What’s up? Nice to meet you again, landsmen! How are you doing? What’s your current line-up?

IGOR (bass& vocals): We recruited a keyboard player Dmitry Gornov the rest are the same - Sergey Bushmakin on drums, Ilya Hanzhin on guitar and me on bass and vocals.

Well, you really arose my interest with you new release which sounds perfect indeed. Why did it take you much time to show off again?

We were revaluating the past and the present, accumulating comprehension that it’s no use living without rock’n’ roll.

And then all of a sudden you entered House Of Music Studios and started working with Achim Koehler as sound producer. Let’s dip in details. How did you come to idea of studio session in Germany and how did it all come true?

You know, we just wanted a PRODUCT! To have everything done properly and to obtain as famous name for our material. We use English lyrics and Russian sound producers don’t cope with the task properly. This is due to different mentality. The preproduction was done at home at our garage, we sent it to Achim Koehler, he like it and mailed us invitation.

All Russian bands that chanced to work in abroad studios remember their session as most positive experience. Something like holiday, they say. How did your process go on and which was the most memorable personally for you?

Oh, we enjoyed it very much as well. Not exactly holidays but very positive indeed. Europe, February, warmth, grass under feet, Bavarian beer, canonical politeness… All a sudden it started to snow by he end of our studio session which means that they also have weather troubles!)

What did you learn through this session? What are the differences between Russian and foreign sound producers and engineers?

We learnt standard English studio terms, corrected our phonetics, took notes of drums recordings and many many more! European studios provide you with real product which gives no subject for being ashamed. There’s no feeling of being either fooled or graced for you’re your own money.

How did you like Achim Koehler as a person and how did he estimate your music?

Achim is a nice person, very responsive and responsible! He is completely devoid of any greed. He appreciated our music skills (for example he refused one band after hearing theur drummer). As for our music he judged it as “a bit old-fashioned for big labels”.

And right! What comes next then! It’s high time to be searching for a label! Are you involved into label hunt and will you receive any help from Koehler who is related to Nuclear Blast?

Absolutely! We are working on it now!



Let’s get down to music in the long run. As a matter of fact it has changed a lot. Your early 90’s are quite comparable to Megadeth and now you are pretty much melodic, romantic and close to love metal. What’s going on, is it a commercial effort or it is easier, you are playing what you heart tells you.

Well, you have answered the question yourself. I would hardly be able to formulate all the factors that influenced us during recording this EP. Thank ypu very much for a good question!

So, what it playing music for – hobby or the main concern of your life?

The main concern.

What is you opinion of current Russian metal scene? I also remember that you were the author of street wall lettering in 80’s – ARIA logo – long before ARIA obtained a firm fan base. How do you estimate ARIA creativity now?

I have to remember you that I am also responsible for ALICE COOPER lettering! Well, local metal scene doesn’t really impress me, ARIA is something dear from my childhood yet I don’t listen to them much now. And I don’t appreciate their separation. But I still admire and enjoy ALICE COOPER a lot!

Do you listen to more extreme genres?

Well, yes. I also respect extreme metal movement for integrity and unity of audience. In fact we have to keep searching for our audience.

Which are your nearest plans now? Wishing you good luck I just can’t help asking, how long should we be waiting for your new material!

It won’t last too long this time!