Interviewed by Death Metal Dan & answered by Xaphan
Give us a bit of info about the band for the unfamiliar? Members. Short history. All the good
stuff.
The core of this band has from the start always been myself on guitar/additional vocals and Xul on
bass/vocals. We started out in 1999 going under the name of Azazel. We released a promo titled
"Forever Heaven Gone" and a mCD titled "Order of the Fly" under this name. For the promo and mCD we
had Von on drums and as this lineup begun to play shows here in the state of Florida. Shortly after
the release of the mCD numerous drummers for live situations replaced Von who had quit the band until
Hellspawn joined the fold in December of 1999. In February of 2000 we recorded the tracks for the
"Kult ov Azazel/Krieg" split CD and decided in June to switch the name of the band to Kult ov Azazel.
That same month we released a promo titled "Of Evil and Hatred" consisting of 2 songs, an old version
of "Destruction to the Throne of God" and a classic Mayhem cover "Chainsaw Gutsfuck" and shortly after
that we were signed by Arctic Music. By this time Hellspawn was out of the picture and we were using
Vetis as a session live drummer for shows so we begun to write new material for the full length and
in November went into the studio to record the 11 tracks that became known as "Triumph of Fire". At
this point in time we are without a drummer yet we still use Vetis for local shows and have a drummer
that we'll begin rehearsing with in June.
Participating in a small and often overlooked US black metal scene, do you find that there any
drawbacks to playing black metal in the US? Do you find that there are less opportunities for shows?
Less interest? Anything like that?
The US black metal scene is definitely overlooked but I have to say it isn't very small. There are
actually many good black metal bands in the States but most seem to either stay hidden in the dark
or remain very obscure releasing very limited numbers of material. There are a few drawbacks such as
it's not easy to play shows with other black metal bands from the States since it's a pain in the ass
to drive many hours, some times days, in order to do this. Another drawback, at least for us, is that
not many black metal bands tour the States so you get stuck opening up for Death Metal acts. All in
all I think the US scene is getting very strong and has a lot of good bands and if it is overlooked
people are truly missing out. But generally people are fucking brainless so it may be better off that
these type of people not discover these bands at all.
Drawing off of that question...does it bug you that Kult ov Azazel are automatically pegged and
promoted as "US black metal" instead of just a black metal band? I ask because it kind of bugs me
that the "US" has to be tagged on there all the time...whether for better or for worse.
Honestly I'm not ashamed of the USBM tag because that is what we are. We are a US black metal band.
People tend to throw the tag on there and when others hear US black metal they automatically shun it.
I mean we all know that only Norwegian Black Metal or Swedish Black Metal are true and all other bands
wish they could be from there or as great as those bands (sarcasm). This is your typical reply from
people when the term US black metal comes up but I can say for Kult ov Azazel we can hold our ground
against any "elite" black metal band out there. I might even go as far as saying we crush the majority
of them.
How has the reaction been to the new album "Triumph of Fire"?
The reaction has been a lot better than I figured it would be. All the reviews have been great and
it's getting quite a bit of airplay on underground metal stations worldwide. I have been told that
it is about to be repressed for the States again and it will be released for Europe/World on May 28th.
I guess you could say I'm shocked that it has done as well as it has in the States. We really appreciate
the support that the black metal underground has given us over the years and many hails to everyone
that has bought it and supported the Kult!!! Fuck off and kill yourself to any fag that has bought it
and doesn't like it!!
Has the search for a permanent drummer yielded any positive results yet? When a full-time drummer
is found, can the US fans expect a tour?
Unfortunately as I said earlier we are still without a drummer. The search has uncovered a few
prospects but not many. We will begin rehearsing with a drummer in June who I think is going to
work out. I know he's got experience and he's into this form of music. He has dedication, which is
what many of our past drummers have lacked. So if every thing works out we will definitely be doing
some dates in the US. We have already confirmed to play two fests this year. One being the Blood Fire
Death Fest here in Ft. Lauderdale in October which is being organized by Imperial of Krieg and the
other will be the 4th annual Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child in TX with Profanatica, Thornspawn,
Inquisition, Black Witchery, Bloodstorm, Grand Belial's Key and Gnostic. We also plan on doing some
European dates and if all works out this will be around the beginning on the new year.
