– Hi and thanks for your time. What’s currently keeping MASTIPHAL busy?
Daamr, guitarist of Mastiphal: Hello,I’ll answer Your questions with pleasure.Many cases make that we are  busy notoriously .Practically, we have not had a rest break after recording the album. At the moment we are  focused heavily on our rehearsals.We spend almost every day for rehearsal, preparing Mastiphal to attack  «live».Meanwhile, we have to coordinate matters related to the upcoming release date of Parvzya. Recent amendments graphics, checking if not crept into an error.There are important matters for us because we want to have the best end result of release.The front line is quite long and so far we very take care effectively that any error couldn’t cross this line.Apart  from these elements, which absorb us on and on, we also keep our mind on additional cases related more to the visualization of the band. We’re talking about polishing the scenario clips, which we want to start filming soon.We wish  that  the images created by us  fell in memory of viewer for a long time, so the mission is quite responsible.We also spend much time on  contacts with media. We’re pleased that Parvzya aroused a such interest.We feel it by the spate of interviews ,which starting to flow to us more and more.A multitude of activities sometimes cause delays in responding to them -what also happened in this case-and I’m very sorry for it on behalf of the band.Besides we’ve started working on new songs intended for the Mini CD, which we plan to prepare in a short time. It will be special release,I think the interesting one, because people will hear the evil in an unusual form.Generally we don’t  complain about the lack of ideas on development time. Mastiphal is our top priority and put any powers in the band.I know it looks like we have all the symptoms of ADHD, but  it is even desirable in this case.Mastiphal rested by  10 years. Now there is no time to rest.

 

– If you had to describe the band’s sound to someone that hasn’t heard you yet, how would you do it?
«Hey, man, just buy Mastiphal’s new album and then You probably hear the most infernal sound of hell in your life (laugh)” But seriously, I think that it’s difficult to identify clearly the sound of this album. When we were at the stage of closing the finished composition intended for the album we sat together and we started to discuss the final sound of Parvzya. It was sure that we did not seek modern solutions. We were interested in a back to the old school sound of bands, which we listened to as teenagers. It wasn’t by way of: hey, I want the album to sound like Slayer, Venom, or – or something like that.We focused on creating own sound using an almost cult matching of amplifiers. We do not feel comfortable in novelties market of amps. We found that the most intense darkness and Satan will spew from Parvzya by Peavay 5150 and Marshall JCM800. Also in arrangement terms I am not able to ascertain clearly which of the conventions of playing metal the album touches.You can find everything on Paruzya .The album puts many elements of extreme playing together. You will find here plenty of darkness, aggression and melody,feeling deepening depression but also espressions stimulating to fight with the whole world. Color is here as You can see.One thing is certain.You will not find the sound of masturbation on Paruzya. It’s not our area. We choose the hell by a conventional manner. The hell with its pervasive smoke and emanating brimstone.

 

– And what does «Mastiphal» mean?
The prince of darkness. The pervasive evil. Freed from the minds of those who spit on religious hypocrisy and human stupidity. It’s the weapon for the celebration of human nature and his power. It’s the personification of people’s hatred raised in the treadmill of idolatry, against their will. Mastiphal is the predominance of rational thinking over an imaginary world written in the holy religious books of mankind.

 

– Your brand new album, “Parvzya” will be released really soon. After all these years without releasing anything new, what are your expectations?
Any expectations? Hmm, I do not know!Most of expectations to this material we had during its composing and producing in the studio. The album is ready. And we are very satisfied with it. We did what we wanted to do. I think, our satisfaction for the successful album was the most important thing that we expected.Of course it would be great if the album takes fancy of fastidious listeners but we  realize that it is impossible to satisfy all tastes. Personally, I think, it would be good to hear and read the words of constructive and clever criticism –  of course, if such words will appear (laugh)

 

– The band has been on hiatus for 10 years. What prompted your split-up and what made you come back?
Yes … The band has been on hiatus.One of the reasons for this state of affairs was the fact that guys had problems with maintaining a stable line-up.Various people took part in the recording of each release.At that time I also had made proposals to join the ranks of Mastiphal. Unfortunately, the discussions didn’t bring results in the shape of my participation on previous albums of the band.Although I remember I managed to play a few rehearsals with the band shortly before the decision to terminate Mastiphal.I watched the whole situation left side and I get to the conclusion that the growing problems have led to frustration of band leaders.Flauros and Cymeris are strong personalities looking at the band through the prism of their own vision.Unfortunately, 10 years ago, these visions were so different that they made the decision to suspend the activities of the band. It was really send a beast to sleep. Why? Because they often were talking about Mastiphal. We have the plus point that we live near each other so I have heard many times these talks redolent Mastiphal’s spirit on weekly occasions of libation …
Well, for many years, the discussions did not lead to anything – both of whom were involved also in their other bands. It all caused that the process of resurrecting Mastiphal `s lasted 10 long years. And finally there was a proposal from the Witching Hour Productions relevant re-released of earlier material under the common title: «Damnatio Memoriae”. Publisher went with the punch and began to persuade guys to record a new artist album. The new album after the 10-year break is a big challenge. There were doubts as to the appropriateness of recording. On the other hand, the desire to re-awakening of the beast was so strong that the resurrection became a reality for good. Work has begun on Parvzya.

