Hailing out of Florida, KULT OV AZAZEL began their reign of fury in April of 1999. Founders Xaphan (vocals/guitar) and Xul (bass/vocals) shared the same vision to make hateful music filled with blasphemy and mayhem. The band would soon put out their self released debut album "Order of the Fly." Through the yeras the band would go through many member changes, but they would still keep their Satanic fire burning with releases like "Triumph of Fire." In 2005 they will release "The World, The Flesh & The Devil." We took some time to talk to KULT OV AZAZEL to get the latest. Interviewed by Tony & answered by Xaphan Thanks for the interview man, give us the latest news on KULT OV AZAZEL? Anytime, I thank you for giving us space in your zine to further spread our propaganda. The latest with the band is we are gearing up for a local show in September along with a west coast tour scheduled for November. We have been working on more songs that will be recorded for the next album and we’ll also be releasing a split CD with Vrolok through Arctic Music before the end of the year. For those who are just finding out about the band can you give us some history on the band? We formed in the spring of 1999 under the banner of Azazel consisting of myself on guitar/backing vocals, Xul on vocals/bass and Von on drums. Under this moniker and lineup we recorded and released our first mCD “Order of the Fly”. Von was booted out and Hellspawn took over drums and during this time we recorded the material that later would be known as the split CD with Krieg. In the spring of 2000 Hellspawn was removed from the band, we changed the name to Kult ov Azazel and signed a 4 album deal with Arctic Music. That November we entered a studio using a session drummer known as Vetis and recorded the first full length “Triumph of Fire” which was released in March 2001. We have also done a 7” split with Satan’s Blood; a 4 way split with Obitus, Humanicide and Thylord titled “Gather Against Humanity” and have been included on numerous compilations. In 2003 we released the second blasphemy through Arctic Music titled “Oculus Infernum” and this has been the first recording we have done with a full permanent lineup which now consists of myself (vocals/guitar), Xul (vocals/ bass), Nocturath (guitar/backing vocals) and Hammer (drums). You all will be playing with DEICIDE at the Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale. When was the last time you did a Florida show? The last time we played here was April of 2002. We are looking forward to this show since it’s been such a long time plus this will be the first time that the legions of South Florida will get to see us with the permanent lineup not to mention we have not had the opportunity to assault the local hordes with the blasphemies off Oculus Infernum. I have read this will be your last local show for some time. Do you feel that many bands whore themselves out to much in the local scene and how do you think this affects a bands following? Well like I said we haven’t played locally for well over 2 years not because we don’t want to, if we could we’d definitely do more than a show every two years. In the past we played a lot and I have no regrets in doing so. I guess it has pissed some off and perhaps maybe we should have not played as often as we did but it made us into a live band so to speak, every show just made us a stronger unit. Not to mention it proved to people we were a band that was not merely a recording project, we are willing and able to deliver it in a live setting. In our case it only strengthened our support but overall most of the time playing out too often especially for a local band can be damaging. But our deal is this, we are scattered all over the place as a band with Xul and I being the only ones that reside in South Florida, him being in Boynton Beach and myself in Ft. Lauderdale. Nocturath lives in Central Florida, Orlando to be exact as well as our session live guitarist V.J.S. of the hordes Demoncy/Incursus/Tenebrous. Then we have Hammer who lives in Buffalo, NY. This tends to be a slight problem and is a cause for why we haven’t done too many shows locally plus we all have conflicting work schedules most of the time so when we do get together we use the time to concentrate on writing rather than playing locally. How is the scene in South Florida these days in your opinion? I don’t know or keep up with the local scene band wise being that I can count on two hands the bands that are even worth mention. Shall I? Malevolent Creation, Divine Empire, Hateplow, Hellwitch, Tenebrous, Devastator, Hibernus Mortis, Capra Hircus, Blood Oath and Cyst. That’s it out of a sea of shit as far as South Florida bands go. As for shows, Ft. Lauderdale is going stronger than it has in over a decade. Lot’s of shows come through now that for many years we’d have to travel to Tampa or Orlando to see. How