The Mist : Interview

1) Phantasmagoria is about to be reissued. How does it feel to still be talking about the album in 2017?

I believe that not only myself, but also all other band members are happy with this. Phantasmagoria was a powerful and daring step because we dismantled a band (Mayhem), which was established, and restarted from zero to begin another. I believe Phantasmagoria was a courageous album and it deserves to be remembered today as an important piece of Brazilian Metal.

2) Tell us about the time the album was recorded. What were the band aiming for?

We didn’t have a lot of time but we were well rehearsed. It was important for us to be connected with each other and focused on the task. At that time we wanted to have a consistent line of work and we wanted to hit the Road. Rapz, our bass player and main writer, was inspired and we were able to maintain that inspiration for the second album as well.

3) How do you feel about the album today?

It is a recorded, although remastered, from the late 80s/early 90s. It contains the appropriate vices of the time. I believe we fared well with it, despite the precarious conditions and shortage of time. Lyrically it is modern and that gives me pride. It works as a nice textbook for younger Headbangers. 4) Lets discuss the artwork.

The image comes from the same piece by Michael Whelan that

Demolition Hammer and Obituary have used. (also so has Meat Loaf!)

The appropriation we did to Whelan’s work was as dangerous as it was bold. We were so childish! We wanted a mystical atmosphere that would permeate the atmosphere of the album and the lyrics. We didn’t believe that this could bring some sort of problem with rights and so on. Pure infantile behavior. Nevertheless, we used those elements before the other bands you mention. Some people still ask us about it. Today, we are cool about this as we were able to obtain the authorization from Whelan to use the work in its entirety. The appropriation made by Kelson Frost, nevertheless, was magnificent and helped us create the environment we envisioned. The Mist was always very focused on its graphic elements.

5) The bands second album saw a big step forward in song writing. The 2 albums complement each other well. Tell us a bit about "The hangman Tree"

The second album was hell for me. The lyrical part is completely live flesh. The instrumental part was very much built on what was happening with the lyrics and Rapz was really inspired. For me it was a terrible experience and at the same time, very interesting. The name of the album refers to a tree where Peter Pan and the Lost Boys lived. The album has a lot to do with the pain of growing up, the things you must leave behind and the relationship between people. The poetry of the lyrics talks a lot about that; about going to sleep as a child and waking up as an adult, letting your wings of Icarus burn in the Sun, realizing that you can’t really fly.

It is an album that complements Phantasmagoria but it has a more acute philosophical charge. I was graduating in philosophy at the time. We were listening to U2’s The Joshua Tree quite a bit. That also helped us to title the album.

6) What led you to leaving the band?

I believe the communication between myself and the other guys wasn’t really working anymore. I believe it wasn’t also working between them, but that only manifested itself later. But in truth, I believe I didn’t fit anymore in the musical Road and in the career plans that they sought. Metal was starting to shred itself in that period of the early 90s and many bands were breaking up. I was really focused on graduating from my philosophy course and doing new experimentations with music. It didn’t make any sense to continue. But I honored the plans that had been set in the same way.

7) Do you still keep in touch with the Sepultura guys?

Yes, at least with Paulo and Andreas. Sometimes Iggor and I Exchange messages via Instagram and I always go to the Cavalera Conspiracy and Sepultura shows. I’m a big fan of both bands. Paulo and I play together in the Project names The Unabomber Files, alongside Allan and Andre Marcio from the band Eminence. We were in the studio a few months ago. You can find our music on Spotify and Soundcloud. We are waiting for a good response to our upcoming Project: “The Enemy of my Enemy is my Best Friend.”

8) You're pretty prolific in Brazil's Metal scene. How do you feel about the scene today?

Thank you! I’m rather quite, by nature. I believe we’re maturing some ideas that are forthcoming. I hope to be alive to witness it. I believe our scene is pregnant now. I believe Metal will renew itself and the old spawns of the 80s will be the lineage from which this new era will be born. I believe we will be a good remembrance. 9) I love Brazilian's Passion for music. What Metal bands do you think are making wave's today in the scene?

If you like Brazilian bands then you have fertile ground from which to search. I believe that the girls in Nervosa, my friend from Nervochaos, and the boys in Violator and the establishment of bands such as Eminence and Krisiun can probably move the scene of the underground. 10) What are you doing musically right now? Anything new in the pipeline with Chakal?

As I had said, I’m leading the project dubbed The Unabomber Files. I’m finishing up recording vocals for it. I’m not in Chakal anymore. 11) What are you top 5 favourite albums?

I’ll mix old albums with albums I’m listening to now, since I can only pick five. I always mention the albums that have influenced me the most. They are War and Pain by Voivod and Death’s Scream Bloody Gore. I have been listening quite a bit to Coverge’s live album and I’m very excited with the new Kreator album, Gods of Violence. And, of course, I have to mention Sepultura’s new album, Machine Messiah.