First of all, let's clear the things up: does AMORBITAL have anything in common with black metal, both stylistically or lyrically?

- AMORBITAL has nothing common with black metal. We play pure death metal. Anyway, I do not claim someone cannot find another influences in our music. Maybe, you just have found some black metal influences in our album and we respect your opinion. In my opinion, the most important think is if people like our music. Influences are not as momentous as music itself.

Slovakia is best known for churning out a multitude of gore grind and alike acts, however AMORBITAL definitely isn't the one of this kind. I guess, you have to be pretty gallant people, embarking on a different path...

- You are right. The majority of Slovak death metal bands play brutal music in vein of American bands. I really do not understand why almost every new band tries to copy these bands without attempt to create something new and original. Probably brutality is the most important thing for them.  As you said, we have chosen different path. We try to combinate brutal death metal with melodic parts and that is the right way for us.

It's kinda strange to become acquainted with the death metal band paying so much attention to melodically elaborated structures nowadays... For how long have you been crafting "Invidia's" musical canvas?

- It took us almost one year to prepare the stuff for "Invidia". The songs fully arised by natural way.  By the way, I do not think, that nowadays is so hard to become acquainted with bands paying so much attention to melodically structures...

What about those rumors regarding the re-release of "Invidia" in the shape of CD?

- INVIDIA is out on CD format from January 2000 and French label SHOCK WAVE RECORDS released it.

"Sand Whispers" appears as a sort of Egypt-influenced piece, doesn't it?

- Ancient Egyptian culture and mythodology was always inspirative for me. I have read a lot of books about mummyfying, rituas, Gods etc.. In the end I decided to write a text about these them,e. It is very probably, I will write similar lyrics very soon.

Have you ever been compared to KATAKLYSM and VARATHRON? At least, when it comes to me, these are the bands I recall whilst giving "Invidia" a listen...

- We have never been compared to KATAKLYSM or VARATHRON. I guess, we play different music than these bands. During our existence people compared us to many bands, but all of them played different kinds of music. We have never been compared to only one band.

"Invidia" has been executed at Exponent Studios, and, judging by the rumors, it's one of the best places in Europe to get your stuff recorded at. Is it true?

- Exponent Studio is really best studio for us in SLOVAKIA. There are also another studios in Slovakia but we did not like the sound these studios. I do not said, Exponent is ideal studio, but this stidio is simply the most advantageous place for us.

"Faustinus' Dream" and "Sand Whispers" (as well as most of the tunes off "Invidia", actually) lyrically seem to deal with various kinds of mythological cycles and magick...

- As I said before, mythologies are my favourite themes for text writting. Ancient fictional stories dealing with Gods and heros are so inspirative, and I find here a lot of interesting themesd.  Song "F. A." talks about Faust and about his  yearning for knowledge and the truth. Doctor signed a pact with devil to achieve these knowlwedge. Song "Sand Whisper" is not a story. It talks about ancient Gods, rituals....

Furthermore, would you like to make any comments on "The Invasion Has Begun" piece? If I'm not mistaken, it has something to do with alien races and stuff like that...

- You are right again. Song "The Invasion Has Begun" is really about extra terrestrial civilisations and about their arrival on Earth. I am sure that these civilisations exist and we are not alone in this great Universe. I am also sure that they know about us  and the day when we will know the truth is near.....

"Chrysogonus"... "Lazare"... Let me doubt that these ones are the real names of yours...

- The names are just our pseudonyms. Nothing more - nothing less.

What does "modern music for the modern people"-slogan mean to you?

- I do not know, what term modern music means..... It is commercial music what is playing every day on TV? If so, I am definitelly unmodern man, listening to definitelly unmodern music. I have got another slogan. There is only good or bad music!!! You have to feel music music in your heart you cannot search for modern music in actual trends.

Is there anything you'd like to say concerning religious issues? Do you appear as the advocates of any particular sort of religious cult or not?

- I am atheist! Any form of organized religion is inaccessible for me. Religion is very good business today and that is what i really hate. A message for all fanatic believers: Religion is just waste of time.

Do you know anything regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from the country of mine you've heard lately?

- Russian underground scene is not strange for me. I know a lot of Russian bands and my favourite is FESTERGUTS. I know also TALES OF DARK NORD, DER GERWELT, PROMONTORY, CUMDEO, ROSSOMAHAAR, MISCREANT...

Would you like to wish all those who're reading this, anything you feel they deserve?

- Thanks to everybody who have read this interview. Stay cool and support worldwide metal underground!!!

Hail and kill !!!

AMORBITAL MANAGER
Vladimir Stanko
Osloboditelov 18
066 01 Humenne
SLOVAKIA - EUROPE

Email: vladimir.stanko@at.siemens.sk