This interview is taken from "Temple Ov Thee Rez-erektion" zine. Interview conducted by Daemon Abraxas Capricornus (Michael Bishop). Questions answered by Xaphan. Rez-erektion: Hails Xaphan! For the sake of people who aren't familiar with Kult Ov Azazel, please introduce yourself and the band. Kult Ov Azazel: Hails! We formed in 1999 under the name of Azazel. We recorded and released our first mcd (self released) called "Order of the Fly" in August of '99 and then in June of 2000 changed the name to Kult ov Azazel, and in February of 2001 the split we did with Krieg was released. Then just a few weeks ago our first full-length album titled "Triumph of Fire" was released by our label Arctic Music. Rez-erektion: I was really impressed with the three releases of yours which I own;"Order Of The Fly", Split with Krieg, and "Triumph of Fire". I felt that the material was very energetic and intense. I think it really shows inspiration and sincerity, when a band can exist for such a short time and be so prolific having material that is consistently good without having a couple of good songs and the rest only filler material (Marduk)… Kult Ov Azazel: haha Rez-erektion: So now that it's out how do you feel about "Triumph of Fire", and what's been the reaction you've gotten? Kult Ov Azazel: I think that with "Triumph of Fire" we released some of the best songs we've done to date. Much more went into the writing process of this album unlike in the past where the songs were written completely by either Xul or myself. We worked together on the writing of this release and I think it shows. We have been receiving great reviews and I have been told that it is selling very well. Rez-erektion: I would definitely say that it's the best release so far this year, and better than most last year. Kult Ov Azazel: A lot of people have been saying that, we are honored that these people hold us in high respect. Rez-erektion: I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about your history as far as being in the kult metal scene goes. Any other bands worth noting that you appeared in? Kult Ov Azazel: I have been into this scene for a while now in one form or another. I use to do a zine back in 90, moved to Florida in 93, started a band with Crazy Larry that was called Coprophagia in 94, and I was just recently added to the Hate Plow lineup as their bassist. Rez-erektion: Yeah, I heard that you are now a permanent member of Hateplow! How did that come about? Are you contributing to the next album? Kult Ov Azazel: Well we share a warehouse with Malevolent Creation and I was already going on the European tour with them as their sound engineer. About 2 weeks before the date we were suppose to leave the bass player backed out and I was asked to play bass as well on tour since Hate Plow was the support act. Once we got back I was asked if I would be a permanent member and I said why the fuck not. I will only be contributing my playing skills, all my writing goes towards Kult ov Azazel, that is my priority. Rez-erektion: How will touring with Hateplow go, I imagine you will be traveling a lot. Do you look forward to that? Kult Ov Azazel: Well that will be something that'll have to be worked around. If Kult ov Azazel ever goes out with Hate Plow then I suppose I'll have to play double sets, haha, which doesn't bother me one bit. As far as touring goes, I enjoyed touring in Europe so yeah I'm looking forward to going back out. Rez-erektion: I know that you guys had to change your name from Azazel to Kult Ov Azazel, can you speak a little about why that happened? I think it's actually a better name, it has a darker feel to it. Are you now happy that things worked out this way? Kult Ov Azazel: What it all comes down to is after a year of having the name we decided it just wasn't original enough. In fact it was so unoriginal that at least 6 bands had or were using the name (still are for that matter). We were sick of being confused with this Azazel and that Azazel so it just seemed like a better way to go. It separated us from all these other bands and it is a more original name. I agree it is much darker and implies much more. Rez-erektion: I was thinking that as Azazel is the demon who taught men how to build weapons and wage war that "Kult Ov Azazel" is a name that could refer to all of the true Infernal Legions! That's what the true essence of *real* Black/Death metal is about. Kult Ov Azazel: You are correct about the meaning behind Azazel and that is what we are doing, we are waging a war on christianity through our music. Hence we are the Kult ov Azazel, the bringers of war and destruction on this religion of fools - In the name of Azazel. Rez-erektion: Black Metal today for the most part has become very weak due to gothic influences and such, particularly in Europe. Do you think magazines like Metal Maniacs etc will ever realize this and look to their own countrymen such as yourselves and give them the credit deserved for having preserved the intensity, evil, blasphemy and brutality that black metal once had, and for taking it steps further? Kult Ov Azazel: Black metal today is very trendy and too experimental. I don't know if "major" zines will ever recognize us, nor do I really give a fuck. We do what we do because it is our driving force, our need, and our life! If people ever give us credit for what we are doing than great, if not I don't fucking care, we know what we