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Interview with My Darkest Time
JesusMetal: We know that you are from the country of Macedonia, Skopje to be
precise, and that you are involved in the Christian metal movement. How did you become involved in this movement and in metal music in general?
Zarko - Well, in general when it comes to metal music I’ve been involved since I was 13, listening to bands like: Anthrax, Sepultura, Metallica, Obituary, Death, Napalm Death, Pantera, Carcass, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Brutal truth, etc. In 1998 my friends and I became Christians through the oldest metal heads here. They were the first Christian metalheads in Macedonia and played metal (there were 2 Christian bands at that time). After some time the Christian metal scene started to grow into 5 Christian bands and I was in one of them. From then on I have been involved in the Christian metal movement but some bad things happened here among the Christian metalheads and the Christian metal scene died down.
JesusMetal: My Darkest Time is a gothic doom metal project that you have. How long have you played musical instruments for and when did this project begin?
Zarko - I have played since I was 17. My Darkest Time began in 2005 after a long time of involvement in music. I was creating music all those years but in 2005 I found a way to start alone because no one from the Christian metal scene was interested in it anymore. I compose all the music and have been trying to find members through the Internet to be involved in this project. For now I have 3 female vocalists and also Carlos from the Mexican metal band Exousia plays guitar solos in some songs. (If anyone wants to be involved they can contact me at: mydarkesttime@yahoo.com)
JesusMetal: The name "My Darkest Time" has a deep meaning to you. Can you tell us why? (If you want you can include the link to your testimony here).
Zarko - The meaning is really deep to me. It was really due to the darkest time in my life, and the purpose behind this project is to spread my dark testimony. It is not some “classical” testimony. For me, it is more than that. Here is the link: http://www.freewebs.com/mydarkesttime/bolnica.htm. The real effect comes from reading the full testimony.
JesusMetal: Speaking of Christian metal and Macedonia, there was a band called Savaot from the area. Did you ever meet them? What kind of music did they play?
Zarko - Yes, Chopy (the guitarist) is my friend. We were also from the same church.
Savaot played Ethno-thrash. Link: http://www.myspace.com/savaot and http://www.geocities.com/savaotmk/. Chopy is now in a Christian band called Vanity Fair at http://www.myspace. com/vanityfairmk, they are rock/gothic/experimental. His has a solo project, Noverim: http://www.myspace.com/noverim
JesusMetal: What is the general metal scene like in Macedonia? Are you a regular part of it? What are some bigger bands from there?
Zarko - There are a lot of metal bands and different styles. We have a lot of talented musicians considering we are a small country. I am not a regular part of the metal scene anymore. I grew tired of it and also there is a younger generation out there that mostly takes part in it. Some Macedonian bands are: Sanatorium (thrash), Siniac (black / death), Holocaust (thrash), Steel Temple (heavy metal), Dedicated For Life (metalcore), Embryotomy (brutal death metal), Victime Yield (death metal), Fade to Black (gothic), etc.
JesusMetal: Can you please tell us about your other musical projects and if other people are involved with you in them?
Zarko - I have 2 more musical projects of different styles.
True Wisdom - http://myspace.com/thruwisdom and Wipe Away - http://myspace.com/wipeaway7 Wipe Away: is gothic electronica and one other member is involved, Marina as a vocalist.
JesusMetal: What is Christianity like in Macedonia? What churches are bigger there and what differences do you see in your land from other developed western nations?
Zarko - Macedonia is a traditional Orthodox (Christian) country. Christianity is more like tradition here, people don't care about the real Christianity, they only care for the tradition. The protestant churches are a minority there is not a good relationship between them. Well, the situation is pretty bad when it comes to the spreading of real Christianity.
JesusMetal: What is currently happening in your life music wise and also in your personal life? What do you do for a living? Hobbies? Interests?
Zarko - At this point I am at a pause with composing music, I’m charging the batteries for some time but I feel full of energy now and soon I will start on some new works. On a personal level, at this time I am focused on building a strong relationship with my lady and we are planning to get married. As a living I eat food every day =) (joking). At this time I don't have constant work but there are some financial resources. My hobbies are bodybuilding, watching nature and animals and my interests include music and helping people who are in problematic situations.
JesusMetal: What bands or projects do you listen to in the Christian metal underground?
Zarko - I listen to a lot of Christian bands: Saviour Machine, Exousia, Divinefire, Living Sacrifice, Essence Of Sorrow, As I Lay Dying, Soul Embraced, Slechtvalk, Sorrowstorm, Nodes Of Ranvier, I-DRAGON-I, Demon Hunter, Virgin Black, Immortal Souls, P.O.D., Holy Blood, Deuteronomium, Antestor, Vaakevandring, Visionaire, Ashen Mortality, Paramaecium, Veni Domine, Vardoger, Zao, Sanctifica, Renascent, Lament, Blindside, Staple, Aletheian, and many more.
JesusMetal: How has has your music / ministry been received in Macedonia and in other parts of the world? How have people reacted to your presence and activity?
Zarko - Here in Macedonia, I don't talk about my music because most of the people are so closed-minded and against the Christian artists. Also my focus is to spread the music through the Internet and share the message that is directed only for Christians. In other parts of the world the music is received very well. For now, True Wisdom has an album for download and I have received a lot of positive emails for it. Also, it has been added to secular music websites for downloading as well as Christian sites. It was surprising to me.
JesusMetal: What can you tell me about the nations that surround Macedonia? Do you have any Christian friends there that listen to metal? Have you met any personally? Are you also reaching out to other countries?
Zarko – With Christianity they are on the same level as Macedonia. There are almost no Christian metalheads around and now we are just a few Christians that are into regular hard music, but metalheads that are into the extreme Christian metal scene are just me now and one more friend from another town :D
JesusMetal: Tell us about your musical plans for the future please and what you feel God might have in store for the ministry.
Zarko - I will see what God might have for the ministry. For now, I'm waiting for the rest of the members to finish the work for My Darkest Time’s album. There are 12 songs and I hope the album will be completed soon. For True Wisdom I will work on 2 movie type songs. I have been asked for music for a Christian film about the apocalypse!
JesusMetal: Thank you very much Zarko, God bless you, Phil
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