Interviewed by Anait & answered by Xaphan
Hail! I am not going to ask about the history of the band, but could You tell me how the idea of creation of the band has come to Your mind? What was Your purpose in the very beginning, and how have it changed through the years You have been existing?
The idea was put into my mind some 20 years ago when I first heard Venom’s “Welcome to Hell”. That was the seed. It’s just taken a long time and many trial and errors to establish the band that I have always envisioned. As for the purpose, this has and will always remain the same; that is to spread satanic and nihilistic ideals through musical violence. Our purpose is to defile the name of Jehovah and his clan, mock the doctrines of religionist and to sing praises of death and hell.
Kult ov Azazel is one of the most blasphemous and evil bands in the world I believe, could you tell your own opinion on Satanism? Do you believe that Black Metal must be only Satanic? And is Black Metal for you just a part of Satanism or the Satanism is a part of Black Metal?
Both Satanism and black metal are intertwined. It was because of Satanism and anti-christianity that black metal music even came to exist. So to me Satanism is very much an integral part of the music. I firmly believe that once the ideology and lyrics of the music move away from satanic and antichristian viewpoints it is not black metal. So yes in my eyes black metal must only be satanic and related to all things satanic. But on a personal level Satanism to me is a philosophy and is the belief in oneself with the recognition that ritual is needed in strengthening ones mind and will. It is the attainment of inner knowledge as well as embracing the darker forces of life. Satan is the symbol and metaphor that represents undefiled wisdom, enlightenment, strength, power and free will through individuality. Most of all the representation of adversity to all that is considered holy.
What can you say about the scene in USA? Your country is also “famous” by its Death metal bands, what do you think about Satanic Death metal… like Deicide or something? Do you see any connections of their Satanism with Yours? And also what do you feel about the great bands that have left the scene, about Judas Iscariot, for example?
Much like life, bands themselves must eventually come to an end. I was deeply disappointed to hear that Akhenaten had ended Judas Iscariot but sometimes one must do what one must do. We at least have all the great albums he did release over the years to go back and draw inspiration from. The scene here in the States though is going strong. Bands such as Krieg, Inquisition, Thy Infernal, Noctuary, Thornspawn, Black Witchery, Averse Sefira, Cryptic Winds (RIP), Ibex Throne, Maskim, Capra Hircus, Blood Storm, Hemlock, Burning Winds, Vukodlak, Demonic Christ, Weltmacht, Robed in Exile, Decieverion, Infernal Hatred, Grand Belial's Key, Humanicide, Gnostic, Devastator, Vrolok, Open Grave, Teratism, Xasthur, Averse Sefira, Abazagorath, Sumeria, Kathonik, Demoncy, Cult of Daath, FOG, Exile and The Cold Beyond all keep the black flame of this genre going here in the States. Satanic death metal I have no problems with but all in all I don’t care for much death metal anymore, unless it is satanic or the old school stuff. There have been very few death metal bands that have impressed me over the past few years. Deicide was a great band back in the day and over the years hasn’t done much that I have liked but I do support them 100% at what they do and I don’t think Benton’s form of Satanism, or the others in the band differs too much from mine when it comes down to it.
You use corpsepaint, spikes, pseudonyms and all the canonic attributes of the “style”, can You say that it is much more than just an “image” for You, that when You put on all this black leather and inverted crosses and cover Your face with a demon mask, You really become a Demon? Do you believe that during his human life a man is able to reach the stage of a Demon?
Yes, once the corpse paint goes on the infernal demon within is more personalized. I do believe image is important to the music but there is a line that can be crossed where it becomes all about the image and not about the music. With audio and visuals it allows the listeners to engulf themselves in the whole atmosphere being created through the songs and lyrics. We believe that corpse paint is an integral part of black metal. It symbolizes the worship of death and has become a ritualistic aspect of this band. Although I believe that image is needed with the music for the overall aesthetic presentation of an album or live ritual, we do not use these as gimmicks and it is more than just presenting an image.
