It seems like you've managed to compose a lot of songs lately (judging by the fact "Sure To Be Pure" saw the light shortly after the "Cold" CD). What is the reason for such a creative
breakthrough?

- After the "Cold", huh? That stuff ("Cold" - ED) was composed few years before it was released, and since then we were trying to reach a new style, more original. And then we had to compose a lot of songs for the new one, "Sure To Be Pure". Actually, we had plenty of time to do it, since "Cold" is rather old-dated, despite the fact it was released not so long ago.

If I'm not mistaken, the title track off "Sure To Be Pure" deal with Islam and alike matters... right? What's your opinion on this religious movement? It's disgusting, isn't it?

- My opinion on this religion is the same for all religions. This song deals with my view on the current situation in the world. I had few experiences with these guys, the ones completely into Islam. After meeting and talking with a lot of people adhering to Islam, I decided to make this song. Just my personal point of view, you see. It's not really a criticism, but more likely my own interpretation of what I see and what I hear. For me, Islam is too extreme in some aspects, therefore it can be really dangerous at times. As you know, a lot of metal bands talk about Jesus Christ and catholicism in their lyrics, so I guess it's quite interesting to come up with a different point of view. That was the reason for me to tell the world what I think of Islam.

I discovered a song in Spanish amongst the ones featured on "Sure To Be Pure"... Whew! As far as I know, all of you are of French origin, hence I can't figure out why you decided to come up with a song in Spanish...

- Ha, the band is from France, but I'm from Spain! Now you know why I made a song in Spanish, don't you? (***laughs***) It's not the only reason, though. Few years ago some kind of trend took place, most of bands preferred to sing in French, but I don't think it's ok for the metal. So we tried to do something different. For me, Spanish language is more brutal, more into this kind of music. It was our answer to all those bands who make attempts to sing in French...

By the way, what does this song deals with, lyrically?

- It's very very dark song, because I'm talking about my sister, who died two years ago. It's all about my emotions, my anger and inner bitterness.

"Sure To Be Pure" has a fantastic layout! Who is responsible for it's graphic execution?

- It's the guy from the label. So I can't tell you about the layout... (***laughs***) It becomes very strange - those who're into metal don't really care about the layout or the artwork, today, in the CD era. It was different with the vinyl in the past. And as to this guy, he was also painting covers for bands like VADER and KRABATHOR.

You've just mentioned this vinyl thing... What's your attitude to vinyl recordings?

- It's very expensive nowadays, being more a collector's item. On the other hand, the CDs are very expensive, too. Especially in France. I don't know about the situation in Russia, though...

In Russia, you can buy the CD at 2 or 10 bucks - depending only on where you buy it. But when I've been in Spain, I couldn't purchase even one single CD due to the fact it was hellishly expensive...

- Oh yeah? (***sounds like he's a bit surprised***) Vinyls... Well, they were more interesting for the eyes, the way they looked like, was much more important than it is today. But the CD sounds better, at least you can listen to it for hundred times and even more. In my opinion, vinyl recordings appear of interest only for the collectors.

Formerly known as a death metal band, you later embarked on a path of... erh, "atmospheric thrash metal". What were you guided by, changing the band's musical direction?

- First of all, I have to say that we started the band in 1987 and released our first CD four years later. Yes, we were a death metal band, but after we had few lineup changes and a myriad of personal problems in 1995, we thought that we have to make something different, to try a new style. We also had keyboards in the band, and it was time to experience something new, something we didn't do before. It was kind of revolution - however we still keep few death metal elements, like for example, the sound of guitars is very very low. It is very important for us to keep the motivation, to keep the band alive, but with a different vision.

How has the press reacted to this metamorphosis?

- Well, I think now it's gonna be more positive, because previously many people couldn't really understand why we don't sound the way we sounded before. We hope that the audience will become a little bit more open-minded. Now we just want to turn the page, because we are already thirty-years old guys, and it's impossible to stay in the death metal vein after seven years of making this sort of music. Most of journalists were very disappointed with "Cold", but now it looks like they finally understood what is MERCYLESS in 2001... Probably they become more open-minded thanks to the musical evolution which takes place in this world.

Next question regards the metal scene in France... This country definitely isn't well-known for spawning a great number of metal bands, so what about enlightening us a bit concerning French metal scene?

- There're of course few good bands like MISANTHROPE and AGGRESSOR, but it doesn't change the fact that we have very little market for the metal music in France. The point is, the sales of the albums aren't really important, because you can't sell a lot of CDs anyway. It's very hard to survive here, at least if you're a metal band. Fortunately, nowadays the bands become more and more professional, and the only problem is the crude market, crude business. But I guess the situation will be better in the future, especially if such labels as Osmose Productions and others will concentrate on helping French bands...

What's your most favorable dream; and what's your opinion on dreams and reveries in the whole?

- Oh... (***laughs***) Nowadays I almost don't dream at all, because I'm very tired...

I wasn't talking about "sleep", but a "dream". These're different things...

- Yeah, sorry. First of all, I hope to stay alive in the near future, that's my greatest dream - everyday's dream, you know (***laughs***). To have a good health, to release more CDs with MERCYLESS - and that's a big-big-big work for us, since we have to do a lot of business (? - ED) before putting out the CD. We dream of playing live in a lot of countries, touring all over the world, spreading the band's name; of reaching new horizons with our future stuff. To put it straight: the luck of the band is our biggest dream. It's the part of our lives.

Would you agree with those who consider a man with no dream to be a dead man?

- Have I heard this before, no?

???

- This sentence is from a certain book, no?

Hmm... I've just heard people stating this, however I have no idea where they've taken it from... (***slightly confused***)

- It's strange, because I've read this sentence in the book few days ago (***sounds like he's slightly confused as well***)... So, a man without a dream is a dead man?

Yes.

- ... and you want to know my opinion on this?

Yes.

- (***long pause***) Probably "yes", because... erh, the man is like a machine, we have to make what we want everyday. I think, it's impossible to live with no dream, with no goal in life - then we just become nothing.

Ok. What do you think about Russia, the political situation we have here at the moment, and so and so forth? Generally speaking, what do you know about the country I come from?

- Not so much. I almost don't know anything when it comes to music, but as to the situation... Well, it seems like you have huge problem with mafia... is it right?

Not quite. F.ex. USA is no less criminal country than Russia. But yes, we have problems of this kind over here...

- I don't know much about your economical situation, but I think it wasn't really ok in the past. French people's vision of Russia is very very bad, because we have a lot of problems with immigrants; of course not only from Russia, but also from other countries located in the Eastern Europe. In fact, I don't want to make my opinion on this subject judging by what our TV tells us, because the news is nothing but a TV-show. I prefer to talk with the guy from Russia, you know.

Ok, thank you for the interview. Would you like to say, add or wish anything?

- We're going on tour soon, together with few bands from our label. And of course, we hope to stay in the scene for at least a couple of years...