Ave, Nikolay! Is there anything, that you'd like to tell people,
unfamiliar with your band?

- Well, MELISSA is more than five years old now. Our first day-jobs were quite typical - local concerts once in a half-year, demo tapes recorded on equipment, far from being good... But there was an ardour during that times - we grieved for our band and considered music almost as a purport of life... Next couple of years brought intelligent changes in musical style, bound with growing masterly execution and some other things - you see, our interrelations and views on the things, surrounding us also changed a bit. After first two years passed, MELISSA became simply another band, so to speak. Me and Pavel G. were the only ones left from the first lineup. In principle, all music was composed by only two of us since the very beginning; I was also responsible for lyrics and Pavel, in fact, was the one who formed the band. In 1994 we, as a trio (with a programmed drum-set instead of drummer), recorded regular demo tape, which was appreciated at it's true value by Agen Price (Metal Agen Records' owner - ED). He invited us in purpose to hold a kind of discussion; shortly after we played live on 4th (if I'm not mistaken) Deathrider fest with huge number of absolutely unknown bands, which became quite popular nowadays - END ZONE, MENTAL HOME, etc. Unfortunately, we couldn't establish any personal relations with them, perhaps because of the fact, that most of them come from Moscow, and we're not muscovites at all (regarding both geographical placing and way of life...) In short - Agen offered us a deal, concerning a debut album's release. It came out in 1995, entitled "In Mourning".  After that we played some gigs in Moscow and St.Petersburg. We planned to record our second effort and perform a couple of live shows in Spring 1997, but all this was adjourned till now. MELISSA turned into oblivion for almost six months.

How are the things going with your second album? Alexander (Trubitzin) told me that it shall be something to be labeled as "occult doom metal" (early TIAMAT / TREBLINKA, SEPTIC FLESH, etc.), I heard something completely different from you, your homepage featured info, concerning industrial remix of "Hate"... Honestly speaking, I became muddled up a bit...

- Well, it's kinda hard to tell how our new album will sound alike...
First of all, I need to say that main part of music was created and composed by me, with some corrections by Pavel, of course. We'll complete eventual arrangement together, but only on the final recording's stage. Right now we have eight-songs demo tape. We're not going to distribute it, though (maybe with an exception for Agen Price) - it was recorded only for further arrangements and lyrics think-out. Bass parts will be performed by Pavel G. - he possesses both instruments extremely good, besides, he studies it in a jazz college. As to "Hate" remix - it's not industrial, but a techno-remix. We like it, although it's not decided yet, if it'll be featured on our new album.

I heard that one of your members had some problems with drugs... Would you like to comment this event?

- There was no problems with drugs affecting us - I'm already tired to answer this question. We had few problems, concerning our personal relations, after creative crisis, which lasted more then for a year. It didn't damage our band seriously - we simply lost six months. Suchlike things occur everywhere. I think, this topic should be closed now.

You are signed simultaneously to Metal Agen and Soyuz Records... How do they assign responsibilities? Are you pleased with their work? Do you know if Soyuz has any  distribution system in Europe? It's rumoured that Metal Agen stopped it's existence - do you know anything about that?

- This question is outside our competence. We signed a contract with Metal Agen, and they organized distribution through Soyuz. I can't say anything, concerning that rumours. If it's truth - then it is appalling loss for Russian metal scene. I consider Agen as eminent personality, it was him who dragged all Russian metal bands out of cellars. I believe, this rumour only proves that Metal Agen is still alive and kicking.

Did you receive offers from any foreign labels after "In Mourning"
release?

- Hmmm... I can't answer for sure - we don't have any concluding paper on hands. But conversations and letters of this kind took their place. Honestly speaking, we've never concerned ourselves with this in real earnest. Maybe, in future...

"In Mourning" was recorded more than two years ago... Is there anything, that you'd like to change in this album, if you'll have such a possibility? Was it a worthy debut, how do you think?

- It may sound a bit immodest, but I consider this album as highly decent. Of course, we aren't satisfied with some things, especially with technical side - you know, it was a debut also regarding the fact, that we recorded it in our own studio on our own equipment - there's a few number of people, who can brag about presence of multi-track recorder, mixer, heaps of processings, microphones, professional instruments - everything made by famous firms. Some of the equipment was shared with us by guys from GORKY PARK - Pavel D. (drummer) toured with them in 1994 all across the Russia. Properly speaking, he was the one who did all sound-engineering / mixing
work. Surely, we've lost sight of many things - I won't speak about it in details, but personally I would mix "In Mourning" in a bit different way, not so "dry"... Besides, strict temporal limits also adversely affected it - we recorded and mixed the album during one week (Pavel was working almost twenty-four hours a day). But on the whole I'm very pleased with our debut.

