Black metal fans rise from the black pit and listen the Master... next time you see the debut of Kult ov Azazel buy it! "Triumph of Fire" is simply what you were wishing for ages!! This American band will simply amaze you beware! We have summoned one of the demons, Xaphan to lead the attack. Questioned by Sónia Fonseca The word Azazel is found in lots of old books/religions and is always associated with evil/demons. In what sense has this entity inspired you considering that you ended up choosing its name to be part of your band? This entity/demon has always been associated with war, rebellion, destruction, non conformity, and corruption. This is why we choose to identify ourselves with this entity/demon's name. Azazel is also seen as a supernatural power… is that what Kult Ov Azazel is all about? No Kult ov Azazel is about the war on christianity and the herd that blindly follow it. That simple! Considering that we're talking about entities, demons and all… have you ever read the bible? If you have, what passage impressed you the most? Why? I am asking you these questions because lots of people hate christianity but they study it in order to have arguments to fight it… Nothing about the bible impresses me at all. I do not need to study a book to figure out the mentality and actions of its followers. Arguing with christians anyway is pointless. They are always right about their position in faith and you are going to hell. Debating the existence of faith only prolongs their existence. I say enough with arguing and let's start eliminating! The band has been around for 2 years now and has been part of some compilations, released a split CD with Krieg, promos and a MCD "Order Of The Fly". What importance do you attribute to compilations? I think compilations actually allow others to hear what we are doing that may otherwise never even hear of our band. It gives a listener a taste of what you have, and will let you represent yourself to further yourself in the scene. Besides that, we have only been on compilations that we have deemed worthy to put our name on. The best one so far has been the "American Black Metal Assault" put out by Infinite Darkness Records out of The Netherlands. Now, this year has seen the release of your debut album "Triumph Of Fire", a real statement of BM blasphemy. What is its meaning to you? It's mainly an attack on christianity and humanity. The purpose of the new album is to show that not all US Black Metal bands suck which seems to be the general idea that Europeans and other countries think about our scene here. So with Triumph of Fire we released an 11 song CD thats whole purpose was to crush this myth and show all the unbelievers and fuck offs throughout the world that we are indeed a force to be reckon with! Why the title "Triumph Of Fire"? What kind of triumph are you referring to? The Triumph of Fire (Satanism) over light (christianity)? Triumph of Fire is about the war upon humanity and the weakness it breeds that is known as christianity. All the songs on the CD deal with various antichristian and nihilistic topics. These two philosophies are the driving force behind this band and this CD is just a glimpse into our own thoughts about religion and humanity. I read somewhere that you do not care about sales and money… you say you are only doing this to show that real BM is back. Do you think that true BM is dying? What kind of "deed" can KOA do to keep the flame of true BM burning? Black Metal has been dying so to speak, yes. The only deed we can do is keep writing music without using any of the gay elements that keep popping up in what people seem to call Black Metal these days. We are all about the music and not the money. If we cared about making money, we wouldn't be involved in this musical style. There is no money in black metal. The only bands that are actually making money are the ones that aren't even black metal. We don't need stage props and fake imagery that most of these so called black metal bands nowadays need in order to cover up their pathetic musicianship. We will continue to walk the black path of our musical style and will never stray from what we are about. This is what Kult ov Azazel will continue to do to keep the true flame of Black Metal burning. Supposedly Kult Ov Azazel would be trying out a new drummer during July. Have you actually done it? So, do KOA have a permanent drummer now or not? Yes, this correct. We have been practicing with him the past 2 weeks and everything has gone well. We added Goss "The Hammer" as a permanent member now and will begin setting up some US and hopefully some European shows by the end of the year. We'd actually do this sooner but due to the new drummers work schedule this won't be possible. Until then we'll be doing some fests here in the states and maybe a 2 week run of the East Coast with Vetis on drums. The band hails from a rather warm American state, Florida. Most Black metallers have the mentality that BM can only rise in cold and dark places. Do you share this opinion? The mentality that Black Metal can only rise in cold and dark places is absolutely the gayest thing I have ever heard. Black metal is from within! Are there truly morons out there that believe this bullshit? No I do not share this opinion and can only say that Kult ov Azazel has risen out of one of the hottest and warmest climates in the world. Not only that but we definitely have mastered the art of Black Metal. Fuck people that have this mentality that Black Metal can only come from Scandinavian or European countries. All I have to say to anyone that thinks this is Fuck Off! As far as I know, the band has only played a few shows to promote the album "Triumph Of Fire". Are there any chances you might come to Europe? Is