Interviewed by O.O., answered by Xaphan When you started this band it was called Azazel, what was the reason for changing the name to Kult Ov Azazel? Pretty much it was finding out there was many other bands using the same name. We wanted to distance ourselves from these bands. What can you tell us about the history of Kult Ov Azazel? Formed in 1999 under the banner of Azazel. Released a promo tape titled Forever Heaven Gone and then the self released mCD Order of the Fly. In 2000 we changed the name to Kult ov Azazel released another promo tape titled Of Evil and Hatred and have since done numerous split releases with the likes of Krieg, Obitus, Humanicide, Thy Lord, Satans Blood, Horn of Valere and Vrolok. Been on many compilations, released a live album titled Assaulting the Masses and 3 studio albums to date which are Triumph of Fire, Oculus Infernum and The World, The Flesh & The Devil. When you started the band, back then known as Azazel, what visions and goals did you have? The main goal was to write and play music that was ideological to our beliefs or better yet what we stand for. Other than that it was to get signed, record albums and tour. Xaphan and Xul are the only members left from the old Azazel. Can we say that you are the “core” of the band? That is correct. Pretty much myself and him have been the core since the beginning. Over time though I have become the thread that holds the band together. I write the majority of the music and lyrics. It’s been this way for the past six years. Your latest release was a split with Vrolok, released 2006. When can we expect a new record from you? Have you written anything for an upcoming opus yet? If so will it be a full-length album, EP, split…? You can expect a new album by 2009. We enter Mana Studio in 2 weeks to begin recording. It will be a full length and titled Destroying the Sacred. What can you tell us about the message in your lyrics? “Trampling The Cross”, “An Eternity With Satan” and “Forever Heaven gone” all have titles which gives you a hint what it is all about but let’s go a little deeper into the meaning of your lyrics. How deep do you want to analyze them? Every song has a different meaning, it just depends on the song itself. Some of my lyrics come from occult subjects, some come from personal experiences and some combine the two. Out of the three songs you have mentioned the only one I wrote was An Eternity with Satan. The lyrics from it are pretty self explanatory but the song itself is about entering into a pact with Satan. Songs like The World is Full of Violence for example derived from my personal feelings about society. Compelled to Die was written while I was in a mental depression and suffering from suicidal thoughts. I felt the world was crumbling around me and the lyrics reflect the feelings I had at that time in my life. So it all depends on which song we are talking about as to the deeper meaning behind it. What are the inspirational sources when it comes to writing the lyrics? See the above answer. Does the lyrics reflect your way of life? What are your ideological aspects? Yes they do but to go into what ideologies I harbour would better be suited for a book rather an interview. This would require concise questions and a lot of space for answering. To make things simple let’s just say a lot of my ideological beliefs stem from left hand practices. I follow a satanic view of life. I have heard that some of the members in Kult Ov Azazel are a part of Church of Satan, how active are you there? What can you tell us about being a member of Church of Satan? Rumours like to run amok. Since the formation of this band I am the only one with ties to the Church of Satan. I am not active, never been active. I am a lay member meaning I never applied for active status. We are soon at the tenth years of Kult Ov Azazel, what can we expect during this year? Will there be any special ceremony to celebrate this? No telling what will happen in the new year. I have learned to not expect anything when it comes to this band. What comes our way or happens is just that. I hope to do something to commemorate our 10th year but it’s too soon to say if anything will happen. Are you satisfied of what you have accomplished as a band during these ten years? Not really. There’s a ton of things I have not accomplished such as touring outside the United States or doing anything on a bigger scale in the US touring wise other than DIY 2 week jaunts. There have been factors that have kept this band from achieving many things I had hoped to have accomplished by this point in time. However I am satisfied with some of the accomplishments we have made such as sharing the stage with many great bands, some having been very influential to me, having the opportunity to release 4 albums, gaining support from people all around the world and of course the music we have written. What can we expect in the future from Kult Ov Azazel? A new album for sure. Other than that only time will tell.