The idea of making an interview with the Sepulture Union promotion group, which gives joy to doomsters by organizing the Moscow Doom Fest for already five years and also recently Shadow Doom Fest, took away my tranquility for a long time. Didn't work out last year, but this year, right to half-jubilee contacts have been arranged. Someone, possibly even now thinks that to bring a foreign, even popular all over the world doom-metal band to Russia, is not a problem. That everything is easy, cheap and goes smooth like a hot knife through butter, that musicians earn tons of money selling thousands of copies of their albums. Somebody may even think that on a doom-metal show one must stand with hands on a chest, legs on shoulder width and with a grim face. My dear friend, all of this is true - along with that ponies that eat rainbows and Santa is really preparing a present for you on Christmas. All what is real about organizing an international scale doom-metal fest, nuances of Moscow Doom Fest V - in the interview with Anton, Elena and Timofey, the initiators of Sepulture Union.
-What appeared earlier - Sepulture Union or Moscow Doom Fest? If I'm not mistaken, this fest is what started the history of the group. What aimed it at that time if, let's say, a show with local bands could be not so difficult to organize?
Anton: It all started with Moscow Doom Festival. The first one took place in May 2006. It is already hard to remember how the idea of this show appeared. But it anchored fast and hard in my sick head and began to grow with defined plans of preparations to the concert. The fest was quite unique at that time. The first point is that earlier (at least for the past ten years) nobody on the territory of our country had done any shows dedicated to a doom or around doom genre. Although I think that at that moment (2005-06 yy.) There was a visible progress in terms of bands playing doom-metal in Russia. And to listen to any of them you had to go to a black-metal or a thrash-metal party.
The idea was to create a show which will not be a style salad, but will be only doom. And different kinds of doom! This made it unique. For the first time in Russia a funeral-doom band performed live. This was another and more important reason for me to start the fest production.
I am a member of Comatose Vigil and in depth the first fest was made together with our guitar player Alexander and our singer Vragomor. The fest was successful. But, of course, the invested money did not return, although there were quite a lot of people. Never the less there was quite a strong will to continue and to make the fest international. Finding no support in band mates, I found it in our former bass player Timofey. So it was about that time the name Sepulture Union appeared.
After MDF II in 2007 it became clear that it was hard to do that kind of shows for two people and the third MDF we already did with Elena. Since then there have been no changes in SU. But there is always a good support from our friends helping us out with the show production.
-How do you separate the duties inside the group during show production?
Elena: There is no distinct difference in the duties and the principal of exchange is the main one. But of course every one has a part he is the best in. For example, Timofey is responsible for the merch design. Translation and communication with the bands is also his duty as he is the only one in the union who speaks English fluently. Most of the PR stuff is done by Anton. I do most of the management connected with accommodation, catering and transport issues. In general the concept of the fest is distinct and all style deviations, band selections and other things we discuss together.
-How soon the concept of expanding, globalising MDF with inviting foreign bands was born? What was the most memorable part of MDF II? It was the firs time the foreign band Saturnus was invited, but the show was also sopotted wit one of the oldest local doom acts performing - Ekklesiast.
Timofey: Well, after the first fest Anton came up with the idea to invite a band from abroad and it all spinned somehow. MDF II was the first time we met a foreign band that close, we could talk to them, drink beer with them - that is what every dedicated listener would give a lot to do, you know what I mean. Ekklesiast also played on the first fest.
-So MDF II was a successful one, because the next one had four bands from Europe invited - Frailty, Swallow The Sun, Worship and legendary - will be true if I say so - Esoteric. Here it's obvious that the budget of the fest must have become bigger and by default more problems occur - accommodation of the bands and management of their free time. How did SU managed with that?
Timofey: Yes that is right, MDF II was a good one. We got back our investments and in general there were no problems any way. After that we decided to make something bigger. The cost of production appeared noticeably higherr and the "recoil" didn't ... Of course we had a lot more tasks to deal with but I can hardly call them problems. And we had to forget about sleep during that time.
Anton: MDF II went smoothly in financial terms, like no other ever since. No show after gathered so many people. All problems were solved that very time they appeared. People from different countries gave and give very good feedback about our hospitality and good management of everything during their stay in Russia.
