Following their breakthrough 2013 EP, Slovenian doom band Mist are headed out on a short run of European tour dates. I caught up with the band prior to the tour to get the latest from the Mist camp.
How did you get into doom?
Neza: I was listening to Candlemass many years ago already, but I didn't know it was called anything other than just ''metal''. Then I found out about more bands from my friends, went to Hammer Of Doom Festival and it bewitched me.
Ema: A few years back I started listening to Candlemass and got hooked right away, and of course I've loved Black Sabbath since forever. The real plunge into doom started when we formed the band Mist and Neža, who is a big doom fan, showed us some more bands like Saint Vitus, Pentagram, and others. It was love at first listen.
Who are some of your main influences?
Ema: We actually come from different musical backgrounds so there is a bit of everything. We didn't want to follow a certain genre, we just started making music and discovered ourselves in doom. Of course, we do find inspiration in music, I would say that the most influential bands are Candlemass, Pentagram and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats.
Nina, Neza, Mihaela: Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Pentagram, Blood Ceremony, Saint Vitus, Coven, Jex Thoth.
How did the band come together?
Nina: Me and my best friend Mihaela were talking about it and decided to give it a shot. We met Ema at Metelkova (a street in Ljubljana where metalheads hang out a lot), and then we found Neža via the internet.
Neza: The other Nina (our lead guitarist) joined about a year later. An acquaintance recommended us to contact her, since she had already played in a couple of bands before. She's not playing with us at the moment because she is focused on her family, but hopefully she's coming back soon.
What is the heavy metal scene like in Slovenia?
Neza: It's very small and everybody mostly knows each other. We're the only doom band at the moment and the first Slovenian ''traditional'' doom band. Other metal genres are more popular here; thrash, heavy, death, black. There are plenty of gigs with local bands in Slovenia but they tend to clash a lot. Not so many visitors show up as a consequence. Bigger, commercial tours like Thrashfest and Paganfest are much more successful and we also have an annual metal festival called MetalDays (formerly MetalCamp).
Have you had any problems with people dismissing Mist as a gimmick band due the all-female lineup?
Ema: Yes we have, but I believe we have proved with the release of our demo and our live performances that it's all about the music. We never dress provocatively or emphasize that we are an all girl band. It just happened and we are happy it turned out this way since we have become really good friends and love creating music together.
Neza: People are often positively surprised after they hear our demo or see us live. They come up to us and say they expected us to be ''worse''. I'm pretty sure it's because we're all girls.
When and where did you record your 2013 demo?
Ema: We recorded the demo in our rehearsal room with the help of Anze Cucek who recorded it and Benjamin Kic who also helped with the recording and did the mix.
Were you surprised by the international recognition that the demo received?
Ema: Yes, we were completely blown away! Our friend and promoter,Bojan Bidovc, sent out emails announcing the demo release and at the time we didn't think much of it. But the feedback was amazing and we are really grateful.
Do you have any plans to record a full-length album soon?
Ema: We hope we can release an album or at least an EP by the end of the year. We are working on the material and we hope to start preparing for the studio in the summer. We have gotten great feedback on the new songs which we are already playing live so we are excited to record them and show them to the world.
Who are some of your favorite current artists, doom or otherwise?
Nina: My favorite doom bands are Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Avatarium, Candlemass and Electric Wizard, yet I also like thrash like Teleport, Voivod and Anthrax.
Ema: Ever since we played with Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats I have been in love with their music; I listen to them all the time. Apart from them, I have recently discovered Witchburn and love the energy in their music.
Neza: Pagan Altar, Jex Thoth, Enforcer, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Mount Salem, Blood Ceremony, Atlantean Kodex.
Mihaela: Death, Confessor, Candlemass, Pentagram, Jex Thoth, Slayer, Voivod, Obscura.
What’s one piece of gear that you couldn’t live without?
Neza: My bass guitar.
Ema: Definitely my Peavey Valveking 100 amp. I love the crunchy sound and I take it everywhere.
Nina: I couldn't live without a chocolate microphone, if I had one. Haha.
Mihaela: My drumsticks.
What are you looking forward to on your upcoming tour?
Nina: A lot of stage experience and travelling. Meeting other bands and supporting them.
Ema: Playing in the Netherlands and Belgium is a great opportunity to show our music to fellow doomers and feel the doom scene up there. We are also looking forward to having a great time and seeing Cauchemar play, since we are big fans of their work.
Neza: Meeting new people and old friends, getting a taste of the doom scene in other countries, playing with Cauchemar.
Do you have any crazy tour stories?
Nina: I tried to professionally open a bottle of sparkling wine for James Riviera (Helstar) in backstage, but there was too much pressure and it exploded. Just the cork, the bottle was fine.
Neza: Hanging out with Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats after our gig in Vienna was really cool. The details aren't to be made public, hehe.
