Interviewed by Sargeist & answered by Xaphan Could you begin with introducing the band???? Kult ov Azazel was formed in the spring equinox of 1999 under the infernal name Azazel consisting of Xaphan (myself) on guitar/vocals, Xul on vocals/bass and Von on drums. Under this name and lineup we recorded and released “Order of the Fly”. Soon after Von was booted out and Hellspawn took over drum duties and with this lineup we recorded and released the material on the split CD with Krieg (USA). In the spring of 2000 we kicked out Hellspawn, decided to change the band name to Kult ov Azazel and signed a 4 album deal with Arctic Music. In March 2001 we released our first full length “Triumph of Fire” with Vetis participating as a session drummer on that release. We have also participated in a 7” split with Satan’s Blood (GER); a 4 way split with Obitus (SWE), Humanicide (USA) and Thylord (FRA) and have been included on numerous compilations. In 2003 we released our second blasphemy for Arctic Music titled “Oculus Infernum” which was the first time we had recorded with a full permanent lineup which consists of myself (vocals/guitar), Xul (vocals/ bass), Nocturath (guitar/backing vocals) and The Hammer (drums). Could you tell me a little bit more about the meaning of that word/name and why did you decide that it would be a suitable name for the band? Azazel throughout history and religion has been linked to war, rebellion, defiance, nonconformity, hate, destruction, and regarded a defiler of humanity. A little history on these matters will help explain why we originally chose the name. In Enoch I, he is one of the chiefs of the 200 fallen angels while in 'The Zohar' he is the rider on the serpent known as "the evil Azael," in which he is said to be chief of the order of bene elim otherwise known as "men-spirits." In 'The Apocalypse of Abraham' he is "lord of hell, seducer of mankind," and when revealed in true form, he is a demon with 7 serpent heads, 14 faces, and 12 wings. Jewish legend speaks of him as the angel who refused to bow down before Adam when the first human was presented by God to the assembled hierarchies in Heaven. For such a refusal, Azazel was thenceforth dubbed "the accursed Satan." According to the legend in Islamic lore, when God commanded the angels to worship Adam, Azazel refused, contending "Why should a son of fire fall down before a son of clay?" Whereupon God cast Azazel out of Heaven and changed his name to Eblis. In Paradise Lost I, Milton describes Azazel as a "cherub tall" but also as a fallen angel and Satan's standard bearer. It is also said in legend that Azazel was the first star which fell and has been called "that fallen and yet mighty angel." In demonology Azazel is the god/demon of war. Our lyrics reflect all these things so that is why we found it to be a suitable name for the band. You can tell us the influences of the band???? Venom, Bathory, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Possessed, Sodom, Mercyful Fate, Destruction, (first) Exodus, (old) Slayer, Kreator, Bloodfeast, VoiVod, (old) Metallica, Hobbs, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Beherit, Acheron, Burzum, Impaled Nazarene, Blasphemy, Dissection, VoiVod, Unleashed, Bestial Warlust, Marduk, Hypocrisy, Profanatica, Infestdead, Abigor, old Deicide, Pungent Stench, Morbid, Angel Corpse, Behemoth, (early) Morbid Angel, (old) Samael, Onslaught, Havohej and I am sure I'm forgetting many more. What is the broader concept in the lyrics of your songs???? People can read our lyrics and make out their own interpretations from them. The underlining theme though is total disdain for christianity, but also for all religion that involves belief in a supreme god, in other words monotheism. In the past Xul had done the majority but on "Oculus Infernum” I wrote pretty much lyrics to the whole album, with Xul contributing lyrics for two songs and Nocturath contributing lyrics for the title track and none of the songs have a common thread running between them. The lyrical themes cover opposition to piety and self righteousness, torture, nihilistic and satanic philosophy, the rebirth of evil, the eradication of holiness, death, pain, resistance, conjuration, destruction and eternal suffering. There are a lot of metaphors used throughout our lyrics so sometimes one must read between the lines to get the meaning. Have you or any other member of the band some other bands or projects at the moment? I play bass in Hateplow when needed. Since it's the Malevolent Creation guys’ side project it doesn't take up too much of my time. It's something they do on their down time and mostly since I joined in 2001 it has only been European tours. No one else in the band has any side projects or anything else going outside Kult ov Azazel. Like time the progress of the band from the era of the demo to Oculus Infernum (2003)???? With anyone who plays an instrument as time passes and you continue to play and practice your instrument you evolve as a musician. This has been the case with us as well. I wouldn't say "Oculus Infernum" has the same musical sound as "Order of the Fly" but it's more like the same musical direction except overtime and many years later it is more evolved and is done better musically. As for progression, "Order of the Fly" had its own style/vibe to it yet and wasn't fully developed. The tracks of the split w/ Krieg had faster material and the