisi's underground. Everyone talked about the band which was performing in such a hysterical manner and that vocalist who was almost brought on a scene with cut hands. It was something new for Georgia. We never hoped that someone would actually be interested in releasing our demo. The band was almost unknown, performing an underground genre in Georgia. We just wanted to make some copies as souvenirs for us and as a gift for friends. But as it seems, some labels found our music quite interesting and at last the demo was released. And after the release we got a great number of letters with delighted responses about our music. I personally was not ready for that, I don't feel at ease regarding such an attention from people listening to our work. Generally I don't like to make a lot of contact with people, but during this year I had to get in touch with too many people. For me it was like torture, and I decided to delete my account from Facebook. Sorry, but talking to some of you was a drag for me. So let's return to 2011. Later we got proposals for the recording of a split and taking part in a compilation etc. So 2011 was quite satisfying for us. 2012 was the first time we played a concert outside our country. And we released our debute album. That's how our little history looks like.


What's your fascination for Depressive and Suicidal Black Metal? Is life really that bad? There has to be something positive, too?

Black metal plays a great role in my life. Probably it's the only thing that I can say I love. In DSBM and Suicidal Black Metal I am attracted by the atmosphere, the atmosphere of crazyness, hysteria, solitude, loneliness, pain, sorrow, despair... I would not say that I am a highly depressive person. I am rather a psychologically unbalanced person with suicidal inclinations. I have a feeling that I have a split personality, and these persons who live inside of me deeply hate each other. I am often obsessed with it. I prefer to be alone, lie with a pillow on my head not to hear outside sounds. I don't like guests, don't like to watch movies, don't like to communicate with unknown people. By the way it brings me a lot of problems on my work.

What's the effect of your music on yourself? Does it give you strength? Does it heal you in a way? Or is it a way to get rid of bad emotions, depressions, sadness?

For me it is a way to pour out my heart. It does not decrease the negativity, but sometimes it helps me return to reality. Like the self-mutilation releases me from apathy, the music of P4 reminds me that I am still alive.



Yeah, I saw the pictures from your live shows with your arms totally covered in blood. So it's not only  a show effect to shock people? 

Graf v. Baphomet

Actually I don't like to speak about this topic, but I will be short and say that for me self-mutilation/torture is a way to awake myself, to feel at least something. During the concerts I don't do that very often. Ya never know before, when I feel a desire to cut myself. Sometimes the desire is so strong, that I can not control myself, and snuff the cigarette on my hand or cut my body or hand with scissors or a paper knife. It is not connected with masochism or some rituals. I don't feel great pain in these moments.


But the pictures look really grim. Did you ever get in trouble with promoters or club owners because of all this blood and excess at your live shows?

Well, the photos from our concerts were banned on the official homepage of a club, where we often played our live shows. The organizers from Armenia strongly prohibited me to cut myself on the scene. Moreover, they even banned me to drink or smoke during a show!



You're probably talking about your stunts at Highland Metal festival. I heard a couple of stories about your show and some of you guys being totally drunk and out of control. What exactly happened there in Armenia?

In my point of view, nothing special happened. Apparently some people in Armenia have never seen how one must drink beer and vodka in a proper way.  To be more exact, during our tour in Armenia we were always drunk. In some pub we just had some fun: we were pouring a beer (by the way we were doing this because Armenian beer sucks ...), our drummer was eating something from the floor, and we were singing. Oh, and Nepho, our drummer, hit a car. So the next day everyone knew about it and said that we are rowdy drunkards and hooligans. In Tbilisi we did much more savage things, but no one ever said anything. And we are on the black lists in all pubs now. But it didn't stop us from drinking the whole night in a park in the center of the city. By the way, the only plus of concert organizators in Armenia is the ideal sound they're getting on their shows and in their venues.

André (bass guitar)

Can you give us an insight in the way you as a band are composing? What are the roles of the individual musicians in the band in the songwriting process?

The main part of the music was written by Andre. Glixxx is also involved in the songwriting process. "Antihuman" and "Have a Nice Trip" were written by him. But mainly he's participating in the arrangement process. By the way, Drifter also wrote a song for Psychonaut 4. It entered the album under the name "Hate Parade".

In the past few years there have been quite a lot of Depressive/Suicidal/Post Black Metal Bands. What makes you guys different from the rest?

The first difference between us and other bands is that we are from Post Soviet Georgia and we are playing Post Soviet Suicidal Black Metal. And what the difference is in terms of music and visuals, I think the listeners will find out by themselves better.



Obviously some labels from all around the world have already found out that you're kinda special. In fact you're one of the very few bands from the Caucasus which had a contract with a label from central Europe. Your Split-EP "Tired, numb and still alive" was released by Der Neue Weg in Germany. How did you get in touch with them?

