First, I'd like to know a bit about Obtest's history, as I had never listened anything from you until "Is Kartos Į Kartą". I think you played Death Metal before 1992, why did you change your style and decided to play Heathen Metal? As far as I know Obtest means "oposition" or "resistance", can you explain us the meaning of this monicker for you? OBTEST history starts in late winter of 1992. After long rehearsings and searchings of sound we found out the black metal in the autumn of 1993, so the first songs were composed. In summer of 1994 we recorded 3 songs rehearsal tape and made our first live show in autumn of the same year. In 1995 OBTEST worked a lot on the new songs and recorded two demo tapes "Oldness comming" and "Pries audra". The first full length album we recorded in 1996-1997, and it was known as "Tukstantmetis". MC version of the album came out in spring of 1997, it was released thru Lithuanian label Vetso Menesio Vaizbuva. Next year in 1998, the first 7"EP "997" was put out on German's Miriquidi Productions, and in 1999 "Tukstantmetis" was re-released on CD format. So in September of 2000 OBTEST raided in Germany with EMINENZ, it was the first tour abroad. Second album "Auka Seniems Dievams" CD/LP was released in the end of 2001 on Ledo Takas Records (Lithuania). In 2003 Ledo Takas Records released an exclusive picture 7"EP "Dvylika JuodVarniu". Our new album "Is kartos i karta" was released on September 1st of 2005 on Ledo Takas Records. In January of 2006 we re-recorded two very old songs for the new 7"EP, which will be released in spring or summer of this year. "Is Kartos Į Kartą" was a revelation for me as soon as I heard it, as I don't use to like such melodic forms of Pagan or Epic Metal, but I think you managed to keep a strong feeling beside it, without sounding too cheesy. Can you tell us where was it recorded and how was all the composition and recording process? What goals did you want to achieve with this new release? Does it differ a lot with precedent ones? Any anecdote during the recording? The recordings took a lot of time. We worked in some studios, where we recorded drums and the rest of material. It came out pretty experimental, because of the equipment we used. Any way we are satisfied with the recording and first of all with the sound we gained. We follow the principles not to use folk instruments in our records, and express the feeling managing only the classic metal instrumentation: guitar, bass, drums, and the variety of man's voice. I think our latest record differs from the previous works because of time in general. Four years passed after a previous full length album was recorded, so we found out a lot of things about the philosophy of music and sound. Anecdotes about the recordings? Some songs were recorded from a first take, without any rehearsals... Obtest can be putted, in my opinion, near bands like Ancient Rites, Bathory, on their epic era, or Skyforger, as your sound is between Pagan Black Metal and more Heavy Metal influenced stuff. How would you describe it? Which are the biggest influences on nowadays Obtest's sound? Do you see the band nearest to Black/Pagan Metal or Heavy Metal? The describtion of your own music and sound is very complicated for me. I'm not an expert of BM or PM, so for me it's hard to talk about it. We run away from black metal, we run away from heavy metal, so critics say, that it is a pagan heavy metal, what ever. I'm not sure what will it be in the next album, except I'm sure it will be metal in music and pagan in spirit. It is easy to see, although I can't read your lyrics(first because I don't have them on the promo, and second because they are in Lithuanian, which by the way sounds really catchy in my point of view) that you are highly influenced by the past and that you claim honour to your ancestors. Can you explain us a bit more the lyrical concept behind "Is Kartos Į Kartą" and the band itself? Which is your opinion and position towards heathenism or paganism? Do you think it has any relation with politics? Our songs are about experience between two worlds - the present one ant the past one. The heritage of our profathers is brought to these moment and we have an opportunity to read it and try to understand. We can't turn the time back, but we can learn much about the past, and to clear up things: what are we? Looking for ourselves is the path of lifetime, the black path, walking on the edge. World is getting smaller, and the mystery appears to change it's shape. Myth is alive in even modern mind. So, the legend goes on. Time looses it's meaning and sense. I think when arts are mixed with politics it looses it's artistic value. I know you are going to tour Europe together with Loits in not too many time, from the Baltic area to Portugal, where you will play at the Barroselas Metalfest. Which are your feelings about that? Which were the best moments on your precedent tours with Skyforger, Sear Bliss, Eminenz, Grief Of Emerald and Bestial Mockery? Which countries would you like to visit to play there? Any bands you'd like to play with especially? A few days ago we just arrived from Ireland. We played "Winter Generation Tour 2006" in Germany, Czech and Ireland. It was the first tour where we played with support bands, with a complete crew, and a full power on stage. In April of this year we are going to play more gigs in Europe together with Estonians LOITS. Our first tour was played in Germany in 2000 together with EMINENZ, it was very fresh experience for us. In 2002 we played Christ Crushing Tour with SKYFORGER, GRIEF OF EMERALD, SEAR BLISS, BESTIAL MOCKERY, which was very tiring but still great and adventurous. It would be nice to storm across the whole Europe, and then the rest of the world, especially South America. It would be great to play a tour with SKYFORGER once more, with TYR from Farreroes, and ARKONA from Russia. About your label, Ledo Takas, I would say they are doing a really good work promoting your last album. What do you think about that? Did you have any offer from a big label to release this last album? Which label would you like to see releasing one of your albums and why? We are satisfied with the work of LEDO TAKAS Records, so if we get any proposals, I think it will be the question of distribution, or licensed repressing. Originally we are with Ledo Takas Records. I'm not thinking about any labels. Now tell us what is going to happen in the near future, apart of the upcoming tours. Have you started working on new songs? Will your sound remain in the same style as on "Iš Kartos Į Kartą" or will there be an evolution? Evolution is the wheel of life, everyday starts as a new one, so you have to be sure to adopt it. I can't predict the future, but we are thinking about new material, and when it's ready you will know about it. The sound of our recordings differs every time, but anyway keep something similar inside. Do the members of Obtest play in other bands or projects? Can you tell us a bit about them? Which are the last three albums(Metal or not) that surprised you? Any deception? At the moment we share a guitar player from heavy metal band SOUL BROTHERS, our bass player plays in brutal death band BURYING PLACE. Surprising albums are from TRANSILVANIANS (folk rock), LOVE (rock,1967), ASYNJE (folk ambient). As I don't know too much about your country, I'd like you to tell us a bit about it, from it's best places and culture(it will help me if I go there some day) to the Metal scene, as I only now Obtest and Dissimulation for the moment. How is the political situation thee nowadays? Do you know anything from our country? Any spanish metal band you like? Lithuania is a free state in the east coast of the Baltic sea. Baltic tribes were living here since long time ago, in XIII century, after a long wars Lithuanians established their own kingdom, still pagan, untill late XIV century (officially christianised 1387, but actually in late XVI century). Population about 3 millions, but still many people are going away abroad, because of the economical reasons. Lithuania is a democratic state, with the President ahead. Climate is variable, four seasons in it's finest beauty: spring, summer, autumn, winter. Temperature from -30 in winter to + 30 in summer. Landscape hilly with a lots of lakes in the eastern Lithuania, plane lands in the north, sandy coast in the west. 30 % of territory covered with forests. Metal scene has some potency now. We have some known bands like: RUINATION, SHADOWDANCES, NAHASH, and some local bands: ANDAJA, SAPLES, OSSASTORIUM, GROL de Nocte, BURYING PLACE, SOUL BROTHERS, THUNDERTALE, GOTHEANUM, KATEDRA, XESS. Ok then, I think it's enough for this time. I just hope your tour will be as succesful as it should be and wait to see another release from yours going out in the future. If you want to tell something to your fans, go for it... Thanx for the interview, hope you go well with your press!
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