-By the way, I think, that from all the listed bands Warship were the least known - what makes your choice when inviting bands? I remember that some time ago there was a poll made to choose a most wanted band on the next fest.
Timofey: We try to vary the line-up depending on our possibilities. We are "blamed" from time to time that we are too much into funeral-doom. Yes, we do like that style, but if we have an opportunity of making the fest with different styles of doom presenter on it - we do that. As to Worship - they had their new album released (the first one after Max died) and we decided that it would be great to support it with a live show.
-Do you watch how such kind of shows goes there in Europe? Do you have any experience of communication with their organizers?
Timofey: Yes, sure, we watch what's going on with the scene in Europe (and not only Europe). Yes we had the experience and it was quite a pleasant one. Two last festivals were made with Adrian De Buitléar's of Lugga Music assistance.
-How did you manage to catch the three monsters - Longing For Dawn (Canada), Mournful Congregation (Australia) and Mourning Beloveth (Ireland) out of the European tour for Moscow Doom Fest IV in 2009? I'm sure that if not for the tour, the show in Moscow of at least two of them would have been unreal.
Timofey: The story of that fest started quite a long time before. Even before the MDF III. When Adrian Bickle (Mournful Congregation) and I started discussing the possibility of their performance in Moscow. Then the wheels started spinning and together with Lugga Music we managed to organize this fest. Would've been impossible without the European tour.
-Participation of three of these powerful bands already do an honor for any occasion, but more to that you've signed a British band The Prophecy and the fest became more global than ever. Did you not have a feeling that this is too much? You could take one more Russian band - we have good ones.
Timofey: Matt and I discussed this opportunity long ago. I think it was even before the MDF III. That is why we can say that the fourth fest was fully planned really beforehand. The feeling that this is too much could have been appeared at the beginning. Then it just disappeared - this is a fest after all.
-Right before this fest the singer of Comatose Vigil had left the band and the band had to look for the replacement. Still the show took place despite of that situation - so did the presence of the band in the line-up was a must? And by the way, how EndName were selected for the opening of the concert?
-Timofey: Anton will tell about CV better than I:). As to EN, their guitar player Sergo is a good friend of mine and I had known this band for quite some time before the fest. They create interesting music. So we decided that a good sludge won't hurt us ?. And the guys would show themselves in front of understanding public, which was good for them. And we were right, there were lots of positive feedback about them.
Anton: Bass player was also lacking in Comatose Vigil at that time. So we had to start an emergency search for both musicians. The task was hard, because we were not looking for session players, but for constant members of the band. This was really a serious trouble. Every time the point of CV's performance was discussed with a pretty high temperature, the reason - no new album. Which still can't be released due to different circumstances. But this time the decision was made that the band had to be there. The main reason was that lots of people were waiting for this.
-Comatose Vigil were a traditionally in the line-up of the doom fests ad by the fifth fest they dropped, even so I thought they would be there until the last moment - pointlessly. But there was merchandise presented, thongs with band's logo. Comatose Vigil launched a designer's cloths line?
Anton: Well, we've been having thongs for sale for two years in a row now. Looks like you didn't pay attention to this item on the last shows.
Elena: As to designers line - thet's a good thought, but at this moment it's unreal. Nevertheless SU can be proud of that our clothes can be seen on musicians, who performed on our shows: two robes were custom made in my native city Penza by my friend for Pantheist members. Robes were used during the show.
-So last year Comatose Vigil were playing live - and I think quite successfully - with a new singer, we've been talking about that a bit earlier, so for the most fans the reasons of inactivity of the band is unknown. How did that happen, that one of the most professional and loud Russian doom bands became inactive? And before that the band did not appear on stage as often as it could be expected, playing 1-2 shows a year - that looked like, perhaps, pathetically.
Anton: The band is alive and active. Nobody is going to bury CV.
I don't think that playing live once a year for a funeral-doom band is rare. In fact it may appear too often. Unfortunately new material is being recorded a lot slower and to play the same set every time is at least now very interesting. Our line-up is changed quite radically once again. We are back to a three piece from which we started at the very beginning. And at this moment we are preparing quite intensively for new album recording session, so playing gigs is definitely not a priority for us now.