has the response been for your latest record "OCULUS INFERNUM” and were you satisfied with the final result? Depends on who you ask but from the reviews I have seen I’d say that 96% were satisfied while the other 4% bashed us mainly on being a band from America playing black metal. We got the same reaction with “Triumph of Fire” and past releases so it wasn’t much surprise to me. I realize not everyone will like what we do. There will be those that just don’t like it period, some because they believe a production of a black metal album should sound like it was recorded on a Fischer price recorder in a basement or forest and those that will hate it because they have a problem with this individual or that individual in the band. It isn’t about what others think, not to me nor for the others. We just create music with a certain ideological slant that we are connected with. If other people can connect or relate with that same energy then great but if they can’t that’s fine as well. With that said, there’s a few things I’d like to go back and change on Oculus but this is the case with everything we’ve recorded, but all in all I’m very satisfied with the way the album came out. I think it’s by far the best release we have done to date. The band had changed drummers a few times was it a matter of lack of devotion to the band that caused you to make these changes? And is this the strongest the band has been? Fuck yeah this is the strongest this band has ever been. Having both Hammer and Nocturath in the fold really solidifies the band. I think it really shows on Oculus Infernum. The change in drummers has always been because the former ones to hold that title just didn’t have what it takes to be a part of this band. Be it they were unmotivated, uninspired or just lacked the dedication that’s needed. Once we found Hammer and he tried out we knew immediately we had the right guy. Like I said he lives in Buffalo, NY and comes down here for rehearsals or to work on new songs so he’s totally dedicated. If not it’s a good front he’s putting on. What inspires you when you write the music and lyrics? Lyric wise the music inspires what comes out. I usually decide on a title for the song and from that point I listen to the song over and over again and the lyrics just come. The topics are inspired by occult subjects, Satanism and Nihilistic philosophies. Musically there’s nothing that specifically triggers me to write, it’s a wild variety of things. Sometimes it’s anger, sometimes it’s sorrow, and it can be the tone of a note or nothing at all. I don’t force myself to write, never have. I just pick up the guitar and it flows out. What can you tell us about your next release "THE WORLD, THE FLESH& THE DEVIL”? I can tell you we are scheduled to record it February of 2005 at Mana Studio there in your hometown of Tampa, Florida. You as well as many others know this studio as the same one that other great metal bands such as Krisiun, Hate Eternal, In Battle and Malevolent Creation have recorded. It will consist of around 13 tracks with themes based off the title of the album. Titles to give you an example are “And Earth is Filled with Violence”, “Compelled to Die”, “The Glorification of Evil”, “The Calling Forth”, “An Eternity with Satan”, and “Blood, Death & Damnation”. Some of the songs have not been titled or lyrics aren’t written yet but lyrically this album will revolve around the title. A demo track of a song can be found on our website for those interested. Ok what is the latest on HATEPLOW and what can you tell us about "MOSHPIT MURDER”? No clue as to what is going on; I just abuse alcohol and a bass guitar when it comes to Hateplow. Musically it’s all a Phil and Rob thing which is not a process I have anything to do with. I have not done any recording with them only touring since 2001. Usually it’s a phone call saying “it’s on” and then we spend a few days rehearsing and next thing you know we’re in Europe. So I’m always the last to know anything but have been told that a new studio album is coming soon. “Moshpit Murder” is a live album recorded on their “Only Law is Survival” US 2000 tour and contains the 1996 demo and a song from the ’99 demo. It’s a pretty sick live album! Thanks XAPHAN for the time what is next for you and KULT OV AZAZEL in 2005 and when will we see you in Tampa Bay area next? I can’t think of anything that hasn’t already been covered but one can always get updated news, dates as well as merch through www.kultovazazel.com. We’ll be in Tampa in February so maybe we can do a live studio report or something of the sorts; it’s all up to you. Other than that, not anytime soon unless something comes up between now and then that brings us there. Any last words for the readers? We can be contacted at Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307, USA. Hails to all that have and continue to show their support!