Band: SIMONIA
Country, city of origin: Russia, St.Petersburg
Style: black metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Nimrod (vocals, bass)

Yes, I already know what "Simonia" stands for, however I doubt if most of our readers know that, so... You're welcome with an explanation.

- SIMONIA was formed in 1996 as the first "unveiled" (i.e. being NOT connected with any pseudo-movements) project of devil-worshippers in the city of St. Petersburg. Worshipping Devil as the supreme being of adonai, quintessence of Evil, destructive force, creating Chaos in order to reach the universal perfection. ("moniker" is "moniker", "bio" is "bio". See the difference? - ED)

Aren't you going to come back to life again, bringing forth the light the second offering of yours?

- Yes, we're currently working on the new songs (by the way, six are already completed, two of them have been already played live in Moscow (even though that wasn't such a successful experience)). Since we still endure lotsa problems with drummer, we decided to incorporate a drummachine instead. The second album will be more thoughtout and compositionally adjusted. We have moved towards more brutal territories in the same time staying rather melodious - however, we're no longer a sympho-black metal act (actually, we never were the one, it's all the reviewers who reckoned us to this genre), there won't be any synth passages anymore. When will we bring it forth the light? Well, hard to say... at least at the moment.

If I'm not mistaken, Moscow's CDM Records were planning to re-issue that "In Embrace Of Pain" MC. Just wondering when will it finally take place...?

- Sergey (CDM Records, ROSSOMAHAAR) told me that covers / inlays (1000 copies) have been already printed, but the studio which was responsible for duplicating our cassettes, is no longer in business due to the fact it's been arrested. I don't know what will it end in, I just hope that Sergey will clear the things up soon (the things HAVE BEEN cleared out: the MCs are already available - ED).

"Fen'ka Rock'n'Roll" unleashing an album by the band, which may be easily reckoned to the black metal genre... Hmm... Isn't it somehow weird, huh?

- All the people I know, consider it weird - the label dealing with pop music releasing MC from such a band... Well, actually everything's quite simple. We were attempting to find enough $$$ to release the album on our own for almost a year; we have been supported by a couple of friends and everything was almost ready... but then we beheld financial crisis (I guess, I don't need to explain what kind of "financial crisis" Russia has endured back in 1998? - ED), and all the money were lost. Then, suddenly, we received an offer from Fen'ka. Well, we thought "why not", since we were too tired to do anything by ourselves.

What're the latest news concerning SIMONIA (excluding that re-release, of course)? Have you found the permanent drummer?

- No, as I already said, we didn't find the one, and decided to use computer this time. We're just tired of seeking the appropriate candidature - St. Petersburg isn't the nicest city when it comes to drummers (all those who're capable of doing their work well, are either busy or not interested in black metal). These are the news. Ah, perhaps, I should add that we've just received an offer from a certain company which wants to release a compilation of St. Petersburg's and Moscow's bands. We still don't know if we will participate in this venture, though.

Seems like you've drastically changed your vocal style, at least that's what I thought of, once visiting your gig in Moscow. Hence an obvious question: why?

- The answer would be quite simple. By the time we're chatting with you, no one, you see - NO ONE, has managed to arrange the normal sound when it comes to vocal department (in cases we're playing live, of course). It was too unusual, and therefore we had a disaster on the outcome. This is why I was forced to change my vocals, and in fact, I don't consider this metamorphosis a drawback.

By the way, what's your impression of the live performances you've
participated in, so far?

- I love playing live, I really love it, especially when we have a good response. I completely disagree with those who keep on stating that it's disgusting to play live in front of few drunken kids. Most often, it's being stated by those who simply aren't capable of handling their instruments properly. Moreover, it's one of the best ways to get known. Some time ago you told me that, once visiting a black metal gig, you're aiming to crush everything / everyone you see - and I think, this is the way it should be! Negative emotions should fully absorb the crowd when we're playing live, in order to make 'em passionately destructive, to make 'em desire for the utter annihilation in the name of Devil.

Whom have you been compared to most often?

- Don't know. Maybe we've been compared to a couple of bands, but I just don't remember... Maybe you'll help me out? (SUMMONING's "Lugburz" is the keyword - ED)

Would you mind telling us a bit regarding (seemingly non-existent) St.Petersburg's black metal scene?

