LUCIFUGUM interview for Mega Sin magazine (Poland)
(Actual date - Nov. 2005 l.t/March 2006 l.t., publication date - 23.04.06 l.t.)

 

  • Why did you so long piss off the press? Only three interviews and all for rusSsia-language press, nothing more. Why now did you change your own approach in this matter?

The press still considers itself "the great helper" which forms the tastes of the majority of consumers. And though everyone should understand that namely artists are the creative force and keepers of the certain traditions, these artists prefer to be the "friends" of the press, especially if the edition is enough mass to make this or that group more popular. After all these years my attitude to the press has not changed, there are many beggars still here and those, for whom the bands are the business raw materials in the printed industry. We still don't send promos because we don't need sops. Worthy Art should not search for the listeners. Everyone chooses what he deserves.

  • Since I remember Lucifugum was mentioned close by Nokturnal Mortum as the most well-known band from Ukraine. Though you always stand more in shadow, you did not feel from this reason wronged?

There is not the olympic games here, where everybody tries to be more famous, more evil. Nokturnal Mortum became popular only because one of the co-owners of The End records, russian by nationality, realized it was possible to earn money on the fashinable folk, in that case, ukrainian, not well-known for a while, and therefore attractive by its exotic nature. The second co-owner of The End records, greek by nationality, tried to run the greek groups. Apparently, the first one had operated more successfully and, as a result, Nokturnal Mortum albums have been sold to Last Episode. Nothing ingenious but standard marketing. In general, the agiotage around of this topic, for a long time already not a vital, is not clear to us. I stopped all relations with Nokturnal Mortum many years ago, after they have betrayed Black Metal ideas. Why should we feel "offended"? We are still Black Metal band, is it really not enough to feel the confidence? We are strong without comparisons with the others. To feel ourselves Wolves, a pack of jackals is not necessary to us.

  • Between hordes from Ukraine is sensible "the rivalry", because surely not all treat themselves as brethren and live with themselves in the agreement?

We are honest when we say that only LUCIFUGUM is interesting to us. Others prefer hypocrisy for getting friends, communications. But there is not the gentlemen club or the almshouse here. In reality, everybody follows the own interests, but apparently, it is easier to do this among the crowd. Our purpose is to envenom by Black, the others have this human need to explore themselves through the constant contacts with the similar. The same situation is typical also and for Polish scene, where takes place the tolerant "I'm not totally agree with such views" instead of "Black Metal is not the place for a life-slyled moralistic sheepy ns shit!" Probably, the quantity of hating us worms has grown? You see, the perfect way to recognize yourself is to define your enemy.

  • By this that it was silently about you in media surely multiplied round band many tittle-tattle. Is well or badly, they had any matter which influence on band? What most incredible gossip did you hear about Lucifugum?

The most stupid rumour is: without Faunus and Bal'a'Myth LUCIFUGUM is another band now. These hearings were spread by the ukrainian and russian ns sheeps to justify the own mutation. Probably, in those times, when some from today's ns sheeps asked for my autograph or LUCIFUGUM releases, which were well selling, we seemed "the similar" for them. Having recoloured in white, these worms have hurried to cowardly refuse from the things that never belonged to them.

  • Lucifugum has on the nape already 10 years, whether would you attempt for short adding up of these years? With what does different today's Lucifugum from this before 10 years?

LUCIFUGUM continues to attack, the single difference is that now there is not one, but already two fanatic persons are behind the formation. This is how it is, and going to be in the further, as it has been already spoken. The sensation of the fresh blood is important instead of the search of the last year's traces.

  • How changed your priorities by these all years? What did you reach, and what would you like to reach?

Nothing such bulky, considering, that this is not the temporary hobby, for the certain period of which it would be possible to add up the certain results and then to be proud of all this. This is not the career, even not the part of life with another sticky parts, this is the condition of Spirit, rebellious and unearthly. Some changes outside the band are not capable to influence us.

  • In year 2002 Ball-and-Myth died from the drugs overdose. In what degree his death did have influence on horde?

Bal'a'Myth has died not from the overdose, but in sleep during the rehabilitation's period. After his death the ex-member Faunus tried to create the problems to me, spreading the rumours that LUCIFUGUM doesn't exist any more, that I have fallen into the madness, that I desecrated Bal'a'Myth's grave. But neither such wretched human attempts, nor the fact of Bal'a'Myth's death were not capable to demoralize me.

  • Often in record music helped to you Nokturnal Mortum musicians, do not you attend that by this one spoke about you as about side-project of people from Nokturnal Mortum? Not made you angry that you were so treated, so to say as band less important?

This question is not absolutely clear. Perhaps, someone has overestimated their contribution to our albums. It could be named the help until the participation of these session musicians was sincere, and I also sincerely appreciate that period. But when the participation in record of our Poison had began to weigh these people, I have refused form their services, and LUCIFUGUM has not lost anything then.

