Your debut demo, «Dark Ages Chronicle», has been out for sometime now, how are your feelings towards it at the present moment?
 
- «...Chronicle» was the first try, recorded live 'cause of the lack of time. I hope you agree that four hours is... hmmm... not enough time for professional recording. However, Obninsk BM fans like it. We thought about the sales, but we have no time (Den and Dy are students of MSU, Black is a student of MGUK, I am the post-graduate student in one of Obninsk research institutes), money and experience. Besides, all who wanted to have our tape already have it by copying from our friends (piracy! ;)). We're going to re-record old stuff together with new, but as sound will be different it could be called remix, so we would not leave this demo behind...
 
You left RAKOTH in March 1997 provoking it’s collapse, but two months later new lineup was formed again including you as well... What caused this departure and posterior return of yours?
 
- It was inner RAKOTH's problems. We could not agree with style. Some of band's members didn't appear at repetitions. Personal conflicts began. Atmosphere became unbearable, so I had to leave. Then I decided to form my own project that had no name yet. Idea to call new band «RAKOTH» appeared in July, offered by Dy. Taking into account that old RAKOTH didn't exist and the name was given by myself, we agreed. So new RAKOTH and the old line-up are two absolutely different bands.
 
I was a bit surprised to see your (ex)drummer carrying «Leshy» handle and, frankly speaking, firstly I even confused him with the guy from Moscow’s MOR... Don’t you think that changing his alias will be the only way to escape this muddle?
 
- Leshy got his handle much earlier than he heard anything of MOR. It is his childhood's nick-name. I think it is because of his name - Oleg. And as far as I know he is not going to change it. He has no problems with it. B.t.w., he does not like (I mean hates) Leshiy and MOR. He likes the band with such name from Murmansk.
 
Could you tell us more about Nick Perumov and his «Chronicle Of Hjorvard» book? Both, name and title sound absolutely unfamiliar to my ears, I fear...
 
- Nick Perumov became famous when he wrote his «Ring Of Darkness» - sequel to Tolkien's «Lord Of The Rings». I agree that Perumov's book is closer to Russian soul - there could be seen many parallels with Russ' history. But his trilogy «Chronicle Of Hjorvard» is my favourite, especially the first book - «Downfall Of The Gods». Two others are «The Warrior Of Great Darkness» and «The Land Of No Joy». The world of Hjorvard have the following structure: one level is mortals, elves trolls and such; another one is Young Gods that banished old gods from Hallowed Land and replaced them (old gods are of the Scandinavian mythology); between them are so called True Mages - half gods which magic is the source of magical energy for mortal magicians. Also there are two brothers: Orlangur - the Spirit of Knowledge and Demogorgon - the Cathedral Spirit. True Mages use different sources for their magic. Two of them used Darkness. They are - Rakoth, the Master of Darkness and Hedin, Aware of Darkness. Rakoth rose three times against Young Gods. After the first try he was driven back to his citadel and sieged but he managed to defeat Hallowed armies and rose the second time. At the gates of Hallowed Land he's lost the battle, so the Young Gods disincarnated him and bound his soul to the world called «The Bottom of Worlds». Hedin with the help of his apprentice Hagen and Old Chroft (the Ancient God Odin) freed Rakoth and together they conquered Hallowed Land to become New Gods. The first book tells of this third try. The second one is about the time of Rakoth's second rebellion. «The Land Of No Joy» is chronicle of Hjorvard with New Gods - Rakoth and Hedin. I advise to read this trilogy to anyone who thinks (at least sometimes) about our living and our world.
 
What are your lyrics based upon? Is there any special idea which runs all through your verses?
 
