Azazel are a three piece band located in sunny Florida serving to act as a deterrent to the happy scenery of such sites as Disney Land and Shamoo, Azazel churn out an aggressive, blasphemous style of black metal that, vokill wise, brings to mind a faster sung Algaion. The drumming is bass heavy, and punishing, but not limited to the simple blast only approach (nothing wrong with that although). The music has melodic hints here and there, although these are 'far and few between'. Simply put, Azazel play a straightforward style of black intent on assaulting the listener with a classic metal feel. Each song rages on, with few signs of letting up, maybe a nice mellow part here or there to serve as a prelude to Azazel's next attack, from start to finish, Azazel showcase the unheard potential of the U.S. black metal underground. Their debut CD recording, it gives the listener something to look forward to when they release a new recording. Memorable songs: Garden of Shadows, Transformation, and Forever Heaven Gone.

Enslained Zine (USA)

I remember a few years back when nearly all American black metal was a pale and laughable imitation of what the European masters of blasphemy were doing. These days bands such as Summon, Thornspawn, the long enduring and mighty Absu, and a few others are making American black metal a dark force to be feared and loathed. Another band to be ranked among those few worthy elite are Azazel. Hailing from Florida, the once proud capital of death metal some years back, this band are making an impact with their searing brand of desecration and hatred. "Order of the Fly", their first self-released album, is chock full of speed, intensity, irreverence and even some well placed melody which makes it an essential black metal release. Traces of early Burzum, Mayhem, and early Sarcofago can be heard throughout the album. Definitely a must have for those eager to catch the first wave of American Black Metal destined to scorch this side of the Earth with darkness and evil.

Envenomed (France)

This piece is already 3 years old ... But it remains so facinating ! This band is now called "Kult Ov Azazel" and has released one album on Arctic Music. But I find them even more interesting back in those early days. They come from the USA and they play Extreme Black Metal. To my mind, the US Black scene sems to become more &e more interesting with such bands as Krieg, Anwyl, etc ... This scene has succeeded to find its own style ; they can't be compared so easily to Traditionnal European Acts. Different voices, more 'metalized' guitar sounds, lots of old US Death Metal hints, complex riffs and more 'Brutal' than 'Cold' atmospheres is what you can expect here ... Get it if you can ! I have heard they were looking for re-releasing it on Vinyl !!!

Intoxicated Zine (England)

Finishing this issue is Azazel, a violent outfit that sound like they live and breathe the dark life. Brutal, out of control riffs and screams from hell make up 6 tracks to offer and the production is quality.

Mainstream Resistance Zine (USA)

This six song CD ( demo, mCD not sure which ) comes from Florida which is known more for spawning death metal bands but here we have an excellent release of burning black metal. Those of you who like your black metal with a shit production, you won't find that here. Don't get me wrong, it's not overproduced like a lot of the bigger Scandinavian bands are sounding like nowadays but it wasn't recorded " in a forest " either...I'm always impressed when a three piece band sounds this good because it isn't always the case. Like most of the better US Black Metal bands out there, Azazel has their own sound and style which pretty much avoids the Scandinavian sounds that are so prevalent. With nice blast beats and riffing that reminds me of a faster version of some of the 80's black/thrash bands such as older Sodom and Kreator, these guys spread their hate filled messages with an intensity and fierceness uniquely their own. Venturing from bass solo interludes to slower refrains, these songs change it up without losing the speed and ferocity that keeps your blood boiling. Favorite tracks are "Garden of Shadows", "Transformation", and "Crown of Fire".

Metal Mafia Zine (USA)

Over the past few years, there has been a surprisingly large upsurge of high quality black metal bands from the US. Coming from the murky swamps of Florida, Azazel explode to demolish all in their path. Catchy, yet still brutal, this CD features excellent production, sickening esophagus-tearing vocals, pummeling upfront drumming, and inventive guitar riffs that make this 6 song mCD a must have. Support the finest of the US scene, and pick this up immediately.

PA Hunger Zine (USA)

Florida's AZAZEL play Black Metal in the vein of a christ-crushing, infernal holocaust! This CD begins off with "Garden Of Shadows" full of sick vocals courtesy of Xul and Xaphan with Von doing some very solid tight drumming. The guitar work is very well done also. "Undeserving Fate" has some killer old school sounding black metal riffs that kill me. "Transformation" is a slight change from the previous two songs, the clean guitar and bass in the beginning are excellent, shortly afterwards this kicks into a machine gun of blasts and hellish vocals! Two good solid songs come next, "Aether Cries" and "Crown of Fire," they are done in the traditional black metal sense full of tremolo picking and blasts, with the split second breakdowns. "Forever Heaven Gone" is one of the best songs off the disc in my opinion, full of blasts with some great riffing, including a very sick breakdown filled with angry vocals. All in all, AZAZEL is one of the most solid new ABM bands to come out. This disc has everything that a raw black metal fan would like; it was well worth my time listening to this, a very solid release. FUCK CHRIST!