can achieve and if people fail to recognize it then it is their loss. Rez-erektion: It sort of saves us from having deal with the trendy assholes anyway, they'll be too busy going to Dimmu Borgir and Children of Bodom shows... Kult Ov Azazel: Or buying Cradle of Filth T-shirts. Rez-erektion: I think it's funny though that with how powerful the US BM hordes are I've only seen one thing in a large magazine like Terrorizer which had a blurb on Thornspawn a while back. Kult Ov Azazel: Yeah I remember that article. The scene here is just not very known right now, a lot of Europeans have never heard of US Black Metal. Rez-erektion: Hey you know, if they interview you they may not have room for their Millionth Bruce Dickinson interview and that would be tragic! Kult Ov Azazel: The chances of any "major" zine interviewing us are very slim. We represent what people fear and that's not good press for some of these conservative zines. And if they do they'll get the same answers anyone else would get. Rez-erektion: Especially Metal Maniacs which is one of the biggest P.C. metal mags around that still consider itself underground. It's almost like bands have to watch what they say for fear of being boycotted! I mean they wouldn't interview Deicide for like 10 years! Kult Ov Azazel: Fuck that, I'm don't care if people boycott us or not, it's already happening to us and it only makes us stronger. Bad press is better than good press! Rez-erektion: An insult from an enemy is the best compliment… Kult Ov Azazel: I agree, insults only equate to jealousy and failure! Rez-erektion: A question about KoA's line up...So is Vetis and permanent member and did he appear on the "Triumph of Fire" album? Kult Ov Azazel: No Vetis is not permanent. We have a drummer that will be joining us in June. The core of this group has always been myself (guitar/additional vocals) and Xul (vocals/bass). Rez-erektion: What does your name Xaphan mean? I know that Xul is a demon from the Necronomicon... Kult Ov Azazel: Xaphan was the rebel angel that suggested that Heaven be set on fire during the battle of the angels. Rez-erektion: Now that is seriously fucking metaaaaal! ha ha ha Kult Ov Azazel: Indeed. Rez-erektion: I noticed there is a member of Summon also named Xaphan, is there ever any confusion when people interview you? Kult Ov Azazel: Never been any confusion. In fact I think he is no longer in Summon, quit a while back from what I have heard. Besides they went to using their birthnames anyways… Rez-erektion: Yeah, Lord Blackthorn of Thornspawn (HAIL!) was telling me some stuff about them.... He called them trendwhores. It's too bad that they're like that, I thought "Baptized By Fire" had some killer tracks. Kult Ov Azazel: Yeah I've never really heard them, just songs on compilations and shit. I heard they wanted to fight us because I was also named Xaphan but how much of that rumor is true I don't know. Rez-erektion: That's hilarious... Kult Ov Azazel: That's what I said, I laughed my ass off! Rez-erektion: I read that you did vocals on only one song on "Triumph of Fire". I know that you and Xul share the music writing efforts, who is doing most of the lyrics? Kult Ov Azazel: Xul has always been the main person when it comes to lyrics. On "Triumph of Fire" I actually wrote the lyrics to "Destruction to the Throne of God" and "Altar of Satan". If you read the lyrics you can definitely tell that my writing style and Xul's are both different. I'll continue on the next release to pen more blasphemies. Rez-erektion: It's obvious from your lyrics and imagery that you are into the occult, particularly Satanism, and I also noticed in your CD's that you thank Peter Gilmore of the Church of Satan. Do you think it's weird that an organization, condemning Christianity for restricting personal freedom (obviously among other things), sets up such things as 11 "Satanic" rules of the earth, 9 "Satanic" statements, and the Pentagonal revisionism ideas LaVey came up with? Do you take those doctrines seriously at all or do you have your own view on things? Kult Ov Azazel: I am a member of the Church of Satan but I have my own views on things. I don't follow , I lead. I agree with the majority of what LaVey wrote but not all. I am very much into the occult and Satanism; these have been two leading factors in my life since childhood. Rez-erektion: I would agree on that. It's weird though I actually was told a few Magisters that if you are part of other organizations not affiliated with the COS that you aren't a true Satanist! Kult Ov Azazel: I don't follow all that drama, I support the CoS because I support all things that lead to the abolishment of christian thought and ideology. Rez-erektion: I personally have been practicing satanic chaos magick on my own for years and have had quite a bit of success, but it wasn't until I started creating my own rituals from different sources including LaVey that I actually had success, however while practicing rituals straight out of LaVey's books, I never had any results. What have been your experiences with this? Kult Ov Azazel: I haven't practiced ritual magic since the formation of this band, my energy and thought are now put into our music which I consider ritual for me now. Before though when I did practice I drew from all kinds of sources myself, I have a very extensive library of occult related materials so most of mine came from all those books. Rez-erektion: