Answered by Xaphan Ave the Kult ov Azazel. Let's go with something about the concept behind the band and the philosophy. The first and foremost goal of this band is to stay true to ourselves musically and create music that we feel connected to. We wish to hold true to the ideals that black metal originated from and represent this through our music and lyrics. Kult ov Azazel is our vehicle for spreading misery, suffering and the destruction of monotheistic ideas through musical violence. Your band, as well as other US black metal bands, is rising. I've listened to some good ones but their attitude is not so good. Do you have good relationship with them? I don't know which bands you speak of so therefore I can't comment. I can say that the bands that we are in contact with from North America have the right attitude when it comes to black metal. The thing is the bands from here still believe in the raw, evil form of black metal and continue to play black metal in the traditions that the originators did. It's good that each CD of your band changes some but does not mean that the band turns to crap or gay attitudes as acts like Gayhem. What is your feeling about these insects? What other bands do does not concern me, only what this band does. But I'll say that if a band goes a complete direction from what they were doing in the first place then it is evident that those were their true intentions. Personally, if a band I like does this I stop buying their albums. I don't spend time thinking about it. As for the comment on "Oculus Infernum", we did not want to create another "Triumph of Fire" so yes we changed our writing formula a bit and because of this the new material is more varied this time round and I think it has more feeling to the music. It's not 40 minutes of all out blasting, but it's still speedy with a lot more tempo switches. Black metal was a cult now turn a black pop well brothers who has done for stop or better say what can all do for crush this fucking plague in the scene the era of Black Metal Mafia is dead? The thing is no matter what form of music you talk about there's always a few that wish to try and exploit it and it's up to the bands that still follow the ways of old and continue to spew forth black blasphemies and the maniacs that support true black metal art to crush this plague. Your new CD had a better sound. Is this the best recording for you? Sincerely I like more the previous works. Well you can't please everyone and to be brutally upfront we aren't trying to please anyone. I am very content with the way this album came out. We produced this effort by ourselves and put a lot of time into the actual recording and mix down. We took our time and in the end I believe it paid off. What you get is a new album that consists of black metal with no compromises and reveals the true essence of this band. Take it or leave it, like it or not, the bottom line is we're pleased with how it came out and nothing beyond that matters. What do you see for the future of black metal? I have no idea. All I can say is I was listening to the bands that spawned what became black metal and I listen to the bands that came to be from these legends. This band has been together almost 5 years and as long as we'll still together we will continue playing black metal because this is what we live and breath. What bands do you like that are more into true UG? Antaeus, Inquisition, Thornspawn, Impiety, Revenge, Krieg, Merrimack, Averse Sefira, Open Grave, Gnostic, Blood Storm, Cult o f Daath, Malleus Maleficarum, Eternity of Darkness, Fiend, Goat Vomit, Darkest Hate, Empaligon, Saevus, Xasthur and Weltmacht are current bands I am into. There's definitely many more but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment. On the compilation CD "Visionaries of the Macabre II" there was an epitaph in the middle of booklet. Why is this and was this your concept? This was not our idea since we had nothing to do with this release other than contributing a song. When do you see the return of blasphemy? It's never died. It's been around since the beginnings of time. For the moment this all I have. The rest is for you to spread blasphemies. Ave Kult ov Azazel. Hails to you for allowing us to spread our profanation through your zine. Any additional knowledge sought shall be found at www.kultovazazel.com and absolutely seek out the newest blasphemy "Oculus Infernum". Revelabitur atrocitas Infernum... let the horrors of Hell be revealed!!!