Greetings. Let's start this interview with discussing the huge difference between your latest CD, "Re-Vision", and thy former effort, "Heart Of The Way". Did it come out natural?

- Indeed, it is. I mean, huge difference between "Re-Vision" and "Heart Of The Way". And it's quite obvious. We recorded material for "Heart Of The Way" early 1996. Having composed whole material in 1995, we recorded it during spring 1996. We have put all our skill and vision of music we had at that time into that. We were very pleased with reaction of world underground mass media on our previous demos, and we just went on with development in chosen techno direction. It was Art, pure Art! Of course, new re-vision of our music isn't strange, if follow gradual movement of the band. After "Heart..." was recorded we had a lot of free time due to the delay with its releasing. You know, musicians kinda addicted, thus, during dragged on pause, we (me and Sergey) started side, computer-based project OVERSUN to unleash all the bizarre ideas, crowded in our minds. I have to acknowledge, that it affected us later. Meanwhile we wrote some new stuff for "Heart..."'s follower. We were afraid too much to repeat ourselves, coz no one wanted to kill unique atmosphere of "Heart...". That's why "Breath Of The Ground" came out more simple in song structures, more easy apprehended for fans of all styles. Then silence again. Day-by-day life devoured some musicians and it was day, that we with Sergey stayed two of us as ENS COGITANS. But we didn't want to surrender and started compose new album. And now recall abovementioned OVERSUN influence. We were ready to create intelligent, charming compositions, full of  metal's elegance and heaviness, so "Re-Vision" came out very natural, as a reflections of our these-days notion about metal music. I see, that if watch the band's jump only from early 1996 to late 1999, it looks like large abyss in between, but if follow step be step - it's definitely versatile development of full value.

Are you pleased with the way Seven Art treat you as a band and person? To me it seems like they're pretty weak in terms of promotion.

- SEVEN ART is nice little indy label, which accepted us thanx to our music, not a geography (I mean, you have to know, how foreign labels unwillingly co-operate with Russian collectives). I know Anto & Luka personally, coz I was in Italy, and I have to say - they are very, very pleasant people, who're really longing to support world metal scene and who invested all goddamn money they had into it. Plus Italian taxes, plus deceptive attitude of rip-offers all over the globe. Nobody can blame'em for that, especially if this is resulted in deal between CENTURY MEDIA and their beginners FLOWING TEARS AND WITHERED FLOWERS. Of course, since they ain't gods, they didn't handle everything well. For instance we are waiting for "Heart Of The Way" CD already 4 years. But in the end of 1999 SEVEN ART really helped us, putting out "Re-Vision" CD in time. For sure, we wanted more, but anyway I grateful to SEVEN ART Music for all their support. It's pretty good for start, it taught us a lot worth to be done.

Who's responsible for "Re-Vision" cover art? It looks rather impressive!

- As to front page - bizarre, unusual, vague picture, which, yes, I agree, very impressive, all responsibility lays upon Diego Maniscalco's shoulders. We don't know this guy at all, but he works for SEVEN ART as well, so it was their decision to enlist him, and I bet, he found right mood to transmit entire atmosphere of the album - attractive, enigmatic Death in Love among the modern things.

I really liked your "clean" voice, or more likely, the way it sounds on "Re-Vision"! I wonder if you had took any lessons in order to sing properly?

- Yeah, there were a plenty of taken lessons since 1992, the year I started sing for my first band BLOODY ANGEL. Lessons of permanent rehearsals, gigs and home exercises. Thanx for the good words, I really flattered, but actually there were no professional ones taken, but will and diligence.

Do you feel satisfied with your band's present lineup? Are there any plans for inviting additional musicians in the band?

- Yeap! Completely. Sometimes I don't really believe, that all these great musicians gathered together, gathered with me. All of them are bringing unique approach to band's music, filling it up with incredible skill and sense of proportion. Of course, sometimes there were bad times in our relationships, departures and returns, struggle within, drugs and misunderstanding, coz you can imagine how to be 7 years together, but we broke it through, and I sure, I satisfied with present line-up for all 100%, and ENS COGITANS is in no need in additional musicians. Though, our original bass player Dmitry is in Holland now for a while, and we need replacement to tour western Europe this autumn.

As far as I know, you have yet one more project of yours, called OVERSUN. Any further comments?

