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Interview with Ezpharess - Mystic Circle
The German black metal band Mystic Circle release their fifth album called "Damien" on September 30th 2002. "Damien" is a concept album basted on "The Omen" movie trilogy. The following is a telephone interview with Ezpharess - the guitarist from the band.
A: Hello Ezpharess how's it going in Germany?
E: Very good man
A: Before we start the interview I would like to say that I like your new album - it is the first Mystic Circle Album I have heard, and I am quite impressed.
E: OK man..
A: First I would like to ask if you could tell a little bit about Mystic Circle's background.?
E: Yes, we formed the band in '92, the first demo came out in '94 - it was called Dark Passion. The second came out in '95, "Von Kriegern und Heldern", and the next came out in '96 - it was called "Die Götter der Urväter". This record company Last Episode was satisfied with what the demoes had sold, and we signed there.
We brought out two EPs called "Black Magic" (Schwarze Magie) and another one called "Kriegsgoetter - der Weg nach Wallhall" it was about Vikings and eh German - you know?
Then we made our debut album "Morgenröte - Der Schrei nach Finsternis" - it came out in February '97. And then we release another album in '98 - it was called "Drachenblut". In '99 we had our first English titled album called "Infernal Satanic Verses".
In 2000 we released a mini-EP with songs and demo songs from the third demo. And there was a medley with Acheron stuff, you know? There was also a number with Celtic Frost. This stuff was the last we made with Last Episode, and then we change record company to Massacre Records. This was for us a big step, because this label was bigger and more professional.
The first we made here was called "The Great Beast", and then now there is the new album called Damien.
A: Yes..
E: Of course you got it - the promo CD?
A: Yeah, sure
E: And it is released September 30th.
A: Ok.. So you play black metal.
E: Yes..
A: Most black metal bands I know come from Scandinavia - how big is the black metal scene in Germany?
E: In germany we have many people who like the other music of course, and we have too much underground and stuff. Maybe they're like more distant from the Scandinavians.
..
We had much luck when we started to play - the black metal was really out. People listened much to bands like Cradle Of Filth, Dimmu Borgir.
A: Yes I was just about to ask you what bands Mystic Circle has been inspired by. Is that the bands you name?
E: Yes we have been inspired by bands like Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir
A: You sound a bit like Dimmu Borgir.
E: Yeah of course. Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth were some of the first to come out big, and the problem is when you come after these bands. I also hear bands like Dissection, Slayer and other death metal stuff.
Yes there is a scene there - it is not small not big, but good.
A: The majority of your lyrics are about anti-christianity and Satanism - could you describe what religion means for your band and your music?
E: Yes, uh we saw a lot of horror movies and stuff, and in the early days I read a lot of books about vampirism. I hate all religious fanatics - this is really shit you know? It is like a rebellion for us; when I know what is going on with the church shit and all, I want to laugh at them. We write songs for the black side, you know. The dark side is really interesting - you know with black magic and all.
..
A: Ok, let's go on and talk about you newest album Damien. Damien is your fifth album, and it is a concept album based on The Omen movies.
E: Yes based on the trilogy.
A: How did you come up with that idea?
E: Actually Beelzebub (vocals) has had this idea for three or four years. He got the idea in '99 and you can see that the album is split up in three parts. Chapter one is for the movie one, second is for the second movie..
A: So the three chapters represent the movies
E: Yes
..
A: Ok Let's move on. The cover of Damien is very nice, can you tell something about it?
E: Of course. In the new album we used J. P. Fournier - he is a painter of Immortal covers, and he did the cover of "The Great Beast" where he did a very good job. But on this album I was not satisfied. He painted Damien in the middle, but he painted a priest and so much stuff - it was too much you know. It changed with our layout with Massacre Records. We took only the Damien guy, the rottweiler on the right, the eye. In the left you can see the "666", and the sun goes down. It is very good for us now, and I like it very much.
A: Yes, me too.
E: Thank you man
A: How would you describe the style of music compared to your former albums? Is it like a new sound, or?
E: The first album was more about vampirism - you know "Morgenröte", and it was more.. well the sound wasn't good. It was a good concept, but a bad sound.
