What were the reasons for starting SUNCHARIOT? I know, that your band was formed upon the ruins of SACRIFICED, what can you tell me about them? Are there any differences in the music of these two formations; if yes, what do they consist of?

- The only reason was desire to play music, breathing with misanthropy and hate, music, filled with pining for that distant times of lost freedom, but in the same time - proud and bellicose, with hope for revenge and dethronement of alien faith. SACRIFICED was only intermediate link on the way to what now is called as SUNCHARIOT. Many things, conceived that time, later were improved and incorporated in SUNCHARIOT’s sound. However, despite that, there is a great abyss lying between these bands, concerning both, musical and ideological aspects.

Why did you choose black metal? This style is very popular in Russia nowadays, was this a reason for you to play exactly this kind of music? Were any of current bandmembers involved with other projects before the SACRIFICED and SUNCHARIOT formation?

- SACRIFICED was formed in the very beginning of 1994, when black metal was only a kind of embryo, at least in Russia. Try to recall how many BM bands existed in 1994-95 in our country? Of course, we couldn’t pass  some death metal influences, nevertheless it was black, straight-forward and aggressive black metal. Only this sort of music could express all spite and hatred, which obsessed our minds back then. I was one of SACRIFICED founders. For a long time, we couldn’t complete our line-up (by the way, we had the same problem in SUNCHARIOT a bit later). Then, in 1995, we united with the remains of deadborn grindcore band FUNERAL SPEECH, which gave us the powerful incentive. As a result, we recorded quite good demo entitled «Spells Of Imprecation».

Mixing black metal and folk music is quite popular now; what do you think of this tendency? Are you interested in music, impregnated with spirit of the pagan past and those bands, who look for inspiration in ancient pre-christian times, turned into oblivion centuries ago...?

- We can’t forget about our ancestors, about the culture, which existed among our lands before christian and even pagan scythian times. I hail those bands, who play music, taking it’s roots in deep past, inseparably linked with our history... But then comes the question - how and why are they doing it, are they true in their beliefs, or paganism is just a trend for them... Unfortunately, it’s just the most easy and fast way to become rich or simply a good self-promotion for many of these guys. Such people are supported by huge number of trendy labels, these mercenary underground wimps, who don’t care about truth or falsity. I disdain bands, who speculate on paganism and national idea, spawning in great numbers for a last couple of years.

There were Cults of the Sun and Tribes of the Moon in the past, permanently fighting with each other... Whose side would you take, what is more attractive for you - day or night, bright sungleams or cold moonshine?

- Modern historic literature mixes ancient religious cults with huge portion of prejudice and romanticism. Anyway, we didn’t work with these topics a lot, however it’s known for sure that ancient priests, the rite-keepers, used both, solar and lunar calendars, depending on the concrete event.

You told me recently that SUNCHARIOT signed with Canadian Soundscape Music for re-releasing «Betrayal Light...» demo on CD. Please, tell me some more details, concerning this deal. Are you going to collaborate with Soundscape in the future?

- Well, Soundscape Music is independent Canadian label and our MCD is planned for release in late 1997 / beginning of 1998. It will be the re-release of our debut demo «Betrayal Light Of Fertile Ground». It will be second Soundscape’s release, the first one to be released is OBLIVEON, their countrymates. Perhaps, if everything will be fine, we’ll continue our cooperation, and our second album will be out also on Soundscape Music Canada.

Do you have new material ready? Are there any plans for releasing a full-length CD in the near future?

- Yes, we already have enough songs to proceed with full-length album’s recording. However, we won’t be able to make it real until mid-1998. We need to pay very big money to get a qualitative outcome, and we simply don’t have the needed finances right now. So it depends on how fast «Betrayal...» will be selling. We had the same situation with our demo - almost a year passed since all material was ready, but only in summer of 1997 we’ve found enough money to start the recording.

Tell me about Rostov-On-Don BM scene... Do you have any worthy bands, besides SUNCHARIOT?

- No, unfortunately. We are the only ones now, playing black metal. Right now, I’m not familiar with any serious BM bands, and this goes also for big region cities. During 1995-96 Rostov was almost flooded with poser bands, like KELPY’S LAUGH (dead project, one of it’s leaders immigrated to States and was christened), and WIND HEARSE, spluttering «ideological satanists» in the past, and trendy ravers today. Now trend more or less is over, gone are all those «acid» shitheads who required BM only for demonstrating  how cool they are. Perhaps, if all this would be launched as a commercial thing, like in Moscow, they could be alive even now, but as far as nobody needs this music here, all of them died naturally.

What influences you, when you’re writing music and lyrics? Your sound reminds me a bit of Swedish bands, like LORD BELIAL, THRONE OF AHAZ, A CANOROUS QUINTET, etc. Are you inspired by these devil-worshippers’ music?

- No. I consider these bands as quite mediocre in some ways. Anyway, even if we’re influenced by anybody, then definitely not them. As I already mentioned, we don’t have a goal to create music - it borns spontaneously, by intuition. Each of us brings in some ideas, which later integrate in SUNCHARIOT’s music and sound.

I couldn’t find anything neither «satanic», nor «paganistic» in your lyrics, traditional curses concerning christianity are also absent... Can you tell me anything about your views on life, religion and the world, surrounding us?