- OVERSUN settled up in 1998. First off it was mine and Sergey's tiny side project to release our popmetal ideas, which weren't fit ENS COGITANS' style. We had a hell lot of free time and decided to pay serious attention to "computer-in-music" field. It resulted in mini CD "Pinnacle's Obsession". There were 6 songs of diverse sorts, more experimental way. Responses on it are helped us to take right course and nowadays we're recording full-length killer "Tragedy Of Time", more monolithic, more powerful and aggressive, than his precursor. Now I think, OVERSUN may be considered as real one.

Could you please tell us anything you'd like to, regarding your rehearsal place and instruments?

- We started in small basement of ordinary school, then we changed few rehearsal rooms, and now we are back at our primary school cellar. But all that time we bought some equipment, and now I afford myself to say, that me and Sergey are the owners of small soundrecording studio, where both last ENS COGITANS and OVERSUN's mini albums were recorded with pretty nice quality, aren't they? New OVERSUN is gonna be our top in production, regarding sound recording.

Tell me about the person, named Oleg Alimov... Are there any differences between your image and real life? Can you mark out distinguishing features of your temper? How important is the image of your band in continuity with the music?

- There is nothing very special in this name. Long time ago some young conqueror was wishing to win metal freaks' hearts with his music, but it became his own life, no less, and there is no difference between Oleg Alimov's living and Oleg Alimov as musician. In my life as well as in my music I am always trying to listen to my heart, my head to be honest, coz I am sure, that personal lies, life with contradictions inside between inner ego and personality  - the most awful torture on this Earth, at least for artist. That's why I haven't to excogitate something distinctive to attract attention to my person in both spheres. I am either interesting or disinteresting. For ones - I am, for others - I ain't. This is mostly I love my band for. Honesty. No place for various substitutions of music's beauty by ideology and religions of any kind. You simply want to work, or you simply want not to. It's all I about. I'm endeavoring treat people and everything I am in touch with according one rule: "Treat everything as you want to be treated back".

Let's talk about human soul for a while... Do you believe in the fact of its existence? What is soul and what kind of responsibility does it carry inside of us? Is it something "supernatural", not to be seen, or however certain scientist will finally reveal it in time to come...?

- I know - soul exists. But it's very subtle, intimate substance. I suppose, that soul is the man himself. I mean, it has nothing common with our mortality, body, deeds, it's our intelligence, our LOVE. I do not believe, that somebody can reveal it, coz it has nothing common with this world, we're living in, it only might be guessed. Not by perfect equipments but sensibility of closest beings around. Soul is what we have not to change with all our stubbornness and conceit. It's what we've been given to cognize the world without any tools and physical laws, world of consciousness. Will we be so arrogant to think that there are some high-tech instrument sets we have to measure INFINITY?!.

Philosophy, music and art - what attracts you more and why? Are there any philosophers, musicians or artists you adore with?

- In first turn - it's music. I can't imagine my life without music. Once I wished to quit, but it resulted in OVERSUN birth, and that's all I know. I 'm interested in all kinds of art, but first off - music, coz it's sum of philosophy and art itself. The huge, tremendous world with myriads of still secret regions, capable to transmit both feelings and power, world of notes, which draw certain pictures in your mind, bear certain thoughts, being non-recognized itself, simultaneously yours and untouchable. Uncanny, uncanny... As to second part of your question, of course I have favorites in all fields. In musical sphere, except great by-all-known metal musicians I admire boundless melodism of Musorgsky and absolutely unpredictable character of Stravinsky's works. I still love fantastic DEATHROW, and I do love eternal sorrow of SADNESS. As to philosophers - Nitzche and Kastaneda are beyond the compare. Both of them described how to be a strong man. Not beast alike, furious, possessing, but peacefully strong. I think it's the way it must be. Among the artists it's absolute priority to Dali. This any was totally insane, and I am long time ago understood, that only crazy beings are happy and apt to create something outstanding.

What (or whom) do you like (dislike) more than anything (anyone) else and why?

- All I can say, I dislike violence, coz it's very shameful to humiliate somebody just because you stronger. It's not a fair competition if you treat this obviously weaker being. Nobody wants to try the better one. And I do like to make music, and it's clear why. Am I limited?!.

Thank you very much for your precious time. Are there any last comments or words of wisdom to conclude?

- I'd like to thank you for this interview, it was my pleasure to answer such an interesting questions. I'd like to appeal to all readers of this - feel free contact us and join ENS COGITANS music world. We're different from absolute majority of modern metal, so it might be very healthy to check our stuff out. For all additional info, please, visit our home page in Internet:
http://www.rusmetal.ru/enscogitans/
or write to <ens_cogitans@mtu-net.ru>