I've got myself acquainted with the newest album by RAKOTH, "Planeshift", and it's truly a stunning effort (Emi of code666 won't let me lie as he read the review!)… however, what is "review"? The critic's personal opinion on this or that subject, right? Therefore, I feel that you should say few words regarding this CD yourself, Rustam… Kinda "a word from the creator"…

- Well, I don't even know what to say… Yes, it is great album. Could it be the other way? Hehe… Speaking seriously, we are satisfied with the album. Just few things could be re-made, but now it doesn't matter at all.

As I already said, "Planeshift" easily beats all the former works by your band, however it has few shortcomings, for example I was truly disappointed when discovered that this CD features the lesser amount of "clean" vocals. Also, they sound a bit less impressive if comparing to "Superstatic Equilibrium" or the debut MC by Obninsk's TEMNOZOR which also featured Peter's voice… Any explanations?

- I hate to give the explanations of such kind but I feel compelled to clarify the question. The less amount of "clean" voice is solely due to 20% less length of the album. In persentage the amount is not any less than in "Superstatic Equilibrium". And I don't find Peter's voice less impressive than before. He uses more multivoice parts, uses unusual (for our band) vocal timbre, as in "Mountain God", for example, etc… So it is not worse, but better in my (and Dy's and Peter's) view.

This time the lyrics strike as more developed and thoughtout, no doubts. However, I wonder what does "The Dark Heart Of Uukrul" (as well as "The Unquiet Grave") deal with? Furthermore, could you please tell us where did you take these, rather "strange-sounding" (to say the least), excerpts in erh… kinda unknown (at least, to me) language that one can find in "Og'elend"?

- "The Dark Heart of Uukrul" is the song written under the inspiration of the original M. Buis' and I. Boswell's creation called in the same way, but from different view point than it was proposed by these authors. The main character of the song is Uukrul himself, the Usurper which mocks every so-called "heroes" who try to overthrow him. The lyrics part at the end of the song, the one in "unusual" tongue is the prayer to the high-deity of Eriosthe, Fshofth, to help such "heroes" destroy Uukrul's citadel by exploding magical Beacon inside his throne hall. By the way, original "The Dark Heart of Uukrul" is NOT a book. Aware shall comprehend the meaning. Hehe… "The Unquiet Grave" is simply a modern-english translation of celtic text with the same name put on our own music. Language used in "Og'elend" is drowish (dark-elven). "Og'elend" itself means "heretic" or "non-traditional" in drowish. In fact, everyone can find drowish dictionary on the net, download it and get the meaning of those spoken parts. They represent traditional and very popular among the Drow phrases which are mocked or converted in the song.

Are you pleased with CDM Records Studio as well as Lazar's work? Is there anything you think you could do better? What is your view on his own band, ROSSOMAHAAR?

- Yes, we are really pleased and hope to record our future efforts in the same studio with Lazar as an engineer. Everything was professional and, the main thing, convenient. As for ROSSOMAHAAR, I have heard only "Grotesque" and very small piece from  "Imperium Tenebrarum" and I like it all a lot. But I still hope to hear the whole CD…

Any comments on your deal with code666? Do you consider it to be enough profitable for you?

- I am not sure how such incommertional music can be profitable at all. But with code666 we have an opportunity of free recording, professionally made our own production and some money last after it all. Besides, I can't judge yet, since I don't know (yet) how good our CD sells - too little time has passed from the moment of the release.

"Leaving this world, dimension so hollow, leaving the realm of virtue and sin I deny. No chant, no prayer I need, I search for the way inside myself"... this is what I've found looking inside the CD booklet. Is this the words of yours? If not, where did you take this quote from?

- These words are my own. It is the part of "Planeshift" song's lyrics, which can be found inside the booklet too. I'd say, it is very "personal" song which straightly express the core idea of my personal philosophy.

Would you like to make any comments on the Den's departure? Besides that, I wonder who plays bass on "Planeshift"?

- I can't say anything regarding to Den's departure. He has just left. Gradually, during 2 months after the recording of "Superstatic Equilibrium". No heavy feelings, we stayed friends. By the way, he was very glad to obtain "Planeshift" CD as a birthday present. Bass parts on "Planeshift" were programmed by me and played by computer. We applied some tricks though to make it sound this live. It was the temporary decision. Not that we are going to programm bass all the time in the future…

Why don't you find a drummer? I doubt if using a drummachine is better than having a skilled human drummer in the band!

