Kult ov Azazel Re-releases classic Order of the Fly!

By Isiamon of Immolith

Awhile back I spoke with Xaphan of American black metal legends Kult ov Azazel. We discussed the band’s long history and their latest release at that time, “Destroying the Sacred.” Now comes news that Forbidden Records is re-releasing an older Kult ov Azazel album entitled “The Order of the Fly.” The Forbidden Records pressing is being called “The Order of the Fly-The Ultimate Edition.” I figured now would be a good time to touch base with Xaphan and find out about this release, and what Kult ov Azazel has on its black horizons for this coming year.

Xaphan

Hail Xaphan! Tell us about “The Order of Fly” as it has recently been released from Forbidden Records. I understand it contains the tracks from the original Order of the Fly album, as well as demo’s, live material, and even some previously unreleased tracks.

Greetings Isiamon! Forbidden Records just within the last few weeks reissued our first mCD along with all the rarities you have mentioned. Basically what this reissue does is capture everything we recorded or released while we were still known simply as Azazel from 1999-2000. It has the 6 songs from the original Order of The Fly release, a previous unreleased version of Garden Of Shadows done in 2008 with Hammer on drums, our portion from the split with Krieg known as the Of Evil And Hatred Sessions, a live recording of Symbionic 666, a Mayhem cover and the Entering Erebus demo. So technically all Azazel recordings that have been long out of print have been put all into this one reissue.  That is why it has been deemed the Ultimate version.

How did you wind up working with Forbidden Records?

I have known Fatherland Almighty since the early days of the band.  Just last year he contacted me with interest in reissuing it through a label he was working with. I had been kicking the idea around before his contact so it was a no brainer when he approached me about it.

The original Order of Fly came out a number of years ago.  Has anything been changed on them?  Was anything on the rerelease remixed or remastered for the Forbidden Records version?

Nope, no changes at all.  What you will hear is the same mix that was released back in 1999.  All we did different than the original was adding a shitload of bonus tracks and had the cover overhauled.

Tell us a little about the demo tracks in detail, do you remember anything about those recording sessions.

I remember some but not all as it was over 13 years ago.  Four of the tracks were written both musically and lyrically by Xul before we hooked up which has become known as the Entering Erebus demo.  Garden of Shadows and Forever Heaven Gone were written jointly between Xul and myself when we first formed the band.  The music for the two songs were mostly written by myself and Xul wrote all lyrics in the beginning.  The drummer was Von on this recording and we recorded all the music at a guy’s warehouse in Boca Raton, FL (who would later become our drummer) using a friend’s Yamaha MD8 digital recorder.  Then we did vocals using the same digital recorded in some office space in the slums of Oakland Park, Florida and mixed it down in the pro audio portion of Sam Ash were I was working at the time.  It was also there I ran into one of my old audio instructors from college who ended up mastering it at his studio. Don’t remember much other than that.

Kult ov Azazel Order of the Fly The Ultimate Edition

Garden of Shadows was rerecorded a few years later, and then not released again until now.  What is the story behind that?

The unreleased version of Garden Of Shadows was recorded 9 years later as a matter of fact.  We recorded it when we did Destroying The Sacred.  We tracked DTS faster than we had even expected so we had extra time to record some other songs so this was one of the old songs we decided to update.  We have kept it locked in the vault waiting for the right time to release it.  It was with the reissue of Order of the Fly that I felt the time was right to put it out there.

How about the live track, Symbionic 666, when and where was this recorded?  Is the live audio captured right from the soundboard, or was it recorded in another way?

This was released originally on the Order Of The Fly vinyl issue in 2003.  I believe the recording is actually the audio from live video captured.  It was recorded when we played the Culture Room December 26, 1999 with Hellspawn on drums.

Listening again to your older material as you prepared for this re-release, is there anything you would change about any of it, or are you satisfied with those older songs and demos being done just as they were?

