"Songs Of The Eternal Oak", the latest work of yours, has been released through two labels simultaneously, Germany's Ketzer and Latvia's Beverina Productions. Have you inked a deal with both? How do they share responsibilities?

- In fact, we didn't sign agreement with both labels at once. Contract for releasing our stuff on Beverina prod. was made long before the end of the recording, simply Beverina and Ketzer have united their forces later. As for sharing their responsibilities - it's better to learn this from themselves.

"Alkonost" stands for a certain bird in Slavonic mythology, therefore let me suppose that you appear as a part of heathen movement?

- You are wrong. We are not a part of this movement. It's not necessary to join some movements in order to be a part of past time by the mind and to pay tribute to once the Great Nation.

If I'm not mistaken and ALKONOST is comprised of pagan souls, let me wonder why are you composing the lyrics of yours in English?

- But who needs a Russian-language band? Moreover, we put our pagan emotions in music, not in wild screams. Really, we have a Russian-language lyrics now, but its early to talk more detailed about it.

What's your attitude to those acts who prefer to come up with a lyrical canvas composed in their native language? And what about those who prefer f.ex. Norwegian over German, Russian, English or whatever (i.e. their native language(s))?

- I believe only to the music. If musicians would really put in it their souls and don't just imitating their idols, then language wouldn't have any importance to me.

I bet that you're familiar with Ukraine's VALHALLA, huh? Lyrically dealing with the Scandinavian mythological cycle, being an Ukrainian band… Yuck! Kinda nonsense, don't you think?

- Yes, we really know them. Their use of Scandinavian lyrics doesn't irritate me. Better such lyrics than verbal excrements of all sorts of pseudo-pagan clowns thirsting for laurels of Norwegian monsters.
 
Why do you think, English became sort of international language, when it comes to metal scene worldwide?

- There's no wonder, after all this music had come from English-speaking countries. In addition, English is an international language.

Enough with abstract bubbling, and back to ALKONOST. There's been quite a while (four years, if I'm not mistaken) since you've made your debut with that "Shadows Of Glory" demo. What have you been up to all this time? Giving us a certain kind of bio would be great as well…

- Presentation of the album was held in January 2000. And recording began in February 1998. These two years was the real struggle against ugly studio workers for "Songs..." had to be finished nevertheless. There were very hard times for us and it is very unpleasant to remember all this. During two years the stuff became out of date and such music can't amaze anybody now. But as "Songs…" is above all personal emotions originated on reading E.Skobelev's book "Miroslav, prince Dregovichsky" and only after commercial product, then it was very important to complete its recording.

It seems like "Songs…" is solely based on nearly unique rhythm guitar passages, literally breathing with folklore. What about that?

- If you tell so, then our idea works well. We were striving to make it this way.

"Rain Of Former Days" strikes as pretty different tune, being kinda serene yet perturbing piece of dark ambient. It was Almira (keyboard-player - ED) who came up with an idea of featuring it on "Songs Of The Eternal Oak", wasn't she?

- Not, it's Elk's idea. And what, you like it, don't you? But one Moscow zine appreciated it in 1 point.

Elk…? Nightbird…? Whew, your handles sound pretty weird, to say the least.

- There's nothing mysterious. Our aliases are derived from our surnames. Here appears new member in the group whose nickname is Alkonost. So that is a real mystery in the meantime.

Are there any plans to re-issue "Songs…" in the shape of CD?

- We would do that with pleasure and there were even concrete offers, but quality of the drums recording and mix forced us out of this plan. Generally, it's a big problem for our town to make high-grade studio recording.  Studios make money on advertising reels and don't know how to work with live bands, though they have excellent apparatus. But their job prices are really fantastic for their low professional level.

"Thanks to all who betrayed us"?! This is what nearly shocked me when I was studying the thanks list "Songs…" comes with. Any comments on such an assertion?

- Comments? Certainly! This is addressed to the freak named Serg Hunter ("Katyusha" zine). For he has betrayed us for the sake of his mean-spirited interests and out of envy of us.

Naberezhnye Chelny isn't really a perfect city for black metal band to reside in, huh?

- Yes, it regards all bands, not only black metal ones. There is no place to record at, no place to play at, even buying a mediator is a problem. And here are all sorts of werewolves like Hunter just striving to play dirty tricks. But at the same time there's no ground for rising a "star-fever". You're just sitting, making up music and aren't thinking much what others will think about it. Nobody is delighted with you (except your girlfriend, of course). And nobody writing in thick zines all kinds of drivel like "... This is the coolest and most original band in Russia, who plays like DIMMU BORGIR…"

By the way, what's your attitude to non-Russians dwelling in Russia (and Naberezhnye Chelny, in particular)?

- Absolutely normal. If only man will be good.

What's your opinion on national-socialism? "RNE"; this pathetic skinhead movement; and so on and so forth…

- First of all, all these organisations are instruments of submission not growing and wobbly minds.

Would you like to make a comment on what "Russian black metal community" really is?

- In fact, it's a correspondence, joint concerts, flyers, and loss of reality and following disappointment in all those petty intrigues.

Thanks and all the best to you in all of your efforts! Closing words…?

- Thank you for the interview. And I wish readers do not suffer from rubbish, don't fall into a trap of wittingly worthless image with idiotic ideology and believe only to what is laid in music, not in bombastic speeches and words.

ALKONOST contact -
Snail mail: D.V.Tunev, P.O.Box 87, 423821, Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia
Email: alkonost_dp@mail.ru