  • About Drudkh one spoke that it is side-project Lucifugum musicians. Here in turn is inverse situation to earlier, did not irritate you this that somebody had used your name to the publicity of other band?

LUCIFUGUM doesn't have side-projects and any identifications with the other bands are wrong. This is how it is, and always going to be. Drudkh is a side-project of Hate Forest and Astrofaes members. They wanted to create it as some mysterious project, without the assosiations with their main bands, and Roman Saenko (Hate Forest) asked me to not spread this information, and I executed his request. But, probably, marketing correctly rules again, and above-mentioned musicians have discrowned their mystery by themselves. Roman Saenko has died as a person for me when he got scared of possible problems and loss of the job of a school teacher after recording his vocal for the album "Stigma Egoism". And, directly, Drudkh died for us after they have recorded the album, using the lyrics of ukrainian christian poet taras shevchenko.

  • On Lucifugum internet page one can find such this declaration: "LUCIFUGUM is not a side-project of Nokturnal Mortum. LUCIFUGUM is not a member of any front, circle or movement!!! It is an independent formation, which cultivates it's own laws and order!!! LUCIFUGUM is not nsbm, and have nothing in common with fireflys. LUCIFUGUM is a Elitist Antihuman Poisonous Black Metal band!!!". I understand that began frustrate you, these all vaguenesses, what grown round horde?You know, me most surprised that somebody had been able you to nsbm circle.

LUCIFUGUM doesn't have the official internet page. The phrases that you have presented are not the absolutely exact copy of our statement on PROPAGANDA site. It is really absurdly, that someone can perceive us as ns, since the single thoughts of these gallantly marching rams is to reach the happy future. The normal family, the good neighbours, a stable job - the desires of usual humans. But what do they do in Black Metal? There is not a nursery, not institute of noble maidens here.

  • In that declaration you write that Lucifugum is "exclusive Black Metal", what do you understand thereunder this notion? You attend that you have a cult status among maniacks, if so in what this cult would have to appear?

We didn't use such words as "exclusive Black Metal". What is the cult for today's scene? The grand collection of gratitudes and recognitions? It is not difficult to reach this, simply being well-wishing to the similar. Or, may be, the cult is a some rehearsal shit, recording several years ago and feeding today to the ignorant listeners as "rare masterpiece"? Here it is necessary to carefully manipulate words, but we can tell with confidence that there are only two bands who have formed the strong reputation of so-called ukranian Black Metal: LUCIFUGUM and early NOKTURNAL MORTUM. The all rest is a natural development.

  • You speak that an label did not help to you create Lucifugum name, it looks like you little regret that, though you speak nobody to help in the propagation of the destruction of the music is not necessary to you, could you explain me what is with that at last?

I don't regret, but I state that I has created the reputation of LUCIFUGUM by myself. As a rule, the situation is typical for the majority of labels: firstly the owner of the label talks about how much he is proud "to sign such group", and already having caught the group he declares that it is necessary for him "to run a label". By that way, the interests of groups are always secondary for the label. We are enough independent and we refused from interviews even when they have been delegated directly by a label-editor. We didn't send promos to edit any of our albums. The label's owner must know with whom he is going to deal. Perhaps, someone will consider our behaviour too arrogant, but only those who are not able to respect themselves and own deeds.

  • In principle why you separated from all? This resulted from the discouragement to the scene, to musical bussines etc.?

Not participating in the general War, where everyone wishes to be the standard-bearer on the way to a single throne, we are responsible only for own words and actions, or for absence of those.

  • Interest you opinions other on your music? Do you irritate unflattering reviews? More is these good or bad?

Any review is a simply opinion of separate human. This opinion can be formed by the personal attitude to the certain band or to the so called "musical style" in general. Amusingly that the reader is ready to trust the reviews even in cases when it is clear that the author is not competent in this or that "style". More often the status of the magazine influences the reader instead of really objective opinion. Any reviews are not interesting to us, we are able to define the temperature of our Poison by ourselves, though in general we find positive if someone has the motives to not understand what we do. We suppose that negative opinions can belong to the next offended beggars or to "simply lovers of simply music". It is rightly that similar "aesthetes" are identified through our Art.

  • It always surprised me that first you release albums on cassette, only afterwards they release on CD. You are fond to cassettes whether perhaps simply so it went out? Any Lucifugum album come out in vinyl version?

Many years ago I have thrown out into the rubbish box some hundreds of tapes because they were useless for me. In the name of LUCIFUGUM me with Stabaath have exposed on sale all our musical collection - thus "Vector33" has been edited on cd. We edit our albums on tapes because such format still exists. It is not the honour of so called "cult format", xerox covers
today is the artificial attempt to re-born the "old spirit". Actually, today the few are interested in tapes. Humans always reached for the material comfort and saw in this the notorious self-development. "Sociopath: philosophy cynicism" already have been edited on vinyl, four more Ulcers are planned to the edition.

