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 Interviews - Mirror of Deception
06-06-2005, 01:10 AM
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by Chris Barnes
June 4, 2005
 Mirror of Deception's place in the Pantheon of Doom Metal heroes is assured. For nearly 15 years they've been creating some of the most majestic and unique Doom put to record, often utilizing duel vocal harmonies and even Tuvian throat singing on occasion. They've also worked both tirelessly and selflessly to promote the heavy music underground, organizing the Mecca of European Doom Festivals, Doom Shall Rise in their native Germany. Hellride catches up with founder/guitarist Jochen Fopp and gets the latest on their recently released album Foregone, their recent tour in Finland and the Doom Metal State of the Union.
Hellride Music: Jochen, it's been a LONG time since Hellride last caught up with the mighty Mirror of Deception. What's the latest news with you guys?
Jochen Fopp: We´ve just returned from some shows in Finland last week and still struggle to find our way back to everyday life.
Hellride Music: Heck, I feel the same way after every weekend. Seriously, it's been 15 years since the band's inception - how have things changed for the band since your '93 demo to your latest effort, Foregone...both in terms of sound and attitude? Where their a lot of times in that 15 years that things got so frustrating that you wanted to call it quits? That would be very Doom, you know... wanting to quit but finding the strength to stick it out against the odds.
Jochen: Looking back it seems as there has been a life before and after Mirrorsoil. Things finally started to roll for us after the release of our debut album in 2001. People usually pay more attention to a full length album released on a label than to any demos so that`s natural. We´ve had a small following since the early days and a bit of a name in insider circles but the best and most exciting things happened in the past 4 years. There are no regrets that it took us that long to get the first album out as we wouldn’t be the same band without that first decade. To sum it up I think we’ve matured over the years as songwriters, got a bit more professional and lost some (not all) of our initial naivety.
Quite obviously we`ve had our share of rough times over the years, but it`s vital to wade through some shit to appreciate the good times. Back in 1999 I quit for a couple of months until I realized how much this band means to me and returned. Michael (Siffermann - guitars, vocals) told me he had similar thoughts back then. That was a pretty dark period for the band and the frustration level was at an all time peak. Fortunately we`ve mastered each crisis so far and we`re far from calling it a day anytime soon.
Hellride Music: I think we are all happy you guys decided to prevail and keep on doomin’. Speaking of which, you recently released the excellent Foregone. What is your general perception on the record now that you've had a chance to digest it for awhile? How is it working with Final Chapter records?
Jochen: We`re all still listening to it frequently and very satisfied with it. I don`t think it`s our ultimate album yet, but we`ve come a big step closer and to me it`s clearly our best one to date in terms of sound, songs and artwork. Final Chapter have been very supportive and have done a magnificent job. Fred has become a close friend so we`ll continue to work together and we`ll see what the future holds for both the band and the label.
Hellride Music: I'm a big fan of Foregone, I think it is an amazing album. But you know one of my all time favorite metal albums will and will always be Mirrorsoil. The dual Markus/Michael vocals on there are amazing. When Markus left, how did the overall vibe of the band change? What's Markus up to nowadays?
Jochen:  As Markus hasn`t been involved much in the actual songwriting process I guess we would have written more or less the same music as it stands on Conversion and Foregone if he would have still been an active member. He`s into all the stuff we have done since he quit anyway. What changed is the added input of our not-so-new-anymore band mates Andi (Taller – bass) and Josef (Müller - drums, vocals) who joined before Foregone and that we started to give the vocals a bit more room. In the past we used to write a song as an instrumental piece and Markus managed to put a suitable vocal line on top of that. With Michael handling both guitar and vocals we shifted the focus, at least in some songs plus we also tuned down for the first time and got a bit of a darker and heavier sound.
Some of the old songs just don`t work that well without Markus, “Weiss” is an example. That`s definitely one of “his” songs, but we still play it live occasionally. He is doing fine, busy with work and family life as always but we meet sometimes. Maybe there will be future collaborations but I don`t see him returning to the fold permanently. Right now we`re all looking forward to play some songs with him and the other former members at our anniversary show in October.
Hellride Music: What does the future hold for MoD? Aside from the touring and running DSR, what else are you guys up to? Any plans to record again soon?
Jochen: Hopefully some more shows abroad and a new record in 2006. There will be two more festivals for us this summer and then we`ll concentrate on writing songs for our next album. The studio hasn`t been booked yet, but recording around the end of 2005 is an option that crossed our minds. It`s always good to have some sort of deadline to work more focused. Apart from that, everyone is just busy with jobs and private life. Andi is currently working on a project with Fred (Final Chapter/ TPOG) and some other known Doom musicians and they`ll probably recording something later this year.
Hellride Music: Do lyrics come first, then the music or vice versa? Is it something in the music that flips a switch in the brain and tells you to write about a certain subject or the other way around? Or neither?
Jochen: The music always comes first. I listen to tapes of the songs and eventually place words that help define the overall structure. There’s and endless process of editing until the song is finished and kicked out of the nest.
Hellride Music: [b] How did the tour in Finland go? I hear you guys just got back. Any dates with Finnish fiends Reverend Bizarre? What was that like?
Jochen: The Finland trip was a killer experience, a definite highlight in our career! Everything was very well organized, we had lots of fun and countless bottles of the delicious local Karhu beer. It`s been great to share stages with Count Raven, Reverend Bizarre, Garden of Worm and Loinen. The crowd in Turku was mad and weird things happened after the final show in Karjaa. We decided to stay a few days longer as it was the first time in Finland for most of us. So we ended up renting a cozy wooden lodge with a sauna at the seaside to chill out, go fishing and actually got our first sunburn of the year. A report about the whole trip is in progress and it will go online with our new website in the near future. A loud KIITOS (thanks) goes out to all those who joined forces to make this possible, especially Jussi Helenius, John Franzen, Jussi the driver, the Garden of Worm and Reverend Bizarre lads.
Hellride Music: Let's talk about the Doom scene. It's changed a lot since I caught your last song in Suttgart way back in 2000, I think for the better. There seems to be a real Doom scene brewing... a lot more bands, a lot more fans. How do you see it?
Jochen: Damn, was it that long already? There is definitely something happening right now and for the last 3 or 4 years. I`ve been following the Doom scene since the late 80s and there has never been a more vivid community, more activity and more interest in all things Doom than we have it these days.
Let`s hope it`ll continue on this level and not fade into oblivion (well almost) again.
Hellride Music: Yep, let’s hope it continues with the momentum we’ve seen in the last couple of years. Tell us about the new Mirror of Deception website in development... how will it change over the current one?
Jochen: There will be a slightly different design and some new features and content. Still the same information overload we had on our previous websites, tons of stuff to read, watch and listen to which will keep you busy for days if you bother about Mirror of Deception. And as always we will keep the website as up to date as possible.
Hellride Music: Cool. Jochen, thanks a ton for your time and also for your ceaseless devotion to the scene. You've done a huge part is building it to where it is today. Can you leave us with some words of wisdom?
Jochen: Thanks for this interview, the exposure and your endless support, Chris! Metal rules but lead leads..
 Purchase Foregone at the Hellride Music Superstore
Download a MP3 of Ship of Fools
Read the Hellride review of Foregone
Visit the Mirror of Deception website at www.mirrorofdeception.com
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