Interviewed by Jeff & answered by Xaphan Hailz Xaphan! How are things going with the Kult ov Azazel horde? We haven’t been very active since the recording. We played about a month agao that’s about it. At the moment things are quite calm and will remain so until we begin rehearsing for an east coast tour in August. “The World, The Flesh & The Devil” is truly an amazing album! Are you happy with the results? Yeah I am happy with the way it came out. It was a very wise move to record it at Mana Studios. With it we got the sound we have been trying to get on an album for years. You seem to pay close attention to aesthetics as well. I commend that. An album should be an event…a total package. The artwork for the new one is insane. Who did it? Well an album should be a total package that is why very close attention is put on details and aesthetics. Nocturath, our former guitarist did the artwork and layout. He also was who did the artwork on “Oculus Infernum.” You also just released a vinyl only 10” split with Horn of Valere. The cover of Sodom’s “Blasphemer” is a must own. You guys have done splits with Vrolok and Krieg as well. I’m curious about to how these come about. Is there a mutual appreciation among the bands? Thanks, we had been talking about doing a Sodom cover for a few years. It was even discussed back when we were recording the “Oculus Infernum” CD yet instead we recorded a Beherit cover. But yeah there is a mutual appreciation there otherwise we wouldn’t do these splits. I must also point out the split with Vrolok has not been released yet. I have been told to expect it in October. Are there any other releases, splits, comps or what have you on the horizons we should be watching for? That Vrolok CD split and we’ll also be doing a split in the future with Inthyflesh from Portugal. Will you be touring for this album? Yes, we’ll be doing 15 dates on the East coast in August with Blood Storm, Teratism and Horn of Valere. Tour dates are posted at www.kultovazazel.com. After that we’ll see what happens most likely we’ll begin writing a new album. I’ve noticed that you write most of the music and all of the lyrics. Is there a certain process you use? Do songs start with music or lyrics for you? Music is always written first and lyrics afterwards. This has been the way we gone about the writing process since our formation. Where would you say you draw your inspiration from lyrically? On this album the majority of inspiration comes from my intense hatred towards all religion. I think if one reads the lyrics this is very evident. Some were inspired from worldly events which occur day to day such as war, murder, suffering and death. And finally there are the lyrics that are directly inspired by LHP practices. Hence the title “The World, The Flesh & The Devil.” Are you involved with any projects in addition to KoA? Yes. It’s been six years since the release of "Order of the Fly". In that time do you think the USBM scene has changed for the better or for worse? Don’t really know as I don’t keep up with the “USBM” scene. Times were definitely much better before everything became like a “kvlt kiddie klvb” but it’s too late and to be expected when a bunch of children find a genre of music without having a firm grip on the ideology that goes with it. One just has to ignore these types for them to eventually go away. But there are some quality bands which is a better aspect but what’s far worse is you have to shovel through mountains of shit black metal being created by 16 year-olds who own a microphone a guitar and a computer and think it’s cool to play black metal. Is there a sense of camaraderie among the US extreme metal bands or is it more back-biting and shit talking? Sometimes I think more of that is generated by the “fans”…. If there is I don’t know. I cut all communication years ago. I have only kept in touch with a few of the bands since then. But you are right, nowadays the vast majority of shit talking is generated by those that consider themselves a part of the “scene” yet have no life outside of message boards and the internet. Not to mention 9 out of 10 times these same ones guilty of said actions are gone within a few years time if not sooner. Ok, “scene” talk is finished. I noticed KoA is one of the very few bands listed on the Church Of Satan website. Is LaVeyian Satanism something you yourself adhere to? Elaborate as you see fit… I adhere to Xapahian Satanism if we need to apply a label. LaVey’s writings have not been the only ones to form what I believe to be Satanism. Everybody seems to think because one has ties to the CoS that they automatically “follow” LaVey and I’m here to say that’s not the case with everyone. But ultimately what it comes down to is this, Satanism is the anti-religion and I am a Satanist who follows the path created by myself, not the path already created by someone else. Are you a reader? Have you been reading anything worthwhile lately? I am but haven’t read anything in quite some time. What about films? Again, yes but no. Last film I saw was the re-make of Dawn of the Dead. And now that Land of the Dead is out I will have to go to see that. And the inevitable “What have you been listening too?” question. Anything you’d like to plug? Mostly older releases being Slayer “Hell Awaits”, Mercyful Fate “Melissa”, Inquisition “Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult”, Mutiilation “Black Millenium”, Malevolent Creation “Warkult” and the Profantica/Masacre split. Newer releases have been Incursus 7”, Nos Vrolok “Maledictum Parasytus”, Devastator “The End” and Tenebrous “Arias towards the Black Sun”. Alright Xaphan, much respect to you and Kult ov Azazel. I wish you continued success. Any closing remarks for the Metalwhore readers? Just that the new album is out now so those interested should seek out a copy of “The World, The Flesh & The Devil.” Propaganda and other information can also be obtained directly from us through www.kultovazazel.com. Thanks Jeff for the support!!! And with that I’ll end this interview.