Interviewed by Jason & answered by Xaphan Hails Xaphan you dirty Blasphemer! Let's get right down to it shall we? Give our readers a simple introduction, (Location, years served, etc...) We are located in Ft. Lauderdale Florida and have been in existence since the spring of 1999. We started out under the moniker of Azazel but in 2000 we changed the name to Kult ov Azazel. In Black metal do you feel that the image, (corpsepaint, spikes etc...) is essential to the BM package, or is image just something that comes with playing BM and being involved in it? It is both I would say. Yes I think the corpsepaint and spikes, blood and fire are all important elements that go with the music. All these things create a visual and visual is an important factor in creating an atmosphere and energy. These are also tradition in black metal and that's one reason why we still use them, we are continuing the tradition. Out of the whole "Horde" of American Black metal, what would you say are the pros and cons? Are you proud to be a part of the USBM scene? I'm proud of what this band has accomplished and done in our short existence but I wouldn't say I am proud to be a part of the USBM scene. Maybe in the past when we first started out but I have learned to not communicate with the majority of the bands in this scene because it's nothing but backstabbing and shit talking and I'm not one for childish games. I do however remain in contact with the bands that don't act like a bunch of juvenile bitches and actually strive to do something rather than stir up rumors and bullshit. So I guess all that would be a con that comes with being lumped into the scene here. Other cons would be it's almost next to impossible to play with other hordes because of the size of this country. As far as pros go, I can't think of any at this moment. What do you think of people/bands who propagate the "de-population of humanity" theory, but then in turn espouse WP/NS theories which include making white babies and saving his or hers own race? I consider this hypocritical. How can you be for depopulation and out right embrace procreation? I personally see no place for political agenda in black metal but I'm not surprised that NS ideology found its way into black metal. Both are extremes but political agenda has no place in black metal. I am not a political person and think black metal should remain the way it was in the past. I'm not going to go into the typical "black metal is about this and that" but we all know that it has nothing to do with politics, never has and in my world never will. As far as this saving ones own race and shit, that's not even worth it either, there's just as many moronic and useless people in every ethnic race, be it the entire race or just particular persons. On the COS website, I see there is a KOA link, what are your thoughts on Satanism, namely the COS version of Satanism, or what Anton LaVey considered the "Church of Satan"? Well obviously I admire what LaVey did while he walked among the earth and the ideology he spawned otherwise I would not have ties to the CoS. But what the fuck does it matter anyways, I can sit here and tell you what I think and feel and someone else reading this will say that that I'm full of shit or what not. Why waste my time and energy answering this when everyone has a differentiating opinion/concept of what Satanism "really" is and honestly this question is just filler when it comes to anything about this band. My goal is not to recruit people to the Church of Satan but rather play black fucking metal that is out to destroy the masses of religionist and weaklings that plague our world. What does a day in the life of a KOA member consist of? And do you believe that Pagan/Satanic Feelings and thoughts play a large role in your day? Well this depends on which one of us we are talking about. For myself a typical day (or night is a better word) would be waking up around 5 pm, running mail to the Post Office to be sent out, doing email, working on the website, doing interviews, doing webdesign for other bands, listening to metal, alcohol, writing riffs and then I usually crash around 8 or 9 am the next morning. So this is pretty much a typical day for myself. The other guys have jobs and shit so they pretty much just work and practice when we do get around to practicing. As for satanic feelings, I think my feelings come out better through the music I write with Xul than they do at varying moments throughout the day. Usually the feelings I harbor when just functioning throughout a typical day, thus mainly when I have to leave my dwelling, are those of disgust. It's when I sit down and either write with myself or the band as a whole that I tap into the dark and satanic energies inside. What are your feelings on Death Metal?,Im asking because you Hail from an area rich in bands such as :DEICIDE,MONSTROSITY etc...,Does DM play a role in what influenced KOA in its birthing/beyond? Death metal was killer when it first hit the underground but by 94 it was weak and boring. It became nothing more than a scene of clone bands and for this reason I stopped listening to it. I guess you could say that death metal did have some influence on all of us but it's not the musical direction for us and it doesn't play a big influence on the music of KoA. People tend to call us a death metal band and I find this fucking quite comical. The humans that make these claims outright show their stupidity and I hope some of them are reading this and take my advice when I say to kill yourselves trendwhores! Are there any other bands/side projects that you or any of the other KOA are involved in? I happen to play bass in Hateplow. I never recorded with them but was asked to do the European tour with them last year and when it was over and done with was added as a permanent member. Kult ov Azazel is my main priority, was before I was asked to join Hateplow and will continue to be. No one else is involved with any other bands and my involvement in Hateplow I really wouldn't call consistent since it is only a project band. I also am aware that as drunk assholes we tend to use the computer for shit, do you think the internet has been a useful tool? Or has it fallen into the wrong hands? It's been really useful for me. I think there's a lot of advantages to it but if in the wrong hands it can be most damaging, just go read some black metal message boards and you'll understand. The internet seems to be a meeting place for the mentally challenged. It's nothing but a bunch of retards pretending to be someone or something they are not. But used as a tool, for communication and contacts it's quite useful. I like being able to send someone an email and get a response the same day rather than mailing them and getting the same response back 2 weeks later through the postal system. Ok, What are your thoughts on how the Norwegian/No.European Scene has affected the US scene and its development? I personally find it pretentious of those who would claim the devils arts as if they created them, but that's a whole other story. I think the Norwegian and European scene influenced the development of black metal not only here in the US but else where as well. I mean what bands aren't influenced by Venom, Destruction, Bathory, then later with Darkthrone, Mayhem, and I could go on, just really depends on the person and the period they evolved in. I find that statement pretentious as well and even more so the statement that only Europeans can play black metal. The ones that say this can fuck off; I could name a handful of bands from not only the US but from elsewhere that destroy most of the crap that comes from these mentioned lands. Are Fanzines/flyers an important tool to what KOA has become, or do you favor more of a major label approach? And where do you think the "scenes" that exist would be without these Underground DIY practices? Without DYI practices there would be no underground. Both fanzines and flyers have been major tools that have gotten us to where we are but also I have done nothing for the past 2 years besides put 100% of all my time into this band, be it corresponding and answering emails, doing interviews, I update our site constantly, mailing out merch, setting up shows, shit like that. I quit my job 2 years ago to do nothing but focus on the band and continue to, so I think it's a combination of everything we ourselves have done and not fucking around and meaning business is what has got us this far. Besides a Message of Total Misanthropy, What is your vision behind the message that Kult Ov Azazel brings to the masses? And if you have no message, what is it that you would LIKE to bring to the masses? The message is that we are anti-god, anti-human and anti-you. We are for the destruction to all religions, the elimination of the weak and depopulation of humanity. These are the messages we bring to the masses and that we reflect through our art. I'm going to end it here and recommend everyone takes a listen to Kult Ov Azazel. Xaphan use this space for any Hails and reccomendations, plus, etc..Whatever you see fit. I really appreciate the interview and don't have much more to say. All agenda and propaganda can be found at www.kultovazazel.com or we can be reached through postal mail at Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33307 USA. All inquires will be answered!! Horns up to all the legions that continue to oppose the religious opposition, through strength and blood the war will be victorious!