Interview by FORLORN SOUL

HEILZ ! Tell the readers something about the Kult ov Azazel history… I know you formed the band in 1999 and released a self-produced mcd and a split cd with Krieg, before signing the deal with Pavement Music and producing “Triumph of Fire”… Since you’re such a young band, have you played in any previous acts?
Let me first start out and correct you on that. We signed with Arctic Music and not Pavement. Pavement was just responsible for distribution/promotion of our latest work. As of now, I believe the label is no longer using Pavement for this and have picked up new distributors for future releases. As far as the history of the band goes, you pretty much just summed it up, we have done a self –produced mCD titled “Order of the Fly.” Then there was the split Cd with Krieg released by Genocide Music and then our first full length “Triumph of Fire.” There have been a few promos released as well as being included on various compilations. Both Xul (vocals/bass) and I (guitar/occasional vocals) have played in previous bands. Xul was in a band called Devoured by Darkness and I have played in Exhume and Coprophagia. Both the bands I played in, as well as the one Xul played in were never really too known so most people will have no idea about these bands. I was also added to the Hateplow line-up back in January on bass.

How have you found the deal ? Do you still consider yourself an Underground band even if you now have on the market an official non-self-produced cd ?
The deal with Arctic is going pretty well I would say. They have done good work despite the problems that seemed to have plagued the release of “Triumph of Fire”. I definitely still consider Kult ov Azazel an underground band. I am not one that thinks to be underground you have to release your own shit. Our music and lyrics are far too antichristian for us to ever be accepted by the masses. In addition, with us, one of our goals is to spread our blasphemy and propaganda worldwide not be some obscure basement band that no one even knows.

Reading the reviews of “Triumph of Fire” on your site, I noticed that many people compared your music to that of Marduk and Dark Funeral, only because of the violence and speedness of it… But I think your musical roots are more based on the old-style Black Metal bands, I mean Darkthrone, old Mayhem, Beherit, Possessed etc. Am I right ? What do you think of the attitude of Marduk, Dark Funeral and all their clone-bands in the last years, don’t you think most of them are not true and mainly don’t incarnate at all the ancient black metal spirit ? Despite that, the teenagers worship these bands…
Yes you are correct. Our musical influences are definitely rooted in the old style of black metal even early 80’s satanic speed metal/thrash. You are also right about why people have compared us to Marduk and Dark Funeral. I will say that older Marduk has had some influence on me personally but I cannot say that about Dark Funeral. Don’t get me wrong, I do like both bands but as for influences it’s more like Darkthrone, old Mayhem, Destruction, Possessed, Hellhammer, Blasphemy, Beherit, most of the old stuff because these are the bands I grew up listening to. I do not understand what you mean by the attitude of Marduk/Dark Funeral. As far as clone bands go, unfortunately this will always be a problem as long as music exists. All I will say is that it is far too easy to copy a band rather than come up with a new approach, an original approach. I see this as weakness and therefore have never set out to attempt to clone a band. The thing with Kult ov Azazel is that we have our own identity and approach that makes what we do not just another carbon copy of any band.

Your lyrics deal with the usual Black Metal clichés, such as the hatred for Christianity, Satanism, misanthropism, scorn and so on. All these topics, as always in Black Metal, are visions of a bleak present and of a future that likely will never come or comes when we’ll be already dead. Apart from that, in which way do you think the world will evolve (or regress..) ? What will be the turning-point for the extinction of the human kind ? Maybe a big plague, another world war, a natural catastrophe, a mass-suicide, what ? Describe your apocalyptic vision of days to come.
The extinction of mankind will come in the form of another world war. Maybe not even a world war but a war of some sorts. I think what is happening right now with the war in Afghanistan is just the beginning to the end. I could be wrong, but either way I see the extinction of humanity coming in the form a very big war. Religion will play a major key in this.

In the lyrics of “The Misanthropy” an interesting sentence caught my attention : <In the woods with silence and serenity/My hatred for humanity/Guide the blade, fuck you/I’ll spill my blood just to despise you>… Is this an autobiographical lyric ? I’m fascinated by this idea of injurying ourself to show our despisal to the others… I think it can be an alternative interpretation of this interesting practice. Can you deepen this topic ?