song writing begins to get better. "Triumph of Fire" was very harsh and barbaric, our first approach at using guitar harmonies in the songs and ended up being an attack of blistering black metal. And "Oculus Infernum" is an album of cold, dark, vicious black metal, the way this band should have sounded years ago. Are you happy with how the last album???? Of course I am. It is the best material we have written or recorded in my opinion. There are still things I wish I could go back and correct or change but all in all I am very satisfied with how it came out. Where do you get your inspiration (both musical and non-musical) to the music and lyrics? There are many things that the inspiration comes from and most of these are from books, movies, music and a day-to-day basis. It comes from Satanism and the occult, various philosophies, personal interests and observations. It also comes from hatred, disgust and no compassion for religion and the mindless fools that blindly follow it. You are already working with your new production???? We've just finished writing the next album which will be titled "The World, The Flesh & The Devil." We plan to record it in January of 2005 at Mana Studios in Tampa, Florida. This is the same studio Krisiun, Hate Eternal and In Battle has recorded. We have also just finished up a new track and a Sodom cover song that will be included on a split 7" we will be doing with Krieg. What do you think about the black metal scene today (both in your country and in the rest of the world)? Any bands you would like to recommend? The current black metal scene is doing well I think. Many people say it is dead and bitch and moan about shit to that extent yet they are the ones that are just to lazy to look hard enough for the quality bands. Then there are the others that are too weak to move on and because of this they continue to live in the past saying that bands today suck and only the older bands of yesteryear are worth anything. All it takes is for one to look at the scenes in France, Finland, Sweden, Poland, South America, Germany and the United States to see that black metal is far from dead and in this day and age is still a force to be reckoned with. Bands that I recommend and respect are Krieg, Inquisition, Judas Iscariot (RIP), Merrimack, Thornspawn, Revenge, Eternity of Darkness, Impiety, Black Witchery, Malleus Maleficarum, Averse Sefira, Cryptic Winds (RIP), Ibex Throne, Maskim, Capra Hircus, Tenebrous, Blood Storm, Axis of Advance, Temple of Baal, Ouroboros, Belenos, Belphegor, Burning Winds, Vukodlak, Corpus Christi, Surrender of Divinity, Demonic Christ, Weltmacht, Robed in Exile, Nargaroth, Operation Winter Mist, Decieverion, Infernal Hatred, Grand Belial's Key, Humanicide, Gnostic, Storm Legion, Darkest Hate Warfront, Devastator, Vrolok, Open Grave, Rheinkraft, Teratism, Xasthur, Abazagorath, Sumeria, Kathonik, Demoncy, Cult of Daath, The Cold Beyond and I'm sure I'm fucking forgetting tons of others. That opinion deserves WATAIN - PENTAGRAM (CHILE) - SARGATANAS - TOXIC HOLOCAUST to you???? Watain and Pentagram both I am very familiar with and are great fucking bands. This band Toxic Holocaust you speak of is one I have never even heard of. So I am completely unfamiliar with anything they have done. You know something of the Chilean scene??? I don't know much about the Chilean scene. My buddy Hector runs the Extreme Chilean Metal website but to be straight forward with you I have never really researched any bands from your country, nor heard any other than Pentagram and if I have it was something I was unaware of. Since there are been the live presentations???? We have performed many live rituals over the past 5 years, the most notable rituals being the Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child Festival IV with Inquisition, Thornspawn, Absu, Ouroboros, Krieg, Noctuary, Infernal Oak, Gnostic & Black Witchery, the Uberfest with Cadaver Inc., Abazagorath, Black Mass, Goreaphobia, Unholy Grave & Afflitus, the show we did up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania w/ Blood Storm, Decieverion, Eviscerator & Final Carnage and the most recent being the Northern Lights Festival in Toronto, Canada with Melechesh, Morgion, Teratism, Goat Horn, Thy Flesh Consumed, Aesma Daeva, Wetwork, Unexpect, Malefaction & Lapidate. Possibilities of visiting Chile? There's always a possibility but there are no plans. Available merchandise??? Current available merchandise would be the "Northern Lights Festival" t-shirt which is limited to 60 prints and was printed exclusively for the festival which we have very few of left. Also the “Oculus Infernum" t-shirt printed w/ silver ink and the Christfuck" t-shirt. All shirts are double side print and can be viewed on our website @ www.kultovazazel.com. We also have the "Oculus Infernum" CD, "Triumph of Fire" 2004 reissue CD, Kult ov Azazel/Krieg split CD, KoA/Satan's Blood split 7", Assaulting the Masses" live 12" LP and the “ Grandaevus Dæmonum" & “ Order of the Fly" K7s. Shirts are $20 USD, CDs are $16 USD, LPs are $18 USD & K7s are $6 USD. All the prices include postage and can be obtained through Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33307, USA or through our website. We can also be reached at K6U6L6T@kultovazazel.com. A final message for our readers??? Quod est Inferius est sicut quod est Superius, et quod est Superius est sicut quod est Inferius.