1. Greets, Asbath. How do you and the whole band in last days do and how continue work on preparation album 'Epos'?

Hail Fastred, we got some good news for you! We recently finished working on our new album 'Epos'. This time we changed studio, and now this is the 'Kick the Flame Studio' (studio of the guitarist from the band Disillusion). This new album includes one long magical Black Metal composition at the medium tempo with some acoustic tunes and the atmospheric feel, which only DARKESTRAH is capable of producing. This album is completely dedicated to our beloved Issyk-Kul' lake, located in Central Asia. There are over ten legends, histories, myths and fairy tales about this lake. The bottom of lake Issyk-Kul' is said to keep the sunken city along with its treasures (and not only the Gengis Kahn's), gold and precious metals. Many years archaeologists have been trying to find the treasures on the bottom of lake, but so far they only find the fragments of exotic pottery and human bones... People who live on the coast of the lake say that only wise and strong person can find the treasures of the lake. This legend is our 'Epos'! Album is already in sale and I greatly hope that it will reach your land and you can give it a try!Also, we have ended relationship with No Colours Records and signed to US label Paragon Records. But I would like to say, that we are very glad with the work with No Colours Rec., published our first two albums.

2. You certainly got large base of fans with your debut album „Sary Oy'. On „Embrace of Memory was penetrative changed music style, which you?re playing – how public taken this this fact in your opinion and how do you satisfied with this album?

After 'Sary Oy' was released, we needed to keep moving forward. At that time our line-up changed alot. From old 'Sary Oy's members we only had me and Kriegtaltih. We didn't want to stop fire that just started bruning, so we found two more musicians to join our band, thosw who worked with us on 'Embrace of Memory'. We didn't want to reapeat the old tunes and felt like we had to keep evolving. This was our first experiment to work in proffesional studio. In 'Embrace the memory' we didn't use any traditional istruments, but got violoncello. Accoustic drums, the guitar sound and vocals sounded much more powerful and rich, coparing to our first album, however the overall feeling of the album remained the same. I mean, if you try to listen to 'Embracy of memory' you'll recognize our style. And it can't be different, because we value the feeling, athmosphere that our music creates. I am satisfied with embrace the memory. in 2005 NCR released our LP named 'the Way to Paganism'. By releasing this vynil we wanted to make a statement to general public that 'Embrace of memory' will be different from our debut 'Sary Oy'. So people expected something different from us. I heard some positive comments on this album.

3. I read, that „Epos' should be one long song. I can?t too good imagine, how would be suitable to it more traditionaly black metal face, which got „Embrace of Memory'. Could we expect return to „Sary Oy' or we would wait to see new conception?

“Epos“ is much different from our previous works. You can't call it a new concept, this whole concept is simply called DARKESTRAH. When we started working on 'EPOS' we already new how it should sound like. Lyrics was ready at times of working on 'Embrace of Memory', so we started with lyrics and moved on. We wanted this new album to sound very tragic, depressive, evil and athmospheric. Previous musicians didn't really fit the concept of the band, so they had to leave. I never said I am an easy going person, but I'd love to work with professionals. In addition o that I have problems communicating with certain kind of people. As you noticed, there are different people playing on 'Epos' - Anti from German Depressive Black Metal band 'Anti' and Sharthar. I think we really created a piece of art together, but we never bothered to think whether this would sound like any of DARKESTRAH's previos works. So we got something thing, but still in DARKESTRAH style.

4. „Embrace of Memory' is mostly playing in longer footages, though it haven't ply to boring, maybe about keyboards or cello. Are you going to anything similar also in the future?

I hate 3 minutes songs. I am sure you can't express things in 3 minutes. We never would be able to fit 10 tracks on a single CD. Other bands may do this. I won't be talking about feature, I live today and have no idea what will happen tomorrow.


5. I wouldn‘t say, that Darkestrah is typical black metal band, even reversely. Do you think, that just that fact, that you are from relatively „exotic' land(to create that music style), somehow avail music? I'm not to like mistaken, but you are only member, who don't come from Kyrgyzstan, do you? Though, could you recommend us some others quality blackmetal bands from motherland of Darkestrah? Do you have in your home large fans base?

We are the typical Black Metal Band. But you may find alot of pagan elements in our music. Mostly in lyrics, then in music. Didn't know germany is an exotic country to you, ha ha.. That's true that some of the band members are german and we speak german during rehearsals, but you got it kinda wrong - its only me and Kriegtalith who are from Kyrgyzstan. We organized Darkestrah in 1999 together wiyh oldhan and tartar. But by the time we were about to release 'Sary Oy' i was already based in Germany so couldn't work together with Oldhan. and it wasn't a distance, we just had different visions. He didn't want to do blackmetal, but I kept doing the same thing. Its good that you asked this question, cuz I heard alot of funny 'stories' about Darkerstah. I think it is not very imprortant who is who and where from. We had the same story with Falkenbach. Do you understand what I am talking about? It is true that Darkestrah was initiated in 'exotic' country Kyrgyzstan, the land of the mountains and rivers, but we live and breathe in Germany, the land of forest. It wouldn't be honest to say 'DARKESTRAH from Kyrgyzstan', because the rest of our band members were born and live in Germany. And they even never traveled to Asia. Back in kyrgyzstan we had some metal bands, but darkestrah was the only black metal band at that time. I am not sure what is the situation now, I haven't been there for ages. All I can say is that fans of extreme metal support DARKESTRAH.