there a European festival or venue you'd like to play at? Yeah we have only played 2 shows in our home State to promote the new CD because of our drummer situation. However we have been asked to do a show with Destroyer 666 and Cadaver Inc. in New York City on August 12 which will be our 3rd show since the release. There are chances that we will come to European soil but when that will happen is unsure of yet. We must first wait until the new drummer is available to do shows and like I said that won't be until after December. How would the dream tour for Kult Ov Azazel be like? Which bands would it include and why? There would never be a dream tour for Kult ov Azazel because the bands I would want to tour with are no longer in existence or have gone gay. But a lineup that I think would be killer would have been Bathory / Possessed / Darkthrone / (Euronymous/Dead era) Mayhem / Destruction and (Morbid Tales era) Celtic Frost. If you could choose a band to pay a tribute to, which band would you choose? Why? Too many bands… But I would do a Venom tribute if we were ever offered. I would choose Venom for the simple fact that they are the ones that got me into extreme metal and the underground back in 1984. They were a very big influence on me back then. Is there a dream Kult Ov Azazel would love to see come true? To see all the weak fucks in the world die! By doing this all of christianity would be wiped out. What can you tell us about the EP that KOA will be releasing in the fall? What will its title be? Actually I can't comment much on this. It will either be an Ep or another full length at this point. We're not quite sure which one yet. And no there's no title for it as of now either. There's a chance that we might release a live LP of limited quantities before the winter. The band is also planning to release the next full-length next year, right? Are you a workaholic always devoting yourself to your band? Have you got many songs prepared? What kind of topics will they deal with? Yes there are plans for another full length next year and yes I am 100% devoted to this band. Almost all my time is spent on the band in one form or another. At this point we don't have any full songs written just riffs that we have been fucking around with. The topics will continue to be about Satanism, misanthropy, hate, destruction of christianity, preservation of the elite, etc. Will the next releases of the band also be via Arctic Music? Have they corresponded to your expectations in matters of promotion, royalties and all? Yes. The next 3 albums we do will be through Arctic Music. They have done a great job for a starting label and we'll continue to work with them. Are there any rumours regarding the band that you would like to share with us? I can't think of any. In an interview you said and I quote: "We can hold our ground against any "elite" BM band out there. I might even go as far as saying we crush the majority of them". Do I notice a bit of arrogance in here or have you absolutely lost faith in the BM bands? Yes I said that and I stand by it! I have not lost faith in black metal bands it's just the truth. I guess you can call it a bit of arrogance. In your opinion, what is/was the best metal band around? And the worst? Why? Best band ever around was Possessed in the "7 Churches" era. The songs were just insanely fast and utterly satanic for the time they released that album. The worst band would be Cradle of Filth for being extremely gay. Dani Filth used black metal as a marketing scam and has done a good job infecting this scene with goths and posers. If a finger can be pointed at any band for allowing such faggotry into black metal then the finger points to COF. Anton LaVey has influenced you… how important is "his" philosophy in your life? LaVey has had some influence over me but so have many other people for that matter. I don't know if I would call Satanism "his" philosophy but he did have a big contributing factor of making it what is today. I aligned myself with the Church of Satan because I support other like minded individuals as myself. But overall Satanism plays an important factor in my life and has for many many years. Would you be in favour of a nuclear war in case you had the power to decide upon such issue? If I had power to make this decision it would not be nuclear warfare. That's way too easy and will not cause much human suffering. If I had my way it would be mass executions. And when I say executions I mean in any way that you can take out a human life. I would launch an all out holocaust upon mankind! What do you hate and appreciate the most about this world and weak humanity? I hate that the majority of humanity is weak minded and appreciate the fact that they are. The weak are so easily manipulated and love to be used. Is there a question(s) you absolutely hate to be asked in interviews? If so, which question is that? I just hope I did not ask it to you! Hehe! Yes, one is "Can you give us a brief history of the band?" This is especially annoying when you're doing a lot of interviews at one time. You almost want to send the same answers to the whole lot of them and tell them to figure it out. It is also very annoying when the people writing you these interviews ask the same questions in the same interview over and over again with different wording. But all in all you did a fine job of not aggravating me with repetitive questions.. Xaphan, thanks for your time. Desecrate the weak… keep on slaying the hypocrites. Depart with your words of hatred… Be sure to get a copy of "Triumph of Fire" and keep supporting the christian holocaust! For any info on the band or merch visit www.kultovazazel.com or write to us at our mailing address. Crush the cross of the jehovah whore!