BEHEMOTH INTERVIEW

Let's get one thing straight right now - this is not part two, and not in fact any part of our other interview with Behemoth, we published earlier. It is just a separate piece of work done, with no relation to the other interview whatsoever, save for the fact that it was done at the same period of time and some of the questions were alike, But that's two different opinions on one and the same band, and that is already intriguing... some of it is ;) So, anyways, Mr. Havoc, the guitarist of Behemoth was so kind as to agree to answer our questions...

MetalKings.ru: Alright, the band is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year, quite something, I'd imagine, so what are your general feelings about it, how much exactly you accomplished?

Havoc: I'm not the right person to answer this one, because I play with Behemoth since September, 1999. In my opinion Nergal has worked really hard for these past 10 years to promote this band and I think that now he's got what he wanted! I mean, we have a good contract, promotion and we are touring with the best Death and Black metal bands. So, what can I say? It's great to play with Behemoth and I hope that I will do so for the next 10 years! He, he...!

MetalKings.ru: Talking of Nergal as the manager, is he a hard person to deal with?

Havoc: No, it's not hard to deal with him now. Maybe couple of years ago it was, but now we don't have any problems. He's a fuckin' great manger and that's his srongest point, but the weakest...hmm? He doesn't know how to drink with us! He, he...!

MetalKings.ru: Why did you decide on black metal as the primarily style for you?

Havoc: For me the most important influence to play extreme music were bands like: Slayer, Morbid Angel and a Polish band called Kat.... and then was Black Metal: Dark Throne, Mayhem...... I'm not sure, but I think that Nergal decided to start a B.M. band because of his fascination with Venom and Bathory.

MetalKings.ru: What are the worst and the best songs Behemoth ever wrote?

Havoc: The worst song? I don't know...something from "Grom" album, "Lasy Pomorza". The best ones are "Pan Satyros" from "Thelema.6", "Chant for Eschaton 2000" from "Satanica" and "From the Pagan Vastlands" from the "Sventevith" album.

MetalKings.ru: How about the gigs?

Havoc: The best gigs we've ever played were in Moscow and Minsk. Honestly! It's because of this crazy crowd. It was fuckin' amazing! We've never seen something like this on our show! Thanks, for this! You know, we've played a lot of gigs in Germany, but I think it doesn't make any sense because people there are just standing and watching your show. Fuck! It's a Black Metal concert not a boring Kenny G. show or something!!!!!! So, the worst ones were in Germany and Switzerland. I see that audience in Russia knows what a black metal gig means! That's why we are goin' to be back in Russia I think in October with Mayhem, to play some pure fuckin' Black Metal and to see you guys go fuckin' crazy on our show!!!

MetalKings.ru: Something seems to have happened to the band's official site any comments on that?

Havoc: It's a long story...! But we are working on our new site. I don't know when it will be ready but trust me this one will be better!

MetalKings.ru: Well, this has already been asked of Nergal, I never really met musicians who'd be 100% content with their records/performances, and they can always think of something which could have been done in a better way - would that be true of 'Thelema 6'? What you'd change there?

Havoc: I think that the solo parts are not too good in some songs. It's the only thing that I'd like to improve. The rest is perfect in my opinion.

MetalKings.ru: How do you create new songs?

Havoc: It's simple, for example I make some riffs at home and then we have a rehearsal. I show it to the rest of the guys and if they like it we make a new song. The most important thing is to play straight from the heart and that's the way we'll always do!

MetalKings.ru: How much role does the visual part play for Behemoth? The sleeve artwork (Nergal again there as I can see), the image, all of that thing?

Havoc: Yeah, it's again Nergal, the same was on "Satanica" album. It was his idea. Artwork is a very important thing for us. You know, Black Metal in our opinion should be theatrical. So, we are trying to make it that way. We don't want to wear just simple black t-shirts and jeans like Death Metal bands. We want to look different from the common people (corpse-paint etc.) and we pay a lot of money to have good pictures and graphics to make it look very artistic. Then a lot of people who never heard the name of the band told me that the artwork is great. Maybe one of them will like our music and soon will be one of our biggest fans because of the artwork? Who knows? he, he...!

MetalKings.ru: What do you think of the way black metal develops these days?

Havoc: You know, most musicians in black metal bands in the beginning were very young and they didn't really know how to make good music. So, they were just playing simple fast riffs and banging their heads for Satan!!! Now they feel that they are much better than for example 10 years ago and their albums are much better technically. Of course there are bands like Dark Throne that are still playing like 10 years ago. But they don't want to be better musicians. It's ok. I really like their style. But for example the last album of Mayhem is very original and different from the rest on this scene. For me both of these bands are still playing black metal but in their own way! It's great because they just do what they feel! I hate when people say that some of extreme bands are commercial because they are trying to put something new on their albums! It's stupid, extreme music will never be commercial because common people will never understand it. So, they won't buy it!!!