Quite a lot of labels from Europe are interested in our music, and we are cooperating with four european labels at the moment. We got in touch with "Der Neue Weg" due to the guys from EURHYTHMIE/SHROUD OF DISTRESS. They invited us to participate in a split release. And I think that split turned to be very amazing and interesting. Crystoph - the owner of "Der Neue Weg" is a very nice and communicative person, we are happy that we will cooperate with him during our "40%" Demo re-release on CD.


You're also in contact with Kim Carlsson (ex-LIFELOVER, HYPOTHERMIA). I've read about your tour plans ...

Yes, thats true, Kim Carlsson proposed us to go on tour in Europe with Hypothermia. I was pleasantly surprised that he decided to invite such a new band like us to tour with him. The tour was supposed to take place in October, but we had to postpone it till March/April next year. I think that the people who will come to our shows in Europe will get much emotions, as we are working really hard on the material for this tour. We will perform songs from all our releases and also some new material, which is not recorded yet. But I am sure, people will like it. Kim also puts a lot of effort in the organization of the tour. Special thanks for that to him.


Let's talk a little bit about your new album "Have a nice trip", which was just released via Depressive Illusions records. First of all congratulations! I think it turned our really well. Can you tell us more about the "Trip" in the title? Where do you want your listeners to go to while they're listening to the album?

Thank you! We'd like our fans to enjoy themselves, while listening to our album, just like they were tripping on DXM. Myself I love to listen to our album very much. It's like a drug, which you want more and more. But maybe it seems so only for me.


My favourite track on the album is "Lethargic Dialogue". I love the dynamics and the heavy midtempo drumbeat, which reminds me of BURZUM once again. But every time I listen to the song I feel like killing myself. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I think it's good, because you've touched the emotions that we put in this song.


You released the album on tape only. What's the reason behind this decision? Are you planning to do a proper CD or vinyl release at some point?

"Have a nice trip" will also be released on CD by the Korean label "Solitude and Despair Music" in the near future. The release is planned for November/December this year. Also it is planned to release the album on vinyl, but it's still too early to talk about it. The album was released on tape first, because the Korean label ran into some problems and could not afford an album release simultaneously to the tape version. But I think our fans weren't too disappointed, because we uploaded the album to the internet for free downloading.






Do you think you'll survive long enough to do a second album? What are your plans for the future?

We already have some new material, we only need to record it. So I think that we will shoot several releases in your head, or rather in your ears. We have plans to release a split with MOLOCH (Ukr) and FORCE FED LIFE (USA). Then we are planning to record another EP, which will probably be done by March 2013.



Discography

40% (Demo), 2011
Depressive Illusions Records


Tape, limited to 100 copies.
Special edition comes with razorblades & patches.



1. Serial Lier
2. Parasite
3. Antihuman [Drug=Друг]

Tired, Numb, Still Alive (Split-EP), 2012
Der Neue Weg Productions

CD, limited to 500 copies



1. Unjoy - Suicide Devotee
2. Eurythmie - Outbreak of Catalepsy
3. Eurythmie - Failed Healing Practicable
4. Eurythmie - Eicosapentaenoic Acid
5. Psychonaut 4 - Drop by Drop
6. Psychonaut 4 - Nackskott (Lifelover cover)

Have a Nice Trip! (full album), 2012
Depressive Illusions Records

Tape, limited to 500 copies




1. Intro
2. Parasite
3. Lethargic Dialogue
4. Have a Nice Trip
5. Overdose was the Best Way to Die
6. Intro
7. Pseudo
8. Drop by Drop
9. Hate Parade
10. Antihuman [Drug=Друг]
11. ყლე

CAUCASUS METAL IN GERMAN MEDIA

The current edition of Germany's biggest Metal Magazine ROCK HARD features a five-page-story about the metal scenes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Get it while you can!

Additionally Germany's biggest Metal Webzine POWERMETAL.DE. features an article about the Caucasus Scenes and this very blog. Check it out:

http://www.powermetal.de/content/artikel/show-Metal-Guide_fuer_den_Kaukasus_,7759-1.html

IM NEBEL

Avantgarde/Symphonic Black Metal
http://www.imnebel.com

Sergiy Ermolaev – Bass

Tim – Drums

Michael Lenz – Guitars, Vocals

Vasil Doiashvili – Vocals

Gregory Lobjanidze – Guitars

IM NEBEL [German for: in the fog] -  a rather peculiar name for a Georgian Symphonic Black Metal band. Nevertheless in terms of sales, they're one of the most popular metal acts on the Caucasus. Reason enough to get in touch with the guys and chat a little about the state of things in Tbilissi and Georgian Black Metal. But first of all: what about that German band name? There’s a poem by Hermann Hesse titled „Im Nebel“. Am I right in assuming that your bandname is a reference to the poem, Michael? 

Michael: You are absolutely right. When we started to rehearse with the guys, I had four unfinished songs. The names of the songs were "Im Nebel 1, 2, 3 and 4", and the writing of these songs was inspired by Hermann Hesse’s poem “Im Nebel”. The other three songs were renamed to “Faded Mankind”, “Inconsistent Thoughts” and “Unbeliever’s Script“. They are on the album „Vitriol“. Actually the imagery that Hermann Hesse describes in his poems is similar to our real lives. I think, the title IM NEBEL is also a good name for a band ...