-As far as I know, production of MDF IV was too costy for Sepulture Union, nevertheless there were four powerful European bands planned for the fifth chapter - Ahab (Germany), Esoteric and Pantheist (United Kingdom), Jack Frost (Austria). How did that happen that Ahab dropped out of the list?
Timofey: MDF IV was less expensive than MDF III and, as we already know, less than MDF V. Esoteric was originally planned for the next year. But after the basic agreement Ahab had some trouble which had nothing to do with us, so we could not do anything about it and they could not come during the suggested dates. And we thought, that if we have a chance to invite Esoteric earlier than planned, when why the hell not? We all know these guys an I shall not be mistaken if I say that we missed them. Moreover, it was the fifth, kind of jubilee fest.
-And one more - why Moscow Doom Festivel V did still happen? Some were looking at the chances of it being made this year with a load of skepticism.
Elena: We ourselves were looking at the chances with a large share of skepticism, but nonetheless the show went on. Hell with what will be after… this year we wanted the fifth, the jubilee fest to happen.
-Ilia (Pantheist guitar player) said that he would like his second band - Indesinence - to join the line-up. A really good band and it would've been easier to bring them together with Esoteric and Pantheist. But you did not choose the easy way by inviting (for what I'm endlessly thankful) Jack Frost. Simple question - why?
Elena: If we were always going the "easy" way, then we should have been limited by inviting our Scandinavian neighbours only for Moscow Doom Festival, and by inviting bands only from Moscow for Shadow Doom Festival. And to actively engage young team on toll conditions :-). Indesinence - a great team and we hope to see it as part of our next concerts.
-How did Septic Mind make in the list of participants? I may be wrong, but I suppose that the group could make some sort of fee for participation in the MDF V. I think this is normal - the team will not interfere with promotion, and thus, it could have been achieved, although the quality of their performance could be higher, with the sound they were not all right.
-Elena: In the history of our festivals has not yet been a case of paid speeches teams. Septic Mind at a concert came up to me with the demo of their material interested me, I showed it to other participants of unions and the decision was made. That's so simple :-).
-MDF V again paid off, it is clear that the organization of the arrival of several teams - is a hard work. Does worth the Moscow Doom Fest will ever?
Timofey: Yes, it was once. It was the second festival, and we are with Anton "earned" a hundred dollars ... more than this has not yet happened.
-From your point of view, what is a reason of such bad cost-efficient organizations MDF? Bad promotion, low attendance and apathy of our doom?
Anton: One of the main reasons I would note is the unpopularity of style. There are many other equally important reasons overpriced festivals. Much less expensive to bring a foreign group, and make her solo performance, and the likelihood that all will be repaid, will increase many times compared to our festivals, when they come for three or more staff. The problem is that all these teams play roughly the same style and have one and tighter, permanent audience. For example, on Skepticism about 200 people came, and at MDF V came to 240 people. That count. Naturally, the costs of organizing performances for one and for the three groups have a tremendous difference. Of course, if we have an expensive advertising on radio, TV, etc., then the concert came to more people. Maybe 100 or 200 more, but these people are not even close to beat back the money spent on such advertising.
Elena: Well, of course, we can not even try to compare the doom-metal-company with, say, an alternative punk hangouts or environment, they are very easy to lift, or fans of reggae, with their amazing word of mouth and because of high traffic concerts. Incomplete halls of doom-parties, in my opinion, due to the low social need of doom. In my opinion, the typical doom-fan - a lone person, often intellectual, deeply thoughtful and finely perceive the world, an introvert, perhaps a romantic and escapist. Learning about the event, he did not rush to tell all his friends about it, but rather will prepare for the concert: listen to music, read interviews... And then so carried away by doing this that not dare change a cozy home atmosphere at the club site or even forget about the concert (there were such cases):)).
-I must say that ticket prices MDF V were quite democratic. I am grateful for accreditation, but since I went to a concert not alone - one ticket is purchased, and I was pleasantly surprised by the price, of course, it was a respectable sum, but for such show the cost was more than acceptable. On the basis of what is calculated this amount? What kind of traffic you expected?
