Heils Hyozt! Before we get started, fill us in on the backbone of the foundation and creation of your musical project (actually, a band now). What would you say was the biggest inspiration for it? Which bands have influenced your musical ability?
Reusmarkt was never considered any kind of musical project, it was always a band. We have experienced few line-up changes, thats all. Back in 1997 Reusmarkt had a slightly different sound - let the audience be the judge. Its common sense to assume that the sound of different bands that surrounds you will have direct impact on your musical creations, thus influencing you. At that time the bands that influenced me were IMMORTAL, BATHORY, SATYRICON, ENSLAVED, HADES, ROTTING CHRIST, NECROMANTIA, EMPEROR, ABIGOR, BURZUMYour essential bands of the second wave of Black Metal prior to 1996. At the moment of composing ECHO one can catch the influences of BATHORY, as well as HADES (ALMIGHTY), PRIMORDIAL, SUMMONING, BOLT THROWER, ANATHEMA, FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM - many different ambient and neo-progressive bands. Without saying - the main inspiration had to be Forest Like a red thread it infiltrates and holds the entire Reusmarkt sound together.
Reusmarkts debut album called "Fortress Ungh" has two aspects in addition to being an excellent album: very unusual song titles, as well as having two separate parts. Could you elaborate further on it? Why are there two parts to the album? Was the material written at two separate occasions? Will the material see a chance of being re-released?
There is nothing whatsoever unusual about the song titles. I was neither trying to be original nor not original. I titled them accordingly to personal feelings and experiences that went through me at the time. Regarding two parts... Material was recorded at the same time, but the actual ideas for the music were created apart, at separate occasions, with different mind setting. Part I was created prior to the actual formation of Reusmarkt. In addition - I actually did the vocals (with exception of Fortress Ungh), while on the second part has a different singer. Currently I am in the process of re-recording the first album. But honestly, the re-release will have a radically different sound than the original.
What can you tell us about the ideology of older Reusmarkt? As far as I can see, the music does not possess any Satanism, which was quite the popular topic back in that time. Contrary I see the essence of Paganism.
Thats right, there isnt any presence of Satanism there. I really dont like the term paganism, from all my understandingsso lets use the term Heathen instead. That Spirit (look at Echo) was always present; then and now. At the moment it transformed into much more mature, complex and non-transparent essence.
Please tell our readers about your project called XUL. Why did you decide to express yourself through this form?
Once again, XUL is not a side-project, but a separate opus with a complete different concept, form and expression. I would call this the same paganism, while focusing on its darker side. At that moment my body was full of dark and negative emotions that were boiling in my veins.probably due to personal struggles (raised by the betrayal and disappointment in those close to me). I could no longer maintain Reusmarkt, so I let it lapse; thus ending the band. It did not feel the right calling the music that was coming out of me at that time Resumarkt. But time, just like water changes and sharpens all that it touches... Some time has passed, and I had changed my lifestyle by moving to my hometown on the edge of the Carpathians. I left behind the industrial-technological land of Zaporozhje (I will, however, exclude Hortiza, a land dismantled and destroyed by communism, judaism and capitalism. A mighty island with Great history has been transformed into a summer resort for the purpose of relaxation and obesity of the fatasses as well as a cesspool of drugs and condoms). Thanks to my departure, a new breath of clean air from the Ancient forest - Reusmarkt was able to be revived and found itself in a new revolutionary spiral.
Where was Reusmarkt during all this time? Why did it take almost 6 to release the second album?
Basically I already answered that questionbut I will add that I was creating Echo during the time of 6 years. Furthermore, new music will be collaboration between all of the Reusmarkt members.
Tell us more about the new Echo album.
Album concept remained unchanged. You can clearly hear material from all six years between 2000 and 2006. The album also has a few sounds and ideas that were created back in the mid-nineties.
How did the idea of playing LIVE came about? As far as I know, you participated in Kolovorot Festival back in 1998 or 1999. I heard some say that Reusmarkts music was not so much for a public performance, but rather meant to be experienced in solitude and darkness. What are your thoughts on this? What should your audience expect from your LIVE shows?
It is completely our decision whether to play or not to play LIVE. What does exactly not so much for public performance mean anyway? There is tons of bands out there that play similar music (and often, its NOT metal at all), and have a huge success/following among the gatherers at the event. Personally, I much rather prefer enjoying gazing deep into my thoughts while listening to LIVE show, rather than go into convulsions, dance or shake like a retard. One can shake and dance like a retard to the bands like Analcunt, Behemoth or Korozzia Metalla. At my show I would hope to see people that would think and wonder, observe and listen- rather than yell in a drunken rage Sieg Heil! (Not that I have anything against the message itself), or fall on the ground, getting stepped on by others, while laying in a pool of vomit.
Elaborate on the bands Weltanschauung and current ideology. While reading the lyrics to your albums, one cannot determine whether lyrics are politically driven. Do you think that politics should be included as a necessity in music or not? What is your relation to the NSBM scene?
There is definitely a political involvement in our Weltanschauung; however you will not find it in our lyrics. Perhaps in the future we will decide to include it. Our songs are about Human and Humans who they once were and in whom they have evolved. We sing about Mother Nature or Mother PriRODa ( ROD, Slavic term for one of the Elder Deities that created the Slavic Race), and her connection with our Folk. Human exists in the entire Cosmos, and Cosmos exists in Human. All cycles, changes, transformations, birth and death all processes that tie us with the Cosmos are occurring within us as individuals; so is naROD (a Slavic term for the Folk, People with the root the word descendant from same Deity ROD, where we, Slavs originated) which cannot often be seen by some people (and actually does not partake in some; those are NOT technically our people, so lets not waste time on them). This concept is the majority of our lyrics, and does not apply to those who just barely decided to take this path, but applies to those, who have embraced this path and have grabbed a tight hold on it, ready to take the next step. I consider NSBM an enormous necessity. To some it is as essential as bread and water, and there some that must ensure its creation. To each his own. In any way- NSBM is just another blow in the battle for as Individial, and I am for it.
Translated by Voron 9/2/08