Your lyrics don't look like the ones, supporting christianity, heh heh... So what do you have against this religion? In my opinion, bible is one of the most unintelligible books ever written, however christian preachers were guided exactly by this book and reached enormous success... Can you explain how this religion won such strong positions in the whole world?

- Uhhhh... First of all, bible had been written for millenniums and it reflects moral values common to all mankind, not only christians - this is the reason for preachers' success. Concerning strong positions - it's quite obvious, taking into account the fact that f.e.x. Russia is a "christian" country for more than thousand years! Fortunately, nowadays civilized man is able to make his own choice, not being pressed by traditions of concrete land or culture. My choice was deliberated, I didn't follow "christian" or "satanic" trend. Some of christian dogmas are extremely disgusting, at least in my view.  I disagree with many biblical assertions, there're a lot of contradictions, which seem a bit funny to me.  But, on the other hand, it's impossible to overestimate historical value of this book. Now I'm more neutral when it comes to such things; I'm more interested in human interrelations, their psychology.  Religious lyrics are gone and buried. Although, f.ex. "Narcotherapy" is more "satanic" song for me comparing to "Dark Deeds", speaking about inquisition. Dark, hidden sides of our lives turned out as more attractive for me, and this fuss (excuse my word) with christianity simply became boring. It isn't worth long discussions.

What about enlarging MELISSA lineup by inviting a keyboardist?

- Definitely. We didn't include keyboards on the first album "thanks" to some technical problems, time pressed us as well... That's why "In
Mourning" featured only instrumental part of "Suicide" (it lasts for 5 minutes in the whole), which was created only by myself. Second album will feature professional multi-instrumentalist, who played in many famous Russian pop and rock bands (DOMINO, SOLAR QUEEN, etc.) But he will appear only as session musician. I believe, that his participation will raise our sound to a much bigger level. Besides, we will engage professional sound engineer, and the album recording will take place in three studios (guitars + drums in the first, vocals in the second, keyboards and mix in the third one). That's it.

I believe, you used MERCYFUL FATE's song as a bandname... Do you consider yourself as fans of this band? What do you think of modern King Diamond's creations and his faith? Is he sincere in it?

- You can find details on our homepage. When we did our first steps as a band, K.D. was the only group, which we were adoring with. He is simply a peerless authority for me. Concerning his modern creations - well, in my opinion, King was a bit insincere on his last two albums - maybe it's too hard for him to play and sing in two bands simultaneously. But all M.F. albums are top-quality and "Into The Unknown" assured me that King will release excellent albums for a long time further. Is he sincere in his beliefs? Sure! It's impossible to fool himself and thousands of fans during seventeen years, especially in such professional way! Once I read his interview, exclusively dedicated to his faith, persuasions and suchlike things - it included almost twenty pages and was very convincing. I think of him as a person, who is very serious in what he does and believes in, and who won't change his convictions because of a trend or fashion.

Do you consider your music original? Whom would you name as your main rivals (both, in Russia and Europe)? Drawing the parallels, we could compare MELISSA to EDGE OF SANITY - do you agree?

- Concerning metal music - only BLACK SABBATH can be named as original (and LED ZEPPELIN / DEEP PURPLE conformably). As to competition - we're not engaged in it. We just play what we like, that's all. Regarding Russian doom metal bands, I've heard only MENTAL HOME. Maybe, you can find some similarities, but personally I have never tried to draw any parallels or compete with them, especially as these guys are twice more productive than we are. Our new album will be more close to hard'n'heavy. Two-three songs in pure death vein and no doom metal. Concerning EDGE OF SANITY - I've heard only "Crimson". Well, maybe there's something resembling, but not enough to compare us.

What do you think about black metal and it's today's popularity?

- Well, it's a kind of pity that black overshadowed doom / death (only the
strongest survive - ED). I don't like BM very much, although I've heard only a few records, so I have no right to tell if it's good or bad. I simply don't like this music. My Austrian friends once invited me on CRADLE OF FILTH concert - they had tickets, company... - but I didn't go. I know that thousands of your readers will curse me... Of course, CRADLE are professionals - but I'm indifferent to this music.

