1. Hails to THE STONE´s camp! There is not studio activity for longer time from you… are there any news which we could focus on? Your website is not beeing actualzed for more than a year, is everything ok?

Well we have been very active last couple of months recording a new album “Magla”. It will be released by Folter Records in late spring this year. Concerning our web site, well it has been updated in February, but the webmaster made a mistake and he lined that the last update is from February 2005 so that’s the problem. Anyway we already have a new website and the new webmaster so I hope that updating will be more frequent. New address is www.thestonehorde.com and website is still under construction. The old one will fade away by time.

2. I have heard about tour with Inferno, Arkona, Infernal War and you. Do you know any more information about countries, where gigs should be performed and when?

No, it will be no tour with mentioned bands. At least we didn’t make any deal for touring together. What is certain is that we’ll play together here for the Serbian gig in December. Anyway let’s wait and see.

3. Let´s check the tour. 19.11.2005 you cancelled gig in Czech republic and after some time whole tour. What ´s the reason?

Yes. We canceled whole tour because our drummer had problems with army services and he couldn’t leave the country for couple of months. Fucking bad and frustrated situation, but it was the only solution. Well we’ll play a new tour in November 2006 in order to promote our new album so we hope that visiting of Czech Republic is certain thing.


4. Don´t you plan any live records in future? What about DVD for example? If there´s not even some, which is secret, haha :).

KOZELJNIK: Soon we’ll release a live split 7’ ep with brothers Inferno. It will be released by Undercover Records. That live ep was recorded in February when we played together here in Belgrade for Serbian gig. Also split DVD with May Result is coming and it’ll be released by USA label Blackmetal DVDs. The Stone’s part of that DVD will be a very raw recorded material taken from our appearance on Open Hell Festival 2003.


5. Let´s look back. You´ve made own charismatic sound and you are easy to recognize, comparing other bands in that musical genre. What can you tell about Zákon Velesa after some more time?

From the very beginning it was quite important to create authentic sound for the band and I think that through the years of our existing we have made to create something that’s recognizable and “Zakon Velesa” is the ultimate record for The Stone until now concerning that. It’s the most aggressive, cold and evil record with the freezing sound and grim atmosphere. Lyrically it’s the most in deapth album, more personal and darkly poetic. New upcoming album “Magla” is even more authentic and original with the grand dose of dark and agrressive atmosphere, more brutal and tehnical.

6. Lyrics are in your fathers´s language, which I welcome, it gives you more originality. Why you do not use worldwide English? Will you stay in that direction also on the future release? Do you love your language?

Using our native language is giving us more in depth space to express our views in prose side of the band. We use many arhaic terms and words that can not be translated on English with no loosing the true meaning of what we’re speaking about. We feel very comfortable by using our native so we’ll definitely continue to sing in Serbian. Still it’s matter of inspiration and if we have some good ideas for the English written lyrics we shall do that for sure. Anyway we put on our new album translations of the song titles so people will step closer to our lyrical side this time. Lyrics are very important to us because it reflects our spiritual side and it’s more then welcome when other people recognize themselves in both music and lyrics respectively

7. Could you recommend us some local band of yours? Tell us some news from local underground please…

Well there are a few new promising acts that are worth to mention like Besomar, Zaklan, Bethor, Lapot, Posmrtna Liturgija, Wolf’s Hunger, Ispovest, Angelgoat, but they have to prove themselves on the scene ‘cause they’re still on a demo level or with first albums. For example Besomar and Zaklan have a killer demos and you should check them in the future for sure. If you like some old styled chaotic black metal in the vein of old Beherit then check it out Bethor. They released a first album and it’s very devastating. Also since ‘95 I play in another old Serbian black metal band,May Result. We released 3 fullength albums and one mini album. May Result style is different then The Stone’s. It’s more atmospheric , but still dark and aggressive. We played with May Result on Open Hell Fest 2002. It was very good expiriance for the band.

8. what about future in label?

