Interviewed by Alex & answered by Xaphan Hails! How goes the preparation of the issue of new album? The writing for the new album is complete. We’ll enter the studio in 2005 to begin recording the 10 tracks that will make up “The World, The Flesh & The Devil”. In the meantime we’ll be doing splits with Vrolok and Horn of Valere which we have just finished recording. The split with Horn of Valere titled "Through War or Suicide" will feature a new song from the upcoming album titled "Blood, Death & Damnation" along with a cover of Sodom's "Blasphemer" and will be released on 10" vinyl through Abort The World Records. The split with Vrolok titled "Feast of Sacrilegious Impurity" will consist of the same 2 songs plus 3 bonus live video/audio tracks from our September 16th, 2004 ritual and will be released through Arctic Music on enhanced CD. Both are scheduled for an early 2005 release. Are you playing concerts now or all efforts planned on an album? We just returned from a US West Coast tour with Teratism, Sumeria and Scorched Earth but have no other plans of playing live until the new album is recorded. What is now the lineup of the band? Tell about each of you. Currently the lineup consists of myself (Xaphan) on vocals/guitar, Xul on vocals/bass, VJS on guitar/backing vocals and Hammer on drums. By the way, why do you change drummers so often? Did the same guy play on "Oculus...” and "Triumph..."? No, on “Oculus Infernum” it is Hammer and on “Triumph of Fire” it was Vetis. In the past 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 whether it be they were unmotivated, uninspired or just lacked the dedication that’s needed. Also when was the idea to organize Kult Ov Azazel? Did some mystic events lead up to it? It began with both Xul and me, unknown to each other at the time, working on our own projects in 1998, his was called Erebus and mine was called Azazel. Xul being much younger than me and still in high school at this time had done a 4 song demo and through this is how we ended up meeting each other. This was also at a time were I was looking to take Azazel from a project to an actual band, Xul wanting to do the same with Erebus. We decided to combine forces since I had a drummer but lacked a bass player and we decided we would both do vocals. So in the spring equinox of 1999 the entity that is now known as Kult ov Azazel was spawned. The purpose behind the band was originally to write music that we would want to hear but has since evolved into a more solid agenda and that being to spread blasphemies and profanations against the monotheistic establishment to the four corners of the world. "Triumph..." let out in 2004, but in the biography it, allegedly, goes before. What about this confusion? “Triumph of Fire” was originally released back in March of 2001. It was re-released in 2004 with a different layout. Maybe that clears up any confusion. In brief, what is the basic subject of your lyrics? Primary purpose touched upon in them? The underlining theme is complete disdain for Christianity and all other forms of monotheistic religions. We use many metaphors throughout our lyrics so one must read between the lines to get the meaning. The lyrical themes cover opposition to piety and self righteousness, torture, nihilistic and satanic philosophy, the rebirth of evil, the eradication of holiness, death, pain, resistance, conjuration, destruction and eternal suffering. On the site of Church of Satan there is link on Kult ov Azazel. How are you related to them? I have been a member since the mid nineties. Do the participants of the band practice ritual magic? I have performed rituals in the past but have not done many since the formation of this band, only when warranted. I use this band as my ritualistic vehicle and take the energy and symbolism I would use in rituals and divert it into a tangible form. I find this to be more effective. What and who has influenced your world view? No one has influenced my world view. I can and have view the world and its inhabitants with my own two eyes so I don’t need anyone’s influence or opinions to mold me. What bands and musicians had influence on you? The bands who have inspired me would be Venom, Possessed, Hellhammer & Celtic Frost, Sodom, Bathory, Mercyful Fate, Destruction, Virus, (first) Exodus, (old) Slayer, Kreator, Bloodfeast, VoiVod, (old) Metallica, Hobbs, Mayhem, Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Beherit, Acheron, Burzum, Impaled Nazarene, Blasphemy, Dissection, VoiVod, Unleashed, Bestial Warlust, Marduk, Hypocrisy, Profanatica, Infestdead, Abigor, old Deicide, Pungent Stench, Morbid, Angel Corpse, Behemoth, (early) Morbid Angel, (old) Samael, Onslaught, Havohej, (early) Emperor, Black Funeral, and Von just to name a few. There are many others I’m sure I have left out. What is the instrument of torture represented on the cover of "Oculus..."? Are you interested in these things? The main instrument represented on the cover is a device known as “The Rack”. And yes, I am very interested in instruments of torture and devices of pain. What participants of the band do off stage, what do you pass time doing? Xul is a network engineer, Hammer is a drum tech and I am a live sound engineer. I have no idea what VJS does for work outside the band. A few words to the individuals, who listen to Satanic black-metal, but did not yet hear of your band. For those looking for savage, blasphemous black metal check out our horde. Our hellsite is www.kultovazazel.com or we can be contacted through Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale FL, USA. Horns up for the support and for spreading our blasphemies through Terroraiser zine!