Interview with Azaghal done by Patrick posted on 9-24-17

Interview  with  Azaghal  done  by  Patrick

1.Hails please introduce yourself to the  readers?When  did you  first  discover  black metal?

- My interest in more extreme form of music (after the usual thrash bands, Mercyful Fate etc.) started with Death Metal in the early 90s, especially the Swedish scene. It was the early Emperor and Darkthrone stuff that got me into black metal, along with various demo bands through tape trading.


2.Who  were  some of the  first  bands you  listened to?And  who  are some  of your current  favorite  bands?

- Originally started listening to music with stuff like WASP, Mötley Crüe and Hanoi Rocks, then evolved into thrash and stuff like Mercyful Fate and Venom. 
I am pretty much stuck in the 90s/early 00s, I still mostly listen to black and death metal from that time period, but some newer killer bands I could mention are Malum, Sarkrista, Gestalte and Sawhill Sacrifice.


3.Azaghal  was  formed  in  1998  when  did you  first get the  idea to  start this band?And  how  did you  choose  Azaghal  as the name of the band?

- We started playing together with V-khaoz around 1995, the earlier stuff was more like chaotic death metal, but quickly turned more towards black metal. Tolkien was a big thing back then, and since Gorgoroth and  Burzum got their name from there, so did we.


4.How  would you say the  bands  music  has  changed  over  the years?And  who  are  some  of  the  bands  biggest  influences?

- Not that much has changed, I think we have established our sound pretty much already on the 3rd demo in 1999. We have never tried to reinvent the wheel, just make songs and lyrics that mean something to us personally. The  biggest influences are the already mentioned early 90s norweigian/Swedish stuff.


5.What  would  you  say  are  the  bands  most  memorable  shows  over  the  years?And  who  are  some  bands you  all have shared  the  stage with?

- Messe Des Morts in Canada was extremely cool, and of course the whole Brazilian tour. Our first gig ever, in Germany 2004 is also something unforgotable.


6.Are their  any  shows  or  tours  coming up  this  year?If  yes  where  will  the  band  be  playing?

- We will play at a festival in Paris, France in October. Beyond that, nothing is planned for now and we are concentrating on new material



7.Moribund  Rec.  has  re-released  the bands second full length  Helvetin  Yhdeksan  Piiria release  how  did you  all  come in  contact  with Moribund Rec  for this  re-release?

- Been in contact with Moribund pretty much since the 90s. They also released 3 of our albums before. They wanted to reissue the album, and since its hard to find nowadays why not.

8.Are  their  any  plans  to  re-release  any  of your  other  full-lengths or  earlier  releases   through Moribund Rec  or  are you  working on  new music for the  next  full length?

- We hope to get most of the stuff re-issued, since especially in US it hasn’t been that easy to find. Also working a new album, but no release date yet, not until 2018 anyway.


9.Besides  playing  in  Azaghal  do  you  currently  work  with  any  other  bands or  projects?If  yes please  tell the readers  a  little  about  them?

- Currently only active band that I am involved in is Wyrd, “Death of the Sun” album came out on Moribund awhile back, and we are now working on the follow up.


10.Azaghal  comes out  of  Finland's  black  metal  scene  what  is your  opinion  of  the  mighty  finnish  black metal  scene?

- I think it’s among the best nowadays with some killer new bands and a lot of old bands reforming and still kicking ass.


11.Who  are your  all-time  favorite  bands  coming  out of Finland?And  are  their  any  new bands  you  feel  the  readers  should check  out  soon?

- All-time faves from Finland are Archgoat, Beherit, Belial, old Amorphis, old Sentenced to name a few. From newer bands I’d recommend checking out Malum, Sawhill Sacrifice, Kalmankantaja, Grieve and Devouring Star.


12.Besides  bands  are  their  any  honest and reliable  labels and distro's  you  feel the readers  should  check  out soon?Do you read  many fan or web-ziness?Are their  any  Finnish  zines  you  could recommend?

- I am pretty much completely out of the loop regarding distros and zines nowadays. Northern Heritage and Werwolf Records come to mind first.


13.When  did you  first become  interested  in reading  and  studying  occult and  Satanism subjects?

- At a very young age, always been fascinated by the subjects, think it all started from Mercyful Fate and Venom lyrics and just their general image.


14.Are  their  any  Satanists or  occult  writers  you  like to  read and study?

- Pekka Siitoin.



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