Do you practice any rituals and Black Magic, Occultism? Do you think that reality is much more than we are able to see with our eyes? Do you have any mystical experience, and could you please tell something about it?
In the past I performed many rituals but have not done so since the formation of this band yet satanic philosophy and ideals are applied in my everyday life and through my lyrics and music. I instead use this band as my ritualistic vehicle and take the energy and symbolism I would use in ritual and divert it into a tangible form that being the albums we release. And yes there are other dimensions outside of what we can perceive and we know as reality but this has nothing to do with a spiritual world.
What can you say about the reaction of people on Kult Ov Azazel? You are making some live concerts, what can you say about the influence on audience? Are you satisfied? What reaction do you want to gain from people, do you have any message?
We have done many live rituals and in the most part I have been satisfied with their outcome. To me a live show is very much like a magical working so it’s not really what I want to gain from other people by doing it, because in that case I want nothing from no one, I’m not doing this to make people happy or to gain their acceptance. It’s more so what do I gain from it and has the energy that we have harnessed powerful enough to cause change. As for the reaction we have on people I can’t really speak about. I know that we are a love them or hate them type band so others opinions are of no concern to me.
How do you see the future of this world? What will happen in the next 10 – 20 years, have you ever thought about it? Do you believe in Apocalypse?
I do not know man, I’m no fortune teller. Just if people think shit is bad now than they are going to be in for a rude awakening. I’m a fucking realist; I know after that shit happened on 9/11/01 a religious war was on. It’s the hard-line muslims verse the world, they fucking don’t care and aren’t discriminating; they’ll even kill their own if their beliefs sway from the extreme. So yes I do believe some kind of “Apocalypse” will happen and it may well happen within the next 10-15 years, hell it could happen tomorrow. But I don’t think about it or worry about it; it’s not a concern of mine. If death comes it comes yet I would rather see it claim the lives of the worthless subhuman extremist before it comes to claim mine.
Do you sometimes listen to the Kult Ov Azazel albums, and what do you feel then? Can you say that sometimes you feel that it is not your work, but some force just uses your mind and body to express it’s self into this world? Some Evil force?
I very rarely listen to our albums. The only time I do so is when we prepare for a live ritual and then I only listen to the songs that we will play. At times when I have listened back to the albums I wish there were things that had been done differently, maybe a different harmony or whatever. It’s very hard to just sit back and try to absorb it from a listener’s point of view since I am the creator and the creator always sees, or in our case hears the flaws. But playing it live, even practicing is much different. It’s then that the force, the inner self, the demon within, takes control and that sometimes is like an out of body experience.
By the way, could you explain your own conception of good and Evil, and what is justice for you?
These are nothing but mere adjectives and it all depends on the morals and mentality of the individual. What I think is right and good many others would think it is evil and perverse. So these terms are irrelevant.
Have you ever thought about how the humanity appeared in this world? Do you care about it, and do you share any theories like the Darwin theory of evolution or something? When you look around, do you think that the roots of humanity are in monkeys or we are “god’s fucking creatures”?
If anything I believe more in the big bang theory as to how we evolved. I definitely do not believe that we were created by some omnipotent god nor do I think we evolved from a primate. Either way, who knows, we were created by the cosmos and when leave this world we go back to the cosmos. The soul is kinetic energy and thus can not die, it is a ever continuing cycle.
Can you say why have you decided to walk this Path? What do you think to gain at the End?... Do you think that you will find your place in Hell after the Death? And do you often see Hell in Your dreams and visions?
I can only say that the path I took was obviously my chosen path and where it leads me I will not know until I get there.
Some tell that “there’s mo place for women in Black Metal”, what do you think about such position? I mean do you divide men and women into two different categories, do you believe that the spirit of man is the spirit of Warrior, and the spirit of a woman is the spirit of a housewife?
I do not divide women and men into two different categories. I mean obviously there are big differences between the two but guys that say there’s no place in black metal for women or do not want any chicks around have some serious sexual problems that they need to work out. Obviously their preferences are not women if they would rather be surrounded by men all the time. I think people that say words or comments such as those are hiding in the closet with their homosexuality.