Honestly I did not listen to any of the music as this was being prepared. I don’t like listening to my own music. I love writing it and playing it but I don’t sit around listening to my own band.  As for “would I change anything?”  That answer is absolutely no!

Included is a cover of Mayhem’s classic Chainsaw Gutsfuck. Kult ov Azazel has done a number of great covers over the years. Any reason this particular cover was chosen for this re-release?

This was originally recorded for a Mayhem tribute this guy from Tennessee was supposed to release back in the day. It was never used since that tribute never came to be. Vetis who also played on Triumph Of Fire is the drummer on this track. Also the only other time we released this cover was on the Of Evil and Hatred promo which only 100 promos were circulated.

Clearly the original Mayhem influenced so many black metal bands and musicians all over the World. Given that, do you care to offer us any opinion on the current Mayhem line up that just finished a tour of the States?

Can’t comment as I did not see that tour with the current lineup. Then again I don’t really care much for any post Euronymous versions of Mayhem to be truthful.

Xaphan

Is there any difference in how the band records an album now as compared to how you guys recorded the original Order of the Fly album?

It’s a night and day difference.  In the beginning we used whatever we could to record but since the Triumph Of Fire days we have used actual recording studios to do the albums.  Those studios have also stepped up the quality of recording as well.

Are there any more unreleased demos or tracks left in Kult ov Azazel’s back catalogue after this release?  Or has everything the band has left from its earlier days now been released?

There are still some surprises in the vault. We haven’t spilt our last load yet.

I know aside from Kult ov Azazel, you’ve been involved in a band called Heavy Bastard that specializes in covering old school punk like Black Flag, Dead Kennedy’s and so on. Can you talk a little bit about Heavy Bastard, and also how old punk can influence you as a musician even when it comes to the heretical black metal of Kult ov Azazel?

Heavy Bastard was started as sort of a tribute band but more so to a genre than any one band. We cover hardcore punk and crossover with some old school heavy metal thrown in from time to time. It’s something I started back in 2010 with the vocalist Remy who is an old friend from back in the beginning days of the band when we were still simply Azazel. But music wise Heavy Bastard covers stuff from 1979-1989. However we are starting to venture into originals as we just recently wrote the first Heavy Bastard song titled “You Can’t Call It Rock-n-Roll” which we posted a rehearsal version on the internet.  Check it out if you are so inclined by searching Heavy Bastard on YouTube. There are tons of live videos of us covering songs too. Influence wise I have been told by more than one person over the years they can hear punk influences in some of my riffing. Pretty much all four of my high school years I played in a punk band that towards the end turned anarcho-crust called Faust so punk has always been an influence just as much as metal but maybe not so evident?

What’s going on currently with the Kult ov Azazel line up? How about plans to write and record another album?  When can fans expect to hear some new blasphemy from one of the leaders in American black metal?

Well we have the split 7” with Teratism coming out within the next few weeks on Negativity Records. Then there is the 2 album contract we signed a few months back with Negativity so I am really hoping that when Hammer comes in town next week to begin rehearsing for our show with Cannibal Corpse on January 22 that we can start arranging the songs Armanen and I have written and get the ball rolling on a new album. Lineup wise it is still myself on vocals/guitar and Hammer on drums. Armanen who was added in 2009 on guitar has moved over to bass and I have brought Necrol who played with us from 2006-2007 back on guitar.

Finally, where can people get a hold of a copy of “The Order of the Fly- The Ultimate Edition?”

We had copies but have since sold out of ours. As of now the only place to obtain a copy is through Forbidden Records. Their website is www.forbidden-records.com.

Thanks again for taking the time to enlighten us on this release and Kult ov Azazel, Personally I want to wish you and Kult of Azazel continued success as we march forward into 2012. Horns up!

Thanks brother! I appreciate you giving this reissue and the band some “recent” exposure. I also always enjoy doing interviews with you since you ask insightful questions. Many hails and thanks to those that have continued to support Kult ov Azazel over the past decade and then some!