MEDIA: Interview

Melanie talks to Deniss Shelepov

MR: Greetings Dennis! When did the band form and how? DS: Greetings! Our band was formed in early 1991, in that far away, still Soviet Union time, in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where three young friends were keen on the general idea to create our own real metal band. (For more details you can read on our website "the story".)

Lineup:
Sergei Shelepov - guitar, vocals
Roman Osnovin - Lead guitar
Ilja Radjukhin - Bass
Dennis Shelepov - Drums

MR: Describe two of your favorite songs and their composition; key elements fans should listen for, etc... DS: We will see it from the fan's side: we have, of course, like any other's band, songs what are most preferred by fans at perfomances, for example: MIDNIGHT EXECUTION, FAREWELL MELODY, MENTALLY INSANE, BITTER TEARS, BLOWING WAVES, and so on. For a few compositions there is a charactering melodysm, for others mad evil, hate, brutal, extreme... or something else, all so different, you simply have to hear it.

MR: Any words of wisdom to the masses, fans, bands, etc...?? DS: Never listen any advice, this also, haha...

MR: How well, do you find, the band has matured and evolved since the beginning? DS: Very much, of course, band had to, and has, progressed, as is a human life, many things have changed: Music, image, members, thoughts, ages, just ideas are staying unchanged!

MR: If you could tour with with any 4 other bands, who would they be? DS: Never thought about it, really, but let they be such bands like: METALLICA, SLAYER, DEATH, DEICIDE.

MR: What do you feel your band brings to the scene? DS: For first is power, pain, sorrow, death, hate and resistance, justice, truth; like miracles, a reflection of reality. Very emotional to relive it, over and over again.

MR: What do you think of the underground metal scene? DS: Underground is the biggest fundamental for those who are staying at the top; this is the base of success.

MR: What are your goals and aspirations for the band? DS: More promotion, more might and victory.

MR: Any funny/horror show stories? DS: When we had a perfomance at the international open air festival METAL SHOCK in Minsk, Belarus; Sergei declared song MIDNIGHT EXECUTION, he said: "The next song is about the pope which was executed right in church, for lies for the deaths of millions of people caused by Christendom". After it we played abrupt blow and follow was have to play two separate riffs on guitar, but cable (string?) from this guitar broke, we got a pause, and not understanding for a second, one drunk fan got onstage and said into the microphone: "pope already killed, he died"... It was really fouled up, full finish, and so funny, especially for watchers.

MR: When can your next release be expected? DS: If all goes well, we think this summer, or autumn of 1999.

MR: What can fans look forward to seeing live, and hearing on your releases? DS: Seeing live is emotions in boiling blood, mosh, hearing is same, we think so; try it self.

MR: Is song or lyric writing collaborative, or do certain members do certain things? DS: Actually we don't have division in it, if somebody of us decided to write something, lyrics or music, that would be great, but anyway most lyrics are wrote by Sergei; most music is written by Sergei and Roman, most drums and piano parts by Dennis.

MR: What is your opinion on the present death metal scene? DS: We think the death metal scene is not very strong, especially now. We have to support and keep it more and better. A lot of death bands begin to play something else, like black metal, industrial, or disco-pop metal rock and etc., principal "death" is idea of thoughts and life and doesn't matter in which variant you show it, the death-like style can include almost all possiblities and music styles of all times. Of course death as death cannot be funny and so on, therefore here are shadows of dark, sorrow...and actually all sides of negative world; life. Do you need more extreme? Death is last point of life, what can possibly be more extreme?

MR: Do you find it hard coming up with original material, seeing how the scene seems to be flooded with a lot of bands just ripping each other off and just regurgitating the same material? DS: Yes, if you want to play original music, you have to play a long time, certainly and exactly, and as only good soldiers can be made generals.. put your dreams onto music, this is will be yours originally, it's easy, be sincere.

MR: Which show was your favorite show? DS: METAL SHOCK FESTIVAL- Minsk, Belarus 1998; MAD MIX club- Riga, Latvia 1997; ANTI AIDS DAY- Tallinn, Estonia 1998; PIRAT club- Tallinn, Estonia 1996; DEATH METAL ACTION FESTIVAL - Parnu-jagupi, Estonia 1993... - It was our very first perfomance on the Estonian metal festival, and this concert gave us very many... (read "the story"..)

MR: What are your musical and lyrical influences or inspirations, and how do you blend them to sound unique? DS: From musical influences we have: Deicide, Napalm Death, W.A.S.P., Amorphis, Metallica, some tracks of Madonna, Beatles, Enya ... and many yet. Lyrics of POSTMORTEM, we think we have no influences from artists, in principal it is going out from inside. First we usually write the music, then the lyrics, but sometimes the contrary.

MR: What is the funniest thing you have seen lately? DS: A cat eating a carrot.

MR: Is there anything you've ever really wanted to do with your band but haven't been able to for one reason or another? For example... DS: To get a decent recording contract... seems so easy, and not very many bands attain this...

MR: Extreme metal seems to be steadily growing in appeal in the underground. Do you see that as a good thing? What effect does it have on your band? DS: Of course we can see and feel good things of the underground, it is like promotion, distribution of independent underground's members by means of flyers, different music issues, creating any compilations, even tours... But, of course, underground is not ideal, and has it's minuses, for example: You as author, like as a rule, usually can not to get money for your deal, but this also can understand, all it hold enthusiasm.