KULT OV AZAZEL
Inspired by blasphemous and blackened metal, KULT OV AZAZEL spit forth their hate towards humanity and religion. The unholy birth cries were first heard in 1998, under the infernal name of Azazel. Hailing from South Florida, Xaphan and Xul decided to join forces, marching relentlessly towards a shared destiny with a grim vision.June of 2000 marked a turning point for the entity formerly known simply as Azazel. The horde decided to distance themselves from other bands using the same name and re-anointed themselves as Kult ov Azazel. After the 1999 release of the mCD “Order of the Fly” and various split CD’s, which established Kult ov Azazel as an unstoppable force upon the US Black Metal, they signed with Arctic Music Group ensuring proper distribution and a good budget to create their debut full length. In April of 2001, the much anticipated full length was released in the form of “Triumph of Fire”, an 11 hymn manifesto of evil and misanthropy that lived up to their motto “No Beauty, No Atmosphere, No Tranquility”.
Shortly after the release of the debut album a permanent drummer was announced. With Hammer now behind the kit writing for the follow up began. In early 2002 it was decided that a second guitarist be incorporated into the band. With the line up of Xaphan (guitar/vocals), Xul (bass/vocals), Nocturath (guitar) and Hammer (drums), the band entered the studio to record. In March 2003 Kult ov Azazel released their second full-length “Oculus Infernum”.
2004 saw Nocturath take leave from the band being replaced by VJS whom first appeared with the group when they co-headlined the Northern Lights Festival in Toronto, Canada. November of the same year, Kult ov Azazel embarked on The Swarm of Eternal Blackness Tour, a successful West Coast assault. Upon return they immediately entered Nuclear Soundlabs and recorded tracks for two splits “Feast of Sacrilegious Impurity” and “Through War or Suicide”.
In February of 2005 the band entered Mana Studios in Tampa Florida and recorded “The World, The Flesh & The Devil”. Upon release the album gained top reviews with many claiming it as the bands best material. It was also named as one of the top black metal releases in 2005 by many critics. To support this release the band took their blasphemies out on the road on the Hellstorm of Unholy Legions Tour.
After the completion of the tour VJS left the band. In December 2005 that void was replaced with Necrol. As this lineup Kult ov Azazel appeared in 2006 at the Sacrifice of the Nazarene Child 6 Festival, Night of the Black Pentecost and one Ft. Lauderdale, FL show securing the local slot for the Celtic Frost “Monotheist” tour.
On September 15, 2007 Kult ov Azazel returned to headline a show in Toronto, Canada and a week later was scheduled to play the Autumn Equinox Festival. Situations arose preventing Xul and Hammer from playing the festival. Instead of cancelling, Xaphan performed with session musicians. This one time lineup included members of Krieg, Engorge, Tenebrous & Malevolent Creation. It was this festival Valac entered the band replacing Necrol as session guitarist.
During the beginning of 2008, a decision was made to take Kult ov Azazel back to its original form keeping the core of the band a 3 piece and utilizing session members for live occasions. Writing for the new album was finalized and in late October 2008 the band entered Mana Studios again to record “Destroying The Sacred”. