Hellish heilz Blackthorn ! To begin, write down for us a brief bio of the band, and tell us about the recent news in the Thornspawn world ...
Bestial fucking salutes hell’s heathens . . . . Thronspawn was born and created of infernal fire in the year 1995 by Swornghoul and myself. Shortly after Lord Necron stormed the warfront, and joined our ranks on second hellsaw command !!! We went through many bass-players... until we found Bolverk of legendary Necrovore to join our regiment. At this point we are preparing to unleash a split LP with Canadian warmonger Ourborus through Decius Rec. (Australia). Also, uniting the hellhorde élite for the 4th gathering of the “Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child” black metal fest !!! Kult !!!

Is your music made for spreading a particular message or just for personal satisfaction ? Do you believe it would be possible to concretely change the reality and people’s minds thanx to music and its propaganda ? What did lead you to play Black Metal ?
Our propaganda does involve a specific message . . . . anti-christian, anti-religious message!!! Of course the hellhymns have to be of the utmost personal satisfaction for us. We only wish to possess our maniac supporters with our sonic torment!! I strongly believe that unholy music can guide and control the thought pattern of today’s youth. Many believe that carrying out acts of stupidity (burning churches etc.) will put a stop to the christian plague, but it won’t... Let our warhymns be the scolding blade that pierces their children’s minds! Iconoclasty and blasphemy shine clearly through your lyrics.

In Black Metal talking about war against christianity and all religions seems to be almost a ‘moral duty’. Do you think there are some fixed rules and patterns to follow if you want to be considered Black Metal, or everything is left to personal choice ? What is your opinion about those bands dealing with vikings, trolls, nature, forests and such bullshit in BM..?

I have never thought about “rules”, fuck that !! I could give a fuck less if there is such a thing as rules. Black Metal to me is a force at its most primal form. Blasphemies and desecrations bring fear to the feeble mindless flock’s dreams. That is but the only thing that is important to me !! Crush the weak and their pathetic cross!! I say fuck off to that shit, with their nature-loving, three-hugging, pathetic hippy gay shit !!!!! Black Metal is hate, Black Metal is vengeance!!! Black Metal is not about politics, love, nature and fairies!! Leave all that shit to the gay fux in the goth poser world !!!

The old Black Metal feeling has almost disappeared nowadays, choaked by trends and mass-media bullshit, even if it still lives in little circles. Do you personally believe in the Underground spirit ? What are your expectations towards the future, concerning this situation ?
It is true with pathetic trendwhores such as Cradle of Shit and Dumb Burger. They have truly let the masses infiltrate our kult !!! The Underground demon spirit has to be for the élite... Those that have worshipped the night and have been possessed by Black/Death war propaganda!!!! 666!!!!! In the future many of these pathetic posers shall follow a new trend and they will disappear.

You play the drums and sing at the same time, is it difficult to take care of both aspects, expecially in the live-shows?
I will not sit here and tell you that it’s not difficult. It is !!! But once on the stage, I see the maniacs crushing their skulls up against the monitors!!! And that is what fuels my fucking oath to the Underground cause and hellsmetal lust!!! Aaaaaaaaarrrgghhh!!!!

In the booklet you thank some great Italian bands such as Goatfire and Altar of Perversion. What is your opinion about the Italian BM scene, do you know any other acts ? Are you in contact with fanzines and/or distributors ?
Altar of Perversion are fuckin’ godzzzz!!! Of fucking war!!! Truly one of the élite of the Italian terrorist regiments!!! As well as Goatfire... grim satanic might!!! The only war kommandos I am in contact with are Nicola of Hellflame Prod. (salutes warbrother!!!) and Seth of Altar of Perversion.

What is the value you give to Life ? Name for us some of the reasons that make you continuing to live... And about Death, what is your relationship with Her, do you see anything beyond the “threshold” ? If you could choose the formalities of your death, in which way would you choose to die ? Your opinion about suicide ?
Life is the supreme energy we must use to avenge and unmask the truth of all this religious deceipt. My life, my worship only goes to one thing... unholynecrohellishwarmetal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Death has embraced me once or twice... But those matters I do not speak of with no one. My death and rest shall come when all are awakened from this zombie state called “religion” !!! Suicide is for the weak..... those that do this, great !!! You are not wanted here, I do not wish to be around weak minded humans!!! Fucking kill yourself!!! Ha ha!!!

How would a world created at your image look like ?
Free from government, free from christian scum, and the will to do as you wish. And tons of fucking beer and metal, ha ha!!!!!!

Now some words about your monicker. What is the meaning you personally give to your bandsname (Thornspawn)?
It is the lyrics written by the mighty Fenriz of Darkthrone for Isengard. That reflected our cause and hatred for the disgusting trinity. Its meaning is profoundly related to our ideology and philosophy of the christian plague as well as the destruction of all religions.

The cover of your album is a very primitive painting of an unholy battle. Who is the author of it ? Don’t you think it would have been better to choose a more professional and “serious” cover-artwork, for example using a real photo or something like that ?
Necrogoat is the one who forged these unholy visions!! A brilliant artist from the U.S.A. that has assisted others in the U.S. Black War Metal movement. I am extremely satisfied with the cover and concept, I could give a fuck less what anyone else thinks. If one doesn’t agree with the cover then don’t buy it. Besides it would be rather ignorant to base the band just on the cover. It is rather typical to slap just any stupid photo on a cover... rather than to think of art and a concept that reflects on the title of the release.

It seems like American Black Metal scene is growing if compared to the past, there are very interesting bands such as Judas Iscariot (even if he left the USA), Black Witchery, Cult of Daath and others. Could you write down for us a kind of “reportage” naming what are instead the best bands and labels, from your point of view ?
These are the élite of my land : The Chasm, Demonhammer, Cult of Daath, Nunslaughter, Sadistic Intent, Demonic Christ, Infernal Oak, Absu, Blood Storm, Namtaru, Kult Ov Azazel, Inquisition, Gnostic, Black Witchery, Grand Belial’s Key, Noctuary, Ibex Throne, Krieg !!! As far as labels I know of only a few : Dark Realm, Warhammer, Fullmoon, Dark Horizon and that’s it.

Are you favourable also to illegal deeds (church blazes, nunslaughters, etc.) to bring forth the anti-christian crusade ? Have you ever been in trouble with justice ?
I could really care less about burning their churches. All it will do is put you in jail and you will rot away. Here in the USA our prisons are not like your European (hotel) prisons. You are of no use to the cause if you are put in jail. I personally believe that our music should be the ultimate terror and threat to them. That is far more effective than burning a diseased church. I have a criminal record, yes..............

“Blood of the holy taint thy steel” has been out for already some time. Have you already composed its successor ? What are we to expect from the next Thornspawn release ? Will it be out once again under The Plague rec.? When?
This year we unleashed our mcd “Empress from the realms of Blasphemy” and it is our final release under The Plague Rec. as we have since fired our US label Baphomet records. We at the moment are seeking a new label support (after this interview the band signed for Osmose rec.).

Do you listen to other genres besides Black Metal ? Have you got any favourite bands / artists also outside Metal at all ?
I do have an immense interest in the obscure, avantgarde project called Tangerine Dream which has been around since the early 70’s as well as the side-project of my komrade Proscriptor (of Absu) solo career.

Thanx for the interview, last battle-scream is yours ! Unholy blessings...
Be hailed for the patience you had in my return of this interview komrade. As well as the support for our regiment. Expect world domination and terror this coming year with our next cd assault “Wrath of War”!!!!!!!!!! 666!!!!!!! Death!!! Hate!!! Destruction!!! War!!! Genocide!!!