1.Greetings to Mastiphal. Even though you exist for a quite long time and you are from neighbouring Poland you are not very well known here in Czech republic. Could you please introduce the band in some interesting way? There is no need for writing down the whole biography.
Hi Garmfrost, we know that Mastiphal is not well known in the Czech Republic, although our first EP was recorded in the Czech Cieszyn, (laugh).Well, I think it was influenced by many dimensions above all the time in which the band worked in the initial phase of activities and musical trends prevailed in Poland and the Czech Republic. Mastiphal has started its infernal crusade in 1992 - what does not mean that the ancestors of band hadn’t done anything musically earlier. Flauros and Cymeris, the founders of the band - fascinated by the old school metal- formed a band “Dissolution” playing more death metal music. If I'm making no mistake Dissolution was beginning to make own way in 1991 even if playing a concert with Vader in Katowice .I still have the photocopied card promoting this show. However, the guys had no limit in their musical quest. It was the time when a syndrome of fascination Norwegian black metal started to appear in Poland. Chaos, destruction and rebellion were treated very literally and implanted in their hearts.... And the day came in which I found out that Dissolution will not be anymore. Mastiphal was created and its rapid implementation in the form of "Sowing Profane Seed" fucked my head. Believe me, winters can be harsh in Poland ... But, fuck, what I heard in the first installment of Mastiphal surpassed my understanding of the dark, cold and death .... Thereby the band was created which became unknowingly a precursor of Black Metal scene in Poland next to Behemoth or Graveland. It started to happen sharply.
2.Mastiphal were born in1992 but since that time you have released only two full-lengths. The first one in 1995 and this year the second one came out. One would say that you are not very productive…
The first releases of the band came into being in rather short space of time so it’s hard to say about a lack of capacity or ideas. Quite different dimensions affected on a such turn of things. Then the guys were at the top. They suffered more from a productivity. Don’t forget that practically after completion of the For a Glory of All Evil Spirits, Flauros began work on a debut album of Darzamat. Cymeris was already working on new hymns for the next album of Mastiphal. Sample of new sound Mastiphal appeared on a compilation dedicated to the Polish KAT. For this purpose, the band realized a track “Mag – Sex”. We can’t speak about non-productivity here.
3.You were defunct for approximately 10 years. What happened?
Yes ... and here begins a dark period of activity Mastiphal. You know, Flauros and Cymeris are two incredibly strong personalities, which was hard to communicate on many levels. Notorious changes members in the band, whom were a little in Mastiphal, had a very bad impact on this state of things. Someone left, someone came ..They always treated Mastiphal deadly serious. They tried to choose people in order to the band got the fifth hoof ...The band was not existing in the media but every time when we met theme about Mastiphal appeared among us. The access to compromise lasted 10 years. Maybe one had enough time to spend on it. For me ,personally, what counts they never stopped talking about it.And,fuck,we have Mastiphal which has returned with re-editions of previous releases by dint of WHPand not long then recorded the album Parvzya, which is a new beginning for us.
4.Your music charged me up with its black/thrash/death metal sounding. What I like the most is that you belong to scene so long and so I feel the unique mixture of feeling of 80ties, progression of 90ties as well as the modern sound of new millennium. Was this your intention or it simply came like this by itself? Where did you record the album and how long did it take you?
We didn’t look for innovative solutions.We knew from the outset in what style we want to record Parvzya.This album was to be sentimental for us in some measure. We wanted to include here our fascination with the times when we were teenagers.Itflowed from us naturally.If a mussel doesn’t open,don’t eat it.Everything is consistent and gives a powerful cross-section of what is sitting into us. Many people whom we talk,tell to us that feel the spirit of turn of the year 80/90 in Paruzya. It's great that this is palpable. It's the best recommendation for all of us. Initially, there were many questions about the keyboards. Why have they not appeared on the album ... It mostly comes from people who remember "For the Glory ..." and the beautiful structure of keyboard instruments that were used on the album ... In the same breath we must not forget that Mastiphal showed later a new potential as a cover of a song Mag-Sex Polish Kat and the first author's work on the second album, the implementation of which never occurred in the 90's.We are talking here about Summoned Howling ... These two pieces have already been stripped of key-dark sophistication and nostalgia. I was fortunate to play tries of this material with the guys and fuck to this day I regret that its implementation did not come off. Traces of the instruments played on Parvzya were recorded in Wojkowice MAQ Studio under the watchful eye of Jaroslaw Tojfl ..Part of the vocal traces was recorded by Flauros in his improvised conditions. Intentionally. He is already such a man. He always has an idea for his voice and knows how he wants to implement his recordings. Fuck, if I didn’t know him, then I would think he is barking mad..The effects were saying it all. Flauros has recorded the best vocals for 20 years. Because he did it according to his vision. Further work proceeded very smoothly. And that's because before the recordings we were in contact with the manufacturer Parvzya- Sverker Widgren from Necromorbus Studio, who gave us the necessary guidance on the preparation of material for final production. It was a quite intense time, the great commitment of the whole band and the people who worked with us. I’m extending thanks for all for their patience - because we are not easy partners for cooperation. In particular, greetings and thanks to Sverker, whose professionalism and commitment is at the highest level.
