conducted by Janice K for "INDY MUSIC SCENE"

JK: Hi Marcus, thanks for the time. Lets start by talking a little about the new project "PRAYERS OF THE DAMNED" how will it differ, if at all, from "The other Hell?"

MK: Well, In some ways I think "PRAYERS OF THE DAMNED" is darker than our last project, If not musically then lyrically. Its more a return to the raw elements of the band.

JK: You were nice enough to allow me to listen to several pre production versions of songs for the cd and I must say they really run the gamet from dark metal to gothic pop, even a few straight ahead rockers. I think this is about as diverse a group of songs as you have ever written.

MK: Well, the common link to these songs is that they represent those who consider themselves "lost souls" Thus the prayers of the damned.

JK: Do you personally consider yourself damned?

MK: I think the harsh reality is that most of us are damned. We all try to console ourselves with the myth of salvation but in the long run we all are damned in one way or the other

JK: One song in particular I'd like to talk about is "when Jenny Died". I've seldom heard a more depressing song. What would possess a songwriter to use the death of a 9 year old girl for inspiration?

MK: What would possess someone to torture and abuse a nine year old girl? I'd hardly use the word "inspiration" to describe it...I think if such a thing is ignored its far worse than bringing it to light, don't you?

JK: Inspire was the wrong choice of words, sorry. I guess I meant that the subject isn't something many would try tackling. I heard it for the first time and it honestly shocked me.

MK: I guess thats a good thing. I suppose it means you haven't become "desensitized" to the world around you

JK: On the last Cd it seemed the band was looking for a bit wider appeal and musically matured somewhat. I notice on the tracks I've heard so far for your new Cd that there are also some songs that seem almost designed to have greater accessibility. Some good hooks and melodies. Intentional?

MK: if you are a fan of the band I doubt you'd find that anything new. I think we have always had that style really. We never claimed to be death metal or even black metal. We have elements of many different types of music in us and we aren't afraid to show them.

JK: There really is an odd romanticism to many of your tunes, I think its what sets you apart sometimes from the others of your genre.Are you ever worried about being called commercial?

MK: I'm not worried about being called anything. I write one way, its the only way I know. I honestly feel its a lot more interesting than to simply scream at the top of my lungs about the devil for 13 tracks per Cd don't you?

JK: Well since it was you who brought up the devil, let me ask you about the connection to satanism and cellar dweller

JK: ( chuckles) I'm assuming from that expression you've heard the question before?

MK: Its come up on occassion

JK : Well you must admit you haven't exactly done anything to discourage that image.

MK: I don't recall ever saying I wanted to discourage it...

JK: ok, well the music doesn't actually represent what I would call abject satanism, yet it certainly has a forboding and somewhat evil texture to it. I was thinking just now of "LUCIFER RISING" and the lyrics "turn me loose..lucifer rising" It seems almost autobiographical

MK: If most people were to cut loose you'd see a far different side than the one they show on the outside

JK: Ok,another one of my favorites so far is "sacred" I don't think anyone has heard you sing that way before. it's very beautiful both lyrically and musically. Its in some ways the bands ultimate ballad, would you agree?

MK: It's a ballad, I agree

JK: (laughs) ok, would you agree that the larger part of your fanbase are female? If so, why?

MK: No, I don't agree with that at all. I think our fanbase is somewhat mixed and that certainly a decent percentage are female but I would say the majority are still male

JK: ok, lets get a bit more personal if you don't mind. A few of the new tunes deal pretty harshly with unrequited love. Is that from personal experience?

MK: I take it you mean "Drown" and "sacred"..they deal with love yes, but a lot more than that they deal with the fact that where emotions are involved there is always the risk of pain. Its something everyone has experienced I'd imagine

JK: Ok , well I am a fan of the music and what personally appeals to me is the dark gothic style romantisim in some of your lyrics. There seems to be more of that on this Cd. Was that an element of "the other Hell" you conciously tried to keep in this project?

MK: I didn't conciously try to keep or remove any elements. I just wrote what was inside me at the time.

JK: Who do you listen to in your free time?

MK: All kinds of music really. Danzig, alice cooper, Springsteen..some newer bands I like certain songs..

JK: Springsteen?

MK: Never heard of him? He's a great songwriter In my opinion. I like all kinds of stuff..

JK: lets talk about religion a little since its a theme that crops up a lot in your music. Are you religious in any way?

MK: I believe in good and evil, right and wrong, white and black. I also believe that more people die in the name of religion than any other single reason.

MK: I'm not anti- religion if thats what someone chooses. I just think that those who try to become something or someone they aren't just to conform to their religion are wasting their time.

JK: Do you think your fans are mostly anti religious or pagen religious?

MK:I think they are whatever they want to be and thats cool with me.

JK:"Devils Lullabye" another new song, carries a rather disturbing kind of imagery with it. Unless I'm mistaken its a song concerning religious zealotry causing genocide. I think its a very powerful track

MK: Well, it can have a few meanings I suppose. Thats certainly one of them. Its one of my favorite tracks too really.

JK: I'm very much looking forward to the CD release. When can we expect it?

MK: We hope to have it completed by summer, around june with luck

JK:Ok finally a question we ask everyone....what is your views on the independant music scene

 MK: I think that its the independant bands that make up the majority of the interesting music being made today. I'm far more likely to buy an indy CD than a major label one

JK: Awesome, and thanks so much for the advanced tracks. I think this will really be a great Cd and that your fans will see the versitility of your music even more than before

MK: Thank you, we plan to work hard at it