Behind the Veil

Mystic Moon

Mystic Moon is a new Greek epic doom metal band that until now has only released a promo CD and they are preparing their upcoming release. You won't need to listen to their music many times to realize what they want to do, since you'll understand right away the depth and substance of their music. Domenico, one of the band's guitarist, gave us some really interesting information concerning the band!

1. HELLO THERE! NOW SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST INTERVIEW I’D LIKE YOU TO GIVE ME A SHORT BAND BIO AND INTRODUCE THE CURRENT LINE UP TO THE READERS…

Hails Christine, Hails Behind the Veil! We are just fine and so happy to answer this interview! There have been some member changes in the near past but I’ll tell you about present and future. We are 5 persons that share the same dream, the same emotions, of composing some really emotional songs, because for us, emotion is what counts. So, Akis Bouklas is on Vocals, Jimmy Priest on the Guitar, Jimmy Asfis on the Bass guitar, Chris T. on Drums and finally me, Domenico “Doomangel” Pritis on the guitar. I must tell you also the song and lyrics writing process is mostly a democratic procedure that includes all members of the band.

2. WHICH ARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS TILL NOW? WHICH ARE THE AIMS/DREAM YOU WANT TO REALIZE THROUGH YOUR MUSIC?

Although we are for a short time around we’ve done some important achievements, the most important of them is your next question, the fact that you along with others find influences from these great bands in our music. This is really important for us. Doom metal is a very special genre, and when you are able to compose emotional doom metal then you have to be proud! Some other achievements are the comments we receive from fans all over the world, some good reviews (yours included) and our participation in 2 compilations with the track “Pale Divine”.

3. YOU PLAY DOOM METAL THAT HAS INFLUENCES FROM CANDLEMASS, SOLITUDE AETURNUS AND DOOMSWORD, ACCORDING TO ME. DO YOU AGREE? PLEASE MENTION SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS AND MOST BELOVED ALBUMS.

We tottaly agree and is honor for us to find influences fro these band in our music, the bands you mentioned along with some other like While Heaven Wept, Lamented Souls, Solstice, Cathedral, Krux, Memento Mori and many other are our favorite artists. About our favorite albums I will tell u only 5 of them:

Solitude Aeturnus – Into the Depths of Sorrow

Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

Cathedral – Forest of Equilibrium

Manowar – Into Glory Ride

Lamented Souls – Origins of Misery

4. IF YOU WERE ASKED TO WRITE A REVIEW OF YOUR “PROMO 2005”, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TRYING TO BE AS OBJECTIVE AS POSSIBLE? IN OTHER WORDS, WHY SHOULD THE METALLERS CHECK YOU OUT? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER TO THEM?

Focusing my review to the fact that Mystic Moon is an Epic Doom metal band, I would point to their “warm” sound, just perfect for the genre, the really emotional vocals and the whole Mourning atmosphere of “Promo 2005”. To the ones looking for some good emotional Epic Doom metal, Mystic Moon can be their Eden, Weeping guitars, Mourning vocals, strong as hell rhythm section, Mournful Epic Doom Metal, give us a try…

5. PLEASE FILL US IN ON YOUR RELEASES AND POINT OUT THE MOST IMPORTANT SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES AMONG THEM. ARE YOU CONTENT WITH YOUR EFFORTS UP TO NOW?

We just finished recording 3 new songs, “Sun Demons (Through Fragments They Will Rise Again)”, “Babylon…As Forsaken Ruins” and “Autumn Leaves a Silent Light”, which will be in our full demo soon to be released entitled “Doom…Forever…Dreaming…”. “Promo 2005” was a release just for media and fans to know as better.

6. WHAT’S THE BEST AND WHAT’S THE WORST PART IN YOUR MUSIC, ACCORDING TO YOU? ARE THERE ANY THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO IMPROVE IN THE FUTURE?

That’s a really difficult question; I don’t believe there is any musician who can point out any element of his music as the best or the worst. I can tell you that as musicians we should all improve day after day. As we compose we only try to be true and emotional, there might be some strong or weak parts in our music but I cannot point them. This is something you can do easily.

7. TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT YOUR LYRICS. WHICH ARE THE THEMES THAT YOU MAINLY DEAL WITH?

The main writer of the lyrics is Akis Bouklas and I’m his assistant in a way, things that are happening every day, dreams or expectations, a fight. Everything from the smallest to the most important thing can be the source of inspiration. The difficult thing is to translate all these feelings into lyrics and I believe Akis is capable to that in every way.

8. PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR COVER ARTWORK FOR US AND PINPOINT ITS COMMON ELEMENTS WITH YOUR LYRICS.

I will talk to you about the cover artwork of the demo we are releasing soon. The cover is showing an angel in desperation, sorrow. A very strong picture, our music and our lyrics are closely connected with doom and so is the cover of our demo, when you see it for yourself you’ll find out how doom would be if it were a picture.

9. HAVE YOU SENT YOUR DEMO TO ANY LABELS? ARE YOU IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THEM OR DO YOU THINK THE BAND IS STILL AT ITS FIRST STEPS?

The truth is that Mystic Moon are in their first steps right now, but some offers came from a couple of labels, for the release of Split cd or participating to compilations mostly. We will try to plan carefully the route of the band, we first want to release the full demo, the some live shows will follow and after that we will consider what we will do.

10. HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS FOR LIVE SHOWS? WHAT SHOULD THOSE ATTENDING YOUR LIVE SHOWS EXPECT TO SEE?

We are planning to go though the entire Greece to play, so every booking agent from anywhere in Greece that is reading this interview can contact us to discuss further. As the show we will perform a fully Epic Doom full of emotion set, Mystic Moon live shows cannot be translated to words, you should only come and see us live.

11. IF YOUR MUSIC WERE AN EMOTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IF IT WERE A PAINTING, WHAT WOULD IT SHOW?

This is an amazing question but the answer is common. Doom of course, and if I would like to translate Doom then I would say that is the feeling soldiers have when they are marching to war, the acceptance of their fate. Yes, these are your comments and I couldn’t find better words to describe our music. If it were a picture it would surely be the cover of our demo.

12. ARE YOU SATISFIED BY THE FEEDBACK YOU’VE GOT THIS FAR? WHAT WAS THE MOST FLATTERING AND WHAT THE WORST COMMENT YOU RECEIVED?

Yes, we had received some very good comments worldwide, I cannot recall the most flattering, there was too many, one of them was surely yours, the one describing our music in your review, I remember the worst, a guy told that we are like The Doors on the 45 . Ha-ha!!

13. LET’S SUPPOSE THAT YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO INVITE FAMOUS MUSICIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR LIVE SHOWS. WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

Mmm... Let me think... it would be Robert Lowe on vocals, Leif Edling on Bass, and John Perez at the Guitar. That’s enough I think, Leif Edling is the father of doom metal, Robert Lowe is one of the best voices in metal and John Perez one of the best composers... It is clear that those 3 musicians, along with others of course, are the half part of Doom Metal history on stage.

14. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THERE WAS NO MUSIC IN THE WORLD? HOW WOULD YOU CHANNEL ALL YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY?

Another good question, we might have been poets or painters. I don’t know, but I cannot imagine this world without music. This would be a nightmare…

15. THANK YOU! IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION? LEAVE A MESSAGE TO THE READERS…

We truly thank you for your support, I must say that your questions were kind of difficult but we made it through. We should thank Behind The Veil webzine for its support to the Underground and to Mystic Moon and you for your review and interview.

Christine Parastatidou