There’s another German title on your debut album „Vitriol“, which you released in 2008. The song is called „Zeitgeist“? What are your special connections to German culture/literature? 

Michael: Not in this case. The song Zeitgeist took its title from a movie with the same name. Dmitri, our drummer at that time was inspired by this movie. You can also tell this from the lyrics.

Can you tell us a little more about how your started with IM NEBEL in 2006?

Michael: Starting the band was really hard, because Tbilisi is not a big city. Our idea to gather a group arose in 2004. Most of the musicians around here know each other and they play in two or three bands together. Sergiy and me started looking for a drummer to create the backbone of the band. Then we invited Dmitri, who was the drummer in a band I had played in before. Also after some more time, Helen and Vasil joined us, and the band was complete.
 
Did you play in any bands before you started IM NEBEL?

Michael: There are many bands in which I played before. Something like nine or ten ... Anyway all of these bands failed, as it usually happens with bands.
Sergiy: Yes, but IM NEBEL is the only completely successful project. I find it hard even to imagine to play in any other band.


What inspired you to start a symphonic/avantgarde Black Metal band?

Michael: My third band was a cover band. We played a lot of Metallica cover tunes. After that I couldn’t listen to Metallica anymore, haha ... Nevertheless this experience influenced my visions regarding music, also other bands I had listened to at that time. In Georgia Thrash and Death Metal are really popular. But when you listen too much to this kind of this music, it’s getting really boring soon, you know ... We always want to find something new ... I also love classical stuff, that magical sounding, sometimes mystic ... it's a way to get away from too primitive sounds and it adds an epic feeling to the music.
Sergiy: I'm a big fan of bands such as UNEXPECT, D.S.O., ARCTURUS, ULVER, TWILIGHT OPERA, SOLEFALD and others. So that influenced me and always inspired me. I think, there are too many thrash/death/black metal bands around who are all playing the same kind of music. You cannot see any difference between them. Avantgarde/extreme styles - it’s like fresh blood in metal, it’s a possibility to be original, to play something new and completely different.


On your album „Vitriol“ you’re playing a very technical style of Extreme Metal. Your playing skills are really impressive. Would you label IM NEBEL a „progressive“ band. And can you give us your definition of „Progressive“?

Michael: Thank you for such an assessment. But really I would prefer to stay far away from this title, and also from other titles too. But “Progressive” – in terms of style – is now a stamp or a status for bands who are using much too overloaded parts. Sometimes it’s better to play a simple melody with the most simple arrangement to preserve the feeling and the idea of the composition. Music of modern “Progressive” bands looks like this: band collects all riffs they have written, band puts them in one song. The result: it's sounding ridiculous, it's fake art. This is what happens when musicians are unable to write songs. The label "Progressive" is not a solution for this kind of "creativity".

Michael, your clear voice reminds me a lot of ICS Vortex and the symphonic arrangements make me think of bands like Dimmu Borgir, Emperor and Tartaros. Also your lyrics, which often about finding one’s individuality, are in the vein of Arcturus, Winds, later Borknagar. How much of an influence is the Norwegian extreme metal scene to you?

Michael: Unfortunately, I hadn't listened to their music until four years ago. My favorite Norwegian band at this moment is OLD MAN'S CHILD. I'm trying to develop my vocals in “bel canto” style, which is similar to all operatic-like singers. But the truth is, everything I'm listening to is an influence on my views. This is really cool, because that's creating new dimensions in music for me, where I'll be able to operate.


Your technical skills and demands are very high. But how do you find the right equipment and studios in Georgia to realize your visions? 

Michael: Thank you! Really we had to do it much better. In Tbilisi the studios have good equipment, but the cost of recording is similar to that of some famous studios in the USA. The main problem is that the studio employees are no professionals. They only have good equipment. We are trying to get the best we can. At this moment it is impossible to record a good quality album in Georgia without computer programmed drums.


„Vitriol“ was released through Russian label Haarbn Productions. How did you get in touch with them? What’s the situation with Georgian labels?

Michael: Den, the founder of Haarbn Productions, is very interested in Georgian metal. Georgian labels are releasing only pop and folk music. Metal is totally ignored by the media. Many people think that we are drinking blood and raping virgins. That’s because of post soviet propaganda and the influence christian orthodox lobbies still exert on people's mentalities.


You released „Vitriol“ in 2008, shortly before the war about South Ossetia. Do you remember the situation back then, can you tell us more about it?

Michael: Politics are a dirty thing. Many young guys died on this war.
Sergiy: We released our album not in the best period. Haarbn, a russian metal label which releases a Georgian metal band? There was a lot of criticism, not about the quality of the album, but about the origin of the album.


