Dunja: Your band exists since 6 years, what were the highlights of your career and how do you think the band did develop?
Tristessa: I believe that we made very important and correct steps from the time that we form this band. The first important step was the demo that we released. That demo has 8 tracks and lasts over 30 minutes. We promoted that demo and found a label very fast. The second very important thing that contributed positively to our band future was that we played at the years that Black Metal was developing and growing very fast. Then we continued very powerful our music performance, and the fact that we were and we still are the only female Metal band, (The only one? Not really. Dunja) create positive and negative reactions. But the result was that our band name became very fast well known to the scene. All those elements and the fact that people like our music are very important steps for our band development.

Dunja: Your new album Quod Superius Sicut Inferius is out now - can you tell us a bit more about it and also about the reactions.
Tristessa: The album is already out for several months and the reactions are very positive. Of course some old fashion Black Metalers prefer the old aggressive and raw ASTARTE style. Well now our music is addressed to a bigger part of people and it is difficult that our music could be liked by everybody. In this album we have guest vocals from the singer of the Greek band Septic Flesh, also the cover it is made from a German Artist called Timo Wuerz who is famous in German from his Black Metal comic albums. Also the production is very well made from Magus Wampir Daoloth . Finally the first 1000 copies are limited carbon box with different cover.

Dunja: I wouldn't consider this album as Black Metal, therefore it's much too melodic and not aggressive enough and also I think there are elements of various styles used in it. How would you describe it?
Tristessa: I would describe it as Black Metal mixed with Heavy Metal riffs and ideas. It is true that we became more melodic, but still we are fast and aggressive and the vocals of Kinthia are chaotic as always. Our Music has become more atmospheric and sometimes it reminds of an epic soundtrack. We do not play the Norwegian raw Black Metal as we did in our first album, but we still play aggressive with a more personal sound and clear production.

Dunja: In an old interview I read, that you don't have time to play live - how is the situation now?
Tristessa: The situation remains the same - we have not played any live-gigs yet. Until today we have not found a very important member and this is the main reason that we do not give live-gigs - this member is the drummer. Right now for the first time we finally found a female member and we make some rehearsals in order to check if she can follow us. For the moment we are very satisfied and if things work we will soon play live. Very very soon!!!

Dunja: Greece has become a real good place for Black Metal Bands, or at least there are some great bands coming from there like Varathron or Necromantia. How would you describe the scene there and tell us with which other Greek bands you are in contact with?
Tristessa: First I will speak about a general phenomenon that I have observe the last years in music industry and then I will answer to your question. Black Metal is a kind of music that moves very much into underground and commercial paths. It is a kind of music that survives only when a band has something extreme and different to offer. I say this because I know that there are million underground bands worldwide that try to become popular but it is very hard. I know this from personal experience because I was trying for 6 years to release an album. I want to conclude to the fact that there are always man bands that deserve promotion but Labels are interested to work with the already existing ones. There are no chances and especially here in Greece there are not even Labels. The scene here is awful. The only music-developed countries are Germany, Norway and Sweden (North side). Here in Greece we are in contact with Septic Flesh, On Thorns I Lay, Necromantia, Rotting Christ, Vorphalack and many others. We are in good communication.

Dunja: What does Black Metal mean for you?
Tristessa: It is my preferable way of music expression. I listen to many kinds of music, relevant or irrelevant to Metal, but through Black Metal I express music ideas and beliefs.

Dunja: As far as I am female, I want to know your opinion about women in Metal and in general.
Tristessa: Do you think that Art and music is a special field that belong only to males? You have never seen women to play an instrument or to sing? My opinion is very simple - music and every kind of art, belong to everybody who are willing and able to perform. I know many bands that have take many credits because of female members and some examples are: Bolt Thrower, Sinister, Within Temptation, The Gathering, and Arch Enemy… I believe that women are very strong and pure into Black Metal. This is proven!! On the other hand I find wrong to make distinctions between man and women into music. Both can perform good and bad.

Dunja: You used to wear corpse paint, but the booklet of the new CD shows you just in sexy, tight clothes - why did you stop using corpse paint?
Tristessa: We stop wearing corpse paint from our previous album. Why? because some things need to be changed. We changed not only our external look, but also our music. We do not play the traditional Norwegian style any more. The last 4 years we have tried to create a personal music style and a personal image. We are uninfluenced and the reason of putting out the masks was to show who we really are.

Dunja: You used to play in Vorphalack as well, what were the reasons for your split with them and how do you feel about that?
Tristessa:The time that I left from Vorphalack I had form ASTARTE and I wanted to dedicate my full time to this band, which was mine. This was the reason why I left plus some internal disagreements about music issues. We still communicate with Vorphalack and we have good relations.

Dunja: The voice sometimes reminds me on Cadaveria of OPERA IX - do you know the band? What do you think of her?
Tristessa: Excellent vocals and nice performance!!

Dunja: What are your plans for the future?
Tristessa: More CDs and some live gigs. Right now we are preparing to enter in the studio. We will participate in a Tribute of Celtic Frost with the song Sorrow Of The Moon. Soon it will come our from the Label Black Lotus.

Dunja: Thanks for answering our questions, so is there anything you want to mention at the end?
Tristessa: Thank you very much!! Thanx also to our readers!! Dark Hails from ASTARTE

09/2002 © Dunja • Astarte •