  • Not long ago on the market appeared reeditions of your earlier albums, I understand that their first versions were no longer conquerable?

These re-editions were the guarantee that our Poison will reach the depths of Underground. When the first editions of these albums were available many small labels didn't dare to apply to Adipocere for trades, anyway such was the version of the label-editor. Besides, when the owner of Adopicere has understood that the further cooperation with us is impossible, he has proclaimed himself the single owner of our albums. Thus, he intended to order of it individually, every time hiding from us the results of spreading of our albums. It was the affair of honour to prove that we are the really independent Black Metal formation.

  • A greatest sore spot of your music, is not her best sound. You reflected never over his improvement, with turning of the greater attention on this detail? You have not on Ukraine any good record studio?

This is the boring question. Every group has the certain limit of the own financial possibilities, and every studio has the limit of the technical possibilities. We are not against the more qualitative sound, also we will not deny that there is the mass of artists whose single dignity is a good sound of their music. But not looking on the other sides we say that we are really satisfied with own Posion, every drop of each is full of neverending oppressive emotions.

  • From about 2 years titles of albums are already English-speaking, earlier were in Russian, tell truth in my opinion it was a fine patent. From where this turn, to the unification with the rest of the world by use of universal English, though still you "sing" in your own native language?

Is it really important for those incompetent who will define us as "heatnen" though we use the inverted cross in our attributes? Or, may be, "Nakhristikhryaschakh" is more clear than "On the sortilage of christianity"? We are concentrated on ourselves only, and we are not in search of any special audience of the listeners. The lyrics are in Russian because I think in this language, not simply transfer the information. And if already about "musical" - Stabaath "sings". If you listened attentively you should notice the difference between "Vector33" and the previous albums.

  • On your own account you have video clips, they to serve only as bonus to CD, or they realize other part?

The question is completely not clear, and we don't see any sense in it.

  • Ukrainian underground seems to be very interesting, many hordes, the specific exoticism (at least for people from behind your country). What is your opinion aboy it as man who create this underground, as his part, the pillar?

It's rather difficult to talk about this Underground since we know almost nothing about its today's condition, but suppose that majority of yesterday's school-boys today are fond of fashionable snotty heathenism, which doesn't oblige to anything. Now I know nothing about those who were here 10-12 years ago. Humans appear and dissappear - this is normally for them.

  • You do not limit yourself only to Lucifugum and you founded the own label. (Propaganda). You create Propaganda only for the purpose of publications in her only Lucifugum or you plan to release also albums of other bands?

PROPAGANDA is an activity provoking by the certain kind of thinking. If to identify this activity only with the work of a label, then some quantity of tapes, three numbers of s/t printed edition and cd have been edited.

  • Propaganda is your source of the maintenance, you do not afraid, that in so hard times for the music business it can become unprofitable?

For many years I lived in constant debts, to earn money for the recording of LUCIFUGUM albums I left this indigent country. I worked in Russia, Poland (Chelm, Wroclaw, Lublin, Zielona Gora, etc.), I was had to spend the nights in forests and on the graveyards. Having information, you uncorrectly accent the essence of our answer for 7 Gates. The core is that our life needs are more modest than needs of the "normal humans". We will not humiliating cling to a life if this shit will become too expensive.

  • To release Lucifugum albums with your own resources you insinuate that best for band will take care yourself and not some label, I have rights?

We don't want to depend on the business-plans of this or that label. As always we act as we consider correct for ourselves, but now the situation is totally under our control.

  • How I have to understand "Lucifugum don't play, but ATTACK!"?

So, must we remind in 666th time this standard but eternal "Black Metal is not only music"? Or this motto is patented only by those who consider that two strings and a box of beer is enough for Black Metal? Defending our Path, we attack with dedication and frenzy, we are not in the self-search and don't cognize the world around us. We are the fanatics who keep breathing it constantly, not only on the weekends. Or, may be, it is again too bombastic statement, considering that majority in Underground is busy with arrangement of the normal life?

  • Lyrics to "Black Metal must be…" is like the manifesto, this is for you true black metal? Other of his definition you do not allow?

This is the reminder about the original essence - Black must be Black. The shadow is already not light any more, but it is still not Darkness for a while. It is obviously, that the golden mean is the most unreliable condition. Other definitions are the fabrications of undefined with own ideas humans which try to adapt Black Metal under their wormy bodies.

  • On Ukraine you have an uninterested political situation, whether for your activity, you had not none repressive on the side of govermment?

