First of all, let me congratulate you with unleashing "Remoti Meridiani Hymni", truly an outstanding work! As far as I know, (quite) recently you've been signed to Brazil's Somber Music, hence the question arises: what happened to Sound Riot, as well as why you had to leave?
- We aren't working with Sound Riot anymore,
because they haven't given us any answer about our new second cd, so we
guess they gave up working. Actually, we don't know anything regarding
the exact reasons.
Haven't
you written anything in late 90ties? Seems like I'm doing the right thing
assuming this, otherwise I should most possibly consider myself an idiot,
since I wouldn't ever believe that any other reason (perhaps with an exception
for splitting up the band) could cause such a goddamn 5-years break!
- We had a lot of problems, such as lack
of equipment, for example. We sold everything to pay for the studio and
we didn't have a place to rehearse at due to the fact our plans didn't
work as it was expected. We were writing songs living far from each other,
although it was a good time, because we could finally complete our songs
which turned out as much better ones.
Why Akenaton (the
guy who was formerly responsible for synthetic harmonies) has left the
band?
- Akenaton had other plans. He wasn't following
us, so he decided to leave the band, maybe because he didn't have more
reasons to stay we think. We have to be together all the time, always thinking
about the band - if somebody thinks differently he'd better leave.
Somber Music is
a very young label, consequently let me doubt that you've gained a lot
by entering their roster…
- But they trust us. Claudio would like
to create a unique label and an album, so they called us and started doing
a great job. They have just released the first MIASTHENIA album, by the
way.
"Remoti…'s" appearance
(coverart, inlay etc.) definitely is the one I usually call "stunning".
Perhaps it was supposed to be a certain kind of reflection portraying what
we have to deal with, once buying the latest work of yours?
- The cover portrays a solar deity, a mask
with solemn feature, behind which we see the eternal pagan fire burning
inside us. All art is connected with lyrics and ancient spirit of Incan
heritage.
If someone would
compare "Remoti…" to the CD you've made your debut with ("Sphere Of Nebaddon"),
the following three principal differences definitely are the ones to be
marked out: now the music is a) incredibly less monotonous; b) much more
folkish; and finally c) … hey, isn't it black metal…?? At least, "Remoti…"
captures undoubtedly darker kind of ambience, whilst I doubt if it's all
the same with "Sphere Of Nebaddon". Would you like to comment the suppositions
I've just made?
- I agree about the differences. "SPHERE..."
is more straight, cold, more into doom / death genre, while "REMOTI..."
represents the music we wanted to come up with: epic metal, opulent and
triumphant.
Have you ever
been compared to anyone? Whom was that? BAL-SAGOTH, I
assume?
- I think we have our own style, we are
always looking for new ideas through the inspirations to write the songs.
Each group is different, they can't be compared to anyone.
It strikes as
you're obsessed with everything that's similar to the notion of "grandeur";
or what else should I think about, looking at your moniker and song titles...?
This question could be forwarded to BAL-SAGOTH as well, heh heh...
- Opulence is our keyword. Lyrics can be
interpreted as prophecies and even sagas... long songs like odes to our
obsession... no comparison with these English guys...
The lyrical canvas
of yours proposes definitely majestic yet sophisticated subjects. Is the
lyrical side no less important than the musical one?
- Lyrics have a special importance for us,
so together with the music they have the same importance 'cause we want
people to listen and "feel" our words.
What's your attitude
to those who make numerous attempts to compose lyrics in English, failing
miserably due to the fact they can't even say a word in this language?
- We have a big problem cause we don't write
in English, only in Portuguese, and then translate it to English. At the
moment it's not easy to write in English for us, but this is not enough
for giving up your plans.
Both stylistically
and compositionally, you offer quite complicated and, what's most important,
sublime sort of stuff. But even though MYTHOLOGICAL COLD TOWERS, the band
you take part in, stands millions miles away from cohort of MARDUK-alike
acts, let me wonder if you ever made any attempts to come up with gloomier
kind of atmosphere, as well as make emphasis on brutality?
- When we are writing this or that song,
we don't care about brutality or anything else, we want to give life to
the songs like a movie through people's mind.
The
notions of "brutality" and "destruction" appear as quite similar to each
other, and since everything's relative in this world, grant me a possibility
to ask if you have ever found beauty in destruction?
- Yes, the aesthetics are very relative,
you can see old ruins, and find beauty in them.
Beauty + pain
= aesthetic bewitchment?
(you know, once,
in a movie (can't recall which one) there were a couple of sequences which
truly astounded me: for example, a nazi tremendously playing that heart-rending
"Fur Elise" theme, on piano, whose charming sounds purify human's very
essence, whilst another guy severely rapes a young girl nearby…)
- Once again "yes". These are ides that
go deep in history, the suffering is being seen like something divine,
showing an enchanting beauty.
What do you know
(and think) regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from our lands you've
heard lately?
- I know something about RUSSIA, the old
political system... a very expensive country. I think you have rich pagan
past, a fascinating alphabet... I guess Russia nowadays seems like BRAZIL,
in terms of economy, and I know some bands like MENTAL HOME, DRAUGHWATH,
CTHULHU, ROSSOMAHAAR, NARGATHROND...
It's time to get
back to music-connected q's, don't you think so? Does the Brazil's musical
infrastructure appear as enough developed at the moment?
- I don't think so, the infrastructure in
BRAZIL is not enough. There are no good organizations which could support
underground bands, therefore there's a big fight among bands to get a place.
BRAZIL has a good musical history, represented with such bands as SARCOFAGO,
MUTILATOR, VULCANO..., but it wasn't enough to get more space.
Does Somber Music
have European distribution and what is it alike? To put it straight: is
"Remoti…" available in Europe's music stores, or the mailorder is the only
way to get your latest CD?
- Yes, the SOMBER music has done their work
very well, you're able to find "REMOTI..." wherever you are. We're looking
for the distribution in your country at the moment...
As usual: future
plans, as well as few words in conclusion…
- MYTHOLOGICAL COLD TOWERS is preparing the new cd. Maybe we will release a new one in second semester - it'll be more epic, powerful, we will bring the lost pre-columbian pantheon… Thanks Kai for your support and space in your mag, and for the support we get from Russians. Keep the flame burning high. INTI TUTAYAN QQELLUYASPAN!!!!!!!!!
MYTHOLOGICAL COLD TOWERS
P.O. BOX 7502-06296-990
OSASCO-SP
BRAZIL
Email: fabioshammash@yahoo.com.br
mythcoldtower@ig.com.br