LARS F. LARSEN,
vocalist of MANTICORA

Interview - March - April 2007,
Denmark - Russia

- How often you give an interviews to the Russian magazines? Suppose, it happens not so often? So, this is really interesting WHY?

We have not done more than 2 or 3 interviews ever to the Russian media actually! I don't know why, as several of our albums have been released in Russia as sub-licensings and as such, the Russian company that deals with the albums should be interested in getting the media to cover the band, but.... I really don't know.

- As I can see, your CD's sales are successful here...

I wouldn't know. I have never seen a statement from Russia and never received one single cent of payment from the sales of our album (yes, this is the way things work, unfortunately).

- There is MANTICORA's Russian fan-site (from Ukraine, actually). And, if I understand correctly, the artwork for your "The Black Circus Part 1, Letters" was made by Russian artist... Do you have any associations with Russia?

I don't know if we have special associations to Russia. We'd definitely like to go there and play for the fans that we know are there. We do receive fan mail from Russians and the people in the old Soviet states, but we'd need a promoter to get us over there. The fan site is hosted by one of our very dedicated fans from Ukraine, and we are truly happy that we have fans like that, who are willing to make an effort for us. We try to pay back through sending out some merchandise to people that are helping us out.

The cover artwork is solely because Mr. Leo Hao is such a fantastic painter that we decided to use his services. That he is Russian has nothing to do with it. It's pure coincidence.... or fate maybe, hahaha.

- Could you a little bit discover of the veil of this secret: the artwork of the new album will make in the same style?

The artwork is in the exact same style as the first one… Actually it’s a prolonging of the first cover, so they seem to be one big picture that belong together. It is extremely cool, and I have not seen any Leo Hao covers before that are as cool.

- We're so waiting The Part 2 of the "The Black Circus". Could you tell more about the album's conception?. Whose idea it was - the 2-parts creature?

The concept is of a man, getting a job as janitor in a travelling Gypsy circus in New England 1896. He's very thrilled about this job as it is his life's dream, so he begins writing letters to a friend of his (the friend's identity is never revealed). Through the letters, you get to know about this black circus, but you also get to know the evil and darkness that is lurking underneath. Something is definitely wrong and bad things are taking place at the circus. The gypsies are evil and they obviously have a pact with some devillish entity (if you read a bit of H.P.Lovecraft, you know what I'm talking about.. :-) )

- Do you mean the shuvihani (or shuvihano for a male) - " knowing of the sacral knowledge"? We can see two female images - the gipsy girl and the old woman -on your ‘The Black Circus. Part 1’ cover… Gypsies have a magical gift demised to posterity… They are capable to bless and damn, cure and send the illnesses because they have a special knowledge and abilities. They can use these abilities for a good or for harm. What are you waiting from this image, which MANTICORA invoked? Blessings or damnations? :-)

Blessings for those that accept the suppression of the evil creatures we are unleashing in our story. The creatures are called soulreapers and are creatures that we have invented ourselves with the inspiration in HP Lovecraft. There will be more female gypsies on the new frontcover and some of them are (I think) not that human anymore!!!!

I can't reveal more, as it would ruin the story of the new album that is released on May 15 this year. The initial idea for the album came from Mads (our drummer), who had an idea of a black circus, but Kristian (guitars) and I defined the whole story with the evil creatures, and the sophistication of writing everything as real letters on part 1. Mads did a lot of initial writing on the lyrics and I finished all the rest of it. All music was composed by the whole band.

- And what surprises we can wait from this new Part?

I don't think there are real surprises on our albums. Maybe the fact that one of the songs is actually the slowest one we have done to date. It reminds me of Dio or something, hehehe. But, everything sounds as typical MANTICORA!

- The MANTICORA’s music has a very special sound. But if it would be possible to say what is this, the typical MANTICORA’s music?.. Can you describe it? Let us try to make an impossible thing: tell about the music by the words … :-)

Well, our music is a combination of our 5 minds together (and sometimes with the addition of Finn Zierler or Tommy Hansen – whoever is doing the keyboards). We are listening to very diverse styles of music in the band and that means that we bring so many different influences into the music. Some would call it confusion but I do believe that we have found our style in this extreme mixing of other styles. I definitely can’t say that I have ever come across any other bands that sound like MANTICORA, or a band that we sound 100% like. I’m not saying that we are truly unique, but it is a satisfaction that we are al ways described that way and not being labeled as a clone of some other band.

- By the way, have you any plans to continue this album (maybe 3rd part)? And what do you think about a future? Suppose, you will get a many gigs for the new album’s support... Maybe, this is a good reason to visit Russia? Who knows, maybe the fate will give you all chances for this way? :-)

There will not be a 3rd part of this album. Since both these albums were written at the same time, it wouldn’t make any sense to begin writing another one. You'll know what I mean when you read the lyrics for Part 2!!! Frankly, we haven’t even begun thinking about the next album, as we are now ready to get out on the road as much as possible and rock some heads on stage. If we are ever going to get to Russia, only time will tell. The interest is there from our side, but things unfortunately don’t always go as we'd like them to.