- Drummer represents a bunch of problems. First of all, it is pretty hard to find drummer skilled enough to play all the drum parts for RAKOTH here in Obninsk. Then, it will demand a rehearsal base - at present we rehearse in my own room with no inconvenience. After all, we don't want to expand the band's line-up, since three is almost perfect number for the group of people. However, maybe in the future we will change our opinion. Maybe not…

What about this "true / untrue" black metal (parody on) war in Russia? Have you read all this crap (sort of "Russian black metal scene Report") published at www.burzum.com? If yes, please share with us your thoughts on it…

- I've no care about all this "true / false" crap. I've read "War in Russia" article at www.burzum.com and laughed a lot. Especially about the things concerning Obninsk. They wrote that the construction of the church was ceased due to terror acts performed by local "true satanists" or something. The church's construction is going on right behind my window. And at the distance of less than 100 meters live… guess who? Right, those "true antichristians" who were claimed at BURZUM's site to perform such a honourable action…

How should we perceive RAKOTH in terms of genre?

- I don't know. I can't invent anything close enough, but the closest is the term, given by Elven Witchcraft and modified by code666 - "Epic Dark Metal".

When we were talking about the new songs by RAKOTH in our former
interview, you've mentioned "Inside The Pentagram" track, however I couldn't discover it on neither "Superstatic Equilibrium", nor on "Planeshift"…

- There's nothing amazing in it. The song was renamed just before the recording. It is "The Summoning", the last track of "Superstatic Equilibrium"…

By the way, are there any plans to re-release "Superstatic Equilibrium" in the shape of CD? That would be nice…

- Recently we were proposed a new deal by code666. It is about re-recording some of our old stuff. So it will probably be something like "Best Of Superstatic… and Dark Ages Chronicle" plus (at least) one brand new song. We hope to record it at CDM during this year.

Since you're heavily influenced by Nick Perumov, let's talk about this writer a bit… First of all, I should tell you that some time ago I've finally got a chance to get myself familiar with his works (as well as Tolkien's "Master Of The Rings") and, honestly speaking, I have become his die-hard fan immediately! So… Here's the question, or more likely, a couple of them: firstly, whom do you prefer, Perumov or Tolkien and why? Secondly, do you know anything regarding the way Perumov's works are being met abroad? And finally, what about these endless fights between so-called Tolkienists and Perumov's fans?

- Not that we are heavily influenced by him. Only couple of songs and the bandname. However, nearly 1.5 years ago I've received an e-mail from him, something like "I am glad my Rakoth is in Russian Metal! Go on, pals, do it best!" or something like that… I can't say I prefer one of them. I like the creations of both but I never compare them. They are different. About Nick's works… Well, I've read "Ring Of Darkness" trilogy, "Chronicles of Hjorvard" trilogy, dilogies "Wooden Sword, Adamant Sword" and "The Birth Of The Magician", all I like greatly, dilogy "Technomagic" which I don't like and the book "Black Blood" written by him and someone Loginov which is sincere crap in my view. Concerning the fights, I can't say much. I only heard that Perumov himself was once beaten up by Tolkienists and they prey him every time they can. This is all because they can't forgive him for the fact he dared to sequel Tolkien's ("divine") "Lord Of The Rings" with his "Ring Of Darkness".

Ok, enough with this. Let's go further… Once you told me that P. Noir plays in one of Obninsk theatres. I'd like to know more on this subject…

- I don't know almost anything. Only that now he plays also in one of Moscow theatres. Once I've visited the spectacle he participated. Brilliant, I must say. Nothing more detailed, sorry…

What about Dy's plans to become one more singer in RAKOTH?

- He realized those plans. Not in fullscaled form though… On "Superstatic…" he performed all spoken parts in "A Pass In The Ethereal Woods" and kind of deathmetal-like "uh!" before the last verse of "The Summoning". On "Planeshift" he performed the last verse of "The Unquiet Grave" together with me, so we got some "weird" growling by composing our both voices. By the way, "The Unquiet Grave" is the only (not counting the instrumentals of course) song on "Planeshift" where Peter's voice wasn't present at all.

Oh, looks like I'm not able to follow on composing questions, so let's stop here, ok? Usually, the last question goes for the future plans, right? As to me, I'm not willing to break this good 'ol tradition. Also, saying few words for the end would be great.

- Future plans are to record that "Best Of…" during this year and new album, for which we already compose something, in the next winter. These are the only planned things. All other will happen spontaneously. Hehe… Few words for the end, heh? Well… They are - "Damn I'm tired of trying to invent those preaching final words!" Hahaha…

RAKOTH contact -
Email: rustam@meteo.ru