It is an honor and a pleasure to
interview this band that started in 1984; one of the first obscure
bands from the underground Swedish scene. Despise the long time hiatus, MEFISTO
was always “there” for a lot of underground maniacs and today the band is
standing strong. They had recently released a great self-titled album, true to
their essence and old-school roots. Robban kindly answered the following
questions…from the Frost of Inferno...
What a
great album you guys have just released, so first words should be about it, tell
us about the writing and the recording process, about the essence of this album
and how you personally feel about it.
Thank you. After the 2.0.1.6 album I felt so strong that we could have
done it so much better. At least when I speak for myself. That album was not
the kind of oldshool death metal that Mefisto stands for. Itś not a bad album.
Itś just a good metal album but itś not Mefisto. When I decided to do this
album, I really went back in time. I wanted the songs and production to sound
really dark and raw like it did in the 80: ies. So we recorded the guitars and
drums live in our rehearsal room. We wrote the songs together (me and Mogge)
and we were and still are in this creative phase. It all came natural. And to
get new blood into the band, to have a new musical partner that has the same
taste and ideas as myself made it all very easy. This album feels very genuine
and am proud of it.
To me it seems that this is the darkest work you recorded so far, do you agree?
What were your musical and nonmusical inspirations to write these songs?
It is definitely the darkest album so far. During the process of this
album we only listened to oldschool stuff. A lot of Celtic Frost, Mercyful
Fate, the first Slayer and Metallica albums, everything else were banned.
How would you describe the lyrical content and the whole concept around the
band nowadays?
On the demos I wrote most of the music and all the lyrics. On the last
album (2.0.1.6.) Omar wrote 90% of the music and we did 50/50 on the lyrics.
The difference now and then is that this time I took over the vocals and sung
everything by myself. That made it more genuine and I did not have to tell
someone else how to do the phrasing and how to harmonize the song parts. It all
came very natural.
You use to post
and share a lot of occult related stuff on your facebook page…so at what level are
you interested/involved in the occult?
We love
the oldshool Satanism and occultism that Anton Lavey stood for. We are no
activist that run around and burn churches… We don’t use corpse paints… We are
just a band that enjoys a dark atmosphere around us.
How did you get linked with gmr music? What made you sign with them?
We wanted to try something new… We wanted to have full control and the
right to our own songs. They are a Record/Distribution company and they really
wanted to work with us.
Back to the
album, I´m intrigued about the last song on the album, Mefisto (Anno 1892), I´d
like to know about the musical and lyrical concept of this song.
That song
was in the beginning supposed to be an intro for another song, or just a bridge
between two songs. Then our manager gave me this old text written by an old
Swedish poetry/writer, Gustav Fröding. I started to read the text over the
music…. What you here is actually the first and only take. So we decided that
it would be a great song to end the album. The meaning of the lyrics feels so
up to date thou it was written a 100 years ago. And it´s so evil in a funny
way…
The album
cover is a new version of the design used for Megalomania demo, this time
designed by Zbigniew M. Bielak, It shows a clear "back to the
roots" attitude, doesn't´it ? Please tell me about the desicion to
use this design and the collaboration with Bielak.
Early in the process of the new album we were sure we
wanted reuse our logo for the cover as a statement that we are back and that we
definitly were back to the roots. We wanted it because of the oldschool
feeling. And also it is our logo and it's now known as our trademark. As
you say we had it on our first demo as a cover. In the begining that logo was
made by me and Sandro. We found the baphomet in a book, it was not a well known
symbol in the scene back then (we are talking about 1985).
Then I started scetching the Octagram as a occult
symbol so that we could fit the name Mefisto in it's corners. I thought it was
better to use the eight point star instead of the pentagram which almost every
band used. Even bands like Motley Crue...I couldnt relate to that. Then Roger
our artistic leader and manager came up with the idea to contact Bielak because
he is a big fan of his work. He showed me some album covers Bielak had made and
I was like...can you get this guy? Then we will definitly go for it. I loved his
work with Paradise Lost, Entombed A.D and of course the Ghost album. So we
gave him free hands, but he did'nt want to change stuff too much. He just
wanted to update the old baphomet design, our logo and make it more oldschool
and evil. And that is exactly what we wanted to have as the cover. A brilliant
work.