- I don't want to say anything regarding AZEROTH, since I don't consider them a black metal act, it's something special, at least judging by their earlier works. Haven't heard the newest ones. We're friends with their guitarist, and Denis, the singer. PRIMEVAL CHAOS... Oh, it's a long story... the one regarding their guitarist (he wanted to join SIMONIA some time ago)... Anyway, sometimes it seems like this band exists, and sometimes it seems like they don't. They're not bad, however their latest work is nearly horrible when it comes to production. They never played live due to the lack of drummer, but if they did, I guess they'd be received pretty well. THOUSAND TRIBES doesn't exist anymore. Stylistically, they delivered hell knows what, kinda folk black or pagan... Tapes they've made are pretty shitty when it comes to sound, although they were pretty good live. I guess there're about ten bands I've heard about - all of them sit deep in the underground, pretending to be considered "true" and stuff like that, you know. Recently Shabrang (our guitarist) met one of these guys, and what do you think? This moron literally licked Shabrang's boots... There're plenty of them, young and moronic... Actually, I have nothing more to add, even though I definitely missed somebody...

Black metal as it was, and as it is. What would you mark out as the
principal differences, as well as modern day scene s most significant
advantages and disadvantages? Would you consider what we re witnessing nowadays, a progress / natural development or rather an inevitable regress?

- First of all, let me admit that I prefer the old school. Don't really like all these modern experiments: difficult to listen to, as well as incredibly boring. I'd better listen to the old MAYHEM or SATYRICON, for instance. I can't stand the newest work by EMPEROR, you see. I just can't help it. Let this style develop the way all of them out there, want to, but I will stay where I stand now. Yes, I behold the obvious progress in natural stylistic development when it comes to compositional and technical aspects, don't know if it's good or bad, though. More likely bad, since most of the bands which have endured natural development, don't have anything exciting to offer.

What do you care for in the first turn: talent or originality, sincerity or innovation?

- I care for the sincerity in the first turn. Unfortunately, most of the bands appear as insincere ones. Either they chase the originality being feared of sounding like this or that act, or quite the contrary, get high on plagiarism. The outcome is rather sad regarding both cases. No doubts that you won't go far without talent and originality, but if you feel that the music you're composing, goes straight from your heart, it's the "right" music.

Are you pleased with the way life goes on in Russia at the moment?

- Honestly speaking, I don't give a damn about it while I have the possibility to do what I want to do.

What's most disgusting kind of behavior you've ever witnessed?

- Actually, I don't even know what to answer... More likely, no. (??? - ED) I've witnessed enough loathsome things: the man torn apart, the woman killed in a bus accident (she was dying perhaps for too long)... I've seen an old lady brought down by the huge truck, brought down so fiercefully that her head left the body and was lying down on the truck's bonnet. So if you mean a drunken moron vomiting his bowels out in the subway, I don't care. Hate those who make an uproar in the streets without any reasonable explanation. But who loves 'em, anyway?

What kind of people irritate you most of all?

- I hate posers; those who don't have a sense of humour; hysterical women; actually, all the people irritate me in this or that way. Sometimes I desire for having a huge knife and cutting all these narrow-minded subhumans, especially when I enter the subway, bus or train. I prefer tranquillity and silence, you see.

Once you've told me that you appear as "devil-worshippers". Please, explain further.

- Devil is a Deity for me. I believe in Him and worship Him. Enough said.

It strikes as the "holy bible" appears as a principal basis for your beliefs, however isn t it a bit ridiculous - to base your religious views on one single book filled with utter lies? Furthermore, christianity isn't of European origin, therefore - nor is satanism. Isn't it rather strange, to worship an alien deity?

- No, I don't consider this strange. Satan, Devil, is the entity for everyone, doesn't matter where you live and how do you call Him. Satan doesn't belong to any particular nation, and moreover, He isn't stricted within certain geographical borders - it's a nonsense.

Back on Earth now. If you've once met a tortured man you're unfamiliar with, would you do your best to help him to recover?

- No.

Does the notion of "brutality" (this time "brutality" which doesn't have anything to do with music, you see) appeal to you in any way?

- If I got you right, then the answer is "definitely". I'm attracted to everything that is considered a perversion. Aesthetics of sado-masochism, death and all of it's manifestations, blood, suffering - I'm interested in all the subjects I've just mentioned. If I studied psychology, I'd specialize in perversions.

Lastly, could you please give us few typical characteristic qualities fitting your personality?

- Irascible, aggressive, nervous, egoistic, simultaneously frank and far from being secluded (enough positive qualities :)... I'm not the one to judge, anyway.

Final words of yours...

- Thank you Kai, for the continuous interest in our band, your kind words and support. Hope we'll meet soon in order to have a couple of beers to our new album. Stay in touch.

SIMONIA contact -
Website: http://listen.to/simonia
Email: nimrod@mail.ru