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In spite of the fact I've done this interview a long time ago I'd like to fill it with some news. Further line-up change for ANCIENT, Scorpios is no longer in the band and a new bassist has already been recruited. Since the band parted ways with him right before the recordings of the new album, the bass was recorded by Aphazel himself. Their new album "The Halls Of Eternity" is recently out on METAL BLADE Records. It differs from "Mad Grandiose Bloodfiends", being heavier and more similar to the early works of ANCIENT, presenting also new elements and atmospheres. The following is an interesting conversation with Aphazel of ANCIENT. Read it!
Who is "Aphazel"? From what mythology came that name?
- "Aphazel" is a kind of anti-christ, a blasphemer, a half man/ half beast. I've always seen myself as someone totally different from "normal" people. The name just came from my own mind, not from any mythology.
Who is that one called "Jesus Christ!"?
- It's our keyboardplayer, he used to play guitar for us earlier. The whole point in taking such a name was to mock christianity who preaches that Jesus Christ is a name that is holy. In our opinion nothing is "holy" and this is a way to show it. It's a total blasphemy, you see.
Describe us your current line-up nowadays because it's always change. Who play drums on your video "Lilith's Embrace"?
- The line-up today is the following:
Aphazel: Guitars & vocals
Deadly Kristin: Female vocals
Scorpios: Bass
Krigse: Drums
Jesus Christ!: Keyboards
In the video for "Lilith's Embrace" you can see the drummer Kjetil, who's also playing drums on "The Cainian Chronicle".
Tell us more about your interests in Black Mythology (Vampires, Werewolves, etc.).
- I haven't been that much into vampirism, like Kaiaphas was. And now that he's no longer in the band I want to get away from this theme, also a lot because it's way too trendy and overdone in the scene right now. I have interest in ancient mythology, especially the Norse, Greek and Egyptian ones, I haven't had so much time to study these lately though.
Where you find Kaiaphas (as we know he played in GRAND BELIAL'S KEY). What is your opinion about this band?
- I was writing with Kaiaphas since early '94 or so, we traded tapes with each other, I liked his band GRAND BELIAL'S KEY a lot, and when I went to the US in may '95 I met up with him and we became good friends. He also let me listen to his side-project, THOKK, which really impressed me a lot, his voice and his drumming was really good, I thought, and when Grimm decided to leave ANCIENT in august '95, I called Kaiaphas up and told him I wanted him to take over for Grimm. A few weeks later I went to the US again, and we started playing together.
I like GRAND BELIAL'S KEY a lot, the old material (the 2 demos they released) was really good and original. I don't like very much the new line-up they have now, though.
What do you think about such ones as Cronos, Tom Warrior, Jeff Becerra, Marcel Schirmer...
- Not much, I respect some of them, but they don't mean very much to me.
The majority says that Black Metal is dying. What is your opinion about this?
- Well, the quality of the Black Metal that has been released the latest years has gone down really a lot if you compare it to the beginning in '92 - '93. A lot because there's too many bands, too many people has jumped on the bandwagon, and many bands concentrate too much on selling as much albums as possible, making commercial "Black Metal" that can reach a bigger audience, and don't make music they truly are into. It's very easy to hear when your music doesn't come from your heart, I think.
Do you like King's bands KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE (you play cover "Black Funeral")?
- I like KING DIAMOND very much, I've been a big fan of him since the beginning in '85. The old MERCYFUL FATE is also among my fave bands, but I'm not very fond of their newer stuff. They really lost some of that special style they had when they got reformed and got a new drummer.
Do you know something about Ukraine (our bands, 'zines etc.). Our Carpathian mountains is the source of legends about Nosferatu, werewolves, etc.
- Not very much, to be honest, Ukraine used to be part of Russia, but now it's an independent nation. It's a poor country. I don't know very much more. I know about the Carpathian mountains very well, yeah, and some day I will probably go to visit this area.
When we can expect your new material and in what way it will be?
- Hopefully we'll be ready to go into the studio in february. I think we'll record in Germany this time. The next album should be out in april/ may, I suppose. In some ways it will be a bit back to the style we had earlier, but also with some new influences. It will be very heavy, and also melodic.
Have you any problems with Norwegian "Inner Circle" (I think these guys were like a children, playing in warriors against christianity)?
- No.
How do you think what is more dangerous for youth now - official church or such things like different baptistic sects as jehovah witnesses, adventists of seventh day, etc. I know that many of these bastards are based in USA. Have you any troubles with them? (I know such bands as DEICIDE, MORBID ANGEL have troubles with these assholes. They make demonstrations on their shows for example).
- I think the only thing that can be considered "dangerous" is stupidity, believing everything you're being told without using your own intelligence and opinion. People must start to take life in their own hands and not rely on others.
We sure had some negative reactions in the US, with several christian organizations, complaining that we're using the name Jesus Christ, but it didn't cause us any problems. They're just a bunch of worthless idiots who are jealous on people who dare to live life to the fullest, to enjoy our earthly existence, and try to tell us "we'll go to hell" and and and a half. What a bunch of losers, they all belong in a mental hospital, I think.
Some ancient words from elder demon to the readers...
- Thanks for your support, we look forward to see you all in Hell!
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