Georgia has a lot of very ancient mythology and pagan folklore. For example Jason and the Argonauts, or Schota Rustaveli or the pagan rites from Svanetia. Have you ever thought about working on an epic by Schota Rustaveli, for example?

Michael: I'm really not expert on this themes. Anyway we would get too much negative criticism from native Georgians (because I'm not Georgian by nationality...).
Sergiy: It’s not so easy to adopt such themes for metal music, maybe Vasil with RUINS OF FAITH will create such an album.



When you talk to metalheads from Armenia, they say that the scene in Georgia is the best on the Caucasus. But when you talk to metalheads from Georgia, they say that Armenia has the better scene. So who’s right? What are the pros and cons for the two scenes?

Michael:  Both scenes are great, I think. It's just that people are comparing the differences and are seeing positive sides that they can’t find in their native metal scene. Anyway here's my opinion: our Armenian friends are more practiced playing live and they have the better sound engineers.


Are you in touch with the scene in Azerbaidjan? Can you tell us anything about it?

Michael: Unfortunately no. I just know that some of our metal bands were there once on their metal festival.


I remember when we were talking in the Warsteiner-pub, you guys always talked about „going to Europe“. I found it strange, because Georgia and Tbilisi seemed totally European to me. Don’t you consider yourselves European? Don’t you see the Caucasus as a part of Europe?

Michael: I have a true European heritage. Georgia will be a part of Europe when the peoples post-soviet and orthodox mentality will be replaced by a new open minded one.
Sergiy: It’s a hard question. Honestly, I don’t consider Georgia and Armenia completely European or Asian cultures, because both are just a big mixture of European and Asians traditions. We should consider the Caucasus countries as a unique place, as a bridge between the two civilizations.


What are your plans for IM NEBEL? Are you planning a new album? If yes, can you tell us more about it?

Michael: The material for the new album is completely done. But at the moment the recording process is kinda stuck. We want to move far away from sampled drums and midi drums. Now we are able to record with a live acoustic drum kit. This is the core for studio recordings. Tim, our new drummer, does a great job! The rhythmic patterns on the new album will be awesome. Also I’m almost finished with writing the lyrics. The story of the album I'd prefer to share later when everything is done. All I can say is that the album will be mystic and will feature orchestral arrangements. Now we are just trying to record it in a better quality.
Sergiy: Yeap, it's partially my fault, that we are stuck with the recordings of the new album. Last year I was busy with my job and I could not pay proper attention to the band. But in the near future, we will continue with the album recordings.


Will you release the album on Haarbn again, or are you looking for a new label? Maybe an international label?

Michael: I don’t know. We want to share our music with metalheads from central Europe and the USA. If the production quality of our new album will be acceptable for international labels, it would be great.

You guys introduced me to the wonders of Georgian cuisine. Can you name your Top 5 Georgian food dishes?

Michael: Acharian Khatchapuri, Soko Ketsze (mushrooms on the clay pan with cheese), Khinkali, Chikhirtma (soup), Satsivi.
Sergiy: I prefer Chinese food. After two decades, even the most delicious khinkali is starting to bore me, but homemade mcvadi (georgian BBQ with spices) or any kind of khachapuri is always appetizing.

DISCOGRAPHY

Vitriol (2008)
Haarbn Records


1. Intro
2. Inconsistent Thoughts
3. Faded Mankind
4. Zeitgeist
5. Unbeliever's Script
6. The Journey to the Center of I
7. Exodus

BLOOD COVENANT

Symphonic (Un)Black Metal

http://bloodcovenant.moy.su

Segor (Sergey Areskin)– Vocals/guitar/Composer 

Garegin (Garik Amyan) – Drums/Lyrics/Composer 

Armen Hovhannisyan – Bass 

Hasmik Hovhannisyan – Keyboards 

Narek Onanyan – Guitar 

Mark Areskin – Guitar 

Guest members:

Arthur Areskin – Clean vocals

Vazgen Kondakhchyan – Clean vocals

Armenia is the oldest Christian country in the world. Already in 301 AD, King Trdat III. declared christianity the state religion. Imagine that – 301! The Roman Empire was still in bloom back then and the Germanic tribes were just appearing in the vast forests north of the Roman wall. Not even Rome itself had forsaken the pagan gods, when the Armenians were already building incredible monasteries out of bare rock. This ancient christian heritage is still alive today not only in dozens of amazing churches and cathedrals, like the ones in Etchmiadzin, Kohr Virab, Geghard or Tatev, but also in more, well... unlikely places like a christian Black Metal band. Yes, you read that right: a christian Black Metal band, and a very well-known one, too... BLOOD COVENANT have been around for quite a while now and their mainman Segor Areskine is one of the most active metal musicians in Armenia. I'm glad, he gave me the chance to talk a little bit about his very special stance on Christianity and Black Metal. 

But let’s start with a very basic question. Segor, although you and your bands are pretty well known in Armenia, the Heavy Metal fans from central Europe hardly know anything about BLOOD COVENANT and your other projects. Your first band was called IRON CROSS and started in 2001. Can you tell us please tell us something about IRON CROSS?

