Temple of Baal Interview 11/1/2009

Temple of Baal

http://www.myspace.com/templeofbaal

1. For those of use new to Temple of Baal tell us bit about the project?
Amduscias : It started in 98. At that time Black Metal took a turn we didn’t like, very soft and polished, and we wanted to bring back real darkness and aggression, with a somehow “old school” feeling. It resulted in two albums on Oaken Shield/Adipocere, and a load of split releases on labels such as End All Life… Uncompromising attitude and flawless honesty regarding our creation brought us recognition from true maniacs of the scene and we played shows with Angelcorpse, Watain, Arkhon Infaustus, Behemoth… All this leads us to today, with our new album “Lightslaying Rituals” out on Agonia Records…

2. There is a heavy occult element to the Black metal you create. Are you Pagans or just into Crowleyan ways?
Amduscias : My spirituality is a mix between different ones, I don’t want to be labeled “this or that”. I’m indeed pretty much influenced by Crowley, whose books are a must read, but the basis of my beliefs is deeply rooted in Satanism. Then I have to define a bit what I mean : I refuse the shallow, materialistic Laveyan ways, but I don’t buy into a childish “wannabe super evil” comedy that tends to be so hype within the wanna be Black Metal circus of today. My spirituality, as I call it such (and not as a religion or philosophy) is defined by a high critical sense and not a blind acceptance of truths, whatever they come from. Then there is the unspeakable, connections to other dimensions one can reach through meditation etc which I give an insight of through songs referring to “The Void”, like “Vectors To The Void” on this release.

3. Your sound reminds me a lot of a more obscure band called Mythos. Are you fans of the project at all?
Amduscias : You mean the Mythos that released “Pain Amplifier” ? I wouldn’t call myself a fan, but I consider it as an important Underground release, and it’s pretty fuckin’ good, yeah.

4. Temple of Baal is 10 years old now and has worked with many label it seems. Why the move from Oaken Shield to Agonia??
Amduscias : Oaken Shield couldn’t release anything anymore because they got into huge money problems. That’s one of the reasons why our previous record “Traitors To Mankind” wasn’t promoted enough. We understood the situation of course but then we had to move on and to take a step up. I think Agonia was the right move to do, the label has more financial means for promotion and the guys are 666% behind us.

5. What is the like show like for Temple of Baal?
Amduscias : The show is very Metal in its approach. So far, it’s been spikes, leather, bullet belts, headbanging and maniacs going wild. The more the crowd reacts, the better. It’s a massive burst of energy and I see it as a ceremony directed towards the forces we compel in our lyrics. But we’re planning to develop even more the visual aspect, getting stage gear to enhance the overall feeling.

6. If someone was to ask what the sound of Temple of Baal was, how would you tell them?
Amduscias : A blend between the mystic and somehow atmospheric approach of debut 90’s Black Metal, and the straight forward Death Metal violence and aggression. We’re influenced by Darkthrone, Mayhem or Dodheimsgard as much as we’re fans of Incantation, Carcass, Morbid Angel or early Swedish scene like Dismember/Entombed, etc. Add to this the urgent energy of Thrash Metal, like Slayer or Sodom, you get something that gets close to us.

7. Do you find it important for corpse paint to play a role in the black metal performance and overall mood?
Amduscias : It depends on your approach of the thing. We chose to stop using it on this album, we think it fits more our art in its globality this way. Corpse paint, if it’s used correctly, enhances the ritual aspect of Black Metal, but it wouldn’t fit the defiant attitude expressed in “Lightslaying Rituals”.

8. Lightslaying Rituals has a lot of layers and elements even eastern sounding ones at time. Is this very different from your earlier releases?
Amduscias : It is different in the way that our Death Metal side is much more developed than before. Eastern vibes, if I get what you mean correctly, have always been present in some of my solos, and riffs from time to time, as these scales bring up a very ritualistic mood to my mind. I’ve lived for ten years in Egypt and visited lots of ancient places, graves, pyramids. I know what it is to wake up in the desert, get out of your tent and watch the sunrise listening to the sound of silence, in total solitude, without any human being interfering. I bear this mark forever, and even if we don’t develop anything like Nile does concerning ancient Egyptian mythology, some things are deeply rooted within me and sometimes come to surface in the music I compose.

9. Is there a running theme on Lightslaying Rituals or a collection of dark tracks?
Amduscias : Lightslaying Rituals deals with the defiance one must have concerning the Power, be it of divine or human origin. It’s in direct connection with my spirituality. “Light” is an allegory for power, as the power brings “light” in the direction it needs global opinions to be, through mass medias or propaganda. Anything labeled as “truth” by the power should be questioned and criticized, to forge your own opinion. It is in direct connection with a Satanic or Luciferian attitude, to bring doubt and raise questions towards the Power. In ancient days, scientific books were regarded as “works of Darkness” and their authors were burnt alive as heretics because their teachings were not those of the “light of God”. On a more down to earth approach : Man is made to live under the rays of the sun, which bring comfort to him. Light shows what man needs to live, nothing “more”. In darkness, senses are alert and brains function even more, to prevent from any danger that can be lurking in the shadows. The allegory of “Slaying light”, then, bringing darkness, finds its meaning. “Lightslaying Rituals” is a manifest of critical sense and spiritual awakening.

10. Are the old Pagan ways missing far too much in the modern age for Temple of Baal?
Amduscias : No they don’t, but I’m concerned when I see how shallow and materialistic our world has become. I’m not hoping for a return of religion at all, to Hell with this – I’m afraid one can witness today the return of some religious forms in their most hideous, backward looking forms, and it is something one must fight against. But the denial of any free thinking, the denial of any alternative to what dominant forces of society impose us, this I find highly worrying.

11. Do you feel that Myspace is more than enough exposure to the internet for Temple of Baal as you website seems to have disappeared?
Amduscias : Well myspace is a very useful and convenient tool. I don’t think bands websites are that useful now, everyone goes to Myspace to get infos. But on the other hand, I don’t really like that aspect of things, like “Myspace and nothing else”. It doesn’t really fit my philosophy as you might have guessed. There MUST be an alternative. So I have a project of building a new Temple Of Baal website, but it will have to be as informative as it can be, and the visual aspect will be highly taken care of as well, I refuse any amateur approach, I strive for excellence in anything Temple Of Baal does, and this is indeed a part of it. I guess it won’t be online tomorrow as I still have to figure out a lot of things, but it will be worth the wait.

12. If you have any closing thoughts please place them here.
Amduscias : Take a listen to “Lightslaying Rituals”, as it is an album made with our spirits, blood and guts. If you’re looking for a massive release of sinister spiritual energies, chances are you might find it there. There is no truth that can’t be tested through the Heretic flames of Baal, these flames you have in your mind are only awaiting for your sign to awaken… And reveal ! AMSG !