Interviewed by Elio Bordi & answered by Xaphan How come you signed for the label of Phil Fasciana? Do you like Phil's main band Malevolent Creation"? We signed with Arctic Music because they seemed to be the right label to sign with. We had begun sharing a warehouse with Malevolent Creation and Phil heard us one night and the next day said he wanted to sign us. Obviously we accepted. Is there any label mates you specially like? What are the albums that specially hit your attention in the last times? I think all the bands that Phil and Scott have been signing to Arctic are great in their own way. I can't say I like one more than the other. The albums that have caught my attention recently have been Belphegor's "Necrodaemon Terrorsathan", Nargaroth's "Black Metal ist Krieg", Judas Iscariot's "Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten", Inquisition's "Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult". How is to play black metal in the US, is there and interesting scene there? What do you think about " nu metal"? It's the same as playing black metal in another country I would suppose. I mean I don't see why living here and playing this form of music would be any different from living in Italy and playing it. I don't know where people get the idea that it's any different or that no US band can play black metal. The scene here consists of some great bands that still play black metal the way it use to be. The way it was until faggots and goths decided to make it a joke and romantic. If people actually shut their fucking mouths and looked hard enough they might be able to recognize what I am saying. As far as nu metal is concerned, it sucks and all the people that buy and listen to that shit should be made to die slow and painful deaths. How do you describe your sound? Total misanthropic black metal! What are the next steps planned for Kult Ov Azazel? Are you ready to conquer the world or will you lurk in the shades for some time before to unleash your attack? Right now since we have no drummer we are just writing new material. We have a drummer that will be coming down from New York next week to rehearse with us and if all goes well then at that point we'll begin to look further into taken our ritual back to a live setting. Tell us something about your way to perform a live show! There's nothing fancy about one of our shows. We basically are straightforward black metal with no cheesy theatrics. A typical Kult ov Azazel show is all about hate, speed and blasphemy. What were your main influences in the creation of Kult Ov Azazel devilish onslaught? The main influences behind the creation of Kult ov Azazel were and still are satanic and nihilistic philosophies and the need to take black metal back to its roots so to speak. It was the urge to play black metal with conviction. A need to create a musical assassination upon religion and humanity - to spread worldwide hate. And to show people that fucking black metal still exists and has not become some fucking side show joke. Reading your lyrics I noticed a strong satanic influences. In which do you live this way of life? I live my life according to satanic principles and thinking. For me to go into great detail of this would not be worth the time because most people wouldn't understand it anyhow. The ones that do understand it will know where I am coming from. Let's just say that you notice strong satanic influences in our lyrics because that one of the compelling forces behind this band. What is your judgement about the extreme scene today? What are the bands you still respect? It's ok, nothing great. Don't get me wrong, there are some great bands out there but overall it's nothing impressing to me. Darkthrone is the only band I can think of that I still respect. What do you think about the Mp3's and the Napster situation? Do you think they could be help for the musicians or are they just a danger? Tough question to answer. Although I see it as a great use for a band to have mp3's of their stuff up on their websites, I have mixed feelings over the whole mp3 file sharing topic. It's cool that you can go to some place like Napster and get a hold of old shit that has been lost or damaged over time or that is now out of print or just absolutely impossible to get your hands on. Other than that I see it as only being destructive to the bands and labels that fuel the underground. What kind of music do you enjoy apart from metal? I listen to many different forms of music. Its mostly older industrial stuff, classical and 70's rock and roll. But the times I listen to stuff like this is when I am not in my own surroundings. When I'm at home you can guarantee that it's metal that is being listened to. In other words I don't listen to these other forms of music upon my own will. What the word "black metal" means to you all? In 3 words… Anti-christian, Anti-humanity, Anti-life! What is the "Triumph of Fire"? It is a call to arms, an inspiration for the legions of contempt to rise up against christianity. A sort of inversion to the Christian Inquisition if you will. It's the vision of an uprising against christianity by the people that are sick of the lies and hypocrisy that it breeds, the mentality it embraces and the weakness that lies in the hearts of the people that sheepishly follow it. It's the day that the tables are turned and an all out holocaust will be brought upon these self-righteous fucks. Their doctrines ripped to shreds, their works of art destroyed and their houses of worship burned to the ground. It's the armageddon that they have been dreaming about for ages yet when the time comes it won't be jesus here to save them… it will be Death. Ok, we're in the end. Is there anything you want to say to the Italian Kult ov Azazel Hordes? Hail the way of all flesh!!!