Greetings… How are the things going with your band? Any news (the pleasant ones, of course)? “Synthinity” has been out for a while, so whatta ‘bout new album?

- Yeach, greetings, Kai: So, let's start from news: First of all I must say that new album is already recorded. It's called "Mephisto Lettonica", contains 9 tracks and recorded in Abyss Studio. I don't wanna talk about this album before you'll listen to it, so may be next time - I promise you'll get promo soon! By the way, it's the only good news, as year 1999 was fucking cruel to our activities. Everything planned is dead, no interesting shows, nothing: We even have not signed a deal about new album and
currently searching for it.

Any comments on the concept behind both, “Sansara” and “Synthinity” (as I believe, there should be the one)? Furthermore, Sansara (or more likely, Samsara) is the word for endless cycle of human birth and decline in Hinduism, so…

- Wow-wow: It's a theme I usually avoid to discuss since I've found it should become too verbose, and we don't have here a magazine about eastern philosophy, do we? But anyway, you're right and Sansara (or better say Samsara - m with point sounds in between m and n, that's the reason why in different books you should find two versions of this world) is really means endless cycle of human being and soul rotation. The world Synthinity do not exist in English (or it exists since it was imagined). It's a word to discribe illusory image of this world where nothing really looks like it is. Nothing to add as even now this answer is too long.

Getting further into the subject… - amongst other tunes, “Sansara” features PRODIGY and IRON MAIDEN covers, and I wonder why did you choose exactly these bands and tracks to cover? Well, I could understand your choice when it comes to IRON MAIDEN, but PRODIGY! By the way, another question inevitably arouses: what is your attitude to techno and rave movement in the whole?

- If we'll take techno and rave as clear stiles - I don't like them at all. I think they like salt - it's stupid to eat pure salt, but if you'll put it somewhere: it's tasty (it does not mean new N.F. album is mixed with rave, he!). Returning to subject about MAIDEN and PRODIGY covers: why not? I think, you'll agree if I'll proclaim: somebody listened to our version of PRODIGY before the original will never imagine it's a song of some techno-punk band, yeach? We just decided that this track have enough power to be played in death metal.

“Synthinity” was executed in that infamous Tico – Tico Studio, right? How did you come to such a decision? I bet, Ahti’s work costs a lot!

- Yes, it was done here, but you're wrong about Ahti. It's not the most expensive studio, he have a discount for bands coming not from Finland. Believe me, it's much cheaper than many others (for example, Abyss). So, the price was one of the reasons, and the next was quality. We liked the quality of some albums recorded here (it was not IMPALED NAZARENE, ha-ha-ha!) and decided to use it.

And one more “why” here. It seems like Sergey plays only fretless bass on “Synthinity”, hence why didn’t he use usual bass guitar? Did you aim to reach even more original sound that way?

- It was a time of experiments. It was a time when we realized we're not just a death metal band and done some unusual things. Fretless bass was one of them. I remember enthusiasm of everybody in a band when Sergey first time tried to use it, and it makes me sad. Where are this old days of simple decisions? Now this freak is playing 6 strings bass and dreaming about stick, ha-ha!

Can you tell me Sandra is a permanent member? Also, using female voice when it comes to death metal is a rather weird move, at least that’s my view…

- Sandra's voice also was an experiment, a kind of contrast between my voice and her. She is not with us anymore as we decided not to use this novelty nowadays. She is singing now in HERESIARH. This band has signed a deal with soon deceased Invasion Rec. and I have heard now they've a new deal with some Italian label, but I'm not sure.

If one looks inside the CD cover, he might think that all of those
involved in NEGLECTED FIELDS are of quite young age… Is that correct? If yes, I wonder for how long have you practiced playing your instruments?

- Well preserved, yeach, ha-ha-ha! That's the reason not to drink and smoke too much, and you will look like we! At the moment of photo session we were 22-23 years old, I don't think we were very young. And we're playing since 15-17, not so long, I guess. Very good question, one of my faves. You just reminded me my pupil (I teach people to play guitar, you know?). He is 16 y.o., and once he asked me how old is me. I was unshawed, with a great headache after drinking, and I've told him: 24. He said: wow, I can't
believe maximum I can give you is 20. This has led me to hysterical laugh - so when I'm shaved and fresh, I'm 17?

“Sansara” was recorded in… Estonia??? Why so? As far as I know, all of you reside in Latvia…

- Yeach, but Latvian studios suck. Once you'll come here and I'll play you all those Latvian "records". Total shit instead of 1 or 2: We have some good studios, but we don't have sound man who is able to record metal music. That's the reason to go to foreign studios, that's why we've done "Synthinity" in Tico-Tico, and  "Mephisto Lettonica" in Abyss. I can't say we were 100% delighted (Mmm: don't think even 80%), but anyway, it's much better than all this Latvian studio crap.

I’ve discovered esoteric shop “Veda” in the “Sansara” thanx list… and I guess it’s no surprise, since you seem to get really high on various Eastern religions and all that stuff…

- I can only say "yes" and remind you about question Nr. 2. The things I use in lyrics are intended for people who'll read this and try to understand as they can. I don't want to explain anything instead of some main directions, sorry.