 

– Has the extreme Metal world changed during these 10 years?
Of course. I have no doubt .The changes are a continuous process. What for us was the extreme 10 years ago – it’s not today. The issue is that various forms of extremism ran rampant by the last decade .Starting from the musical masturbation, turbo acceleration of temp tracks, mutations of different music genres in order to obtain the one feature which is the recognition of stylistic band. Because everyone wants to make his band the most recognizable. Once everything was more predictable. It was easier to categorize groups to the fit stylistics. It ‘s a positive phenomenon for some bands with a great creativity. However, in many cases , to create pseudo- extremes rubs against the grotesque.

 

– Your return in 2009 was settled by a compilation album Witching Hour released. How much imput did you have on this release and how did the idea arise?
Bartek Krysiuk,the head of Witching Hour Productions, had a fair-sized impact on our return.He suggested us re-released edition of Mastiphal ‘s earlier material, which finally appeared in 2009 entitled «Damnatio Memoriae”.From beginning to end we had an impact on what finds on the album and we talked to label long time about release form. We wanted very much the album was released at the appropriate level.This compilation was intended to remind people named Mastiphal.I think that it fulfilled its role. Shortly after the release of «Damnatio Memoriae» we got many inquiries about the new album.There have been signals from the Witching Hour, that if the album could arise, they would give it up gladly.All this caused too, that we started to seriously consider returning. We met, started talking, and suddenly it turned out that maybe we could find a compromise.We felt cool breeze of cusp of the 80’s and 90’s on our backs during first rehearsals which also dispelled the rest of doubts .In short, we felt a jollification of playing together again.

 

– You’re still with Witching Hour and this is your first full-length studio album with the label. Are you guys happy with them?
We are very glad with the cooperation of the Witching Hour Prod.Mastiphal experiences the situation like from the movie with happy ending. This relationship is happy (laugh). Label’s businesslike proposals , its openness to our ideas, that’s all evinces of its professionalism in everything what it does.
Label does not build any pressure on us, supports our creativity. It works well with the company focused on the promotion and development of bands from own stable. Therefore, we as a band take every action to make our visions of Mastiphal’s albums both substantively and technically became firmly at the top level.We were able to produce Parvzya in Necromorbus Studio in Sweden. Witching Hour Prod.has just great merits in it.Looking at this situation from our Polish perspective, the album production outside Polish borders is a real challenge especially in financial considerations. The company has trusted us. We did not want and do not want to disappoint it. Parvzya has opened further possibilities of talks with Witching Hour Prod. in a context of successive ideas, which we want to produce together with this company. We lay many ideas out – we didn’t hear refusal by the publisher so far. We want to be credible in the eyes of company, to convince the deepening of this cooperation by taken actions..

 

– Though you split-up 10 years ago, your debut album was released back in 1995, many years actually so, what are the main differences between «For a Glory…» and «Parvzya»?
First of all we are more mature as men. With 34 years you look at the world and music otherwise than 15 years earlier. Today, we certainly pay much more attention to detail, surely we know much better  what we want to show and play. Years ago, we being teenagers didn’t have such knowledge, remember, there was no Internet, and broaden the horizons of knowledge was very hard work. We had to sweat to find out something from rare professional journals or from older mates. And both on theme about scene, bands, equipments and even the enactment. Today it’s probably much easier, and we, being older, know better how to prepare for studio, on what kind of nuances to pay attention and what equipment to choose to be sound well. Secondly, why is the maturity be characterize with easing mores or music? As time goes by, when a man get to know the world better wants to shout even louder. So why do we have to approve of shit surrounding us? We know full well what we want and what to reach a goal.
Although Mastiphal is more aggressive on the album “Parvzya” than it was in the past, it’s definitely more mature now than in the 90’s. We have set the Devil loose who was sitting in a bottle for more than 10 years. This music is very natural for us, it came out of us by itself. For sure we aren’t going to be in thrall to surround styles including the metal scene too. Our motivation to act comes from an individual way of thinking, not from a herd «bleating».