Do you often fall into depression? Does mental pain and suffering give you any inspiration?
As with any individual I fall into depression from time to time but this is not a driving factor to anything that I do musically. Mental pain and suffering does not inspire me for these are not symptoms I suffer from. If anything causing metal pain and suffering are more inspirations for me.
The Serpent dwells inside us...Inside You. Can you say what you’ve felt when you realized this? What were your first steps on the Path? Have you ever done anything against the law, have you ever caused pain to people… can you say that you are a violent and antisocial person?
I first realized this at the age of 10 or around that age. I knew then I wasn’t like the other kids, I liked the darker aspects of things and had many questions regarding a deity that is omnipresent. But it wasn’t until around age 12 I found the Satanic Bible and from there the path really began and I searched and bought everything I could that related to the subjects of the occult and Satanism which I still do to this day. I will not speak of anything I have done illegally because that would just be ignorant to do in an interview. I am however pretty much an antisocial person. I only like to be around a small circle of people and I keep it that way. I can be very violent and have done a lot of harm to people in the past but as I have gotten older I have learned to control these actions and apply to constructive things such as my music. I’m by no means a pacifist and when confronted will fight tooth and nail but as the old saying goes, with age comes wisdom and that is the truth.
“Music” without real actions is nothing, what do you think? What actions were / will be done by you against the living scum called people? Against religion? What do you think about the acts of satanic terrorism like murders and arsons of churches? Would you take part in such act, or you believe that Your Art is able to change more than all these murders and arsons? Do you believe that Art is changing anything? (I really believe in this…)
Music is action, so saying that it is not I completely would disagree with. Music has changed the course of many things throughout history and will always be a vital tool in spreading propaganda and planting the seed to make that change happen. I see our music as a weapon against Christianity but not only this religion, but others that preach monotheistic morals and attitude. Monotheism needs to be fought and reduced to the nothingness that it is be it through word or music, fist or weapon. People make the decision themselves if they want to take things to a higher caliber, be it forming a band to express their hatred or going to destroy a church. It's the latter that doesn't take into the account the criminal aspects that their actions involve. I on the other hand have, because I'm an intelligent person and can think without having others cloud my thinking. So if people want to take it to a more physical level then by no means will I discourage it. My opinion is what ever it takes to get the job done. As for myself, I find my existence outside a prison to be more efficient than if I were locked away for some criminal actions. Being outside of a jail means I'm more of a threat to religion than the guy that is locked up. The prisons here in America are not a place you’d want to be, trust me.
What do you usually do with your enemies, with betrayers? Do you have many people who hate you? If someone tells you that he / she hate you, how do you usually react?
I play in a black metal band so I’m absolutely positive that there are many people that hate me. I have never had anyone come up to me and say that they hate me and depending on what kind of mood I might be in at the time would be the deciding factor as to if I laughed at them or knocked their teeth down their throat.
Can you name any authors that influenced on your thoughts? What literature does you like, can name any favorite writers? Any philosophers? Or you just don’t need them?
LaVey, Crowley, Waite, Carroll, Nietzsche, Lévi, Mathers and many other I can’t think of right now. I mainly read books on the occult and satanic topics or true crime novels. Not much outside those interests me when it comes to reading.
Please, tell me your plans for future and finish this interview as you wish! Thank you very much for cooperation, I am really proud to talk with you!
Our future plans are to continue what we have been doing. We will be recording a new assault in 2005 which will be titled “The World, The Flesh & The Devil”. 2 demo tracks from this can be found on our website. We have also completed a new track and a Sodom cover that will be released on a split 7” with Krieg. Other than that we are setting up a West Coast tour for the United States and will be doing a lot more live rituals coming in the future. Just check our website for future updates which can be found at www.kultovazazel.com. Those interested in merchandise and other propaganda can find information there as well. We can also be contacted by mail at Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307, USA. We appreciate the support and wish you the best of luck with the zine. Keep spreading heresies and propagating the war on monotheistic scum!
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