MetalKings.ru: What do you make of this true-n-evil thing? And where does Behemoth belong, in your opinion, true and evil or the so-called "poser" wing?

Havoc: For me it's totally unimportant! Behemoth is a black metal band but people can think what they want! I've heard many times that we are posers or something but I don't care , it's not hurting me!

MetalKings.ru: How much do you think the notorious happenings of early 90ies in Norway (like church arsons and the murder of Euronemus, leader of Mayhem) affected the modern black metal scene?

Havoc: Sorry, but I've got enough of questions about this.

MetalKings.ru: Dimmu-Borgir and Cradle of Filth - the most spoken of black metal bands nowadays, what do you say? Ever met them? What do you think of their music?

Havoc: I don't like music of C.O.F. We played with them in Poland but we didn't have a chance to talk, so I don't know them personally. Dimmu Borgir is a cool band and especially I love their last album! For me they are much better then C.O.F. I would really like to tour with them to know them personally and have a nice time together, because I've heard that they are cool guys!

MetalKings.ru: You recent tour on Moscow, to begin with - how do you rate it on a 1-5 scale (with five being the highest, and one - the lowest)?

Havoc: 666! He, he...!

MetalKings.ru: What do you think of the way it was organized? (we think it sucked, to be honest, our accreditation was cancelled, and we didn't have a chance to meet you and do a normal interview :)

Havoc: I'm sorry that you didn't have a chance to make an interview with us there. In my opinion the organization was not too good, but it could be worse! After the show we didn't have a time to rest, drink some beers or vodka, to talk with fans meet some nice girls (you've got most beautiful girls I've ever seen!) and, you know, just have a good time. We couldn't because something about 1 hour after the gig we had a train to Minsk.... I hope that next time we'll have a time for all this! Who knows? Maybe I'll meet my wife in Moscow?! He, he...!

MetalKings.ru: Did you have a chance to hear the support bands on the bill?

Havoc: Yeah, I've seen Rossomahar(?) as I remember it was a really good band. They've played Slayer "Seasons in the Abyss". Good musicians. There was another band I watched but I don't remember the name. They were playing stuff like Machine Head or Pantera. (Hostile Breed -- MetalKings.ru) It was a good band too. I like that kind of music very much. There was some band, which was playing like C.O.F but I didn't like it.... (Stigmatic Chorus -- MetalKings.ru)

MetalKings.ru: What was the best thing on the gig?

Havoc: Well, the reaction of fans!

MetalKings.ru: How about the worst?

Havoc: Sound was not too good, but it didn't really matter! We were just happy that people enjoyed our show and that's important! Venue was ok.

MetalKings.ru: What do you think of Russians as people (if you had a chance to meet any)?

Havoc: The people are very friendly and I was really surprised that they are so fuckin' crazy about Behemoth. We didn't know what to expect from this gig. But now we know that we have a lot of fans in your country! We really appreciate it!!!

MetalKings.ru: The reason for the question is that we hear there is a certain negative feeling towards Russians in Poland (please, no offence meant)

Havoc: Yeah, lots of people think like this, but it's because they hear only about Russian drug dealers and Mafia in Poland. It's wrong because they don't really know any common people from Russia, so they judge you by the news in TV and newspapers! I know it sucks but believe me for example in Germany people think the same about Poles! Fuck'em all, Metalhead is a metalhead, we are all brothers and it doesn't matter from which country you come from! I like Russians or any other nation!

MetalKings.ru: Is it hard to be Satanic in a Catholic country like Poland?

Havoc: Situation is not that bad. Sometimes we have a problems with gigs in some small cities! But it happens rarely.

MetalKings.ru: What's Satanism for you?

Havoc: I don't like to talk about it. I keep it for myself...

MetalKings.ru: What is the worst quality you hate in people?

Havoc: I like when people are honest with me. I hate people without ambitions...

MetalKings.ru: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Havoc: I see myself on the stage with Behemoth, playing some fuckin' Black Metal!!!

MetalKings.ru: And finally the message to your fans out here?

Havoc: You're the killer audience!!! We can't wait to play for you again! Thanks for support and wish you all the best!!! Cheers!!!

-- In the end we would like to express our greatest appreciation to Havoc once again for this unique opportunity and, even more important, for the interesting and open answers to all of our questions. --