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TVANGESTE
The by far best way to keep up with what's happening in the world of metal is to read about the bands. Through reading a paper magazine I came upon Tvangeste. A black metal band with a slight twist compared to all the "true black metal" and Dimmu Borgir wannabes that I might have missed had I not been reading. I'm not gonna tell you that Tvangeste comes from the former Soviet Union because that's irrelevant. Through modern technology I got in touch with Miron from the band and this is what he had to tell me about the band. 
-Anders Ekdahl
When you formed Tvangeste did you already have a clear vision of how you wanted the band to sound like or did that come after you had gathered all the members? 
     "Tvangeste was formed in 1995, that was 6 years ago and we were so stupid…a lot of ideology…minimum of music. Now I understand all our mistakes and have my own point of view but when we were so young we sure tried to play "like somebody", to sing "like somebody" etc. We were glad that a lot of our local fans found our sound closest to Dimmu Borgir. It was a funny time. Almost all previous staff have gone. Tvangeste consist of new talented and high skilled members. In my opinion we found our own way in metal music and I’m glad to do what we do."

Russia has a rich history of folk tales and sagas. How much has those influenced Tvangeste? 
     "You know… we are influenced with our native land where we live – Prussia. It’s not the same. Russia and Prussia are two different lands with different cultures etc. Take Your time and look at the map to see where the Kaliningrad region is. Between Poland and Lithuania. From us to Moscow it's about 1200 km and about 600 km to Paris. Our lyrics filled by ancient Prussian legends…true…all our new album (it’s recording now) based on one legend, kinda like a "conceptual" album where all songs end with "to be continued…", like one long metal tale about heroic times of Great Prussian Land."

How important is it to Tvangeste that Russia has a rich historical past that stretches way beyond the Soviet years? 
     "Of course it’s important for us. It’s sad that we lost a lot of our native culture."

From what I understand Tvangeste is an actual place. What can you tell me about this place? 
     "Yes. Tvangeste was a small Prussian dwelling which was destroyed in 1255 by christians. On the ruins of Tvangeste was founded a knight’s castle Koenigsberg. It grew and grew and became a big German town Koenigsberg up to 1945 when the Soviet Army took it. From 1945 this town called Kaliningrad. My native place where I was born."

The Damnation Of Regiomontum album was recorded in 1999 but only released by Valgalder in 2001. Why did it take so long to get it released? 
     "It’s simple – we have POOR metal distribution in Russia. There are a lot of one day little labels. All what they wanna do is to release band’s CD for as much money as possible, take all money and find another band. Sure there are good labels in Russia too but we needed more than Russian distribution. From the cradle Tvangeste was planned as a global project and my target was the west (Europe and Americas). That’s why we waited so long. All this time we have been searching for good label abroad able to promote us the best way. Valgalder found us in 2000 and we signed the contract for two albums."

When you were looking for a record label what made you go with a small Norwegian one? 
     "You know, it’s something above me. We contacted many labels and we had some good offers but Valgalder staff gave us the best conditions and after all these months of our co-operation - about an year we’re signed to Valgalder - I can tell You that we are glad we signed with them. Great guys! They help us in all possible ways."

I've been told that you're now working on a new album. What can we expect from that one? 
     "Yes, .we are working hard on this new stuff and in my opinion it will be great album. Little bit not modesty but I really like what we do now. We record the album in two studios. First studio where we record all guitars, drums - we use a great live drummer, basses and keyboards is SELANI studio in Poland. In this studio Vader, Behemoth & Christ Agony have recorded. Great place to record metal music. Second studio is TV4 Studios. There we record all "classical" instruments and choirs. We use live choir and live full orchestra in this recording! I hope these new things will make our sound fresher and more interesting."

This could be me imagining but I can hear a heritage of classical music in the sound of Tvangeste. Am I totally of base? 
     "Yes. All of us like classical music. We respect this way of music creation and we use it in our music. There are a lot of interesting things in classical music!"

How important is the Internet to a band like yours that live far from central Europe in getting the name of the band spread? 
     "As You know we live not so far from central Europe. We live in Europe. As for the importance of Internet for the band’s promotion – it’s the greatest. Absolutely the greatest way to promote everything through the Internet. It’s free and effective mass media. I’m in Internet business also so I can evaluate how useful Internet can be."

Is it easy being a metal fan in your town - as in being able to buy records and other metal related stuff or do you have to order everything you want by mail? 
     "We have no problems with "to be metalheads". We do metal shows here, not often but we do. As for buying CDs, MCs and other metal related stuff, we have no problem. There are no metal related stuff in our shops but we can go to Poland or Lithuania (about 2h by car) and buy all what we need."

During the communist years religion was considered opium for the masses. Did you like in Poland after the fall of the Soviet Empire notice that religion crept out of its hiding places and started to dictate rules for people to live by? 
     "Yes. I was totally destroyed when my Friend from SELANI studio Szymon told me that the Catholic Church controls everything in Poland. It’s impossible to buy "illegal" literature like occultism books of Papus for example. The same problems with metal concerts. I hate all limitation of freedom and I can feel that the church in Poland is getting stronger and stronger. As for Russia – it’s unbelievable. The Church is involved in alcohol, cigarettes and drugs restrictions. I can’t feel the authority of the church but I can see what it does, horrible and unbelievable things! "
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