As you maybe know after three releases we left Solistitium Records. Now we’re signed to German label, Folter Records and the upcoming album “Magla” will be released on both CD and vinyl format through them. Also our previous releases will be pressed on vinyl by Folter Records. We’re very satisfied with their work until now. Jorg who runs the label is very good and honest guy, dedicated to the music and what he’s doing with the label so we’ll definitely stay with Folter Records for the future releases.


9. Can we seek for any continuity between your past releases? Are they some kind of a unit, or does they live their own life?

I think we’ve always seeked for a perfection in music we create and development of ours is evident on each record. Still I think that seal of The Stone is marked on every album, but every time more developed and authentic. On our new album “Magla” we’ve get a step further, enriching our style with elements that we’ve never used before or we used it sporadically. We get the most original sound we made until now and the songs structure is more experianced and balanced. Anyway it’s the most representive album The Stone ever recorded.

10. Which season do you prefer and why?

Probably autumn and winter. Some strange feeling of spiritual silence takes my aura during the end of autumn and beginning of winter. I like cold waves of winter and the undying winds of late autumn that become more and more freezing at the door step of winter. The blood get quickened during the winter time seeking for a spiritual wisdom to rise.

11. Which importance webzine or printed zine has for you? Do you prefer more UG printed zines, or more available web form? Have you got any time to get deep into reading?

I better prefer UG printed zine. Everytime I open such piece of art I get nostalgic for the old times. No much of values of the old are left in the present times of waste. Last good printed zine I’ve read must be German Pitchfork. On the other hand I have nothing against web zines, but it’s totally different world made to disappear before it gets to live if you understand me. There are no space for the status of cult in the internet web world.

I like to read, but no much free time I have to spend with reading the books.

12. Do you know any bands from Czech Republic? If we don´t mention Inferno, off course, hehe:).

Beside Inferno, well of course I know. Master’s Hammer, Root, Torr, Maniac Butcher, Avenger, Dark Storm, Silva Nigra, Trollech, Absurd Conflict, Agmen, and more …anyway you have a good tradition and many good bands. We are also friends with some people from your scene so hail them this time!

13. It´s clear you love nature, do you go often into the woods? Do you have any area near your home, where you go to forget everyday problems and to get the power… to relax?

Nature is a big part of me, both in spiritual and physical aspects, but my hours with nature are not so often, beacause life is so quick in big urban towns such as Belgrade and it’s almost impossible to plan your free time. Last year I took two week holiday and my wife and me were on the mountain trip.We were visiting great old Zlatibor mountains. We were placed on the highest top of the mountain near some village, but still out of civilization and people in general. It was quite pleasurable these days especialy during the nights when it was very cold and dark. Anyway great experience. We will repeat that nature seance this year for sure.


14. Tell us about your musical feelings please… Which genres do you like, which bands basically influenced you, and which are having influence on you now…?

I listen mostly black metal, but I like old death metal and ‘80ies thrash too. We have been influenced by many bands that we like, but we always tried to express our own style and I think that we made it. It’s kind of natural to have influences from the music you like, but those influences must evoke your own ability to build your own authentic ideas and not to follow cliches and recipes to sound like your favourite black metal band. In present scene there’re so fucking many worthless bands who play Darkthrone or Mayhem replica style with no will to create something original. I’m tired of such bands, but they still get the chance to be released on CD or even on vinyl. Pointless!

15. How tle process of composing goes in your band? Do you have some ´leader´ who´s word is main, or do you have democracy and everything goes like that?

I’m the main composer of the band, but usualy we together work on arrangements and songs structure. I came with the riffs and we work on building the songs final shape at rehearsals. We always follow our creative senses so if we are in the right mood and if we have that ultimate feeling of great experience during composing then we know that the right things will appear at final. It’s a matter of spirituality, that’s the primar for us in the band.

16. Could you remember any perion when you were pissed of everything around a you got taste to finish in band?

No! I’ve never had that feeling that leaving the band would solve my problems. The Stone is my life so why should I abandon it.

17. From us – we wish to THE STONE many successes in next musical career, will to play and also many fans. Greetz from Czech Rpublic! Last words are yours…

Thanks for the support and good luck with your work. Slava!