6. On your performances you most probably don?t play songs from „Sary Oy' and you also draw from 'Embrace of Memory' – 'Epos' would be also purely chamber part. Are you going to stop with performations or you will 'Epos' only disregard?

We play songs both of 'Sary Oy' and from 'Embrace of Memory'. Possibly the first part 'Epos' will open our subsequent appearances.

7. Your lyrics are about paganism. Are you with this „ideology (neopaganism) still fascinated and could you tell us anything about it from your view? What it means for you…

No ideology and propaganda! Alot of groups sing about what doesn't exist anymore. Revive the past times and read history. Did you ever live at the time and place where you surrounded by cliffs scribbled all over by petroglyphs? Or have you withness shaman bringing wind wind? Our lyric poetry only speaks about the beauty of nature, without which everything was empty. Walleys, mountains, rivers, forests... these are the elements and the source of inspiration. This that from what repulses and interests Kriegtalith while writing lyrics. However, we do not exclude the possibility that the life in Europe can influence some changes in our creation. Possible subsequently we will come out with a mix of different cultures, but increasingly with the same heathen concept of lyric poetry. DARKESTRAH it places no limits on itself!

8. Whole „Embrace of Memory' is soaked with nostalgic „post-battle' mood, about that logically desposes also the name of album. It strikes me, if Darkestrah moves in entity lyricaly theme, or if you target the different thematic unit with each album…?

Themes are different. But we keep staying to the pagan concept. 'Embrace of memory' does have nostalgic feel. However „Sary-Oy“ talks about 3 walleys.


9. What imposes me, is elaboration of covers. All savours just „fantasy', though very strong and peculiary. Who cares for graphics face of the band?

I deal with concept. Kriegtalith deals with design. Our artworks are not 'fantasy' style. Fantasy is what 'Blind Guardian' used to use. Our stuff is more real. everything is mixed from real phtographs. I.e. 'Sary Oy' cover does display 'Sary Oy' alley shot. 'The Way to Paganism' is simply a pic of 'Tash Rabat' a place that the great silk road goes through. 'Embrace of memory' and 'Epos' are also using images from central asia. Cover artwork is very related to our music. I don't understand those hippies who download music from inet and say 'I have this band's album'. Of course I also don't like those who make reviews of the bands without really trying to understand what the band is about. I was mad when I read review on our 'Epos' - good album with pleasant sounds of the sea. How can you write review on a band if you didn't even see the album cover or read the CD contents.

10. I know, that you play on drums on live permormances Nargaroth. How do you enjoy this performances and what is cooperation with Kanwulf? Is your public different than Nargaroth's public?

I played on drums Nargaroth 4 years. But I left for the personal musical reasons. On the personal side- let this remain with me, on the musical - i simply had no time to constantly play 10 songs in the different countries from year to year. Group was not progressing. After withdrawal I seriously dedicated myself to Darkestrah, which simplified my life and I had more time to be occupied by the band Honestly speaking I do not know what the people say. I never talked to fans who come to darkestrah shows. But when I talked to Nargaroth fans many indicated that they give Darkestrah great respect and it's a pity, that today we gave concert together with Nargaroth...

11. What do you recently listen to? Are you limited only to black metal or are your tastes wider? Do some band on black metal field speaks to yourecently so much, that it will be good talk about it?

I listen to black metal, folk, doom-metal... news and weather forecasts. :)

12. Most of musicians have some idol, someone, who they would like to stay on one platform with. Who is your star, your incomparable ideal?

We don't want to stay at one platform with anyone. We don't have any idols and we just want to stay ourselves.


13. What is your opinion on today‘s trend of black metal? Many young, who spit everywhere Nietzsche‘s philosophy without ever so little knowledges, who luxuriate in poseurly self-inflicted trauma..and so on…

I believe black metal will cross the poplisation wave and many bands will dissapear. Only those which are truely into this thing, will remain. I am not really interested in hearding what oyther people think. I have my own lofe philosophy and I believe that whatever I am able to attain, is hidden in my conclusioness.

14. Did you visit Czech Republic or you would like to visit it in the future? We certainly would be glad, if we could see you in our home.

We never played in Czech republic, but this can be changed. We would love to give shows in Czechs. This would be really great. I heard alot about czech metal fans and I know quite some bands who I'd love to play together with, I just have no contacts with gig ogranizers in czechs, because everyone thinks we live in asia. :)

15. What country is Kyrgyzstan? I don‘t know lot about it…so could you tell us something about any significant memories, beautiful natural phenomena and you could target the population too. If your knowledges of this country allow you that :-).

Kyrgyzstan is a little country in Central Asia. It is ex-State of Soviet Union, borders to China, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The land is at 3000 meters above the sea level. It‘s well known for the wonderful snowy mountains site and the unique lake Issyk-Kul. The population is about 4,5 millions. There are two nation languages - russian and kyrgyz.

16. Thanks a lot for interview and your last words belong to you…We wish Darkestrah near visit in Czech Republic and certainly success with new album.

We want to thank Mortem Zine for his interest, also thank for this interview. The questions were quite interesting. We hope that fans from your country will listen and take justice to our music.