I will try since Xul wrote those lyrics. It is sort of like that phrase “What is suicide? It is my way of saying “Fired? Fuck you God I quit.” Everyone knows that most religions view suicide as a sin. Therefore, that sentence is in a sense about taking of ones life to display despite towards religion. It is along those lines as well as killing ones self to show resentment towards the masses.

According to the Book of Enoch, Azazel is a demon who taught the sons of men how to manufacture weapons and to make war… Why did you choose this name (I know you have changed it, though) ? Have you been interested also in studying the Enochian theories and rituals, or were you just concerned by the concrete meaning of the figure of Azazel ? Could you explain why is the concept of “war” so important for Black Metal bands ?
The reason we chose the name was because of what this entity had been identified with through out time. Azazel in history/religions has been linked to war, rebellion, defiance, non-conformity, hate, destruction, and a defiler of humanity among many things. For these reasons we chose the name. I have read many books on Enochian lore but have never delved into Enochian rituals so it’s not because of the Book of Enoch specifically that we chose the name. It was more along the lines of what the entity represented in an overview than from just one source. I cannot speak for other bands but the reason war is an important concept to us is because it is an ongoing occurrence. We are at war every day with those that oppose us and try to silence us. We are at war with religion for its mindless stupidity that it tries to force-feed us. We are at war with humanity and the hypocritical morals that dominate it. In other words, if you want to win the war on cancer you must fight it with medications, if you want to win the war on religion then it must be through propaganda. This is what we aim to do through our releases. What good is a message if no one ever hears it?

I appreciate a lot of Black Metal from the U.S., I think nowadays it offers many great, blasphemous and evil new bands who can easily kick some ass to the European (expecially Norwegian) ones. But many people here are not of my same opinion, and don’t accept to listen to American Black Metal bands because they say the Black Metal roots are in Europe and must remain here. You know, in some cases there’s a sort of discrimination and racism towards you Americans ! What is your answer ? And would you support and listen to Black Metal bands from Asia or Africa ?
I do not care what country a band is from, if I like their music, I like their music. Who gives a shit if they are from America or Asia? I know many people over there have given us bad reviews just because we are a band from America. Do I care? No! Do I care if people in Europe discriminate against us for the country we come from? No! Hate is a prominent factor and emotion embraced in Black Metal and if we manage to get bad press and people hate us because we’re an American Black Metal band then I think we are accomplishing goals.

Now let’s talk a little about your music. Apart from the violence and speedness, as I’ve already said, I think that what stands out mostly in it are the ultra-screamed vocals, really oppressive and evil. Do you think this is an important element in your music ? Will you ever change or modify your way of singing ? What are we to expect from the next work, musically and lyrically speaking ? Have you already begun writing new songs ?
Yes, the vocals are an important element in our music. In reality, I think everything in a whole is an important element. However, the vocals I agree have a definite characteristic because of the sheer evilness and torture that they betray. Xul is the throat of this band and I believe his vocals make up a major part of what we have. The vocals will always be the way he does them so there will not be much change to them in future releases. If anything you might find me doing more vocals along with him as we did in the past. On “Triumph of Fire,” I only did vocals on “Destruction to the Throne of God”, a song that we do split vocal duties on. There had been plans for me to do more but I just was not into doing them. Besides I think Xul’s way of doing vocals are much more intense than mine. The next work of ours will be a live CD with four new studio tracks. This will be titled “Black Mass Consecration” and will surface around January. We have not begun working on the new songs but I have thousands of riffs that just need to be put together. We are also working on releasing the first mCD “Order of the Fly” in a limited numbered run on vinyl. But for the new shit, lyrically and musically speaking it will be just as nihilistic and blasphemous as our past stuff. We begin writing for the next full-length studio release in January/February and that will be released in the fall of next year. That is pretty much it for our schedule.

