Interviewed by Skrzypor & answered by Xaphan "Beyond the black fog - the forest full of demons and their Satanic whores. The forest full of cruelty and bestial lust." Greetings to you Xaphan! Hail and thanks for the interview. The first tell us something about the history KULT OV AZAZEL. When did you arise and who found this horde? Both Xul and I formed this band back in April of 1999 under the name Azazel. We self released a mCD titled "Order of the Fly" about 3 months after forming which would later be re-issued by Blood Fire Death Records in 2000 and then on vinyl format by Autopsy Stench Records in 2003. There have been many drummers come and go with this band so going into full detail about who played on what isn't important not to mention it would be quite boring in explanation. So with myself and Xul as the backbone of this band, being that we write all music and lyrics, we have been able to release a good deal of recordings over the years these being not only the mCD I mentioned but also "Gather Against Humanity" 4 way split CD with Obitus, Humanicide & Thy Lord (2000), a split CD with Krieg (2001), "Triumph of Fire" CD (2001) / LP (2002), "Assaulting the Masses" live LP (2003), split EP with Satan's Blood (2003) and now our 2nd full length CD through Arctic Music titled "Oculus Infernum" which was released in June of 2003. Kult ov Azazel has become a full fledge band since the summer of 2002 and we finally have a complete and permanent line up for the first time since we begun in '99. The lineup consists of Xul on vocals/bass, Xaphan (myself) on vocals/guitar, Nocturath on guitar and Hammer on drums. I noticed you changed your name from AZAZEL to KULT OV AZAZEL. Why? Has the new name some special meaning? There's just been too many bands using the name Azazel, none of which we knew about when we formed. We kept being confused with this Azazel and that Azazel so to distance ourselves from these other bands and to make sure we were never confused with them again we changed the name. Well we didn't really change it we added to the name. We felt we had established a good name for ourselves and didn't want to really start over with a new name and have to re-establish ourselves. This is why we choose to add "Kult ov" to the name.There's no special menaing to the name since it pretty much explains itself if you know anything behind the meaning of "Azazel". Genocide Music released split KRIEG/KULT OV AZAZEL - it came out a year later than it was expected. Have Genocide had troubles with money or what? What do you think about this split - about yours and KRIEG's stuff? I think Genocide Music would be able to answer this question better than myself but here's what I remember about the whole situation. Xul had a friend design the cover and what it came down to was Imperial of Krieg didn't like the cover at all, can't say I did either. So we had another guy, who ironically is now in the band (Nocturath) design the cover and layout. This took some time which delayed the release. Also I believe there was a problem with Krieg's material getting lost in the mail. So that was another delay. So if it was a money problem or something to that extent then it is best left up to Genocide Music to answer. As for the material on the split, I like Krieg's portion much more than ours. I'm content with the material we recorded for it. I think the whole thing came out quite killer, from the tracks of both bands and the layout so I have no complaints about it whatsoever. Your debut album "Triumph of Fire" is raw, very brutal and uncompromising full length. Are you satisfied with your debut? What was the underground's reactions? If the reviews we received were any indication then I'd say the response in the underground was much better than we had expected. As for my thoughts on it, I think it was at the time our best material and was the first album we had recorded in a real studio. The production though was a little thin in my opinion but the overall album I'm very satisified with how it came out and sounded. The newest album "Oculus Infernum" is a continuation of your debut LP but I think its more wild. Tell us about its production and the final results. The new album is a lot more darker than the pervious from the artwork to the music. The new music is more varied this time round and personally to me has more feeling in the riffs. The album was tracked at Rhythm Track Studios which is now defunct and mixed and mastered at Studio 13 where we recorded "Triumph of Fire". The result being 8 songs of total profanation inpired by hatred and violence. Booklet of the CD was done very carefully - the font looks like handwriting from a medieval book, infernal pictures… on the front cover we can see medieval tools of torture. Is this album homage for dark medieval times? The cover art was inspired by a vision of the reversal of parts in a time such as The Crusades and reflects the lyrics to the title track of the album. Then inside the woodcuts and images interact the theme of the lyrics and songs making this album more of an homage to the eternal death of purity and sanctity. How does KULT OV AZAZEL's shows look like? Did you have any admirable excesses during your concerts? With whom do you like to perform? Our shows are pretty much just total profanation through musical violence. There are no special effects or stage props used if that's what you are getting at. We just get up there and let the music create the atmosphere. It's