The metal scene in Russia was most known for it's brilliant Thrash and Doom Metal bands. But all this changed with the appearance of Rossomahaar. This Black Metal band should establish themselves as one of the leading bands in the Black Metal scene. But then it is the question of the right nationality.... Anyway; this is a brilliant Black Metal band and I caught up with Herr Stalhammar (poetry and management) for an update on Rossomahaar.
1.When and where was Rossomahaar created ? By whom ??
- Lazar (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and programming) started
Rossomahaar at the year of 1995 a.t.b.b.
2. Please tell us more about the chosen band-name. What does it stand
for ?
- "Rossomahaar" is "wolverine" (obviously rather loathsome animal) in
Russian, although a bit misspelled. And secondly, this word stands for
one of the most malicious demon beings, stealing and eating infants. As
to those numerous questions regarding double "s" and "a", it was done on
purpose - and the only reason for that, was to make the monicker sound
even more attractive and enigmatic.
3. What is your political and religious beliefs ?
- We try to stay out of politics, however each of us has it's own
beliefs. I'm not going to waste my breath regarding this subject,
though. All I can say, we're strictly against blood-mixing between
antagonistic nations which often takes place nowadays. As to religion…
Oh, actually I'm pretty tired to answer questions of this kind.
Rossomahaar is anti-christian, or more likely "anti-religious" band, and
all of us (with an exception for Ixxaander) are atheists.
4. Please tell us more about your history before the album was released.
- I guess, you're talking about what has happened before "Imperium
Tenebrarum" was released? Well, as I already said, Rossomahaar was
started back in 1995. It was a one-man band back then, however later on
Lazar enlarged the lineup with Ixxaander (guitars), Kniaz' (bass),
Sigizmund (drums) and Maiden (keyboards). I joined the band as poet and
manager in the year of 1997. In fact, there's nothing special or
outstanding that could be told regarding our history. At the moment,
none of us really knows if Maiden and Sigizmund will stay in the band or
not. Too bad, because it's unbelievably hard to find a good drummer in
Moscow (a good drummer who gets high on the same kind of music as we
do).
5. Please give us a presentation of "Imperium Tenebrarum" album. The
recording, lyrics, the concept...the full story !!!!
- "Imperium Tenebrarum" was recorded back in April 1999, and mastered in
October the same year. The recording took place at one of the best (if
not the best) metal studios in Moscow and was produced / engineered by
Lazar himself. Of course, it has few drawbacks (such as too "dry" sound,
as well as drum tracks' execution), however we're pleased with the way
it turned out. The lyrics… They're more like visions, often attending
me. Or DREAM visions, if you like that better. All the compositional
plots come from inside of me, the imagination of mine is the primal
source. I start composing lyrics only when I feel I have to do that,
otherwise these thoughts and visions, those dear images and weirdly
floating phrases, would be gone. I can wake up late at night in order
just to write down few lines. What do my verses deal with? Hard to say.
Three out of seven featured on "Imperium Tenebrarum" are based on the
same concept inspired by Lovecraftian mythology. As to other ones… Some
of them are abstractly conceived, whilst some nevertheless serve a
certain plot. "… Of Shadowy Exaltation", for instance, appears as weird
mixture of Marquise De Sade and H.P.Lovecraft, as well as William
Burroughs. Lyrically, new compositions are written in a more abstractly
philosophical form, simultaneously being submitted to concrete poetic
kernel. Once again, if one'd like to compare 'em to anyone; Septic
Flesh, early Emperor, My Dying Bride and Arcturus are the names. I'm
more than proud of my new creations, and I hope that those who buy our
second CD will be of the same opinion.
6. Your brand of Black Metal is melodic and commercial. If we compare
your music to that of the albums from for example the bands on No Color
Music/Records and other "back to basic" Black Metal record labels; what
do we call your brand of metal ? Where does this contrast leave the term
"Black Metal" as a genre ?
