By Mike C.

Mysticum is a band that delivers a unique form of industrial black metal, industrial in the sense that they utilize a drum machine to capture their extreme and unique sound. This was also one of the first interviews I conducted for this issue. A lot of the interview was left out, because after listening to this tape, the majority of the conversation was just about murder, sex, and drugs, and to top it off, half the time I had a difficult time understanding his accent, so....

The Outcast: So are you guys working on a new album yet?

Mysticum: We’re working now on recording "Planet Satan." It will be recorded in autumn, I hope. (As far as I know, this never got released. Does anyone know anything about Mysticum’s current situation? - 2004 - Mike)

The Outcast: Is OSMOSE releasing it?

Mysticum: We said no to OSMOSE. FULL MOON will be releasing it. There’s too many crappy bands there and it’s not underground any longer, just money and shit. We didn’t have good feelings together.

The Outcast: Well, FULL MOON is a good label, he’s (Thorns) really dedicated to his work and his bands.

Mysticum: It’s all black metal. I’ve never met a guy like him who really worked that hard. He has the same style that Euronymous had, except he’s smarter.

The Outcast: Did you know Euronymous?

Mysticum: Yes, I only knew him for ½ a year, and then he was killed.

The Outcast: Did you know the Count as well?

Mysticum: I didn’t know him, but we had this shop in Oslo that sold these LP’s, and all these people went there that listened to the same music and that’s where I saw most of these people in the scene. (After talking a while about drugs.) ....that’s the problem we’ve got to, you know, Mysticum has always been slow and shitty, I don’t know if you know that?

The Outcast: Slow at releasing albums?

Mysticum: Yes, it’s because we smoke and we get drunk, that’s the problem.

The Outcast: But I think it’s better not to release an album every year or every 9 months, or whatever, you know?

Mysticum: Yeah, some bands put out album after album really quickly, but we don’t.

The Outcast: So what exactly does Mysticum mean? Did you make it up?

Mysticum: It’s a Greek name... it’s supposed to be like Mystic and then we added the cum.

The Outcast: So did "In the Streams of Inferno" sell pretty good?

Mysticum: Do you like it?

The Outcast: I’m not trying to kiss your ass, but that’s one of my favorite albums. I first heard a song from you guys on a compilation a long time ago and then when I finally got it, I just.....

Mysticum: That’s cool, I have sex with it.

The Outcast: No.

Mysticum: I do, it’s made for sex.

The Outcast: Is it?

Mysticum: Nah, it’s not made for sex, but I talked to two other people in Oslo that know each other...... (He goes into a story about these two guys telling him how much sex they have with the album and some other stories that go along with sex. - Mike)

The Outcast: So how were your shows in NY?

Mysticum: It was really cool, I liked it. We only played for 25 min. or something. The first few min. of our set we had problems to get an amplifier. When we went to tour in Europe, we didn’t have to have an amp. with us. We thought it would be the same for America. We were able to use Angel Corpse’s equipment, so we thank them.

The Outcast: I heard you played in Mexico, how was that?

Mysticum: It was crazy! We went to Laredo and Monterrey, but we had some bad shows because of the equipment.

The Outcast: Did you play Mexico City?

Mysticum: No.

The Outcast: You need to play there, you would love the place. So what exactly is "Planet Satan" about?

Mysticum: We chose it like 4 years ago. Everything is like hell on earth. We each have our own vision of "Planet Satan", but they fit together anyway. "Planet Satan" to me is flat. Just imagine taking your bike on it, it’s all straight and made out of concrete.

The Outcast: So do you actually worship Satan as a being?

Mysticum: No, not really. There is always something which is evil and good, you know? The good can be evil and the evil can be good, you know, so what’s good and what’s evil? That’s the problem?

The Outcast: Do you believe in spirits, like in angels and in demons?

Mysticum: No, I don’t believe in them because they have never touched my skin. They have to do that first before I can believe. I don’t worship Satan, he’s too old.

The Outcast: You’re walking down the street and a Christian walks up to you and hands you a flyer that reads; "Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart?" and begins to talk to you about his beliefs, do you;

A) ...calmly tell him sorry but you have different beliefs and begin to talk about each others beliefs over a nice hot cup of coco.

B) ...walk away and say nothing.

C) ...tell him to fuck off and die.

Mysticum: I would have a conversation and make him understand he’s wrong. I went to Florida a few months ago and I made four young people think twice.

The Outcast: Were they Christians?

Mysticum: They were really Christians. I made them think very much and they were asking themselves: "Maybe we shouldn’t be Christians anymore?"

The Outcast: How old were they, did they look young?

Mysticum: Yes, they were young; they are the easiest, of course.

The Outcast: How is religion over there?

Mysticum: We have some, of course, but not a lot like over there. They are getting weaker and weaker because they have no money. The community doesn’t want to pay them to rebuild the churches. They have to take their own money now, so that’s good.