- About lyrics... Hmmm... My texts are based on that fact that anything can be viewed from different viewpoints. Maybe «Chronicle»'s lyrics cannot show it clear enough, but it was an experiment. For example the first track «Diamond Angel» is of one girl that looks kind, loveful etc. But inside is only her own aims, iron will, others are just tools for her. Time will come and she will feel all that she caused to others.
Dilogy «Nameless» contains pre-story «Story Of The Nameless» and scene "Return of the Nameless". It is the story of the times, Dark Ages, when the One, Evil itself that had no name, ruled all over the land. Gods gave the people the Artefacts of Great Power, so they could rebel and overthrow Nameless. The second part's hero is the Nameless' minion that comes at the right time to the right place and summons Nameless back to the earth.
«Dying Realm» is a sad story about the realm which dies under the ancient curse laid upon the land long ago for the unknown sins. The realm is doomed, none can remove the curse so it will remain even after the realm's death. I know that these texts are quite naive but they differ from my new lyrics. One of new songs - «Inside The Pentagram» - is the ritual of demon summoning through the eyes of the demon. I tried to realize what he could feel and present it in this track.
The main idea of my lyrics is that nothing can be believed, everything should be questioned and considered. Then the picture of the world will change ultimately and it will be the true world's vision.
 
Your music lies in the vein of black metal, however it differs a lot from majority of our BM acts playing in 100% Norwegian style. RAKOTH’s creations are more slow and doomy; they’re more sad and melancholic than «evil»...
 
- The reason is that none of our modern line-up listens to BM only. For example, my favourite band is DEAD CAN DANCE. We love BM, death, doom. B.t.w., I do not understand why Russian groups have to play in Norwegian style. I think we're not vikings and we have our own history if you really need folklore... It's a pity that BM becomes so popular. It seems to become a trend. Anyone thinks he should play black metal or pagan metal. Pure BM is aggressive and evil but we don't want to enclose ourselves into so narrow cage. We can find many things to express except "Evil" and "Satanism". I like studying inner world of human being, it's feelings and thoughts. And using other styles together with BM I can describe much more things than if I used just pure black metal.
 
I found Black’s vocals as rather pleasing (I always liked the idea of «clean» singing in black metal - especially when it’s done at good level); therefore I’d like to know if he sang anywhere, before joining your band?
 
- Many contemporary BM bands are trying to use «clean» voice. For example, SATARIAL... Nothing more to say, I suppose... Vocals in RAKOTH are divided as follows: Black - «clean» voice, growls, speeches; me - BM screams, whispers, «depressive» voice (the try was made in the beginning of the first track). Before joining RAKOTH Black didn't sing with any band, but he finished musical school as singer and flutist (b.t.w., if you're interested, I finished m.s. as pianist). Also he plays in one of Obninsk theatres. Now as I said before he is a student of Moscow State University of Culture.
 
Once you played with DISSENTER, later Dy (guitars) left that band in order to join RAKOTH - so would you mind telling me (as well as the readers of VAE SOLIS) few words in regards to DISSENTER?
 
- As Dy left DISSENTER this techno-death(techno-grind is more accurate) band ceased to be (R.I.P). I can't tell much of this band cause I heard it just once at the concert. Dy was invited by Den, his friend. Now another  DISSENTER's guitarist (Sergey) comes sometimes to help us with second guitar.
 
Do you use corpsepaint? It strikes as makeup became almost «necessary» attribute of most contemporary black metal bands...
 
- Corpsepaint is Norwegian invention. Let «Norse» bands paint their faces according to their traditions. Greek BM bands do not do this. Neither Swedish. Why should we? Some time ago I tried to invent non-standart, «elvish» paint. I even took a picture. But I think it is not necessary for Russian bands. It seems (foolish?).
 
Your bio sayd that RAKOTH’s former members Ilya (guitars) and Fascist (vocals) now play in a band called TEMNOZOR, which appears as Leshy’s new project, right? Do you own any info concerning above-mentioned band?
 