What bands would you name as your most vicious rivals at the moment (I’m talking about the world metal scene in the whole and Eastern Europe in particular)? Any comments on ALCHEMIST, ARCH ENEMY, TRAUMATIC and SADIST activities?

- Using names ARCH ENEMY and SADIST you've reached 2 of my fave bands nowadays. But honestly said, I don't like their modern creations. "Burning Bridges" and "Crust" I can't compare to "Stigmata" and "Tribe", sorry. And in general, I'm sick and tired to speak about everything in past tenses. Believe me, in this fucking 1999 I have not heard any new album I can call "my cup of tea". I liked SAMAEL "Passage" and what? What to do with this "Eternal" - put it under the leg of a table to avoid swaying? DEATH, "Sound Of Perseverence": Pah! It's just a copy of 2 their last albums. It sounds funny, but even the KOVENANT latest album "Animatronic" sounds fresher. Of course, there are some bands, some newcomers which sounds good, but: Ah, I think it was wrang question cause it was addressed to men who just have finally got his favorite DESTRUCTION "Live - Without Sense" CD.

You know, when I first listened to “Synthinity” and “Sansara”, I had a strong urge to reckon your band to black metal horde because of the black metal voice (at least it sounds truly black metallish!)… Yeah, I didn’t know anything regarding your philosophy and I didn’t get myself acquainted with the lyrics, but… Well, the question is: will we ever hear any BM elements in the NEGLECTED FIELDS’ future sound? Moreover, have you ever thought about creating a project of your own, a black metal one?

- It's a very hard question. The hardest part of it is: what we can call B.M. elements? When we've done "Sansara" I've never thought somebody will call voice "black metalish"! But now you're not the first person telling this: Our latest "Mephisto Lettonica" album was recorded with permanent keyboard player and synth takes about 30-40% of music in album. Can I call this black-metal? I don't know. I think the best way is to send you promo, you'll listen and tell your readers about it. Please don't forget this word when you'll review "Mephisto Lettonica". The project: Our guitarplayer Herman is already in a project like this, it seems it's called ANGEL'S TEARS and it's a kind of computer B.M. I've heard it - it sounds too much close to CRADLE OF FILTH with some technical death elements.

It looks like you, guys, are good friends with SANCTIMONY? This band had to come to Russia with ANGEL CORPSE and MARDUK, however this tour failed to take place over here… Anyway, I’d like to know more concerning SANCTIMONY (of course, only if you have any info on them).

- What? You're badly disinformed. From where you're got this information (I mean, Russian gig)? I and Herman were the initiators of the whole ex-USSR tour and organisers of show in Latvia. So, NEGLECTED FIELDS was the support act for MARDUK and ANGELCORPSE in Belarus, Moscow, Estonia and Latvia (explicit Lithuania). I don't know who has given you information about SANCTIMONY, but it's nonsense. Yeach, we're good friends since our drummer play in two bands and their bass player is a pupil of our Sergey. I've heard soon they'll finally released their debution CD Latvian local distribution company: and that's all. I think last 2 years they were not very active. But the way, you've killed my good mood. Reminding me about this "full of shit tour" with MARDUK. We've lost a lot of money and 4 great gigs: I've read the official statement of Osmose concerning this tour, but I'm still not sure I'll stay calm if I'll meet somebody from MARDUK. I'm afraid I'll get nervious and somebody's face will be broken. You know, I talked to somebody of those assholes when we tried to take them from Poland, and I absolutely sure - they were fucked up and tired and did not want to go. If only they should sit and scan "We want to go"- no one fucking tourmanager could ever stop them. Shit!

The iron curtain fell, and USSR collapsed already eight years ago… Now Latvia is an independent country, although there’re lots of Russians still living over there… moreover, it seems like two of you are Russians. So, is it ok to live in Latvia being Russian? Besides that, what is the Latvian nation’s attitude to us? Rather negative, I guess…?

- The biggest part of our government are immigrants and their off springs even the president, so it's the most ass-licking to west government I've ever seen. I don't know why do people decide to lick somebody's ass, but it's fact. When CRUCIBLE from Hawaian islands (it's American territory) played here, I've seen two customs - Latvian and Estonian almost formed in front of them when they've seen their passports. Russians: Situation here is harder. I'm Russian too, so I know what I'm talking about. But let's stop here, or I'll skin my head, write some aggressive lyrics and play in a hard-core project. Refuse - this shit!

Here’s one of a pack… The question, I mean. Are you familiar with any contemporary Russian metal scene’s representatives? Any thoughts on coming here, in Moscow, and performing few gigs?

- Talking about gigs in Moscow - I don't think it will be possible after this MARDUK rip-off for enough long time. And yes, I know many Russian bands personally, and some of them are very good, like END ZONE, ENS COGITANS and some more.

Well, that’s all, I believe. I hope the questions weren’t too boring… As always, your last words and wishes…

- Thanx a lot, Kai, for interesting intie, hope as soon as we'll have new CD out you'll interview me again cause some of the questions were about "Synthinity" and sounds rather old. Thanx to everybody for attention, if you've found something interesting, write: NEGLECTED FIELDS, Nicgales 47-22, LV-1035  Riga, Latvija.
Email: neglfields@mail.bkc.lv

KEEP ON ROTTING!!!