What's next for the band now that the album has been released? Have you done any writing for the
next album yet?
What's next for us as far as recording goes will be a 5 or 6 song EP which we hope to do by the fall.
We have about 4 songs in the works right now. It'll be the same vein as "Triumph of Fire" but may have
more slowed down parts instead of non stop blasting. It'll definitely have a more old school black
metal feel to it at times. We'll then be releasing another full length in the summer of 2002.
Florida has traditionally been a hotbed for death metal acts. Does this help or hinder Kult ov
Azazel, coming out of the state at the forefront of the black metal scene?
It really hasn't done either. Florida is definitely known for it's death metal bands and people tend
to go "what the fuck...these guys are from Florida...I thought Florida only had death metal bands"
when they hear our music. My opinion is I think it's all for the better that there's not many black
metal bands from this state. There are Black Witchery, Cryptic Winds and us. In my opinion that's
enough. It seems to me that when you have too many bands from the same area drama always ends up
running rampant and people are more concerned with one upping the other band or bands. The scene
here back in the 90's was perfect example of what I'm trying to say.
"Triumph of Fire" was released on a rather obscure label, Arctic Music? How did this happen and
are you happy with what they are doing as far as promotion, etc.? With such positive reaction to
this album, is there any chance you will be in the market for a bigger label to release your next
album?
Ok here's how it happened... Phil from Malevolent Creation decided to start up a label of just
crushing and relentless bands. We had started to share a warehouse with Malevolent Creation and
one night Phil sat in and watched us rehearse for an upcoming show. He'd only heard the "Order of
the Fly" mCD and had not physically seen or heard us play. Plus by that point in time we had many
new songs that we played that night and basically the next day called me and said I'm signing you
guys. So we ended up signing a 4-album deal with Arctic and so far I am very pleased with the job
Arctic has been doing on promoting the album. On the other hand Pavement is also pushing it and for
the most part I think they have done a good job except for their fuck up saying we are influenced by
cradle of fifth. How they pulled that comparison out their ass is beyond me. So let me set the record
straight here, if you have seen this description used in any type of press Pavement has issued trust
me when I say we in no way sound like or resemble any gay fruity keyboard band. These type of bands
(and we all know which bands I'm talking about) in my eyes are not black metal and can't even hold
their own against what we are doing. Kult ov Azazel is raging blasphemous black metal period. No
beauty, no atmosphere, no tranquillity!!!
What band(s) or person(s) would you like to see eliminated from the scene/Earth (list as many as
you want...and they don't have to necessarily be black metal) and why?
The majority of humanity would fall into this vision. But if you want examples then it would be the
religious right, life loving pro lifers and all other groups that support the right to live, Cradle
of Filth and all bands that appeal to mallgoth fags and use the term black metal in describing their
music, Tele-evangelist, Wiccans, Self help gurus, and homosexuals. Those would be just a few that I
can think of out of the blue. And let's not forget the fuckers that like to talk shit and spread
lies (you know who you are)... your time will come!!!
Top 5 All-Time Favorite Albums?
There are too many great albums that I would consider to be my favorites so it's hard to pick just 5.
Off the top of my head five of my favorites would be Possessed "7 Churches", Venom "Welcome to Hell",
Darkthrone "A Blaze in the Northern Sky", Destruction "Infernal Overkill" and Gorgoroth "Antichrist".
Any last words? Things to promote? Etc.
Thanks for the interview. If you like fucking relentless black metal then pick up a copy of "Triumph
of Fire". For all information as well as merchandise visit our webgrave at www.kultovazazel.com or
contact us through the snail mail address below. Distributors get in contact if you'd like to
distribute any Kult ov Azazel merchandise. Email contact is kultovazazel@aol.com. Hails to the black
metal hordes worldwide! Hail Satan!!
Kult ov Azazel
PO Box 23308
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33307
USA
| | |