..
The "The Great Beast" album came out, and it was not a concept album. It was more death metal style, you know? And "Drachenblut" was at that time the hardest. Now we have found a good sound - in the past the guitar was a little too low and the keyboards too loud, you know? We have changed a lot of members in the band. Now we are more satisfied than in the past, because we have a good guitar sound now, and a really good drum sound. This is the best thing we've done till now - we've been in the studio for weeks, and we have made this album with blood, sweat and tears. Yes of course - we want to get better in the future.
A: I really like the sound on the album.
E: Good to hear. You know that when you make such a kind of work - you must hear this. That's music in my ears
A: OK, my favorite on the album is "666 Mark Of The Devil"
E: Of course man
A: Do you have any personal favorites?
E: Yes, I have the same favorite like you - it is really very good. "God Is Dead - Satan Arise", "Servants Of Twilight" - yes, that's the best songs .. well "Armageddon War" too of course. I must say that they are all favorites - I like them all, but the best is "666 Mark Of The Devil".
A: I like that the songs are so much alike and still so different - do you know what I mean?
E: Yeah of course. And the guitar is really creative and shit. I think it is the hardest album we've ever written you know.
A: Yes OK. Mystic Circle as a band has been very active when it comes to touring. You have been on eight European tours with big names as Dimmu Borgir, Immortal and Marduk. What is your best touring experience so far?
E: That's a nice question. The best tour was with Cannibal Corpse you know - the tour with Mystic Circle was in '98. It was also the first tour. My dream was to go on tour with such a band, and I had dreamed for 18 years about that. The Cannibal Corpse guys were the coolest guys, and the singer (George Fischer) is a good friend of mine. Actually I am meeting him tomorrow where they play in Strassburg. Yes these guys are really friendly, and we were in so many countries together - you know in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Holland. Now we have another big tour with Deicide.
A: Yes, I was going to ask you about that. I guess you are looking pretty much forward to this?
E: Yes!
..
We are really happy to go with the American guys (Deicide) on tour.
A: And it is like one of the biggest names possible.
E: Yes that is a very good thing - it is very important for us to play with big bands. There are many people there - we need a big crowd you know? Yes the tour starts 6th October in UK in Bradford, and I think we go on for four or five weeks.
A: I think we're nearing the end here - is there anything you would like to add?
E: I would like to give Satanic metal greetings to you guys in Denmark and to Mystic Circle fans in Denmark and to "Metal Poisoning" and to .. King Diamond, haha! Yes I would like to play there again - in Copenhagen or another city in Denmark. I like the Danish style - it is really friendly. I would like to say stay metal to you guys in Denmark
A: OK, I would like to say thanks for doing this interview
E: No problem | |
Written by Anders - 9/22/2002 |
This article has been shown 5322 times. Go to the complete list.
RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by death_in_autumns_night (Anonymous) - Wednesday, July 2, 2003 | hails, just wanted to add this; jesus likes my cum!kill that fuck,mystic circle reigns supreme.again they crush us with pure unholy metal as before,,may the night embrace you , fuck gods ass,aka, heaven.
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| Comment by Anders (Anonymous) - Friday, February 21, 2003 | The answer: 'Yes, uh we saw a lot of horror movies and stuff, and in the early days I read a lot of books about vampirism. I hate all religious fanatics - this is really shit you know? It is like a rebellion for us; when I know what is going on with the church shit and all, I want to laugh at them. We write songs for the black side, you know. The dark side is really interesting - you know with black magic and all' must be the stupidest remark I've heard in ages. It's words coming from a 12 year old!
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| Comment by Chris (Anonymous) - Friday, September 19, 2003 | One word to Anders: make and describe it better! Its not so easy to explain your feelings and your life to a unknown person! I am in the music business since 15 years and when ever I read interviews from musicians I know then I thought "Is this really from this guy?" You answers are like your feeling at this moment and dont condemn somebody you never met!!!
Mystic Circle are one of the nicest guys I ever met. Really friendly and hospitable! And Ezpharess is the craziest and best Heavy Metal Maniac from the 80s!!!
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