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This issue now comes full circle with our second interview with Kult ov Azazel, featured in our pages 9 years ago (issue #7). In their 9 th year of decimation and desecration and with a string of killer splits, ep’s and full length albums under their belt, KoA will be recording a new full length of blasphemic black art by the time you read this. SS catches up with vocalist / guitarist Xaphan . . .

Kult of Azazel has been desecrating for 9 (IX) years now. 9 is a magickal number in occult circles... any special plans or overseas tours for your ninth year?

I wish I could say there were but unfortunately there are no plans.

What were the main inspirations on the new CD? Also, how was the recording experience at Mana Studios (Erik Rutan) this time around?

We have not gone in yet. We were scheduled to record in August but had to reschedule the recording to October. However, I expect the recording experience this time around to be no different than the last album we recorded there. The main themes behind the album are the usual, that being the death, destruction and elimination of abrahamic religions.

Jeff Becerra makes a guest appearance on Destroying the Sacred, how did you contact him for the recording sessions? Aside from Seven Churches, what are you favorite Possessed releases?

The original plan was to have Jeff contribute some lyrics, backup vocals and do main vocals on a Possessed cover. I contacted him back in 2006 and to my amazement he was totally into contributing. However, due to the recent reformation of Possessed and limited recording funds this may not happen. I have spoken to him about maybe tracking vocals to the cover in San Francisco but nothing is certain yet. He’s been super busy with Possessed this year that we just haven’t had time to talk about what the plan is and how to execute it.

Kult of Azazel is part the USBM scene which has become quite huge and diverse. Any comments on the varied and different influences in today’s black metal compared to the earlier era when it was dominated by Scandinavia/Norway? Any current favorites?

Not really. I have in essence stopped following what the scene here or anywhere else is doing. It’s nothing that concerns me anymore and at this point in my life. As long as Kult ov Azazel is focused and doing our thing I could give two shits about what any other band is doing. Current favorites though are Avsky, Furze, the new Baphomets Horns and a black/doom band called Hour of 13.

The zine's last interview with you was way back in '99, when "Order of the Fly" just got released and you were known then as Azazel. Despite lineup changes and trends what keeps you inspired in continuing to play true blasphemic black art?

My passion for creating and playing extreme metal and my lifelong interest/involvement in the occult and LHP.

You've had a number of releases in the past as well as splits with Krieg, Vrolok, Horn of Valere, Satan's Blood etc. What would be your most favorite (and least favorite if any), as well as the band situation / inspirations at the time it was written?

I have been satisfied with all the split we have done. None are my favorite or least favorite. I am proud of everything we have written and released. As for the inspirations and band situation at the time of each release is concerned, I can’t give you an answer. My memory isn’t that good.

A lot of these releases are also long out of print - which ones would you like to be re-released eventually?

At this time, none of them.

I understand that the new CD will be the final one for Arctic. How was the experience working with the Arctic Label? Any specific labels in mind that you want to work with?

The relationship between us has been extremely good. For a label they have always been good to us. There has been other label interest yet nothing better than what we are getting from Arctic contractually. If Arctic wants to resign us for other releases we will most likely resign with them. Yet if something better is offered we will look at those options as well.

I hope I’m not mistaken but you've also been involved with Hateplow, Demonic Christ, and Teratism among others. What was it like working with them and did playing outside KOA bring new influences? Do other members have any current side projects?

Your are partly right and wrong here. I have been involved in Hateplow since 2001. I was asked to join Teratism and agreed but nothing came of it and to my understanding there is another guitarist playing with them now. With Demonic Christ I was asked to play session guitar on the next album but it’s been a while since I have spoken to Dana. Outside of myself no one else in Kult ov Azazel has any projects outside the band.

Aside from the usual suspects in the metal realm what other types of music does the band appreciate and listen to, maybe are influenced by as well? What do you think of the more recent ambient/atmospheric influences in extreme metal these days?

Speaking for myself I like a range of things musically. Genres I listen to outside of metal are Doom, Stoner Rock, 70's & 80's era Punk, Crossover, Crust, Industrial, Darkwave, New Wave, Classic Rock, Delta Blues, Blues Rock, Classical, Movie Scores and Ritual Chamber music. As for ambient/atmospheric influences entering it doesn’t really bother me. It actually has been going on for some time. I will say some bands take it a bit too far but otherwise I can dig some bands that employ these influences.

Any thoughts about Florida, more known for (early 90's) death metal, and how KOA has been received in your home state throughout the years?

We haven’t done too much in the state of Florida outside of Ft. Lauderdale. In all the years we have done only 3 non local shows in Florida. Our base is mainly in South Florida but we’ve played on the west coast of Florida twice and Central Florida once with good turnouts.

Outside KOA and doing live sound engineering you work in a porn store, have you met KOA followers on the job? Any insights / weird experiences as a black metaller surrounded by porn every day?

Not much insight to working there. It’s just a job to pay the bills while I’m on downtime from doing sound on tours or recording with Kult ov Azazel. It’s easy, flexible allowing me to take long periods off work for touring/recording needs; I get free porn and am able to pay my bills. There have been times where people have come in and see I have long hair and ask if I play in a band. When I tell them Kult ov Azazel they usually recognize the name but don’t recognize who I am until I tell them. I look much different without the corpsepaint on, to the point I have been standing next to people asking “Where is Xaphan?” and all the time I’m right in front of them.