5. Is MASTIPHAL a democratic band or is there a leader who is also the main composer?
Don’t mix politics with composing. Mastiphal has two leaders, and it will always be like that. Mastiphal is also a band that will never have unproductive musicians in its composition. The case is very simple. It is anticipated the plan, a powerful vision, and everyone working on it. We select the most sense solutions. We accept them. Work always begins from the manufacture of the relevant emotions associated with a lyrical concept. We don’t play music just for the music. Fuck, black metal is emotions. If someone is unfitted for it so fuck off. Our democracy is that everyone has the opportunity to present their interpretations of some theme.
6.Who is responsible for lyrics? I still didn’t have a chance to read them but I am sure you are dealing with some pretty dark themes. Can you tell us something about it?
Only darkly ones? Apparently You have to read lyrics of Parvzya ... The whole lyrical concept, as always, is created by Flauros. This is a man who has always fascinated me personally by his grasp of difficult subjects and form of his unlimited, multi-faceted writing. The man with a great knowledge and possessing an inexhaustible potential in writing. He writes a lot, also in the classical forms of writing. The artistry beats from his words. Parvzya is a conglomeration of anti-religious blasphemy, which we all agree unambiguously. It’s a multi-dimensional poetry. Listeners have the possibility to interpret their on own individual way.
7.Do you consider black metal to be your life-style? I’m asking because you are also a member of Darzamat who play a bit different music. How do you cohere your work with both bands?
Don’t speculate on this theme in the context of the music performed. The difference lies only in the sounds and not in the mentality and in the form of understanding the world. I personally don’t need music to be able to express myself and my life attitude. My passion supports me. I also make projects which do not have much in common with the typical concept of black metal but they are soaked in cold and darkness to the bone.
8.Polish scene is very strong with first-rate bands. What do you think about it as one of the pioneers who saw its beginnings? Do you feel a certain kinship between MASTIPHAL and some other polish band?
It depends which bands you mean. Presently, Mastiphal is perceived as an archaic relic. The band, which is reactivated. The one, which someone looks at with curiosity, someone with fondness, and someone with envy. The band that supposedly came back because this is a prosperity. The prosperity on the playing black metal. Fuck, I haven’t heard more nonsense. We know what we want. We have extensive plans and visions. We have fucking way on what we want to convey and how. Flauros is a media person in this band. He talks to people from many Polish bands. I don’t butt to it. Everyone knows own place in an array and so it should be. There are some complexities that do not facilitate contacts. It would be good to untangle them .Time will show how will be.
9.What about you and your concert activities? Do you plan some bigger tour perhaps with a gig in Czech republic? The new album definitely deserves to be supported by a tour!
Big tours are not dependent on us entirely. It is a point of our publisher. Of course, we really want to play tours and to show our art to the wide body also in the Czech Republic. We live in the southern Poland so it’s not too far to Czech Republic and we hope that some time we will be able to present ourselves the Czech fans! We are playing the nearest concert in September in Darjeeling, India and it is "The Underground Unleashed Festival”. We are excited about this fact. Exotic matter, India, the Himalayas and so on. Undoubtedly, It will be an unforgettable experience .To visit places that we have seen only in TV.
10.Back to MASTIPHAL. The new album is out. Do you already have some plans for the future? Can we expect the new album soon or you will let it to take its natural course?
Of course, we have another plans for the future. Naturally, they arose without any pressure and we begin to realize them slowly. Mastiphal has plans to introduce a series of ideas maintained in the appropriate conventions but surprising. It applies the MCD s and Splits. I won’t say anything about a big album. It will surprise. We operate according to pace. We operate according to schedule. We operate with premeditation.
11.How do you feel as the band right know? Do you feel stronger and more vigorous than ever before? How would you describe the recent mood and situation in the band?
Everything is under control. If we feel bad because of some reason – we’ll change it. Presently, the situation is that we are powered more than ever. An appropriate atmosphere ,conditions for work are created. Exchange of views and musical vision come naturally. Time is the only problem,(laugh) Because ,fuck, we do not know what to do in what order (laugh). It's obviously possible to master. We’ll surprise. We’ll do our own thing. Regardless of the opinions of Internet warriors. Because, fuck, above all we are doing it for ourselves. People who create the current image of Mastiphal have nothing to prove anyone . Practically we all have a quite big bag of experiences connected with metal scene. We aren’t youngsters and surprising is that we have personal determination more and more. Just like old times Mastiphal is treated seriously by all of us now too . Each of us went through own hell. Today it is easier to talk and to create prolifically. Everything what we do and what we talk about is soaked with such youthful fascination and not a professional sophistication. We live this what is happening in the band. For people who look at us from the side it may look like an obsession ... Yes. Definitely Mastiphal is our obsession.
12.Thank you for the interview. Is there anything you would like to tell to Czech fans?
Thanks for the interview too. I recommend Czech fans to familiarize with the entire discography of Mastiphal ,especially with our latest album "Parvzya".I think that each of you will find in our music something interesting for yourself. We will try to visit the Czech Republic as soon as possible and to present you our hymns Live! 666