Ema: Since this is our first (mini) tour I'm sure we will have quite a few such stories when we come back!
How did you get into doom?
Neza: I was listening to Candlemass many years ago already, but I didn't know it was called anything other than just ''metal''. Then I found out about more bands from my friends, went to Hammer Of Doom Festival and it bewitched me.
Ema: A few years back I started listening to Candlemass and got hooked right away, and of course I've loved Black Sabbath since forever. The real plunge into doom started when we formed the band Mist and Neža, who is a big doom fan, showed us some more bands like Saint Vitus, Pentagram, and others. It was love at first listen.
Who are some of your main influences?
Ema: We actually come from different musical backgrounds so there is a bit of everything. We didn't want to follow a certain genre, we just started making music and discovered ourselves in doom. Of course, we do find inspiration in music, I would say that the most influential bands are Candlemass, Pentagram and Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats.
Nina, Neza, Mihaela: Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Pentagram, Blood Ceremony, Saint Vitus, Coven, Jex Thoth.
How did the band come together?
Nina: Me and my best friend Mihaela were talking about it and decided to give it a shot. We met Ema at Metelkova (a street in Ljubljana where metalheads hang out a lot), and then we found Neža via the internet.
Neza: The other Nina (our lead guitarist) joined about a year later. An acquaintance recommended us to contact her, since she had already played in a couple of bands before. She's not playing with us at the moment because she is focused on her family, but hopefully she's coming back soon.
What is the heavy metal scene like in Slovenia?
Neza: It's very small and everybody mostly knows each other. We're the only doom band at the moment and the first Slovenian ''traditional'' doom band. Other metal genres are more popular here; thrash, heavy, death, black. There are plenty of gigs with local bands in Slovenia but they tend to clash a lot. Not so many visitors show up as a consequence. Bigger, commercial tours like Thrashfest and Paganfest are much more successful and we also have an annual metal festival called MetalDays (formerly MetalCamp).
Have you had any problems with people dismissing Mist as a gimmick band due the all-female lineup?
Ema: Yes we have, but I believe we have proved with the release of our demo and our live performances that it's all about the music. We never dress provocatively or emphasize that we are an all girl band. It just happened and we are happy it turned out this way since we have become really good friends and love creating music together.
Neza: People are often positively surprised after they hear our demo or see us live. They come up to us and say they expected us to be ''worse''. I'm pretty sure it's because we're all girls.
When and where did you record your 2013 demo?
Ema: We recorded the demo in our rehearsal room with the help of Anze Cucek who recorded it and Benjamin Kic who also helped with the recording and did the mix.
Were you surprised by the international recognition that the demo received?
Ema: Yes, we were completely blown away! Our friend and promoter,Bojan Bidovc, sent out emails announcing the demo release and at the time we didn't think much of it. But the feedback was amazing and we are really grateful.
Do you have any plans to record a full-length album soon?
Ema: We hope we can release an album or at least an EP by the end of the year. We are working on the material and we hope to start preparing for the studio in the summer. We have gotten great feedback on the new songs which we are already playing live so we are excited to record them and show them to the world.
Who are some of your favorite current artists, doom or otherwise?
Nina: My favorite doom bands are Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Avatarium, Candlemass and Electric Wizard, yet I also like thrash like Teleport, Voivod and Anthrax.
Ema: Ever since we played with Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats I have been in love with their music; I listen to them all the time. Apart from them, I have recently discovered Witchburn and love the energy in their music.
Neza: Pagan Altar, Jex Thoth, Enforcer, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Mount Salem, Blood Ceremony, Atlantean Kodex.
Mihaela: Death, Confessor, Candlemass, Pentagram, Jex Thoth, Slayer, Voivod, Obscura.
What’s one piece of gear that you couldn’t live without?
Neza: My bass guitar.
Ema: Definitely my Peavey Valveking 100 amp. I love the crunchy sound and I take it everywhere.
Nina: I couldn't live without a chocolate microphone, if I had one. Haha.
Mihaela: My drumsticks.
What are you looking forward to on your upcoming tour?
Nina: A lot of stage experience and travelling. Meeting other bands and supporting them.
Ema: Playing in the Netherlands and Belgium is a great opportunity to show our music to fellow doomers and feel the doom scene up there. We are also looking forward to having a great time and seeing Cauchemar play, since we are big fans of their work.
Neza: Meeting new people and old friends, getting a taste of the doom scene in other countries, playing with Cauchemar.
Do you have any crazy tour stories?
Nina: I tried to professionally open a bottle of sparkling wine for James Riviera (Helstar) in backstage, but there was too much pressure and it exploded. Just the cork, the bottle was fine.
Neza: Hanging out with Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats after our gig in Vienna was really cool. The details aren't to be made public, hehe.
Ema: Since this is our first (mini) tour I'm sure we will have quite a few such stories when we come back!
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