Mary Abaza
is the lead singer/bassist for the extremely brutal Russian death metal band
MERLIN. That's about all I know about her, but I really feel she is more than
worthy of an interview. It's notable enough being a female in a death metal
band, or being in a Russian death metal band, but being the front person who is
all of the above is commendable, to say the least. --Jason
Please tell us a bit about Merlin . . .
Well, Merlin was formed in 1992 by a unique female vocalist and bassist Mary
Abaza and one of the best Russian guitarist Alex Ioffe. After a long search
they met Nick Byckoff - the drummer they dreamed of. Their first demo Welcome
to Hell was played in death/thrash style but three months later they
released the second death/grind one. However, their third demo Prisoner of
Death (1994) appeared the most well known. It was reviewed in several
Russian authoritative fan zines and got a positive appreciation. Since their
first live (show) in 1992 Merlin have been known as the most aggressive and brutal
death metal band in Russia and after their 'Deathkoteque' had been released
they were called leaders of Russian death metal. A lot of their songs were
included in compilations such as Thrash Your Mother, Deathtalker,
Russian Metal Ballads, etc. and they take part in all considerable
festivals around Moscow and some other Russian towns.
It's somewhat unusual (and thrilling!) to see/hear a woman sing brutal death
metal. How did that come about?
I have liked heavy music since I was a child. I've never heard any kind of
pops, disco, new wave, etc. This music is not mine. I grew up listening to
BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE. Then JUDAS PRIEST and MANOWAR. And SLAYER. I was
crazy about them. All that can be done in these styles is already done. You
can't do something new and cool playing this music, you can only repeat these
monsters. I think death metal is the only kind of heavy music without clichés:
a sort of avant-garde. I can do all I like to and nobody is going to say that
I'm doing that a wrong way; there just isn't a right way yet. Why brutal death?
I like the way it sounds - fast and heavy. And I like the way my voice
sounds... I've never heard any female sing like this.
Do you encounter many problems being a female in such a male-oriented scene?
No, I don't have any problem because of being a female. I can say even that
it helps me a lot.
What's it like in Russia these days? I'm probably ignorant, but I'm always
amazed that people are able to get online from there.
Well, we've got a great progress since communists fail.
Is there any particular philosophy you or your band espouses (nihilism,
anarchy, socialism etc.)?
It is hard to say. We have few anti-Communist songs but most of my lyrics is
about maniacs. It is very interesting for me the psychology of evil, what is
the motivation, what is the reason etc.
Do you get to play many shows?
Well, we play once or twice a month in Moscow and sometimes we visit some
other towns. We are not able to play often since all of us have a job.
Do you ever think of leaving Russia, or are you as attached to your homeland
as many of us are?
I've never considered leaving Russia forever, but it would be interesting to
play abroad.
Is it hard to get equipment, recording time there? I'd imagine the prices
are somewhat inflated due to the distance some things are imported.
You can get any equipment you want these days. You can buy a pretty good
Korean guitar for $400 and you can buy an expensive one. The problem is that
you can't make any money on playing and you have to get another job. But there
is no posers in Russian metal scene: all of them give up music very soon.
Do you use any Sovtek distortion boxes?
Alex uses Digitech RP10.
I don't usually interview a band that I know so little about. Please feel
free to add anything you want to this interview, and give us any closing
comments you might have. Please forgive my Yankee imperialist ignorance . . .
Well, I think this is all.
Bye then and thanks a lot,
Mary.