Interviewed by Dave & answered by Xaphan I am here with Xaphan, founder and guitarist of the new black metal kings, Kult ov Azazel. I'd like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview, so let's get down to business... Introduce yourself. Hails to you Dave for giving us this interview. As you stated I am the guitarist for Kult ov Azazel. Both Xul and I however are the founders. Where and how did Kult ov Azazel all begin? Tell us your influences. It really began when Xul and I decided to join forces back in 1999. We started out as Azazel and released a demo shortly after the formation titled “Order of the Fly”. It was in 2000 that we changed the name to Kult ov Azazel and have since released a split CD with Krieg and our first full length “Triumph of Fire” last year. My influences are Hellhammer, Venom, Destruction, Sodom, Bathory, early Slayer, Exodus (Bonded by Blood era), Possessed, Kreator, Mercyful Fate, Gorgoroth, Onslaught, Hobbs Angel of Death, Darkthrone, Beherit, Impaled Nazarene, old Mayhem, Blasphemy, Profanatica, old Marduk, Setherial, the list is endless. Your debut Triumph of Fire totally blows everything away! I heard it was produced by Malevolent Creation and Hateplow. What are your relationships to these great bands and how did you get them to help you out? “Triumph of Fire” was produced by us and Phil Fasciana, not by either of these bands. My comradely with Phil goes back to the early 90’s so it’s been an ongoing friendship. Phil started a label in 2000 and that same year we needed a new warehouse for rehearsal and he offered that we just move in and split rent on the MC/HP warehouse. Although Phil and I had been friends he had never heard us because my band was not something I talked to him about and after hearing us practice Phil was just floored and offered to sign us. Other than Phil signing us to his label neither Malevolent Creation nor Hateplow has anything to do with Kult ov Azazel except that we are all comrades. I also heard you are currently the bassist in Hateplow. What's going on in that department? I have not recorded with Hateplow but did do the 2001 European tour and was added to the lineup upon return. I was originally supposed to go over to run sound for both Malevolent Creation and Hateplow but at the last minute was asked to fill in on bass for Hateplow. I’m not even sure what is going on since we have done nothing since that Euro tour. I was told by Rob the other day that it will come when the time is right. This is cool with me since Kult ov Azazel is my main objective. What is KoA up to these days? Writing? Recording? Touring? Tell us. Writing the next album. So far we have 5 songs done and are in the process of working on the next 5 and are shooting to record it in October. It will be titled “Oculus Infernum”. After the release of this the plan is to tour. We always ask this next question because it is a part of our website - looking at the mainstream today - what are your thoughts on this shit nu-metal scene? When will these fake "metal" bands go away? My assumption is these bands will go away when the next trend in mainstream music comes around. It doesn’t interest me; I have no desire to hear it and therefore don’t waste my time thinking about this shit. And now onto views of life - what drove Kult ov Azazel into the hatred it brings to us musically? The forcing of religion down my throat! Close minded, non-thinking morons that live in what is society today. Just growing up over the past years with feelings of disgust and absolute hatred of people that just follow blindly, not being able to think for themselves, preaching a religion they themselves turn around and completely ignore, forcing their standards and morals taken from a fable upon me. All this plus many more is what brings the hatred that is embodied in Kult ov Azazel. Let’s just say over the past 30 years I have much to be hateful about. What does Kult stand for? Hatred? Satanism? Death? Do explain. All the above as well as destruction, war and misery. I don’t know that there is anything really to explain, anyone that has a brain knows what all these mean so explaining it would be redundant not to mention a waste of time. What are your religious views? I have no religious views. I advocate the destruction of all religions. What are your political views? No political views. Never have I voted nor do I ever plan to so this should say a lot about my view on politics. They just do not interest me one bit. Alright, enough of that shit. Now for the fun part - the final question - say whatever you want, be as fucking crazy as you want to be!!! Hails again for the interview! All propaganda and our agenda can be found at our website www.kultovazazel.com. We can also be reached by snail mail at Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307 USA. Look for the next full “Oculus Infernum” length out on Arctic Music by 2003 if not sooner, the 7” split with German Black Metal Holocaustic horde Graven through Autopsy Stench Records out of Germany and possibly a limited live vinyl though ASR as well. Last but not least Kult ov Azazel will always be anti-god, anti-human, anti-you!!!! Destroy the temple of God, kill yourself!!!