1. Greetings Kult ov Azazel! Right now I’m listening to your last album, the split with your colleagues VROLOK. I’m curious why did you prefer split to long studio album at first? Why did you choose VROLOK for your company?

Hello Fastred and thanks for the interest. The split came about through mutual respect between the two bands. Diabolus and I have been in contact with each other for many years and in one of our phone conversations the idea was born. So all in all our decision to do this was out of respect and admiration for Vrolok as it has been with the other bands we have done splits with. Our portion of the split contains demo tracks for songs on “The World, The Flesh & The Devil” and some live board mixes of songs of “Oculus Infernum” as well as CD-ROM video from these performances.

2. At the same time you're also preparing new piece as I can read on your web pages. Could you please tell me more about it? Will there be any change in the style or structure of Kult ov Azazel or will you keep your traditional work? When will be your new album out?

We have been in writing mode since December. So far 3 songs were written in December, spent another week in January demoing out 3 more new songs and will be getting together in May to hammer out some more songs. The new material follows along the lines of our last album “The World, The Flesh & The Devil”.

3. The covers of your albums play important role in case of Kult ov Azazel. There are some kind of mix between classic black metal cliché on one hand and there are also very structured elements and nice parts on the other hand. Have you already done the cover for your new upcoming material?

There’s no current art for the next album yet we’ll be using the same person that has done all our past ones. This all I can really say at this time.

4. There are three of you who take care of the vocals which is quite rare thing among bands of this genre. Does it help you to achieve more vitality, originality, and variability?

I think it add all those things. Not too many black metal bands do dual vocals, much less triple vocals so it’s something different than what else is out there and adds a tad bit of variety to things.

5. After listening it’s clear to me that you perfectly know what to do and what you want to achieve. Your music is based on uncompromising, hard attacking black metal. You’re not trying to copy European Northern scene without sense but I have to ask you if you have any idols or favorite bands from European black metal scene?

I wouldn’t say I idolize any bands. I do have bands that I enjoy and find inspiring from Europe. Venom and Darkthrone being the highest on the list followed by Beherit. Other bands also on that list would consist of Celtic Frost, Sodom, Destruction along with Anteaus, Impaled Nazarene, Belphegor to name a few.

6. The fact that you fix to speed, brutality, and technical skills it means that some "defects" can occur...I mean during live concerts - your limbs can be tired, in the case of weak sound it could get bad conditions, your music could be hard to follow, if you know what I mean. Have you got such problems?

Speaking for myself I can say I have never had any problems executing our music in a live setting.


7. You come from USA where black metal is not so popular like in other countries. If I’m not wrong Florida is a cradle of death metal, right? There also started deathers DEICIDE their career. Satanism is really close topic and interest for both of you. Are there any other relationships between these two bands? Are fans in United States interested in black metal?

There is no relationship between us and Deicide. Don’t get me wrong as I appreciate their older releases and we have even co-headlined a gig in Florida with them but that’s the extent of any ties between them and us. As for the situation in the USA there are indeed many supporters of black metal.

8. Your lyrics show that you are interested in Satanism and occultism. Are you using here your own experiences or do you have any other sources?

All the lyrics I write come from personal experiences or have personal meaning behind them. I write about what I know and see, not about mythical scenarios.

9. There are several religions and sects all around the world. How do you see other religions from your point of view? You’re not paying attention and there’s a new mosque built in front of your house. How do you feel about it? Do you see religious problems here?

First off a mosque would never be built in front of my home for the simple fact I’m not blind to what goes on around me in everyday life. Secondly, the only religious problem I see is that of the three Abrahamic religions, those being the big three; Christianity, Islam and Judaism. I think by this statement it also gives insight to how I feel about religion; these three in particular should be removed from modern society.

10. There were formed lots of first quality black metal bands in USA. We can mention here KRIEG, THORNSPAWN, JUDAS ISCARIOT, XASTHUR, etc. I’m curious what must a man do to keep the band alive and to make impression on fans? There’s lot of young bands all around the world and it’s pretty easy to get lost. Do you follow black underground?

