Interviewed by Herr Stalhammer & answered by Xaphan Everything the old way: corpsepaint; songs entitled “My Misanthropy”, “Legions Unleashed”, “Altar Of Satan” and “Crown Of Fire”; neither female voice nor keys incorporated. What is it? A respect for traditions? I suppose that some would apparently accuse (or, perhaps, already have done it) you in being out of appropriate place and time, and thus of no interest… People can say whatever the fuck they want about us, I don't give two shits. The fact is we are playing this style of music the way it was meant to be played. Too many bands over the years have made a mockery out of this musical form and we are a band that takes this back to its roots. Aggressive satanic fury is what black metal is all about and this is the path which we tread. Had the “Triumph Of Fire” received the feedback you expected it to receive? What about the mass-media’s reaction? It received better feedback than what we expected. People still have their gripes and shit about it just as they did with our past releases but that's to be expected. I don't really know about the mass media's reaction since I have no ties to anything that is considered mass media. Does Gus (Rios) still appear as session drummer? Actually, is he in the band at the moment? Frankly speaking, I was quite surprised to see him as a session member only, for he’s unbelievably skillful chap! I agree that Gus is a skillful drummer. But he's only been a session member and nothing more. We just recently found a permenant drummer and until he can devote time to the band Gus will continue to fill in. So Gus may make some more appearences on later releases, just really all depends. “Triumph Of Fire” inlay features a picture of Vetis, whilst it seems like KULT OV AZAZEL is comprised of you and Xul, and no one else. What would the explanation sound like? Isn't Vetis just the way Gus preferred to call himself being a part of the band? Vetis is the infernal name that was given to Gus when he decided to do the album with us. That's all there is to that question. By the way, Hellspawn was the one who previously occupied the drumkit; where has he disappeared? Who knows what he's up to now. When we departed ways with him we severed all ties. What's your attitude to satanism and it's so-called US branch? You see, “Le Messe Noir” lyrics were taken from passages of “The Satanic Rituals” by Anton Szandor LaVey, and this is principal reason for me to wonder what kind of relationship you have with Church of Satan, if there's any. I have been a member of the Church of Satan for many years now, but my membership was not out of idolization of LaVey or some of the other reasons that people may be attracted towards the CoS. I have studied and followed occult practices and satanic philosophy since I was in my early teens. I joined the CoS for the purpose of supporting a group that supported some of the same beliefs as myself. I support any group thats aim is to tear down and crush xianity. No matter in what form they wish to employ in order to achieve their actions, and the Church of Satan is one them. How has the death of LaVey affected you personally? Did it have any impact on your life and convictions? Hasn't affected me whatsoever nor had any impact on my life or convictions. Was there, in fact, any sense in re-releasing the older songs in the shape of split-CD with KRIEG? The split with Krieg was supposed to come out a long time ago. Unfortunately it came out a year later than what was expected, which ended up being just a month before the release of "Triumph of Fire". At the time the songs were not old on the split except for the track "Forever Heaven Gone" which had appeared on our mCD "Order of the Fly". If I'm not mistaken, it's been brought forth the light via Genocide Music; any comments on the aforementioned company? That would be correct. For a small label Genocide Music did a good job I think with the releasing and promoting of the split. I can't say anything bad about them. It's widely known that there's almost no real black metal scene over there, in Unites States. Moreover, in contrast to Europe, only few BM acts of US origin sound like they're at least worth something. Why are the things going so wrong? This is because nowadays anyone that picks up a guitar (doesn't mean they know how to play it) and writes some blasphemous lyrics considers themselves to be black metal. A lot of bands over here have this exact same syndrome. I would agree that they are only a few bands here that are worth mentioning and there are hundreds that should not even be attempting to play this style. Too many bands in the States use the "necro" tag because they suck and that's all there is to it. There's much more to black metal than banging on a guitar and screeching satanic lyrics and this is why this problem exists here as well as anywhere else. Akhenaten was amongst those who have been personally thanked by KRIEG (obviously I'm referring to that split-CD); are you also acquainted with this individual? Would you like to bow to him as well, or on the contrary, once again assert that he’s nothing but a cowardly, lying and pathetic type of person? Judging by everything he stated in the interviews he answered so far, by everything he’s done, I guess “cowardly, lying and pathetic” would be more fitting. I don't bow to fucking anybody. I have in the past spoken with Akhenaten and he has been from what I understand very supportive of this band. As for the rest of your comment, I can't answer because I have never read any of his interviews. It looks like black metal is not your only leading star when it comes to music, is it? Somehow I feel that you're also _not_ indifferent to death / grind, or why else would you fill the “missing link” in HATEPLOW? I do like other forms of metal but black metal is life to me. I never expected to be a part of Hateplow. I was just helping them out on the European tour since I was already going over to run sound for Malevolent Creation, In Aeternum and Rotten Sound. It was even a surprise to me when I got the newsletter saying that I had become a permanent member. I am pleased to be part of Hateplow because like Kult ov Azazel the music is all aggression and that's the way I like it. I don't contribute anything to Hateplow other than my playing because Kult ov Azazel is where 100% of all my effort and attention goes. Perhaps you know US is considered a country synonymous for the lack of culture, here in Europe… Do you have anything to say in order to refute this assertion? Honestly no. I don't care what Europeans think about the US nor do I really care. The fact of the matter is this ... if you don't listen to our band because we come from the US then you are a faggot. Choosing not listen to a band because of where they originate is the most moronic thing I have ever heard. “Once a global cataclysm takes place, human kind slowly but inevitably will get back to primeval level of development… Telling sons of their sons of long-forgotten times ages ago, when their ancestors roamed the sky riding birds of steel”… Do you believe in such a future for us? I suppose, but this will not happen in mine or your lifetime. Doesn't mankind go the second way round? I mean, it's quite probably that human civilization, way more advanced than ours, existed long before those whom we use to name “primitive men” were born to inherit the Earth, don't you think? Yeah I think human civilizations may have existed before what we now call "primitive man" or "cavemen". But since there are not records that there where it is much harder to prove. So that makes it really more of an assumption than fact, but then again I don't think that we are the only advanced civilization within our galaxy or other galaxies for that matter. Do you know anything regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from the country of mine you've heard lately? I can't say that I do. I've read some scene reports and stuff on Russia but have never really had the opportunity to listen to anything coming from your country. Although from what I have read it seems the black metal movement over there is pretty strong and you guys seem to have some killer bands leading the way. Thanks for taking time to answer this interview. If there's anything to be added, you definitely won't find place more right to do it, than this. Thanks for the interview and all the support you have shown over the past few years. I'm not sure if the new CD "Triumph of Fire" is available or not in Russia but it can always be obtained through us as well as other Kult ov Azazel releases. For further info visit our website at www.kultovazazel.com or write to us at the address below. Anyone that is interested in distributing any of our releases in Russia get in touch as well. Hail to the Russian black metal hordes ... keep the fear instilled in the hearts of those that worship the whore child of Nazarene.