- I know that there is another TEMNOZOR. But Leshy's TEMNOZOR (closer is TEMNOZORE) appeared when he didn't know of another one. Now TEMNOZOR's line-up is of old RAKOTH: Leshy - drums, Fascist - vox, Ilya - guitars, Miguel - bass. Even guitarist Andrey, that helped old RAKOTH with guitar, now belongs to TEMNOZOR. They play «true» (as Leshy says) pagan metal with accent at bass. Lyrics in old-Slavonic. They're going to record their demo-tape soon.
 
What Russian BM acts would you recommend us to listen to (besides RAKOTH, of course)?
 
- I would recommend none. I don't listen to Russian BM. From Belorussia - GODS TOWER, Ukranian - NOKTURNAL MORTUM (although they're «false» by the words of «true» pagans, I don't care - I like music and lyrics). Some months ago I tried to listen to SATARIAL, THRON, MOR - I didn't like them. These bands lack atmosphere and something else (you’re right about the atmosphere - ED)...
 
Your hometown, Obninsk, spawned two really impressive metal bands - RAKOTH and MELISSA, but what about others? Are there any names worth mention?
 
- There were techno-speed band CAESAR, I don't know if they're still exist. They played really technical, P.G. (MELISSA) helped them at concerts. ANOTHER SKY (or they've renamed?) - techno-thrash with blues influence and keys. ECLIPSE (R.I.P.) - black-doom. Conflict with TEMNOZOR led to collapse. STILL HORROR - firstly grind, then black, now pagan (?). Recorded demo-tape containing three songs. I helped them with vox / keys, Leshy helped as vocalist(!), Cross (ex-ECLIPSE) helped with lead guitars. I don't know if it is worthly of anyone's mention. I suppose they need time. Not so long ago they renamed to AVALON. In general I think that Obninsk may become a source of worthly bands because of its specific design (science city). Intellectual and cultural level is high enough.
 
Are you interested in such thing as mythology?
 
- I am very interested in mythology as a part of history, but I'm not going to make it my way of living. I like books where mythology mixed with fantasy, for example - Nick Perumov, Maria Semionova, Yuri Nikitin. They may be wrong in details but in such things it is not the most important.
 
Many BM bands of today seem to be fascinated with their motherland’s pre-christian culture and traditions, as well as pagan folk music, often including it’s elements in their compositions... And sometimes this mix is just perfect...
 
- I'm glad that this theme is expressed in music. I like pagan metal, but I'm afraid now it is nothing more but fashion. Too sad.
 
Have you received any offers from various labels so far? What do you think about Metal Agen and K.T.R.? Do you consider these organizations as really supportive for Russian extreme metal scene, or perhaps vice versa?
 
- Maybe labels didn't read your review or didn't receive our tape...;) There were no offers yet. We brought our tape to Agen and I think it came to you from him. Metal Agen makes not just much for Russian metal scene. It can be said that it makes Russian metal scene itself. However many bands dealing with them are quite commercial, other ones are really great. Concerning KTR... I hate KORROZIA. I don't like SATARIAL. They're punks, profaning the meaning of metal music in general and BM in particular.
 
When will you manage to release your second effort and what will it be alike, both in musical and lyrical aspects?
 
- I suppose we will record new stuff in two months or about it. Lyrics will be more challenging and maybe not so naive. Two songs will be based on «Downfall Of The Gods». The first - «The Insurgent One» is an anthem to Rakoth, another one - «Mountain God» in an episode from the book. Music... There will be two guitars (there was one at «...Chronicle»). Black will add flute. There won't be a drummer. Computer will perform drum-tracks. Songs will be more complicated. Styles will change often. Dy wants to try himself as another vocalist. So there may be three vocalists. It is too early to speak of it all, we'll see (or hear) the result.
 
What’s for the end?
 
- The questions were great, it was real pleasure to answer them. I was interviewed two times before, but there was nothing comparable. I'm sorry if my opinion on some questions is not similar to yours or your readers' but it is still my own. Several words to your readers. Please think of everything and do not believe words for you can be fooled as christians fooled Europe almost 2000 years.
Farewell!
 

RAKOTH contact -
Email: rust8@hotmail.com