I was kinda shocked by No Fashion’s promotional campaign telling that your music is, let me quote ‘em here, “in the same vein as DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH”! Don’t you fear that even those who haven’t heard “Rape In Rapture” yet won’t ever purchase your CD just because of this comparison? And what a comparison! The one with most trendy black metal bands out there!

- Well, surely if you haven't heard the band, you think it's similar to CRADLE OF FILTH or DIMMU BORGIR. But I guess you'll be positively surprised. 'Cause I think we're much more aggressive than DIMMU BORGIR and a little bit more varied than CRADLE OF FILTH.

And no so trendy...

- No, I don't think so. Definitely not at all.

There’s truly an enormous number of black metal bands in Europe nowadays… Do you really feel you’re capable of drawing listeners’ attention with the music of yours? Personally I think the answer is “yes”, but what about you? What’s so special with MISTELTEIN?

- I agree with you that there're many bands, way too many bands... but most of them release one record in total and just disappear. And I guess it's not the case with MISTELTEIN, because even though it's my band and probably I can't be really objective about other bands...  we're a way above most of this shit and I don't think we'll have any problems with getting through.

Ok, I hope so too. By the way, what does “Misteltein” mean? I couldn’t find this word in any of the Swedish dictionaries…

- "Misteltein" is from the Northern mythology. It's the name of the arrow that killed the god of life, Balder.

All of you seem to use pseudonyms… I truly appreciate it, but only in case those who hide their real names, are able to explain what do their handles stand for… What about you?

- What about my name? It's (*some buzz on the line*)... Sorry, it's the phone ringing here, so...

I mean, can you really explain why do you use those aliases...

- Oohh ok, I know what you mean now (you know, but can't answer my question anyway. Damn I hate phone interviews! - ED). Erh, I think it's important if you use different expression in extreme music. That feels very good when you use another name than in your real life. This is a little bit more feeling to ourselves... If you buy a record and it's really really brutal... Aahh, whatever... It just feels more correct if you know what I mean.

And what about those who state that by using fictional names, they feel themselves somehow(thing) different... another state of being, you know...

- Oh yes, I know what you mean! Sure, you can't act this way all the time... in the ordinary life... There's no real way to explain it, but it's just the way that was supposed to be, you know.

MISTELTEIN is not only a 100% black metal band, right? More likely, a black metal band bringing both thrash and death metal elements into the overall musical canvas, right?

- Not upon the music, yes.

But why so? To make it sound more various, unlike others; by bringing these elements borrowed from another styles or genres?

- Yes, it's true, but this is something rather important. You just limit yourself in one kind of music, immediately setting up some borders that can't be crossed. But variety is something we had from the beginning; trying to make best possible music, no matter what kind of it as long as it's something new. Most of people look upon us as a black metal band, even though we use death and thrash elements...

As always when I get only a promo CD, I have to ask you to tell us anything you’d like regarding “Rape In Rapture’s” lyrics…

- Lyrically "Rape In Rapture" is very varied. Lyrics are rather destructive and, basically, they say how we look upon the things outside the world... Such as religion and (*some buzz again*)..., agression... Aggressive messages to people and believers.

I guess you know why Sweden is that famous in metal world?

(Silence)

... it's mostly due to the fact you have enormous number of bands over there; and unfortunately most of them musically may be reckoned to so-called Gothenburg style… Or on the other hand, to that DARK FUNERAL / SETHERIAL / MARDUK trend… So, majority of them are nothing but copycats. How would you explain it?

(Silence)

Hello?

- No, I can't explain it... (*spawns some kind of a sigh together with a bitter smiling-alike sound*)

Ok, let's go on. It is said you’re already preparing a second album at the moment… Any comments on it? And what about that MORBID ANGEL cover?

- It's not quite so that we record MORBID ANGEL cover. It's called "Day Of Suffering" but it depends on how much material we will compose before the recording. I mean, if there will eight or ten songs, we will not record old demo songs or MORBID ANGEL's cover. New songs will be more aggressive than the old ones were, and... it will be above the material on the "Rape In Rapture".

I guess it will shred, right? But ok, what do you know (and think) regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from our lands that you’ve heard lately?

- No, I haven't... And I don't know much about Russia, either. The only think I know about Russia is that great submarine on the bottom of the sea. That's all I know at the moment...

Ok, I guess we should finish this interview here. Perhaps, you wish to add or wish our readers anything...?

- Well, the only thing I can say right now is: hope to see you on tour.

Just as usual, eh?

- Yeah, just as usual.