 

– Back in the time you had something in your sound that was, somehow, your trademark and that wasn’t used that much back then: the keyboards. Why have you left this behind?
16 years ago, keyboards weren’t as notorious used by bands as in later years. Then Mastiphal arrangements were based on the keys.It was a new sound for the band that we tried to use to build a gloomy, dark atmosphere. It’s a quite harsh climate.At the time of «For Glory» … compositions have been arranged for one guitar and bass, so you had to use keys in order to enrich the composition.It should be noted that there were no keys in next tracks , which resulted after «For the glory …» The concept has changed. Summoned Howling is the best example. Mastiphal gave epic licks a miss for a more brutal sound. That was in 1996 …In the case of «Parvzya» arrangements have been prepared for two guitars. We want to keep this style of arranging out consistently. We disregard keyboards because guitars created a right climate of album ..

 

– Anyway, even the voice sounds different, lower I could say. What can you tell us about it?
Yes. We spent with Flauros a lot of time at rehearsal room before the final recording vocals in the studio. Flauros very involved in the search for a suitable timbre.We recorded several versions of the vocals in order to determine which one will accentuate lyrics perfectly. . Flauros is a singing and hot lead vocalist- he can bring the right feeling with his voice. I call it emotional imagination.
He knows how to interpret his lyrics because he is a lyricist on the whole album. No doubt ,he is a fucking great instrumentalist because voice is also an instrument, which must be able to use with imagination.Vocal arrangements and the timbre is not a matter of chance. This is a deliberate, consistent, analyzed and thought out act.Does the timbre like or not, is a personal matter of taste. I had a pleasure to work with Flauros repeatedly in the studio for the past 10 years, and I boldly say that these are the best recorded vocal performances that I was able to listen. There are no compliments because many times before I had a skeptical attitude for his vocals but I have no objections here. The passage of time affects a voice color in some measure. We aren’t already teenagers (laugh)and voice also changes with age too.In this case, just for good, I think.

 

– The general sound is quite different. How did you fronted the composition? Has the new line-up had something to do with this change in your sound? I mean, is composition for you a team-work?
You know, Mastiphal is a real band. It is not a creature, a one-man project.Musicians are not accidental.Each of them is quite different, each of them has a different perspective on music.
We have collected all the ideas then to combine them into a coherent whole.
Parvzya gives to us a complete cross-section of our capabilities and our visions. Without a doubt, it is the result of teamwork.

 

– And, beside the line-up changes you had in your past, do you see the current line-up as a steady one?
It would be great to keep this line-up. I think that is possible.If everyone will be closely involved in the expansion of Mastiphal – everything will be fine. We have played in this line-up for year but we had a chance to test each other in extreme conditions from scratch. The pace of work over the album was cruel. Everyone had own job to do. Parvzya shows that we succeeded. 5 people, including three fresh ones, who began working with the other end of Mastiphal stick (laugh) Instead of trying to play rehearsals nicely in a hall we started arranging and recording an album, which was previously preparing in this group.There were no sentiments here. Yes,initially there were concerns or everybody was able to handle the pace.There were moments of weakness.It was said on the sidelines – it’s impossible … But the impossible became possible, we all survived this time in great suspense.We checked our possibilities over. We learned ourselves. We came out victorious. Paruzya is the testimony .
We stick together. We talk a lot together, eliminating various potential problems. We create an atmosphere conducive to a sense of being important to each band member. Everyone has a possibility to express own view,to partake in discussions on matters relating to Mastiphal. This system is designed to create confidence in the band membership, to eliminate misconceptions and conflict situations. A pure mind is more creative. The brightness of the situation in the band eliminates the potential blockades. Therefore, this line-up is optimal for the moment.

 

– Still about the refreshing sound in the album, I wonder if all songs are brand new?
Absolutely yes, all compositions are brand new. But I’m glad that you are thinking over it because our concept has proved to be in some ways. When we were talking about this what Parvzya is to present by itself, we found unanimously that it to be old school in a maximum extent . Many compositions even smacks of the old form of arrangement and mood building. Your impression of some inconsistency of Parvzya may also come from the fact that the album contains songs composed by three musicians. Three people, three different visions fit together,forming Parvzya.