Prelude to Darkness (Peru)

This is the re-edition of the album (made in 1999 when they were only Azazel) by Blood Fire Death Records, in this opportunity the production contains a bonus track, live version of "Garden of Shadows". The first thing to recognize in Kult ov Azazel is that they play true primitive black metal, specially for how they sound, without doubt, if you like this genre then you'll enjoy this production, no fucking wimpy tendencies that only infect this majestic metal style, the blaspheming screams are brutality full of hatred and fill every minute you can hear, Kult ov Azazel are inspired on bands like Venom, Possessed, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Marduk, Beherit, Destruction, among others. As you can see, KoA has assimilated great sounds and added to this their own sign. Bands in the USBM are demonstrating that they're even more extreme than we could guess, of course KoA aren't out of tune with their countrymen and besides they collaborate bringing chaos to their underground scene from Florida. The songs in this production are all mostly fast, also slow by moments but then they turn into infernal war machines that shatter all around, the work made by Xaphan and Xul is really notable, this album will be well appreciated for sure, 6 black metal songs: "Garden of Shadows", "Undeserving Fate", "Transformation", "Aether Cries", "Crown of Fire", "Forever Heaven Gone", and closes with the undecipherable but powerful live version of Garden of Shadows. Thanks to Xaphan and the fact that he could record the promo entitled "Of Evil & Hatred" together with "Order to Fly" we didn't lose these two songs, "Destruction To the Throne of God" and Mayhem's "Chainsaw Gutsfuck". The first one has a great performance, pure black metal with no concessions, devastating drums, fast cold riffs and infernal vocals, besides, this song will also appear on the split album with Krieg. About "Chainsaw Gutsfuck", well, there isn't so much to say about it, it's a great song of the old great Mayhem, performed in a good way by these two hell warriors Xaphan and Xul, true pure black metal just like it has to be performed. As additional information, KoA has signed with Arctic Music Group and will record their album debut entitled "Triumph of Fire", the one that will include 11 songs ...get these two productions immediately, you won't regret...

Realms of Darkness (USA)

Coming from Florida you would imagine they would have a Deicide/Acheron feel but these guys base their music in the old style black vein. I hear traces of Beherit, Darkthrone and maybe old Emperor when I listen to this. The packaging is also pretty decent considering it's a demo CD. Not a bad first impression, I hope that a label picks these guys up rather soon...

Shocker Zine (France)

Mixing Black Metal & Death, AZAZEL managed to get us there a good mCD. This band plays brutal music with conviction and technique as well as a rather good efficacy! A mCD to wake up the dead!

Skullfuck Zine (USA)

Arising from the blood-hot pits of Florida in early '99 are the odius Azazel. This recording consists of 6 tracks (4 re-recorded from their "Entering Erebus" Demo, 1 previously written, and 1 new of intense christ butchering black metal! This is fast, cruel, and demonic with high pitched shrieks and severe melodies that will have you vomiting black blood!

Tormented Zine (USA)

Well this just kills! This is six tracks of really solid, fast as hell black metal assault! There are of course slower parts thrown into the songs, which fit well and sound killer. The vocals are somewhat of the typical black metal type, but I feel it is like 10% At the Gates, 10% tortured screams, 80% typical black metal! The vocals are really killer and are super brutal! The music is mainly melodic and harsh, but at times it is just pure hell! It is interesting that this band hails from Florida but I really hear no death metal at all in here, but that may just be me. I want to say that I can't think of any bands like them but at time, only for a second or two, Gorgoroth, Machiavel, and old Samael! I wouldn't say Azazel sound at all like them though. This band will appear on a tribute to Mayhem comp. and a split CD with Krieg in the near future. Keep an eye on them and get this, get this, get this! The band has since changed its name to Kult Ov Azazel.

Ultima Comparatio Zine (USA)

More aggressive Black metal from the U.S... Fast, well produced and nasty. Harsh vocals and a variety of musical influences both from the Death and Black metal genres. Azazel seems to be making a little more of an effort to distance themselves from the typical sounding U.S. BM bands.

Unchain the Underground Webzine (USA)

Absolutely raging black metal from the US. Order of the Fly is 23 minutes of total chaos!! Blasting black metal ala Thornspawn and Marduk with distinctive vocals that are not kind to the ears, and I cannot imagine them being kind to the vocalist's throat. Order Of The Fly just about ranks up there with December Wolves' Completely Dehumanized as one of the angriest black metal releases I have ever heard. There is a sense of chaos running throughout this release, like things are just about to get completely out of control. It is like watching a potential homicidal maniac with a 12-gauge shotgun deciding whether or not to walk into a McDonald's and shoot the place to shit. Azazel has managed to harness a healthy dose of insanity and cram it into the 6 songs that make up this release. If you are a black metal fan, BUY IT!! You will NOT be disappointed.

Under the Ashes Zine (USA)

Azazel's mcd Order of the Fly gives a new definition to the term blasphemy. With agrresive music and brutal vocals. 6 songs of utter hate and evil. Order of the Fly is a definite for any good black metaller. With Vocals that remind me of old Burzum, and a musical style that starts off aggressive and does not stop until the CD is out of the player. Azazel reminds me of what black metal once was, destructive and hateful, not people worrying about their corpsepaint and spikes. Azazel brings a new hope for a growing scene of U.S. black metal, and shall forever reign in the eternal pits of fire, as true black metal kings. 26 minutes of brutality that will crush your skull. Favorite tracks include "Aether Cries" and "Undeserving Fate".

What's Metal Radioshow (Germany)

Continue The Blasphemy! Together with Azazel no Problem, cause they are delivering the fitting soundtrack for this mission. "The Order Of The Fly" would be a typical High-Speed-Black Metal act if they didn't have this fulminate sound. For b/w patterns the sound is unusually good - and not only that. Myself - as a Florida-Fetish - would have bet tons of my records (before looking at the band info) that this band is from out of the southeast of the U.S.A.: The guitars are fat, the drums beat - not typical for black. And right! Azazel are experienced Tornado-Receivers. So, it's no surprise that they're blowing a few hurricanes through the speakers. 6 times windforce 12 is equal to 72 stitches you need for scalp-surgery, if you hold out on this 20-minute attack.

Worm Gear (USA)