1. 12 years of existence and three full-length albums, isn’t it few from your view? You’re the founder member so do you think that TEMPLE OF BAAL is a group which work slowly, but with more precise care towards details?

You’re right, it’s not that much. But next to the full length albums, we released quite a lot of split vinyl releases, it’s not as if Temple Of Baal had been inactive between the three albums. I tend to think that we work a little bit too slow for my taste. I would have loved “Lightslaying Rituals” to be released earlier but fate wasn’t really on our side during those four years and many problems came across which slowed us down… I hope to release a new album in the next two years, although I don’t consider it as a priority. The most important thing to me is to release an album I’m proud of, no matter how long it takes.

2. You’ve released your new album in November last year; did you already read some reactions from journalists or friends? I don’t know if you care about it, but from my view, every positive word is like inspiration for the future.

Yeah there’s a good promotion so we get reactions from people all over the world. Some are a bit surprised by its orientation, but in the end, many people see Lightslaying Rituals as the powerful and dark album it is.

3. I’m very surprised from “Lightslaying Rituals”, because there’re more “thrashing” than I’ve expected. Did you changed something in your write process or were you inspired by something different? Cause I think you’re heavier, faster and much more ass-kicking on your new album!

Yeah you’re right, it’s our most extreme album up to date. If I had one word to qualify this album, it would be anger. All the shit that we came across during the time of its composition made us even more extreme in our opinions, in our spirituality and convictions. Composing in this state of mind, we could only create most extreme and merciless Metal of Death…

4. There’s a one line-up change, Alastor joined band in 2008. How do you feel about his work? Is he brought something new into TEMPLE OF BAAL?

Alastor enabled us to have an even more massive and dark sound and he has a slightly different style than mine. As guitar players, we complete each other and Temple Of Baal’s spectrum of influences and feeling is even wider. You can trace his mark on “Piercing The Veils Of Slumber”, “Blessings Of Blackfire”, and one part of “Angstgeist”. Nowadays, the dynamics of Temple Of Baal are much more those of a band than it used to be in the past.


5. Album is in stocks for some months, how about the reactions from people around you, zines etc.? Is this kind of evaluation important for you or are you not take care about? May it be inspiration for future composing?

Inspiration, not at all. My inspiration comes from my everyday feelings, my spirituality, books I read, occult experiences. It’s not that I care or don’t care about the zines reactions. I just like to read what people have to say, but in Temple Of Baal, we don’t see it as a factor of evolution for our musical orientations at all. Zines, mags, and every Metal media are important, because they bring our name to the audience, which is the most important ! I mean, we don’t compose music just to play it in our basement, we definitely want people to get to know our band, and that’s what is important when it comes to fanzines, etc. But I don’t consider them as a tool for our next musical orientation, and honestly I don’t like it at all when a journalist writes “they should do this or that on their next album.” Who are they to dare to write this ?

6. Is “Lightslaying Rituals” work of TEMPLE OF BAAL only or were there some guests (lyrically, musically)?

Lightslaying Rituals is the work of Temple Of Baal, except for Angstgeist which lyrics are a collaboration between Infestuus (Glorior Belli) and myself. Dealing with the gifts of Darkness to the one who welcomes them, and the fear Darkness brings to the common man…

7. How about the lyrical side of “Lightslaying Rituals”? Is there any concept or just a connection of certain songs?

Most of the songs have in common a background which is “killing the light”. Light as an allegory for the messages of the Power. You often hear about the “light of god” for example and what is god but the supreme archetype of power ? His “light” would be the only truth to be followed in order to be “saved”. So of course, light is comfortable. Man is made to live under the rays of the sun, where everything he needs is shown to him. But in this situation, the brains are in a sort of passive state since there’s no need to think or fight. Take away light, drown the soul in Darkness : The possibility of a potential danger will make the brains function 100%. Such is spiritual awakening. Drifting away from the comfortable messages of a God, trying to find another truth, another way, demands an active brain to put truths to test, to raise questions. The exact opposite of what the Power, divine or human, wants from his subjects. “Lightslaying Rituals” is a pure manifesto of spiritual awakening !

8. You’ve recorded 4 split albums so it means that you’ve positive opinion regarding this kind of cooperation? I’m asking because of variability in views over the world. One like it, second hate it.

Yeah we do like that tradition. But we really have to feel common views with the bands we chose to do split recordings. We would never make a split release with a band with which we wouldn’t share any ideological background…


9. You’re older than 4 years ago. Did you change anything in your access towards black metal? I mean in image, composing, ideology...

Ideologically nothing has changed that much. Our vision concerning our spirituality is maybe finer, accurate and even more extreme today, as we go on we learn and we put to practice. As for composing, yes the changes are here, we’re more Black/Death than purely Black Metal now. Also the introduction of a second guitar player in the line up brought new possibilities, new influences maybe and a richer musical vocabulary since we don’t have exactly the same way of riffing, etc. Today Temple Of Baal works much more like a band than what it used to do before, when it was just my own project … But it’s been more than eleven years since the beginning of the band now (1998 !) So I guess all of this is natural and very healthy for our art as it keeps it in a dynamic perspective… Our hunger for creation is even wilder today than ever before !

10. Thanks a lot for your time and all the best to the future. We’re all looking forward to see you in Czech Republic one day!

I definitely hope so and if a Czech promoter is interested, feel free to contact us on our myspace ! You might use this mail : [email protected] and we will get back to you. Morbid Hails to the true Metal spirits in Czech Republic ! Hold high the torch of Heresy, Hail Satan !