- I think that it’s appropriately to cite Denis’ statement, concerning this question: «There’s nothing satanic in our lyrics, 'coz we are not jews  indeed. And we’re not going to tease god’s gang by our music. I don’t «play in paganism», it’s simply not real, because I can’t even say for sure that I’m proud of my nation with tightly substituted memory, therefore - lost. Currently, I’m more interested in history and culture of Ancient East and neolithic Europe, nativeland of pre-Arians».

You don’t use keyboards at all... What is this; a kind of opposition against synth preponderance in modern black metal?

- Yes, probably. I have nothing against synths whatsoever, I like when bands use them cleverly, but in the present case I think that keyboards absolutely don’t fit our music.

«True» - «untrue»... What do you think of these words? Do they mean anything to you? What can you say about Norwegians; you see, it looks like majority of them  claim their bands to be «true», while all others are wimps and posers... It sounds a bit funny, you know... If band produces really great music, do we need to care if they are «true» or «not»?

- For me, «true» means «veritable», therefore «sincere». I’m utterly sincere in what I am doing, and first of all, I’m sincere to myself.

How do you think, why there’s so little number of Russian BM bands, known abroad (in West Europe, in particular)?

- Of course, in most cases, it’s the guilt of our undeveloped underground, bad or completely non-existent distribution system. However, we can’t blame it all only on this. Most of our bands are distinguished by simple lack of talent. I believe, that if band plays really good music and possess sufficient originality, it won’t stay unnoticed.

What do you think of Russia’s joining into NATO? Are you interested in politics, and if yes, what kind of position are you adhering to? Will there ever come a day, when our compatriot would proudly say that he is Russian? Will we ever obtain a simple respect from Europe?

- I’m not interested in politics at all, nevertheless I can’t imagine Russia in NATO’s membership, all the more, I don’t think that we must obtain anyone’s respect. Russian man won’t be able to say proudly that he is Russian, until he won’t achieve at least congenial nationalism, to counterbalance to east, west and finally soviet «educated» know-all wimps, who, during all history, created and inculcated in mass-consciousness alien religion, admiration for «high spiritual West culture» and at last, transparent Norman theory concerning our fatherland’s beginnings.

Varg Vikernes once said that «... immigrants are traitors running away from their problems, instead of solving them...» Do you agree with him? By the way, what is your opinion, concerning this guy? Do you think, that Euronymous really deserved his disgraceful death?

- I appreciate patriotism, however the words of person, who says one thing today, and something completely different tomorrow, are of no value to me. I can’t judge them and tell who is right and who is wrong, we have enough problems here. Unfortunately, BURZUM stopped it’s existence for me as a band. Last Varg’s album is wretched worthless crap, intended for some young black metal kids, who haven’t heard real music yet and taking this commercial falsity for truth.

What considerations guided you, when you chose a title for your debut demo tape?

- «Betrayal Light Of Fertile Ground» implies the real world, filled with unpunished lies and absurd, reigning in the minds of deceived.

Any comments about Leshiy’s music and organization? I consider «Church Of Satan» together with LaVey as 100% falsity, would you agree with me?

- Concerning all this leshiy-livshitz scum: I’m not familiar with him personally and I don’t know anything essential about his organization, therefore I’ll tell you my opinion only after I would be enough informed. As to christianity, satanism, etc. I’ll say the following: until each of us won’t realize himself as a descendant of ancient and free nation, until he won’t slaughter a jew inside his head, until then christianity will be alive.

Are you pleased with current SUNCHARIOT line-up? Russian bands often split up just because the variances between musicians reach it’s peak - don’t you have the same problem? Do you work good together?

- Unfortunately, we couldn’t escape these problems, and we surmounted them only thanks to the serious attitude to our music and creations. For a long time SUNCHARIOT consisted only of me and Denis. Almost a year passed since our band’s formation, until we finally completed the present line-up. However, I’m not an advocate of further enlargement. In my opinion, the best mutual understanding can be achieved only in the band, including three / four men, not more. I quit playing guitar and concentrated myself on bass, exactly because I wanted to escape this permanent problem with session bass players. Right now, our line-up completely stabilized and we don’t have any disagreements.

What do you think of so-called «one-man bands»? Is there any chance for SUNCHARIOT to become a band with you as the only member?

- This will never happen, I’m sure. SUNCHARIOT will be as it is now, or it will simply split up. I don’t have anything against «one-man bands», if they are leaded by gifted man. Basically, all classical music is one big «one-man band», so to speak...

Using aliases in black metal stays as a inviolable tradition, why did you decide to break it?

- Apparently, it’s time to break the traditions.

Are you in contact with any foreign black metal bands?

- Yes.
 
What are your future plans? Are you going to visit Moscow with few concerts? What about Near-Eastern countries? West Europe?

- First of all, it’s the recording of our first full-length album, which (I’m sure) will be thousand times better than our debut. Besides, we’ll consider all suggestions, concerning live shows, and if all terms fit us, we would definitely play live.

And something for the end...

- Thank you for the interview. Everyone, who got interested in our music, write us! Support SUNCHARIOT, support underground!

SUNCHARIOT
c/o Stanislav Ivanoff
P.O.Box 526
344010, Rostov-On-Don,
- Russia -

Email: stiv@rostov.don.sitek.net