Yes, you are right, IRON CROSS was formed in 2001 by me and our drummer Garegin. At first there were three of us and then our former bass guitar player Avag and vocalist Dave joined the group. We played Thrash/Death Metal.

When did you get into Heavy Metal? Was there a special occassion, maybe a special band or album, which got you into Heavy Metal?

Well, you wouldn’t want to call it Heavy Metal, because the music we perform is actually Symphonic Black Metal. In 2001 I started listening to Christian Black Metal bands and it was my inspiration to perform Black Metal. I would also like to mention that I first fell in love with Black and Death Metal when I was 12.

In 2003 you changed the band’s name to BLOOD COVENANT. You also started heading into a different direction music-wise. While IRON CROSS played a mix of Thrash and Death Metal, BLOOD COVENANT might best be described as a Symphonic Black Metal act. What were the reasons for this style-change?

The reason was that I was looking for a brighter style during that period as well as Symphonic Black Metal was more dear to me.

I have to say musically BLOOD COVENANT’s debut album „The Day of Lord“ (2003) is a huge step forward compared to the IRON CROSS demo. You seem to have evolved much as musicians

between 2001 and 2003. It’s like a totally different band, really professional. What do you think were the main reasons for getting such a professional debut album with BLOOD COVENANT?

Thanks for the kind words. You are right, we took a step forward in terms of professionalism. The reason was both the change of style and the fact that our debut album was recorded in a professional studio in 2003. And we worked really hard to evolve. Besides, I became the vocalist of the band, so maybe it had some impact on the positive change, too.

One of my favourite tracks on „The Day of Lord“ is „Old Cross“. I especially love the guitar leads starting around 2:50. They sound to me, like Scandinavian Black Metal is a huge influence for you. Am I right? What are your musical influences?

Exactly, our greatest influences and inspiration are Norwegian Black Metal Bands, for example, Extol, Antestor to name a few.

In 2007 you released the follow-up record „The Blood of the New Covenant“. I can’t help but notice another slight change in style. On the one hand your music has become more brutal and heavier as compared to „The Day of Lord“. For example a song like „The Choice“ is really harsh and aggressive. On the other you’ve become more melodic and heading into a more classic Heavy Metal direction, with a clear voice. For example on „Holy Sanctuary“. Was it a deliberate decision to broaden your style or did it evolve that way naturally?

I have to say  that Black Metal consists of  Heavy Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal and Progressive Metal. So we started to evolve by including different styles and it all happened quite naturally.

Two years later, in 2009, you released a very special single. You recorded a song called „At the Cross“, which in fact is an old Armenian church hymn. How do Metal and church hymns go together? Are there similar harmonies or melodies, for example? Was it difficult to arrange it for a Metal band?

Actually Church music is very similar to Doom Metal, that’s why it was quite easy for us to arrange both styles. So in that single we used a traditional Armenian folk instrument called “Duduk“ and we came up with a very interesting Doom Black Metal style.

What was it like working with a Duduk? Were there any problems to record it and perform it live together with these loud guitars and drums?

No, not really. I have to say that it has a very rich sound during our live performances.

Your latest album „The Sign of Time“ was released in 2011. And like all your releases you are offering it as a free download on your website. Why did you take this decision? Did you try to find a label to release or did you plan from the start to release it on your own label Art4God?

Well, the decision to offer it free was for promotion purposes. As to the label, we do our recordings in „Art4God“. „Art4God“ is just our recording studio. However, our album of 2011 was released on „Darknagar Records“ label. Regarding international labels, we have only worked with „Darknagar Records“ so far.

Looking at your songs and album titles it’s quite obvious that your faith as a Christian plays a huge role in your music.

First of all I would like to mention that we are Christians and we believe in Jesus Christ who was crucified 2000 years ago for our sins and was risen from the dead to save us from hell by endowing us with eternal life. God is our life, and besides, you are right, our faith in Lord Jesus plays a huge role in our music, as we want to show the love of God and the hatred of Satan towards mankind.

So, are you playing in BLOOD COVENANT to worship god? Or is it a means to get the message out to other people?

We play our music for both purposes mentioned by you, that is, to spread the good news and worship God.

I’m sure a lot of people have asked you this question. So please forgive me if I do the same: how do Black Metal and Christianity go together?

We believe that initially all music styles were created by God, including all metal styles.

It must pretty tough for your from time to time, because as far as I can tell the most popular genres of Metal on the Caucasus are the Extreme Metal genres, like Black Metal and Death Metal. What is your view on these bands? Especially what do you think about their atheistic and even satanistic views? Did you ever have problems with other bands or musicians because of your faith?

I have to say that I respect them as musicians but I don’t accept their ideology. As to having problems because of our faith, it should be noted that there were cases when our band wasn’t allowed to take part in certain festivals by some organizers.