One of the album tracks "Lety Go Life" features LG Petrov on vocals, how did this collaboration come about?
We have
run into each other a couple of times. He has always supported us. He is an
outspoken Mefisto fan and I always have loved his work, his voice. Our manager
got in touch with him thru a mutual friend, Alex from Necrophobic/Firespawn
asked him if he would like to do the vocals on one of our song and he said yes
without a doubt. His voice is so powerful and was perfect for that song.
How would you compare
the new stuff to the previous album “2.0.1.6.”, what are the main differences
and similitudes between both albums?
Do you think
that the band changed somehow after the release of the debut album?
We tried
to make a band during the process of 2.0.1.6 but it did not work out. We
couldn’t stand each other. Even Before we started recording Sandro left the
reunion. And me and Omar… Let me put it this way…the ship can´t have two
captains…one had to leave. So when I and Mogge started writing the new songs
for this album we did not want Omar to compose any material, just play the
guitar. Then he called me and said that he is out. I didn´t try to talk him
into staying.
What would you
tell us about the time that passed since the publication of the second demo to
the release of the debut album? How would you define that period in a few
words?
I can just
say that I left the scene… lived my life… In addition, it took almost 30 years
before I found my way back and felt the lust to be productive. That probably
saved my life. I was too young to make it and if we had made it I would
probably been caught in every trap there is…
What place /
status do you think Mephisto is in the current scene?
I think we
are still very underground. Only the diehard oldschool Death Metal lovers knows
about us.
What is your
vision of the Swedish scene? do you follow current bands like Watain and Degial,
or did you attend to special events like the Mörbit gig?
After we
broke up 1987 the scene exploded… A lot of good bands made it back then. Specialy
from Stockholm. Entombed, Dismember and so on.
Now let´s talk
about the past again, what are your memories from the early days and the
beginning of Mefisto and metal music back in those days?
We mostly
kept us for ourselves. I guess none really knew us back then. We did hang out
with Quorthon a few times. He was so cool and gave us his support. He was a bit
like us, odd in a good way. He did not hang out with people from the scene… It
was bands like Bathory and Celtic Frost that made me start Mefisto. Then Sandro
was a friend to Pelle Dead (Morbid), he hang with us a few times. A weird guy even
back then I can tell you…we called him Geten (Goat). This was before he joined
Mayhem.
"Megalomania"
and "The Puzzle" have been reissued on
a couple of times, compiled on cd and a vinyl version too, but the latest was a
special and limited box set with both demos on cassette with the original
layout. How this idea came about?
I guy contacted me and after 5 or 6 times I
said just do it. I think it’s cool that the demos was re-released as cassettes,
just like back in the old days. I love the format.
Did the idea of re-recording old classics like Frost of Inferno ever crossed your mind?
We did re-record 3 old songs on 2.0.1.6,
Frost of Inferno was one of them. But again we shouldn’t…we should have left
the past behind. Nothing good comes out of that. (I agree, in fact as you see mi mind totally forgot about those re-recorded versions :( - Chris)
If you had the chance of doing a video clip for
Mefisto, how would it be? Any Plans to do it in a near future?
We just started working on the next album.
And it will be even more dark than the latest one. We are in this creative
phase right now. And I have some ideas about a video for the next one. I work
very close with our manager Roger about everything that has to do with the
atmosphere/image thing.
Tell me about your current line up. Do you
feel it is a strong and stable line-up?
Mefisto today consists of two members, me
and Mogge. We will not bring new people to the band, but we have two musicians
that will support us on stage. We have done some rehearsals together and it sounds
great and tight.
Any plans to play live and touring? How do you
describe your gigs?
We have some plans but they are still a bit
secret. Nothing booked yet. All I can say is that the gigs will have a real
dark atmosphere…
What is the strangest
and the most shocking place you have been?
Tuff
question… but I have to say that I have visit some really poor and dangerous
country’s and people…
Priority
is this new album to be released later 2018. It will be a kind of concept
album. I can´t really tell you anything more about that yet…
Ok that´s it,
thanks for your time. Is there anything you would like to add to end this
interview?
Join The cult of Mefisto. Thank you for the support!
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