Interviewed by Michael & answered by Xaphan Hell - o Xaphan!!! Your musical motto is: "...no beauty, no atmosphere, no tranquility". I must agree that it fits perfectly to the sounds which you created on your two albums. Is that the only way black metal should be like? What do you think about experiments in black metal? I don't care for bands that experiment with the black metal sound. We create our music the way we feel black metal should be created. I'm not saying this is the only way but this is what we hear and envision. Kult Ov Azazel's lyrics are full of satanic symbols, devilish hymns! When I look at them I don't have to read between the lines, everything is clear, right into your face! But what is your opinion about bands which claim that they are 'just anti-religious'. Why the fuck they don't say: "yes, we are Satanists!". Are they afraid, or what? I can't speak for others only myself. Our lyrics reflect our personal outlooks on life. Be it through the philosophies of Satanism or Nihilism to our stance against religion be it christianity or any other. Can you explain words from the booklet of your second album, I mean: "Palas Aron Azinomas" and "Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas"? Palas Aron Azinomas is an ancient invocation summoning demons and Zazas Zazas Nasatanada Zazas are the words when uttered open the gates of Hell. Both come from ancient texts. Besides two CDs Kult Ov Azazel released MCD and two or three split albums!!! Am I right? Please tell me more about those underground releases. Do you see a big progress between your old materials and new CD "Oculus Infernum"? There's been a constant progress over the past 4 and half years. We have done a mCD which was "Order of the Fly" and this was recorded in June of 1999 under the band name "Azazel" and then later re-issued in 2000 on Blood Fire Death Records under the current name, "Kult ov Azazel" and recently released in its final format, on 12" vinyl through Autopsy Stench Records. After this we did a 4 way split with Obitus, Humanicide and Thy Lord titled "Gather Against Humanity" through Christcrusher Records in 2000 then in 2001 the split CD with Krieg through Genocide Music. Then this year we also released a live ritual on 12" vinyl LP called "Assaulting the Masses" and a split 7" with Satan's Blood through Autopsy Stench Records. Then of course there's the full length "Triumph of Fire in 2001 and the newest blasphemy "Oculus Infernum", released March 2003. Your both full length albums were released by Arctic Music Group which is run by guys from death metal legend Malevolent Creation. How did you get in contact with them? And what do you think about death metal played by Malevolent Creation? It's totally different music than yours. There is a huge difference - just like between heaven and hell ha ha. Yeah the musical style between the two bands is very different, I agree. But since I first heard "The Ten Commandments" I have liked Malevolent Creation's music. Once I moved to Fort Lauderdale in '93 I met Phil and since then we have been friends. We share a warehouse with Malevolent Creation, I run live sound for them and I play bass in Phil's side band Hateplow. So as you can probably tell there's a mutual relationship between myself and them, not to leave out the other guys in Kult ov Azazel because we all hang out together. So when Phil started Arctic Music with Scott Hecker (who had managed Malevolent Creation) they had asked me to work for them doing various web related things and since we did after all share a warehouse with Malevolent Creation Phil had witnessed a few rehearsals and asked if we would sign with Arctic Music. We did and that's that. I hear many Scandinavian influences in your music, to name a few bands like Gorgoroth, Marduk, a little of Emperor. Do you agree with my opinion? Which bands inspired you the most while writing the music for your latest opus? We seem to get that a lot, maybe it's the minor chords or the speed but I don't agree with this. I don't hear any of the bands people compare us to in our music. Yes these bands have been inspirations to some of us but we don't set out to copy them, nor do we strive to be like them. We just compose black art the way we feel and try to be as original in what we do. I personally was not inspired by any bands while writing this album. I let the inspiration for the songs and lyrics I wrote come from my soul. It was much more than just picking up a guitar and writing a song, it came from deep thoughts and compulsive feelings that where channeled into a musical form. You've played many concerts with death metal bands (like Immolation, Incantation, Vader, Krisiun) as well as with black hordes (like Mayhem, Absu, Black Witchery, Noctuary). Which bands do you prefer to play with? I prefer playing with black metal bands since that is the style of music we play. We have done gigs with both black and death metal bands and all have been great. Extreme music is extreme music so in the end it doesn't really matter. How do you present your music on the stage? On your website you don't use a word 'concert', but a 'ritual'. So what can I expect from Kult Ov Azazel's gig: goats, fire, naked women, blood everywhere? ha ha. None of that. Occasionally in the past we used fire but not so much nowadays. We just get up there and rip, there's no need for stage props as our music and musicianship can stand alone without these gimmicks. We use ritual to describe a live show because many rituals involve conjuring forth feelings or thoughts and with a live performance this is what we do, except in a musical form. You have got very good drummer. I think he plays a little bit in a death metal genre. It makes you different (to say original) from other black hordes. Did Goss The Hammer play in other bands than Kult Ov Azazel? What about all of you, do you have any side projects? I would have to complete disagree with that statement. If we were talking about "Triumph of Fire" then perhaps I'd agree but not so with "Oculus Infernum". I think Hammer fits this band musically better than any of our past drummers have come close to. This was his first album with us and his playing style is definitely far from death metal but either way I agree that he is a killer drummer. He played in some thrash bands back in the late 80's but other than that I have no knowledge of any of his past musical endeavors. As for the rest of us, I'm the only one that is affiliated with any side projects and like I mentioned earlier that is Hateplow yet Kult ov Azazel has been and will always continue to be my main focus. Kult Ov Azazel members use mysterious names: Xul, Xaphan, Nocturath and Goss The Hammer. Can you tell me more about the origin of your names? Xaphan was the rebel angel that suggested that heaven be set on fire during Lucifer's failed rise to power. Xul is a demon from the Sumerian mythos, Nocturath is a demon of wrath and The Hammer is what Goss has been called by many for years due to his attitude and personality. As we mentioned above you use mysterious names, all of you wear corpse paintings, in one word - you're pure fucking black metalers! I'm glad that bands like Kult Ov Azazel still exist and keep the flame of true black metal still alive. What can you say to all those posers who claim that black metal is a trash, or rubbish? Fuck off!!! Many people claim that the strongest black metal scene is the Scandinavian one. But I think that US blackers mustn't complain about the condition of their underground while having bands like Kult Ov Azazel, Forest Of Impaled, Noctuary (to name a few). What other interesting bands can you recommend? Do you stay in contact with each others? I am in contact with some bands but not all. Other bands worth mention from the US are Inquisition, Krieg, Thornspawn, Bloodstorm, Open Grave, Decieverion, Infernal Hatred, Burning Winds, Xasthur, Demonic Christ, Teratism, Averse Sefira, Robed in Exile, Humanicide and I'm sure there's a few I'm forgetting to name. Ok, I think that was my last question. Please summarize your answers and say whatever you want to finish this interview. Thanx for your time and good luck with Kult Ov Azazel. With infernal greetings! 666 Thanks for the interview and opportunity to be in Thrrash'em All. For those interested in further information/propaganda on the band visit www.kultovazazel.com. Email contacts can be found there or we can be reached at Kult ov Azazel, PO Box 23308, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307, USA.