Your father is Arthur Areskin, who was the vocalist of Armenian Metal legends AYAS. He did some vocal recordings for „The Blood of the New Covenant“. What’s it like playing in a band and recording together with your own father? Is he very critical of what you’re doing because he’s a musician himself?

Yes, you are right, Arthur Areskin is my father, and besides the „The Blood of the New Covenant“ he also participated in the recordings of the album „Sign of Time“ in 2011. I wouldn’t say that he is critical of what we are doing. I would rather say that he gives us a good piece of advice as a musician.

Live at Highland Metalfest, Yerevan (Armenia)

What are your plans for BLOOD COVENANT? 

Well, we are planning to have a live performance with a symphonic orchestra, but the date for that hasn’t yet been decided. Now we are looking for new labels to work with.

We are also planning a tour. As far as things look we soon we have a tour in Brazil to perform with the Brazilian band ANTIDEMON.

Thanks for taking the time. The last words belong to you:

Thank you too for showing interest in our band and I hope you have prosperity and success in everything you do. God bless you!

DISCOGRAPHY:

The Day of Lord (2003)

1. The Day Of Lord (Joel 1:1-2)

2. Blood Of Redemption (John 1:29)

3. Horns Of Jericho (Joshua 6:20)

4. Messiah (Isaiah 9:1-12)

5. The Old Cross (Colassians 2:14-15)

6. The King of Zion (Psalm 2:6-7)

7. Fall Babylon, Fall (Rev. 14:8-11)

Download full album here

The Blood of the New Covenant (2007)

1. Symphony of Eminence (intro)

2. Magnification

3. Dedication

4. The blood of the new covenant

5. The old cross (intro)

6. The old cross

7. Eternal beauty

8. Apocalypse

9. The choice

10. Holy sanctuary

Download full album here

At the Cross (2009)

01. At The Cross (duduk mix) 

02. At The Cross (vocal mix)

Download full album here

Sign of the Time (2011)

01. Intro (Instrumental)

02. Sign of time

03. Unseen war

04. The call

05. The funeral of the dark kingdom

06. Fall Babylon

07. Hayr Mer

08. At the cross

09. Corruptible reflection of reality

10. Golgotha

11. Metanoia

12. Faithful

Download full album here

RUINS OF FAITH

Black Metal

http://www.myspace.com/ruinsoff

Vakhtang Tskhvitava – Bass, Keyboards

Nikoloz Rukhadze – Drums

Vasil Doiashvili – Vocals, Guitars

You can't talk about the Georgian Metal scene without talking about Vasil Doiashvili. Not only is Vasil one of the most prolific metal musicians in the Caucasus, performing with numerous bands like IM NEBEL or ILLUMINATED, he's also THE pioneer when it comes to the evolution of Black Metal in the Caucasus in the early 1990s. Today the "father of Georgian Black Metal" is the mainman of the Symphonic Black Metal outfit RUINS OF FAITH from Tbilisi, who released the formidable album "To the Shrines of Ancestors" in 2006. But let’s start at the beginning. Vasil, you were one of the first musicians to play Metal in Georgia. You already started in the late 1980s with your first band DARK HEAVEN. Could you please introduce DARK HEAVEN to us?

DARK HEAVEN formed in 1988. This band was in fact the first Melodic Death Metal band in Georgia. Regarding the line-up it was pretty standard: we had three guitars, bass, vocals and drums. We were young and not really professional. After about one year of rehearsing we recorded a mini album titled “Dark Heaven” in the Marjanishvili Theater music studio.

Is there a chance to still listen to it? Maybe soundfiles?

No. It was recorded in four hours, because we didn’t have the money to pay the studio. The songs were recorded on magnetic tapes. Unfortunately all sound files are lost today.

Did the studio owners have experience with Extreme Metal back then in the late 1980s?

No, the studio was very old. I think the equipment was from the 1960s or 1970s. And of course it was no Metal studio. There were no studios and producers who had any experience with Heavy Metal in Tbilisi at that time.

When you started with Dark Heaven it was still in the Soviet Era, before Georgia became independent on the 9th of April 1991. What was it like playing Metal in the Soviet Union? Where did you buy albums, for example? How did you find out about Heavy Metal in the Soviet Union? 

Playing Death Metal in the Soviet era was a disaster: horrible instruments, bad rehearsal spaces, no stage experience whatsoever … Also this style of metal was something which was shockingly new. 

Not even the Georgian Hard’n’Heavy musicians of that time did understand what we were trying to achieve with growling vocals. But I can say it’s not a big difference to today, haha… Anyway, metal music is not popular in Georgia and I think this situation will still last for a long time. Bands must emigrate to Europe for a normal existence in my opinion.

Were there any other Metal bands around in Georgia in the 1980s/early 1990s, besides Dark Heaven?

Yes, there were a couple of thrash and hard’n’heavy metal bands: MORYTUR, DOUBLE CROSS, CORRUPTION, WEEKEND, MEMENTO MORI …

Cool, I never heard about any of those. Can you tell us more about them?