Are you familiar at all with Peter Carroll's Books on Chaos magic? I would recommend them. I've done some pretty intense things with some material I gathered from them... Kult Ov Azazel: Yes I have Liber Null/Psychonaut and Liber Chaos. Rez-erektion: Yeah those books are incredible... Kult Ov Azazel: Haven't delved too much into chaos magic though. Rez-erektion: Chaos magic is perfect for incorporating satanic imagery and ideas. Kult Ov Azazel: This is something I have been told. Rez-erektion: What do you think about bands/journalists who criticize you and other infernal hordes, for keeping corpsepaint and spikes, saying that it's old news or that it's a trend. I personally feel that it's a bigger trend these days to drop corpsepaint and start using industrial beats… Kult Ov Azazel: What do I have to say to these people? Here's what I have to say.... FUCK OFF AND DIE! Kill yourselves now! People's opinions to me are like assholes, everybody is one… Rez-erektion: I seriously think we should invite them to your shows so we can have some actual bloodshed! It would be like a fucking GG Allin show..... Kult Ov Azazel: Haha, bloodshed you want, bloodshed you shall receive! Rez-erektion: A lot of bands play covered in fake blood, but he used to perform in real fucking blood (much of it his own)! Kult Ov Azazel: Who GG? Rez-erektion: yeah... Kult Ov Azazel: Yeah I saw him live once, but all in all he was a cock-sucking faggot that was a sadist. Rez-erektion: Funny you mention him as a cocksucker... Did you know that Paul Ledney (Profanatica-for the sake of readers who have been living in a closet forever) was in a GG Allin backup band the Connecticut Cocksuckers! Kult Ov Azazel: Yeah I heard about that. Rez-erektion: When I play live (soon hopefully) there will be real bloodshed... Kult Ov Azazel: We have yet to see live bloodshed at any of our shows. There's always the Blood Fire Death Fest and the Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child Fest! Rez-erektion: I hope to go to that Sacrifice of the Nazarene Fest, which should be incredible... Kult Ov Azazel: It will be kick ass to play with some of the best USBM bands out there right now. To share the stage with Profanatica is going to kill. Profanatica fucking rule! Rez-erektion: Any chance of you guys every playing in my neck of the woods (Maine)? Pardon the trendy reference to the woods ha ha ha Kult Ov Azazel: Yeah eventually we'll get around to playing the states, when I have no idea, hopefully before the years end. First we must find a drummer that can play our shit! Rez-erektion: Not to get political as I have no interest in politics, only chaos, but I wanted to mention that I have been called a hypocrite by some of the people who are fans of black metal. They think it's stupid that I have no problem with other races per se, yet I claim to believe in hate. My point has always been look, I'm surrounded by annoying fucking sheep assholes who are white and their stupidity makes it impossible for me to feel "pride" in my skin color. My hatred isn't about race or any of that, it's towards those who I feel are useless and who annoy or oppose me. Anyone who stands by me and fights the same battle as I do no matter what race is my warbrother! (i.e. Blasphemy, Impiety…)What are your thoughts on this? Kult Ov Azazel: People may call me a racist because I use slurs and what not but that is just me. I hate fucking everybody until I get to know you and then most of the time I was right in the first place because they usually end up reveling their asshole status. In other words, there are too many fucking idiots out there and it does me no good to associate with these scumbags no matter what race they are. They like to call it racism I call it misanthropy. I do not like being around people and have a disgust for the human race. People do nothing for me except irritate me. Rez-erektion: I can completely relate...I definitely keep to myself for the most part and I only bother to contact people who I can relate to, and there are few… If there's a race to hate it's the human race in general! Kult Ov Azazel: Hate is hate, no way of sugar coating it although some people try to… Rez-erektion: People call it antisocial, but most people have nothing to offer and they'd simply be a waste of my time or an annoyance as I said earlier. Kult Ov Azazel: I agree, I try to avoid being in public as much as possible for this reason. Rez-erektion: The one thing that sucks about my job is that I have to take orders from yuppies all day and try to pretend that I don't hate them! Kult Ov Azazel: Fuck that, I'd have a hard time doing something like that. If I don't like you I don't pretend that I do, you will know! Rez-erektion: Well I am paid very well which makes it possible for me to do what I want, and I need that…As soon as I am able to be self sufficient, the better though. Thanks for the interview Xaphan, I hope that it's hasn't been too mundane. I'm just doing whatever I can to spread the hate and war... Kult Ov Azazel: I appreciate the review. It's the true warriors such as yourself that help us spread our contempt and antichristian propaganda. Rez-erektion: Anything you have to say-the floor is yours... Kult Ov Azazel: Buy the album "Triumph of Fire", visit our site at www.kultovazazel.com and burn the church! Thanks again for the interview and support the christian holocaust, blasphemy shall reign! Hail Satan!