- It depends on what you consider to be "commercial". Should only
one-chord black metal considered to be "true"?? And ah, how could I
forget! It has to be recorded in the deep basement on possibly bad
equipment, right? No Colors Records? Come on, don't make laugh! What
about VORDVEN? And ABSENT SILENCE? These ones were (are?) signed to No
Colors, whilst their music doesn't have anything to do with "true" black
metal. What a disappointment, isn't it? Anyway, avoiding trends is the
most malicious trend ever, didn't you know that? When it comes to
Rossomahaar, we play what we like to play. Yes, "Imperium Tenebrarum" is
pretty melodic - however, simultaneously brutal piece. We don't give a
shit about all those freaks who blame us in being "posers" or whoever
(although, I know only two "individuals" who ever blamed Rossomahaar in
posing and stuff like that. Both were horribly unskilled musicians, and
losers incapable of either doing or creating anything valuable).
Rossomahaar is death / black metal band. That's all.
7. What is the concept of your music ?? Which bands has influenced
Rossomahaar most ?
- Both me and Lazar deeply respect Swedish and (early) Norwegian scenes,
although I wouldn't say those bands have influenced us a lot.
8. What is your view on today's Black Metal scene ?
- It sucks. And still it rules. An absurd? A paradoxical kind of
assertion? Perhaps. But nevertheless, I wouldn't say that contemporary
black metal scene is worse than it used to be in early nineties; quite
the contrary, it's stronger than ever before. More and more young yet
talented and outstanding bands emerge from various corners of the world
each day, and that's excellent. Of course, we have enormous number of
dull-witted freaks claiming their music to be that, of the dark side,
while in fact it's nothing but yet one more copycat and thus turning
their "band" into nothing but a worthless attempt to reach anything.
Yes, black metal gets more and more popular, but so what? Surely, DIMMU
BORGIR and their clown-alike appearance make me sick, but other acts
successfully appear on TV, still staying true to themselves. Tell me,
haven't you seen DEICIDE and MORBID ANGEL on TV? Yes, you had. And now
tell me, were their latest works more commercial in comparison to the
old ones? I guess not. And just by the way, all those "true" freaks
exactly are the ones to be reckoned to, let's say "poser flock". In my
view, DUMMY BURGER ARE commercial and sold-out. But they got only second
place in these charts of mine. Yeah guys, sorry, because DARKTHRONE
obviously are the first ones.
9. What is your views on the Marduk saga in the Eastern Europe ?
- I'd better make no comments on this matter.
10. Have you done any tours, festivals, gigs etc. etc. ?
- We've done enormous number of gigs, and participated in a couple of
festivals; however no tours yet, unfortunately. Check out official site
at Rossomahaar, there you'll have a chance to download
all the five tracks off our live album (available only via Internet!).
Of course, I can't be objective judging my own band, but I'm strongly
convinced that it's one of the best live recordings Russian (and
European) band has ever managed to release so far. As to the crowd's
response, it has been all excellent.
11. How is it to live in Russia these days ?
- Not bad, but I'd prefer to get back to Sweden, the country my
ancestors come from. That's quite impossible, though. And besides that,
I guess I won't ever leave my friends, and my band… Ok, back to your
question. Well, in fact Russia is a great place to live at if you have
enough money. If not, you'd better die in your mother's womb. I wouldn't
say I have any problems with $$$, so I don't have any complaints (with
an exception for our government and that neverending war in fucking
Chechnya!).
12. What is your future plans ?
- At the moment, we await the re-release of "Imperium Tenebrarum"
(scheduled for November 2000). Furthermore, we're going to start the
second album's recording session the same month, right after our record
company provides us with $$$. And, of course, hopefully we'll arrange a
European tour.
13. Where can Rossomahaar be reached ? Any mail order list ?
You can contact us at vaesolis@online.ru or rossomahaar@usa.net
. As
to our forthcoming CD (as well as the one which is set to be
re-released) as well as anything else concerning purchasing and
distributing our stuff or whatever, please email Mathias / X-Rated
Records, Inc. at info@xratedrec.com
Besides that, check out my magazine at www.rusmetal.ru/vae_solis.
14. Is there anything you want to add to this interview ?
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
BOW TO US, FOR WE ARE GODS.
USEFULL ADDRESSES !!!
Snail mail:
Kai Mathias Stalhammar
P.O.Box 371
Moscow, 121151
Russia
Vae Solis webmagazine
Rossomahaar homepage
Nargathrond homepage
E-mail
"God is dead...
... long live the Nature!"