I can’t tell you much, we weren’t really in contact with them. I just watched some live shows these bands were playing. MORYTUR was a Death/Thrash Metal band. They recorded an album and emigrated to Russia in 1989. A few months later I got the news from an old friend that they were in jail. And now they’re all dead. I don’t know what really happened to them. I’m sure someone knows more about all these bands, unfortunately I don’t.

Promo shooting for PERGAMO (1995)

In the early 1990s you started the Black Metal Pioneers PERGAMO. What happened to DARK HEAVEN? Who were your main influences to start PERGAMO?

In the 1990s I heard about Black Metal while browsing through radio channels. I found the frequency of a Russian radio station, which was playing music by bands like IMMORTAL, BAL-SAGOTH, DIMMU BORGIR and EMPEROR.

I was impressed very much, haha… especially after I found some pictures and interviews in magazines which came to Georgia with a delay of about one year after they were published in Europe, haha…  In 1993 I went to Turkey. Turkey was more open for metal music around that time. I also met more metalheads from Europe there. And I found a couple of metal shops and recording studios in Ankara. I also played in a Turkish Black Metal band called SARCOPHAGUS. After I returned to Tbilisi in 1994 I met the guys from my old band DARK HEAVEN and told them about my experiences in Turkey. I also tried to convince them to change DARK HEAVEN’s style to Black Metal. They weren’t really happy with my idea and told me I really was out of my mind, hehe… So Black Metal didn’t really fit to the Georgian mentality at that time …

After a couple of months, I met a person in Tbilisi who understood my thoughts and my taste in music. Together we decided to do some kind of experiment. We recorded our own Black Metal compositions at home. We experimented to become interesting and we took these home recordings to a famous radio station around. We never had any hope to get airplay, but we succeeded! Our songs were the first Black Metal music broadcasted on air in Georgian radio stations!

Not bad at all! It was just you two guys back then, right?

Yes, but soon after we talked about turning the project into a real live band. At the beginning of 1994 PERGAMO was finally formed: Three guitars, drums and keyboards. This was also the reason for me to leave DARK HEAVEN, ‘cause I didn’t have the time for two bands and my interest for DARK HEAVEN was exhausted.

I remember you telling me about the legendary first gig of PERGAMO with Corpsepaint, candles , etc. Can you please tell us more about this show?

The first ever PERGAMO live show took place in 1995. The show was in some basement in the center of Tbilisi. It was the only place where you could perform underground music. We made everything for our live concert ourselves: collecting equipment, making nail-spiked gauntlets, drawing the tickets, making the corpsepaint …  

Black Metal conquering the Caucasus - The legendary first PERGAMO gig in 1995.

That’s the Do-it-yourself underground spirit!

Yeah! When we finally started playing, we were already tired, hahaha… But for the audience our first Black Metal show was like a bomb exploding from the stage. I remember, before we were starting to play, the staring faces of the metalheads for the first five seconds, not understanding what was going on. Anyway the show went great, there were about 300 metalheads, also the press. PERGAMO became quite famous in Tbilisi, but it wasn’t good for the band and also personally for the band members. The press reacted in a very negative way, like: we were Satanists, and Black Metal was no music. And society must punish us for such deeds. Also PERGAMO’s quick popularity stirred some hatred from other Georgian metal bands towards us.

Oh dear… What happened?

After our first live show most of the metal scene and the society was against us. They thought that Black Metal was a shame for the Georgian Metal scene, that it was unprofessional, that Black Metal was not music and Black Metal shows are not acceptable for Georgians.

We got a message telling us we must go to church and be baptized to help ourselves. We were laughing so much about this message, hahaha. We didn’t have any problems with the police though. But nevertheless the police really was a problem for metalheads. The police arrested them for nothing, just because of their long hair. And then they shaved their hair, that was pure sadism…

Fuck, that’s bad…

After this we played one last live show in the same place in 1996 and then stopped playing live altogether.

The 1990s were a pretty hard time for Georgia. There was a lot of chaos, crime and problems with electricity and stuff. How did this affect the development of the metal scene in Georgia? When you look at the development of the metal scene in Georgia, I think it really starts around 2002/2003. A lot of new bands were forming, the scene was getting bigger. What happened around that time? What were the main reasons for the scene to expand in these years?

Indeed, it was a terrible time for the whole country. But the metal scene continued existing deep underground or on undercover parties.

Undercover parties? Really?

Yeah, parties where metal was played unplugged in some of our friends homes. As you can see the history of metal in Georgia in the 1990s is even more terrible than what happened in Norway during that time, hahaha...

Hahaha, awesome!

Anyway, there was no chance to develop and promote metal outside of Georgia, to show the world that there are interesting metal bands in Georgia. The only way was to leave the country, because of these problems. This was an inner conflict for many musicians playing in bands. Realizing that our music had no future in Georgia we stopped rehearsing and disbanded. In 2000 in Georgia happened big political and economic changes. I think this was the main reason why the Metal scene in Tbilisi got bigger. And this is not just about metal, all underground scenes are much more bigger now.

