MEDIA: Interview

Also Music. VECHERNIY KURIER

Last year it was almost impossible for the metal monster of our musical world to survive without a surge of new blood. But a miracle happened - as if after a mushroom rain bands playing Death Metal began to appear.

The first band I would like to talk about is a new band called POSTMORTEM. The name POSTMORTEM has been around in Tallinn metal circles for quite some time. The guys got together three years ago, but concert activity began only in the spring of 1993. The debut took place on May 8 at the "326" club. At the very first concert, the band gained success, in no small measure this was due to the excellent stage work of vocalist Mark, who did not stand still for a single second during the entire performance. After 3 years of stagnation, the band burst into performances. The most memorable of them was the festival in Pärnu-Jaagupi, where POSTMORTEM, according to a fan poll, was among the top three.

I was able to talk to Sergei Shelepov, bass guitarist and current leader of the band, at the POSTMORTEM rehearsal base.

- Sergei, I’ll start with the most pressing issue. I heard that there was a split in the band not long ago, the vocalist left. What is the reason, and how are things now? - Yes, indeed, half a month ago Mark had to leave our ranks. We played our last concert with him on January 8 at the club “THE TUTLE”, and that’s where I sang the first song. Frankly speaking, Mark and I havd long lasting disagreements about the chosen musical style. The fact is that we have an extraordinary approach and although we play Death Metal, we bring our views on music and life in general into this style. Mark could not stand the experiments and has now settled in BOB HAIT & THE UNDERGROUND CATS, and, oddly enough, as a bass player. In the meantime, I have to sing, we’ll see later.

- What are the themes of the songs, and who mainly prepares the material? - Our songs contain the harsh truth of life in this world of evil and violence. The lyrics are written mainly by guitarist Yuri Zhuchkov and drummer Denis Shelepov. I only sometimes supplement them and correct them. And so, in general, we do not focus on words, the main thing is music.

- Do you play only your own music, or do you use material from famous bands? - Yes, POSTMORTEM plays two songs from the repertoire of SEPULTURA and PARADISE LOST. But we also perform them in our own style, and besides, the fans like it. It's nice to hear old, well-known songs. I don’t think it’s harmful, especially since almost everyone does it.

- Listening to your music at concerts, I discovered a small flaw, namely, there is not enough of the guitar sound. - As I already said, we have our own style of playing, and the music is quite complex. Indeed, Yurik alone cannot reveal the entire palette of Zouks, but the situation will soon improve, since we will soon have a new addition to POSTMORTEM, one of the best metal guitarists in Tallinn, Dmitry Samorukov known as BUTCHER. It is with him that we plan to make a new program and record an album.

- What does love mean to you? - True love is wonderful, I think it is the best thing a person can have. But, unfortunately, now for many the word “love” is an empty phrase. There are people who think: if there is money, there will be love. This is a deep misconception, although there are more and more such people. And I am very upset that everything is happening this way. Nowadays love is measured by money, bought and sold, but it is not love itself, but a surrogate...

- What are POSTMORTEM’s plans for the future? - In February we will participate in the rock festival in Narva. After this, the band will stop their concerts. New material will be prepared, so we need to lock ourselves in the studio and work for a month, or even two.

- Well, Sergei, thank you for your sincere and interesting answers. See you at the concerts, and good luck to you.

P.S.
The "Also Music" section does not share the group's theological views and is not responsible for them.