Helen: As the budget of the festival this year was approximately equal to last year, the price of a ticket was to remain at the same level. But we have further reduced the ticket price, to all interested persons could get to the concert. Therefore it is logical to assume that the number of people who came on May 29 in club Plan B is our main active audience. Perhaps to someone does not reach our information, but in general, I think, 80-90% percent of potential doom in the course of events and decide for themselves whether they wished at the festival.
Timofey: It was expected - not quite the right word, but rather hoped that it would be 300-350 people, but it was too optimistic.
-By the way, do not you guess that society underground music fans gradually switched completely to the consumer mode? You can simply lazy gab in the forums, download music easily from the Internet. On this idea has pushed me to how sluggish was reaction of audience to the performance of Jack Frost, really professional band, ha… though Jack Frost were more than satisfied with such welcome…
Timofey: I do not guess that. Now we know that! Although, I must say, there are folks who regularly go to our concerts and we already know them. And we are grateful to all who came for support. Jack Frost and even other musicians say that the public liked them, probably audience in Europe, still more feebly :-).
Elena: The beauty of instant music acquisition is not in any way be compared with the conscious of collecting, we call it so, the license vinyles.
You can spend a few minutes to download the entire discography of the group, but any connoisseur of music will confirm that it is much nicer to have a license merch of your favorite team, for the possession of which you had to make at least some minimum actions. There is a very unique opportunity at our concerts not only to acquire bands' CDs and merchandise, but to sign it, take pictures with the musicians and even a chat - with minimum knowledge of English.
As Jack Frost ... For many, their show was a revelation. Many people have discovered this band, or looked at it through different eyes. Yes, I myself was not a hot fan of their music and only after a speech at the MDF-V I was able to appreciate the tremendous energy of the musicians, gloomy atmosphere created by a mystical vocals and raw guitars muddy sound. And it confirms once again the uniqueness of live performances!
-When did you first start to produce shirts with emblem of Moscow Doom Fest? How successful do you think the idea of their release was? Would not it be better to organize the video-recording of the festival, this video would obviously be interesting not only for those who attended the festival, but for those who did not get to it, including foreign connoisseurs of the genre.
Timofey: T-shirts first appeared on the MDF III, and the idea was very successful. Due to this we were able to leave something to remember for those who came to the concert and for the very participants of MDF of course. Just sometimes a little can reduce losses, however, we try to put as much as possible affordable prices, since in addition to the economy is also an ideology, enthusiasm. The idea of filming soars very long time, but on a professional basis to implement it does not work, again due to lack of funds.
-Which gigs besides MDF did Sepulture Union organise?
Anton: We do annual Shadow Doom Fest beside MDF which is dedicated to Russian bands. And we did organize the gig of Skepticism in Moscow last year.
-How did the idea of the Shadow Doom Fest start? What is its fundamental difference from Moscow Doom Fest?
Elena: In 2007 I came to Moscow from the sunny city of Penza, and one of the first gig I have visited was Moscow Doom Festival ch II. The atmosphere of the festival was amazing and I imbued with mood, once again came to the conclusion that it would be great - to take a part in this great project.
Six months later - the fall of 2007 - I worked as art director at a music club "Shadow" and together with the enthusiast from Saratov city (who is well known under the name of Roman Corvinus) was preparing a doom concert. We just wanted to organize a festival with doom bands and invite groups from different cities of Russia and the CIS.
Actually, at this same event, there was a historic meeting with one of the organizers of the MDF, Anton, after which it was decided to work together and develop ideas of best doom-movement in the territory of Moscow.
Later it was decided to make an autumn festival venue for performances of the best groups of all post-Soviet space to develop such fest as an international day of Doom in Moscow. There were teams from Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia in Shadow Doom Fest, we even planned to involve band from Moldova. We always welcome new participants, we are open to suggestions and we are interested in new names and countries. If there are qualitative doom-bands in Kyrgyzstan, then we are happy to try to spread them doom in Moscow too :-).
-You have organized a joint statement by the legendary Skepticism and deservedly famous Frailty in December 2009, in Moscow, outside of any fests. Why was such an extraordinary concert organized?