But I’m sure the internet played a part in this evolution as well, right?

Sure, the internet was very important for Georgia. It already arrived in the first half of the 1990s, but at that time probably only 10 % of the people owned a computer. After 2000 the internet was available for 100% of the people in Tbilisi. I think the internet helped to show the world what was happening in the Georgian metal scene. Also the people here discovered foreign bands and metal music styles that they didn’t know before. 

In 2001 you started RUINS OF FAITH.  Can you tell us a little more about RUINS OF FAITH?

In 2001 I had the opportunity to meet some people who made me think about a new beginning: Vakhtang Ckvitava (Guitars), Igor Smichkov (Keyboards) and Giorgi Gogidze (Bass). We became friends and together we made our first metal studio in our home’s basement in 2003. And after inviting Nik Rukhadze (drums) we started rehearsals.

In 2006 you released your debut album „To the shrines of Ancestors“. Did you do it all by yourselves or did you go to a professional studio/producer?

We already started to record our full length album “To The Shrines of Ancestors” in 2004. We did it in our own studio. It was finished in 2005 and released on the famous Russian label “Haarbn Productions” in 2006. It was the big deal for RUINS OF FAITH. CDs were sold in Russia, Europe and Japan. Info about RUINS OF FAITH was spread on European websites and magazines like Dark City or Metal Art …

„To the shrines of ancestors“ reminds me a lot of DARK FUNERAL and SETHERIAL. What were your influences when you were writing the album?

My favorite bands are Emperor, DIMMU BORGIR, BATHORY, MARDUK, DEATH … Actually, when we were working on the album, we tried not to listen to a lot of other music, because we wanted to get rid of all influences. Our mission was to make some music of our own, and our own vision of Black and Death Metal. Really, it was no easy task. I think we created something special. Maybe the music reminds of famous old school and new European Black Metal, but I think this is usual for this genre. The main theme of the lyrics of the album were philosophical and mythological topics.

What do you mean with “philosophical”?

Vasil in the Warsteiner Pub, Vashvlovani St, Tbilisi 2012

We seek answers to the question "what is faith?". „To the Shrines of Ancestors“ and also our next work will deal with this topic. Once great civilizations were lost and there are only archeological evidences about their past. What were the beliefs of these ancient societies? Was their faith leading to their downfall? What did they feel? The ancient Sumerian culture is the main source of inspiration for the next album that will be ready until the end of 2012. We hope that the work will be interesting for different listeners and they will enjoy it's atmospheric components and lyrics.

Ah, now I understand what the bandname is about! And great to hear that you’re working on a new album! By the way, how does society in Georgia react to Black Metal today? Georgia is still a very religious country, the church is still pretty powerful, right? Did you ever have problems because of RUINS OF FAITH?

Yes, we had problems and not only RUINS OF FAITH…  This problem is for all the underground music scenes of Georgia. In the eyes of our Orthodox Church we all are the same shit. As you know, RUINS OF FAITH don’t use satanic lyrics and stuff, but anyway the Church hates us. Also 90% of the society is zombified by the church.

What do you think about the development of Black Metal compared to the early 1990s. I mean, in the 1990s Black Metal was dangerous, now bands like Immortal or Emperor are headlining Wacken. What do you think about it? Is it a good thing that extreme metal reaches the masses or would you prefer it to stay extreme and underground?

I think getting mainstream is normal and usual. I just don’t like radical stylistic changes in some of the legendary Black/Death metal bands, like SATYRICON, ULVER, SAMAEL or ANCIENT.

Being the „father“ of Georgian Black Metal, what do you think about your „sons“, current bands like PSYCHONAUT 4 or DIABOLUS SANCTUS?

Yes!  These guys are heroes! Performing such extreme suicidal shows in Tbilisi! This is really dangerous for them, but think they don’t give a fuck about it, also they already are popular in Europe. And as far as I know PSYCHONAUT 4 are preparing their first Euro trip this autumn, so I wish them a nice fucking trip!

DIABOLUS SANCTUS are my good friends, I’m supporting this band. They are deep into these satanic themes and it is rumoured that they burned some icons and crosses, which is very controversial in such a religious country as Georgia. They also wear corpse paint and inverted crosses on stage. They have released a demo album, titled “Voice Of Satan”. Now DIABOLUS SANCTUS  are working on a new album.

What is your wish for the Georgian scene? Is there anything you’d like to change, if you had the power?

Nothing!

DISCOGRAPHY

To the Shrines of Ancestors

2006

Haarbn Productions

1. To The Shrines Of Ancestors (part 1) 

2. Pagan

3. Father Fire  

4. The Everquest

5. To The Shrines Of Ancestors (part 2)

6. Ruins Of Faith

7. Mournbringer  

8. Solar Eclipse  

9. Murvan Kru