An old interview with Magus Wampyr Daoloth aka The Magus aka Morbid found under a pile of ancient correspondence thought lost. The envelope included the original photo, bio and fliers added here for your delight - The staff.
Dec. 94
OZ : Magus you are certainly the mastermind behind the Greek black metal scene. Introduce yourself to the few ones (if any) who are not familiar with your great deeds by giving a brief history of the bands in which you've been and currently involved with.
MWD : Thanx for the kind words. NECROMANTIA has released one promo, a split LP/CD with VARATHRON, one demo and a full length album (also a 7" with old trax, out just now). ROTTING CHRIST have released 2 demos, 3 7''EPs (one split), a mini LP/CD and 2 full length albums. THOU ART LORD (a project with Sakis of R.CHRIST) 1 demo,3 7"EPs (one split), 1 full length album. DIABOLOS RISING (project with Mika of I.NAZARENE) one full length album. DANSE MACABRE (gothic project with A.RITES and SEPTIC FLESH members) will have a 7"EP out next month! NAOS (solo electronic project) will have a CD out in February. That's all! Maybe it sounds weird that I do all these projects but I want to experiment with music and at the same time remain honest to the NECROMANTIA fans.
OZ : "Crossing The Fiery Path" is in no doubt a masterpiece. What was the response you got from the fans, zines, labels etc.?
MWD : The response was really great! People loved our mystical sounds! We got various offers from labels but we'll still be on OSMOSE for 2 more albums.
OZ : Black metal is in the spotlight now. Many bands from around the globe are rising and with them… the posers, the trendies, the false. Could this disaster be prevented? What would you say to these… these parasites? Mention any bands if you think that is the case! This zine fears NONE!
MWD : No you can't stop the disaster of B.M. it's a natural process! When it reaches its peak few worthy will remain after it. It will be useless to say names as I don't know them personally and I only have opinions from their press appearance. Time will tell!
OZ : Being involved in many bands whose styles are unique and differ from each other, you create and experiment various music with different moods and atmospheres. Concerning the whole scene, which areas of music are the true rising bands getting into? (i.e. vocal and drumming styles, guitar techniques etc.)
MWD : There is a recycling of the music in a way. Bands get more melodic and heavy-metalish maintaining their brutality. This is good 'cause it gives more variety to the music. On the other hand there are bands that get even more extreme maintaining the whole balance. Also the industrial element is here to stay!
OZ : Musically, what influenced Necromantia to forge such a style of its own? Any influences from the early bands? (You were probably asked this question a hundred times, but anyway… )
MWD : There are no direct influences! Just subconsciously. Older heavy/black metal bands, classical music, gothic and avantgarde stuff all together.
OZ : In "A Blaze in the Northern Sky", Necromantia were one of the two bands mentioned in Darkthrone's hails. How are your relations with Darkthrone and the other Norwegian bands?
MWD : After Mr. Vikernes entered the scene our relationship with most of the Norwegian bands were spoiled. Nowadays Norwegian bands try to re-establish our old relationship which is fine by me 'cause I never had any real problem with them except Mr. Vikernes (who himself has changed now! Weird… )
OZ : Together with Mika Luttinen of Impaled Nazarene, you formed DIABOLOS RISING and released an album entitled "666" through Osmose. Tell us what this project is all about and how did this idea come to happen? Having mentioned I.N., how would you describe their new release "Suomi Finland Perkele"?
MWD : It was just a spontaneous decision taken by me and Mika when he was here in HELLAS for 4 months. We both wanted to try something of industrialish nature combined with the power and misanthropy of B. metal. So DIABOLOS RISING was born. And we're pretty satisfied by the result. "S.F.P." is the best I.NAZARENE album so far! Great sound, song variety, merciless! Like a tribute to the old metal days with the rage of I.NAZARENE.
OZ : Hail just one single person who was of great musical inspiration to you. Pay tribute to the one who deserves it!
MWD : This is difficult! Hmm… I don't know! Maybe KING DIAMOND… I'm not sure! I never had any worshipping idols than myself.
OZ : Is there any future project lurking and evolving in the darkest corners of your mind? Reveal onto us any news…
MWD : As I said before DANSE MACABRE is a gothic project of mine, Gunther of A.RITES and Sotiris of S.FLESH. A 7"EP out on MOLON LAVE rec. soon! Enchanting! Also my solo project NAOS, CD out soon.
OZ : Draw anything which doesn't have to do with pentagrams, inverted crosses, ancient mystical symbols or anything evil (no offence, I hope), something funny perhaps. Tell us a joke or any humorous account that happened to you.
MWD : I give you the seal of the NEFILIM. Keep it in mind. One of the funniest things I've done once is that as I was wearing my BAPHOMET necklace I managed to convince a guy (stupid) that I'm a CIA agent, BAPHOMET was my badge, to give me all the money he was carrying to examine it for forgery! And he did… How stupid a man can be!