Do you appear as person advocating experiments in extreme music (like
mixing it with non-metal styles (jazz, classical music), using non-typical instruments, drawing in symphonic orchestras or f.ex.  jazz female singers and so on eternally)? Or you adhere the opinion of conformists?

- We regard quite positively all arrangements / accords / sound
non-standard for metal music, and I think that our debut album shows it perfectly. Of course, we couldn't realize all desires because of technical difficulties, mentioned somewhere above. We tried to incorporate some jazz intonations; there's flute, oboe and bagpipes on "Suicide" (besides stringed instruments). Therefore I only welcome such style-mixing, if it's not overdone. But standard "beatles" sound (two guitars, bass and drums) is also something, that I like very much.

Can you explain me the meaning of your debut album's title and cover art?

- As to cover, it was painted by our old friend. Why did he choose exactly this picture? I don't know.  Bu I think, it has some kind of hidden meaning - in my view, this door leads beyond our being, life and it's perception. The album title most likely was spawned by my personal sensations and senses. One time it seemed to be conformed to some songs' mood, things, which took place in determined time.  However, this title doesn't seem to fit the album's mood in my today's opinion. This album is more anxious, dark and aggressive than "mournful". I wanted to name the new one as "In Peace...?" - time passed, it looks like the maelstroms of that events turned into oblivion, but... That's why I placed "?" in the end of dots. Although, more time will pass, other events will occur and we will look upon them in another way... I don't know. I can't give an exact answer even to myself.

Did you ever think about changing your vocal style? What about "clean" vocals? (a little note:  there're a lot of Russian bands' vocalists trying to sing "normally" nowadays, but personally I don't feel very good about this - first of all, because of awful accent, when they try to sing on English, second, because 99% of them don't have any voice and different kind of bleating / croaking / mumbling is of NO interest to me.)

- I totally agree with you. I wanted to start singing, not just screaming, a long time ago. But exactly because of the reason you pointed above, my vocals will stay the same as on the first album in majority of songs. Although, I will sing with "normal" voice in a couple of tracks. We played them live and people liked it. "This Time" is the one we count on very much. So, yes, I agree with you on the whole - stupid trend following leads to almost funny result. I won't "mumble", believe me...

What are occupied with in your free time? Do you work? Study? Where?

- Personally I currently study in post-graduate course and work in the scientific research institute.  Besides music, I'm interested in
computers, Internet, etc. Pavel G. studies in jazz college in Moscow and practically lives there... Because of it we meet quite rarely and, as you probably understand, music doesn't gain by it. I don't know what he's doing apart from music. He decided to dedicate his life to it.  I partly envy him - music was, is and will be our "drug". Apropos, here's the answer to that "drug" question. I can't say anything regarding other band's members - our interests stopped traversing.

Are you interested in classical literature? Who are your favorite authors? What about occultism?

- Yes, I like classical literature a lot - especially Pushkin, as well as Czechov. Unfortunately, I don't have time to read a lot. Lately I read only Stephen King in original. His novels often reveal me the new verges of usual things by very simple words. King is a great psychologist; so not only his stories interest me, but also something that can be read between the lines. Through my lyrics I try to tell such things, which cannot be explained even in two familiar with each other people's conversation. You see, it's very hard to tell unknown person something, that you experience and think of, without seeing his eyes. This is the point where King's works are very close to me. And here appears occultism. I'm eager to know what awaits us "there", the place unreachable for us until we die, what is "soul", so irritatingly often discussed...  The same goes for love. And hate. Here I also have a place for occultism.  A bit muddled, right? It's very hard to explain in few words. I think, that a sort of world "beyond" really exists. It must exist.

What is the current MELISSA lineup?

- Uh, hard to tell. Last time we played live December of 1996 in St.
Petersburg with the same lineup, that performed on our debut effort. The second one will feature (like always) Pavel G. (guitars, bass) and me on guitars and vocals. We'll create all arrangements together + keyboardist. As to others, I can't tell you anything for sure. We thought about inviting different drummers. It would be nice, if we'll manage to use some wind-instruments in a couple of tracks - trumpet, in particular. Furthermore, we'll use computers quite actively. But of course, it will be guitar music, not rave.

Well, perhaps, it's enough for the first time... Anything for the end?

- Good questions, quite non-standard. I hope, your mag will do it's bit in extreme music development - I believe that Russian metal music will arise from this "second echelon", like I was told by one Swede. HMR!!!

MELISSA
Email (Nikolay Tuzov):
cola_hero@hotmail.com