I can’t say I follow the scene as much as I did in the past for the simple reason I have become pretty jaded with what it has become. This is one of the reasons we have kept a pretty semi-low profile over the past 2 years. There may be young bands popping up constantly but most of these bands are trend bands or carbon copies of what has already been done. The majority of them will disappear and fall to the wayside anyhow. It’s called being real, true to yourself and not compromising oneself to keep a band alive and if these 3 things are done and sincere than those that know and follow this style of music will take notice; this is how you make an impression on f ans.

11. The truth is that lots of European fans feel a bit an aversion towards bands from America...Why is it happening? Where do you see the biggest problem here?

The problem here is politics and nothing more from what I can sense from my travels in Europe. But the funny thing is it’s all about our involvement in the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism. I find it extremely pathetic that so many people that claim to be evil and into black metal tenets cry so much about the horror and inflictions that the USA causes in these wars. In my honest opinion I find these types of people nothing more than hippies pretending to be something they are not. Unfortunately this seems to be the case with most Europeans into black metal.

12. When you look back at the beginning of your career of KULT OV AZAZEL how would you characterize that period? I think it wasn’t so easy at all. Did you also play in other band before KULT OV AZAZEL? I mean some kind of amateur band or project…

I’d characterize it as being pretty hard. In the beginning it was impossible to find drummers. The first guy quit after a week to move out of state and from that point we had nothing but drummer issues until 2001. It was also a lot of hard work spreading the name and music then once we had established our name we changed it from Azazel to Kult ov Azazel and it was like starting all over again. Just a lot of time and energy goes into doing any of this shit. As far as bands, I have played in bands since I was in 7th grade so I have been somewhat doing it all my life.


13. Sometimes it’s possible that people lost their attitude and will to do their things. Have you ever felt like loosing motivation, inspiration? Was there any moment you were thinking about splitting out the band?

I’d be lying if I said these thoughts never crossed my mind. It can be frustrating when you are the only person that takes care of all band duties be it interviews, merchandise sells, webmaster, booking shows/tours, you get the picture. There’s a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into maintaining a band. So there have been moments where I have come close to ending it all. But the fact of the matter is this band is my passion and there’s a driving desire to continue no matter the problems and hassles that arise. Since 1999 all my energy and focus has been put into Kult ov Azazel, it’s my life force and the blood that courses through my veins, without it I think my existence would be extremely bleak.

14. What’s your opinion of “warpaint”? For many bands it’s really important. Does it play important role also in your band?

When it’s done correctly it can be a very effective imagery wise. I believe it should only be used in ritualistic types of situations, in the black metal sense more so in live performances and in certain cases visuals for albums. In my opinion it’s a self metamorphosis of the inner self, the demon inside if you will.

15. I can’t help myself and I have to ask you about politic situation in your country. Do you follow the politics in USA? How would you characterize doings of George Bush?

I don’t follow politics at all. I could care less what our foreign policies are and who they affect. For that matter I don’t care how other countries foreign policies affect us. I am completely apathetic to it all. I have never voted in any form be it local, state or federal. George Bush is George Bush and does not represent every American although it seems the rest of the world can’t fathom this. Those outside the United States have this distorted view that everyone that lives here is fat and lazy, rich and living high on the hog when indeed this is far from the truth. What it all comes down to is that church, state and federal governments should all be smashed. This is my opinion.

16. Thanks a lot for your time you spent answering my questions. I wish KULT OV AZAZEL the best and more and more satisfied fans for the future…

Thanks Fastred for the opportunity to answer your questions. I’d also like to apologize for the delays in getting this back to you. For those interested in more information, music or to obtain merchandise pertaining to Kult ov Azazel just go to www.kultovazazel.com. Hails to all that have and continue to support us over these past eight years!