 

– So is «Parvzya» a new start for MASTIPHAL?
In a way, this album is de facto a new beginning – even though Mastiphal was 19th years ago and the band’s name is recognizable among fans – we should remember that the band had 10 years break. Parvzya could become the final release of band, a proverbial nail in the waking Mastiphal’s coffin – if it had failed in its mission, if it had not shown that we still have much to offer.Fortunately it was inversely for us. The band has recorded a solid record and thus Parvzya from the album became a re-debut.Parvzya is indeed a manifesto defining the present status of the band, clearly stating that the Mastiphal ‘s time yet to come. Parvzya created a desire for creative expansion within us. We’ve built concepts for new ideas since the beginning of this year and we want to accomplish them in the near future.Apart from regular publications we are also planning releases EP type and MiniCD. This is due primarily to the multiplicity of ideas that we create and which by virtue of slightly innovative structures – of course, oscillating in a convention of `old school black metal – will not be fit for another great album.

– And, what does it mean? Both it’s meaning and what does the album represent to you.
In a religious aspect Parvzya is the Day of Wrath, and all plagues and misfortune will be incidental to it. However,it’s a very apt title in the context of situation in which Mastiphal landed.Parvzya – that is the second coming. Parvzya became a reality. Mastiphal has come again.

 

– What can you tell us about the cover artwork? What do you want to express, the artist, etc.
Cover reflects the sense of album title and its main message. «Parvzya» is terrifying Day of Lord’s Anger, and all plagues and misfortune will be incidental to it. In Greek meaning it is the presence, coming, appearance. Because most churches and religions are waiting for Second Coming, so the Day of Judgement is a very proper theme. There is some perversity in our vision of the Paruzya. Look at the cover, you will understand what we mean.The nitty-gritty isn’t always situated where it is expected, so one should look around carefully.Defiance and rebellion is an integral part of music Mastiphal.»Man Strikes, God Falls», as one of the songs on the album says .Additionaly,Paruzya is important to us for another reason, it means Mastiphal’s return on the scene …

 

– Will the release of this album affect in any way DARZAMAT?
Darzamat and Mastiphal are two separate organisms, acting according to their own tenets. Flauros is involved in both of those bands, therefore, it is easier to control the planning and organizing the work of each of ones. I’m convinced the new Mastiphal’s album will not have negative impact on future Darzamat’s feats in any way. Just now Mastiphal has its days, we need to concentrate on promoting the band,on concerts. Flauros has plans for the next Darzamat’s releases in his schedule, guys try to play, they are constantly on the move all the time.As far as I know they also have tour plans. Definitely Parvzya will have no impact on work and Darzamat’s activity. Flauros is a perfect guy and a great organizer. With him, everything works like clockwork, everything must be buttoned up. Also in the context of the functioning of his two bands

 

– In the album we can still find elements from 80’s/90’s Black Metal but, what are your main musical influences?
The main inspiration is what we have been infected as young boys and that age just had a place in  80’s/90’s. In those days we began to absorb metal music and we made first decisions about establishment of bands because we wanted to play like our idols.We grew up on such bands like Wizard, Slayer, Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Sarcofago, Mayhem and Kat from Poland.It was a hellish destruction, shock. Followed a complete reevaluation of the known world. Dilemmas and conflicts were beginning to appear. We were thrown into the hell. In my case, without a doubt Slayer has left its mark the strongest . After listening to Hell Awaits Christianity inculcated into my head at home – has been stoned to death.For me,it’s the most iconic, psychedelic howl in honor of Satan. I’ve swallowed everything that smelled with sulfur up since that time Then I have started my crusade. Almost obsessive desire to learn to play like that presented my favorite bands meant that  the old school style of play has taken root somewhere in the subconscious mind.Now after these 20 years , these rooted inspirations appeared for sure during works on the album Parvzya. We were very keen that this old age were nudged by the album ,both in arrangement terms and tone.Parvzya is such a kind of nod to the old days –even a tribute to the bands that inspired us to start our journey.

 

– And, finally, what are your near-future plans? Will you support the album live?
And as regards the future, we have a lot of publishing plans and we want to use them effectively. We’ll definitely be too active in matters of concert, but we will not do anything at a push. We spend much time in a rehearsal room.We’re preparing for concerts intensively.Silesian Massacre Festival vol.3 will be the first occasion to see Mastiphal «live» and where we will give a show alongside bands such as Dodheimsgard, Entombed, Kataklysm, Urgehal, Kampfar, Furia. This is an excellent company and therefore we are very excited to perform at the festival and the possibility of presenting Parvzya in live version.

 

– That’s all, thanks once more for your time. Now feel free to add any las words.
Thanks for the interview. I hope I was able to present Mastiphal AS 2011 although in some measure!Expect news from our camp because we certainly have many plans to accomplish in the near future. Always be yourself and do not get into rottenness of the world which around us.See Ya at the gigs!

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