To minimize any live communication I have stopped the concert activity of LUCIFUGUM five years ago. As a result, the hooligan actions of the certain character in Zhitomir have decreased, and direct intervention of the authorities into my private life was replaced by unofficial control. After my removal into another town, I still didn't have any contacts with the local authorities.

  • Any concrete plans for future? Your last words…

Alive will see, the dead will feel. The Supreme Art of Genocide soon will come down to celebrate the feast of the Plague. Sometime we all shall die, but you earlier. Or, it was necessary here to thank the readers for attention and to suggest to buy our album?


Additional questions which have been received from the editor after his familiarization with Poison "The Supreme Art of Genocide":

  • For several years Lucifugum release albums very regularly, one on year. You attend that is this optimum-solution? You do not stand in such tempo quickly will end you ideas, you will burn away?

We are the creative persons, but not the punching machines with the certain working life. The possibility to create and destroy is, perhaps, the main stimulus in this life. We simply use these possibilities, being a concentration of one ray only - LUCIFUGUM. We are not in a search of new ideas and don't try to attach our musical passions into any side-projects.

  • To the disc as bonus was added videoclip. In my opinion it is your best image. Say as arrived at his realization and are you satisfied from obtained effect?

Remaining in the limits of traditional Black Metal understanding, video is executed in a ritual manner: where Doctrines penetrate Chaos or Disorder has shrouded the Law, and all serve one purpose - to increase the Black Force.

  • On "Vector 33" and "The Supreme Art. Of Genocide" compositions are longer. You like more to compose longer or shorter compositions? What is your rule that the composition do not be wearisome and boring?

Our Art is not for headbangers, preferring cheerful and mediocre black'n'roll, it is magnetic and viscous, and it is not enough simply to have ears to understand it. We prefer to be among the tombs instead of pubs.

  • In my opinion graphic design of last album is best from among hitherto existing. Very ominous, dark and "dirty", what splendidly pictures the spirit of your music. What is your opinion in this case? Booklet design is same important for you as music or this is secondary matter?

You have the correct taste, at least concerning to our Poison. Hallucinations should exude by symbols in the consciousness of everyone who was attentive. This is not a simply work in photoshop, this is a creation of pantacles charged with Black energy. We don't suppose that someone will feel convulsions or attacks of sickness looking at our images. It is important that design is a completed work for us. Shemhamforash!

  • Are you satisfied from the final effect, what did you obtain on "The Supreme…"? However now would you change something on this record?

The fact that it is splashed out testifies that we are satisfied with the concentration of Poison in our Creation. To talk about desirable changes means to feel human weakness, we try to cut it off.

  • What do you mean to qualify Lucifugum as "Black force of two unhumans"?

We are the sick fanatics with negative understanding of a life and the same attitude to it. Black Art has shown own weakness when has allowed to usual humans with constantly changing "values" to manipulate itself. That's why we separate ourselves from all human stench which has soaked into the scene. No affections, denial of any authority, concentration only on own interior - is it really not enough to cause the general discontent? Just look inside the booklets of many so-called misanthropic Black Metal bands: never-ending gratitudes and collective greetings. So could you really believe that their hearts burn in the name of those ideas which they declare?

  • Black metal seems to live its own Renaissance, becomes again popular. According to you it is well or badly? Many attends, that music never should leave underground.

So-called popularity of Black Metal is caused only by parasitizing permissiveness. Today everyone can interpret in own way once firm laws of Black understanding. Many different human scabs have appeared on Demonic face of Black Metal: the petition to ancestors and motherland, admiration of grass and streamlets. Where are these many who attend and how they do it? Probably, you mean those who try to make "hard-to-find masterpiece for elite" from absolutely mediocre music? Those who are really devoted to their deed don't worry about the things that occur in Underground, teeming with humans. Black Metal is an Art of hermits, but not the club of friends with the common interests.

  • What do you think on mp3? In what degree Lucifugum and do the Propaganda feel results of the internet- piracy?

ģš3 is a format for fetish - collectors who store tons of sounds and who are useless for magic of Art. It is necessary to see a huge difference between simply collectors and those who are capable to aspire to the Chasm in all artistic displays of its form and content. We received the offer from Trinity rec. to give our albums for sale in their internet - shop in this defective format, but we have refused. We know that LUCIFUGUM albums were printed as bootleg cd and ģš3 collection, but similar "editions" are intended for cattle which are not capable to respect themselves as the listeners.

  • In what context on the new CD did you use the symbol "of the alpha and the omega"? As the symbol of the wisdom, the omnipotence, the image of the excellence? Who is for you alpha and omega, God, Satan, you yourself?

    The personal values are above all, the other force can't become the Crown. The life is a miserable pastime to talk about it in a serious aspect. The humans can amuse themselves with "self-development", but all this can be defined as one vain attempt - to make the life not wearisome.

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