Mystic Forest Interview

The haunting black metal of Mystic Forest is interlaid with dark melody, with the band showing an affinity for creating fluently evil compositions. Recently The Gauntlet spoke with band mastermind Stefan about the details that surround his band's wicked, morose music.


The Gauntlet: How is it that you bacame attracted to playing such darkly themed music?

Stefan: I just play music as my hands go on my guitar. Ok, it's often sad, but it's the way I see the music, Note by note, I just want to put all the despair and sadness that I have and put it into my music. We don't really want to do a special type of music. It comes as it is. I always loved dark, classic music. Sad themes such as the Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata". This is still what I listen to. And, this made my life better.


The Gauntlet: Although there is a great amount of despair in the band's tracks, there seems to be a quality of beauty as well, however grim. Is this an intentional aspect of your art?

Stefan: Hey, yes. It as to be melodious, I prefer this word than beautiful, and yes, a melody can be grim. The ones who doesn't know how to do a sad song with melodies but only with disharmonies should not be called musicians!


The Gauntlet: Do you see the music to be the ultimate manifestation of your personal will?

Stefan: Yes. what can I say more, You're completely right.


The Gauntlet: What would you most like to convey with your music?


Stefan: Nothing... My music is just what is inside my head in the moment I record it. Nothing more, nothing less. Yes, I know, it's a bit strange in my head.


The Gauntlet: Describe that which you feel to be the most attractive elemnts of the band's music to metal fans.

Stefan: I don't want to be attractive, I don't want to be metal. So why metal fans would like my music? Because it's pure despair maybe...


The Gauntlet: Looking back, what events have been the most significant in shaping the band's history?

Stefan: The day I deceided to compose music alone. I was so tired to play with people saying in reheasal "Let's try this like in the last XXX record" or "I never heard something like that before, we can't do it." If you are a follower you are a loser! One day Baalberith, my lyric writer said to me "Your lyrics suck" and I said to him "Hey motherfucker, do better if you can", and he did it. He came with a lot of ideas, concepts and things which built Mystic Forest.


The Gauntlet: What are the group's current activities?

Stefan: I just finished recording the new album of my other band Eikenskaden. So I'll start to prepare new songs for the next Mystic Forest. The process will be much longer than the other record since we have to do better than for "Romances", and the fact is that when I finished recording "Romances", I had said to myself that I will never do something better. I even wanted to stop the band. But with time, I acquired a lot of ideas and I think that the next record will be huge. Maybe, more symphonic...


The Gauntlet: What can black metal fans expect from the band in the coming year?

Stefan: New records no live performances. But as always sadness and despair.





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Tags:  Mystic Forest  , Stefan, interviews

EF    September 29, 2005