Timofey: We had a chance to bring bands at this time, and we did not want to lose it. We have long wanted to organize such speech, but somehow not evolved, and as soon as there is a real chance - all happened. The concert proved its worth much more than festivals. More precisely, though the gig did not justify itself to a much lesser extent :-). But not everything depends on wealth, and we do not regret it.
-Within a few years of dealing with various groups, what impression left by contact with their members? Were there any difficulties with some bands?
Elena: Hand on heart, I can say that we have not seen the difficult groups. Naturally, all people are different and very often the mentality of the country affects the individual musicians, but in general, the problems never existed. The most charming (and on the presentation and the backroom communication) can rightly be called Saturnus. We have very good memories from communicating with the British Esoteric, Prophecy and Pantheist. And the Finnish Skepticism remembered as real funeral-doers - very serious, focused, self-absorbed introvert.
-It's no secret that not all musicians from foreign teams know well English, and they can always find extraordinary situations…
Timofey: Well, rock musician can be drunken sometimes… But we must ensure that we do our best to make them feel in Moscow like they're in their home, they did not get into trouble.
Helen: All musicians usually hold their English at a good level which would not only communicate to the free themes, but also to solve a purely technical and organizational issues.
Freelance or funny situations happen at every festival. Meeting at the Kiev station group Skepticism, we had a long chat with the porters, trying to bring down the price. It turned out that he heard a foreign language, and seeing a lot of musical equipment, station officials have decided that pop stars before them, and inflated the price several times.
Part of their luggage was lost at the airport, and we had to urgently look for tools and environment. After the concert .... luggage was found in Argentina, where it was mistakenly sent instead of Russia!
But in general, in fact, each fest checks the strength of nerves of the organizers. Every time somebody does not manage to avoid problems with obtaining visas. Thus, in the past MDF until the last moment remained questionable part of Mourning Beloveth. At a recent festival in limbo was the arrival of Jack Frost, received a visa just before the departure ... And besides its share of unrest has made Icelandic vulcanizing fiend with an unpronounceable name, occasionally dozing Europe with a layer of ash and makes every day begins with a view forecast distribution of rain clouds.
-What teams would Sepulture Union like to bring to Russia? Just for your pleasure. Even if the ban is decayed, if Reverend Bizarre would be still active, I would desperately insisted on their arrival :-)
Timofey: I would choose Evoken, Novembers Doom, Mar De Grises, Poema Arcanvs, Void of Silence, Shape of Despair, from split-up, perhaps, Morgion.
Elena: There are Electric Wizard and Virgin Black in my personal wish-list. Raw Guitar English psychedelia and epic symphonism originally from Australia. It's a completely different music, but I am sure they would be identical in strength of emotion speech. And, of course, very sorry that the remarkable performance of the Finnish group Colosseum remained in the number of failed: vocalist Juhani Palomäki died on May 15th of 2010.
-Will Moscow Doom Fest VI be? I understand that if you will not, then nobody else takes up organization of arrival in Russia European doom-teams.
Timofey: Honestly, I can not give both positive and negative response. Too early. Sepulture Union while still active in this respect the organization, but the details will think about later. We need to heal the wounds.
-To be honest, I have no problem with writing down for you more questions, but you will agree that too long interview will look completely funeral :-) So I want to thank all the members of Sepulture Union for their hard work. Thanks for the interview and, of course, for MDF V! All the best!
Timofey: I'd like to say thanks to everyone who helped us: my wife (Summerpic), Antonio, Bor, Vladimir - our constant collaborator from Penza, Adrian (Lugga Music), Sergei (helps us from St. Petersburg), all of our friends who support us with word and deed.
Elena: I want to thank all those who come to our concerts and support the Sepulture Union and the very existence of festival. Every time they come to a concert with participation even if not the most popular groups, you make real the following statement is his favorite band.
And thank you, Alex, for the close attention paid to the doom-metal category!
MOSCOW DOOM FEST V
Septic Mind:
YouTube
Jack Frost (Duran Duran cover):
YouTube
Pantheist:
Youtube
Esoteric:
YouTube
Interview By Aleks Evdokimov (
metallibrary.ru )
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