nothing but pure hatred and blasphemy for a live performance. I know you're a Satanist. In which way do you worship the devil? The Devil does not exist. Satan on the other hand does, Satan being a metaphor for the dark driving force of the self. The "Devil" was invented by the same minds that created an omnipotent "God". The term ha-satan which later came to be known as simply Satan meant the adversary; thus Satan represents the adversity to all that is holy and scared and this can be the force that drives ones life, such is the case in mine. I heard, you was (are?) a member of the LaVeyan "Church of Satan". I think this organization is a total crap. There are no elitism, with which I always identified the cult of Satan - everybody can be a member of this Church. In my opinion, LaVeyan doctrine is more atheistic than Satanic. What about this? Well I hope you have truly looked into this opinion of yours and that it comes from your own learnings and not because it is and has been the trend that Euronymous started. It seems most people that hate the Church of Satan only do so because of the whole anti-COS propaganda started with Euronymous and people have blindly jumped on that bandwagon without knowing anything about the Church of Satan and can only base their way of thinking on the opinions of others. But yes, I am a member and became one when I did out of respect for LaVey, nothing more. In fact I can count on one hand the other members that I am in contact with so to say this is a main focus would be incorrect otherwise I'd be more involved. And elitism is something that is found through knowledge and action. It's doesn't come from becoming a member of something or joining a "group". It is something attained not handed out. As for the opinions on the COS doctrine, you can take that up with them as I'm not here to speak in defense. It's not up to me to change people's minds as I'm not the PR person and has nothing to do with this band. Why do you hate christianity, ha ha? Are among this carcass other weak religion you are pissing on? What's there to like about it? Not a fucking thing. It consists of self righteous people that wish nothing more than to force their morality and beliefs upon others. It's a cesspool of everything it is against. It's not only christianity that I oppose as I oppose all religions that peddle self agendas through philanthropy. Religion is a enemy to all free thinkers. What do you think about churchburnings, grave desecrations and other deeds of violence against christianity? My opinion is what ever it takes to get the job done. What would you like to tell to the pope and to all the hierarchy of Vatican City? In a perfect world my answer would be not a thing. Just give me the weapon and ammo and I'll let the bullets do the talking, but this is not a perfect world. Once, asked about NSBM, you said: "We have already been boycotted so to speak by the NS movement for our satanic view and beliefs." Why? Yet lots of NS Black Metallers are Satanists too. You'd be better off asking them instead. I don't know nor do I care. I don't waste my time being concerned with what people think about me or this band or disagree with me about. Either we are like minded individuals or you can fuck off. NS people have talked shit about us in the past and will continue to do so in the future. What it all comes down to is I don't give a fuck. Their words fall on deaf ears. What's your opinion about your native, US Black Metal underground? In my opinion US BM scene is one of the best in the world. There are lots of great and cult hordes like: ABAZAGORATH, KRIEG, NACHTMYSTIUM, JUDAS ISCARIOT (died in torment?), BLACK WITCHERY and more... I agree that there are a lot of great bands from here and there are many you failed to mention. But instead of naming them I'll leave it up to those interested to seek them out. Have US BM hordes any problems with the law or something? I'm talking about the "political correctness", not about musicans' personal troubles... We have never had any problems with the law nor do I know of any bands from here that have. What are your musical inspirations? Which band, you're listening to, is the most important for you? My musical inspirations were bands such as Venom, Destruction, Possessed, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Bathory, Sodom, pretty much the bands I grew up listening to and many others upon the ones just listed. Venom was the band that inspired me to seriously start playing guitar. Then over the past decades I have discovered many other bands that have kept this inspiration alive for me. Bands I think that are most important for this would be Darkthrone and Gorgoroth. Currently some of the bands I admire are Inquisition, Weltmacht, Antaeus, Revenge and Nargaroth. What do you think about such Death Metal bands like unholy DEICIDE? In my opinion they are one of the last force of Satanic Propaganda on Death Metal scene. The rest is trendy shit. I don't. The last Deicide album I think is worth anything is Legion. The S/T, Legion and the demos are the only things one needs from them. Plans for future... Total self destruction. Unholy thanks for interview and giving your time! Final words and hails belongs to you… Again, thanks for your support! All information and propaganda from the band can be found online at www.kultovazazel.com or by writing Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307, USA. Revelabitur Atrocitas Infernum!!!