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Interview by Nicky N. Meyer
There are times when interviewing a Turkish metal band in 2001—just weeks after 9/11—you’d expect the conversation to inevitably drift toward politics. But when speaking with Tarkan Gözübüyük, bassist and co-founder of Mezarkabul (known in Turkey as Pentagram), we deliberately took another route. No geopolitics, no headlines—just music. And a name that translates, fittingly, to “acceptance of the grave.”
Because at the end of it all, as Tarkan said with calm certainty, “Death comes for each of us. You have to live with the knowledge that it’s the one certainty.”
Formed in Istanbul back in 1987, the band gained a steady following under the name Pentagram, releasing three full-lengths before copyright issues forced a rebranding for international audiences. Hence Mezarkabul—a term they coined from mezar (grave) and kabul (acceptance). Their latest album Unspoken is their first under the new name abroad, and it’s a fascinating mix of Western power metal, progressive flair, and subtle Eastern influences.
✦ A Wordless Origin
The title Unspoken wasn’t picked lightly. After a year-long pause due to Turkey’s mandatory military service, the band returned with what Tarkan called “a passive freedom”—a strange, undefined energy that eventually birthed the album. “It wasn’t a bunch of riffs or lyrical ideas,” he told me, “it was a feeling. That breath before a word is formed. That’s what we called Unspoken.”
The album explores themes of mysticism, mythology, and Turkish history. Songs like In Esir Like an Eagle float with the yearning for freedom, while Puratu nods to ancient Mesopotamia, referencing the Euphrates by its original name.
And no, Puratu is not a Turkish fanzine, despite our editorial office’s wild theories.
✦ Transformers and Turkish Metal
When asked about the evolving sound—from Bay Area thrash on Trail Blazer to more melodic and theatrical shades on Anatolia—Tarkan laughed: “You can call me Tarkan the Transformer. We absorb everything—’70s prog, ’80s metal, modern vibes—and it changes from album to album.”
Comparisons to Metallica, Savatage, and even Queensrÿche have followed them for years, which they accept as compliments. Still, Mezarkabul carve their own path by channeling emotion over imitation. “We try to transform our emotions into music,” he said. “Every record is a snapshot of who we were at that moment.”
Their signature fusion of Eastern melodies with Western structure isn’t going anywhere either. “We’re proud of where we come from,” Tarkan told us. “You’ll always hear some of that.”
✦ Live Dreams and Cyborg Interviews
Despite solid sales in Turkey—every album pushing six figures—the band still faces limitations. “There’s no real label infrastructure in Turkey,” Tarkan admitted. “No promotion departments. Even playing shows outside the country is tough unless you’re a national act.”
Still, the dream persists: European festivals, international tours, a wider reach. “Live is where it all connects. That’s our favorite part.”
That connection was almost lost on one… Robocop. Apparently, a Noise Records staffer conducted a mock interview with the cyborg law enforcer for their website. “At first we thought he was joking,” Tarkan said, “but he insisted. Some of the questions were meant for readers too, not just Robo.”
One can only hope Robo appreciated the band’s desire for “heart-to-heart communion rather than information transfer.”
✦ Final Words
With Unspoken, Mezarkabul have created something rich, textured, and deeply spiritual. It’s not just music, but meditation—on identity, mortality, and the silent spaces in between. And while the international climb may be steep, the band seems more focused on the journey than the outcome.
As Tarkan closed:
“National, religious, regional and racial divisions are extremely dangerous for humankind. If we don’t get rid of these illusions immediately, nothing will be able to save humanity.”
Powerful words. Spoken, at last.