You are affiliated with the Church of Satan. This association has always received strong critics from all the serious experts of satanism and occultism because they say it is more an atheistic and materialistic group than an esoteric one… What is your opinion ? How is the association evolving after the death of Anton LaVey ?
Yes, I have ties with the Church of Satan. The critics’ words and feelings towards them are nothing new to me. I honestly do not give two fucks about what others think. I’m not a spokesperson for them or anything, just chose to align myself with others that had the same interest and same commitment to seeing that religion is uncovered and shunned for what it is, stupidity and weakness. I will not sit here and debate the existence and purpose about the Church of Satan because I’m not going to change others views on them so I will not waste my time. But anyway, there are many esoteric practices involved in the CoS, do not think that they just give it all to you on a silver platter. But like I said this point is a waste of time arguing. I will say I do not agree with everything that the CoS or LaVey has said or written and to some within my own pack, they may find this not acceptable but I am not a follower. I have taken writings by not only LaVey but others as well and formed my own set of ideals and beliefs that I adhere to. In sense, I have made my own model or structure which envelope many different teachings and or practices. As far as my association after LaVey’s death, I never really had very close ties when he was alive so nothing has changed after his death. The only ones I have close ties to within the CoS are others I have met on my own personal journeys or through correspondence with the band.

All of us of course know about the facts that happened and are happening in America due to Bin Laden and his people… What is your reaction to these facts, do you feel concerned with them ? Don’t you think it is absurd that in 2002 people are still fighting for religious matters?! On the other hand, I think also the Americans are a little pathetic with their flags and exaggerated nationalism. The only thing I would support from Bin Laden is if he decided to strafe the Vatican, that would be a good strike !!
The happenings here in America do not really bother me. What happened in September 2001 did not bother me. I support the mass destruction of humanity and only see what happened as a progression of that. Destruction breeds destruction and that is what we are seeing in the world right now. On the other hand, if someone that I was close to had been killed it might be a whole other story. Regardless the way I look at it is that these religious extremist wish to destroy the soil that I live upon and therefore should be terminated. I do not find it absurd that in the year 2002 that people are still fighting over religion. There has been fighting every since religion was created. So, I find it perfectly reasonable that it is still going on. Until you wipe out religion completely this will continue to happen. I also find the exaggerated nationalism here quite pathetic as well. 3 hours before those incidents happened I’d say 95% of this country didn’t give two shits about the flag or national pride. Then all of a sudden everyone and their fucking baby are flying a flag. If these attacks would had not have happened none of these idiots would own a flag. So yes, I find it very ridiculous and hypocritical. As far as Bin Laden is concerned, he should be sent to meet his god since he has such a strong conviction to him and within due time he will be only to realize that his god, like his cause, has failed him. He is no different from the Pope to me. He is just one more religious fuck that needs to be wiped out to further the war on religion.

What are your interests besides music in everyday life ? How do spend your time waiting for your corporal death ?
I spend most of my time outside of the band sleeping and drinking if not working. I run live sound for a living so when I work that is what I do. I also spend a lot of time online either working on websites that I do for others or just fucking around on the Internet. My life outside of the band is what a normal person would consider quite boring since I hardly leave my house unless there’s a show worthy of going to coming through. But to answer you questions as to how I spend my time waiting for my death, I just pretty much sit here and wait doing nothing much of anything.

What do you think of sex as means to reach a higher perception ? What is relation with corporality and perversion ? What is your favourite perversion ?
I guess if that is your thing then great. I don’t put a whole lot of thought into sex. Sex for me means just another fuck. There is no agenda or higher perception that I am trying to reach other than getting myself off. I don’t think there is any relation between the flesh and perversion. Perversion is a word invented to deem something not traditionally accepted as abnormal when it comes to sexual gratification. My favorite perversion I suppose would be being asphyxiated during sex.

Ok, thanks a lot for the interview ! Let the fire of Hatred rule the world forever!!
Many hails for the killer interview! For any further information our website is located at www.kultovazazel.com. We can also be contacted at the address given below. Horns up to our comrades and supporters worldwide. Christian, Muslim, Hindu or Jew, the eradication of religion will culminate with the unmerciful end to your existence - the open grave you shall possess will be the result of total, terrible, universal, and vengeful destruction!

Kult ov Azazel
Po Box 23308
Ft. Lauderdale FL 33307
USA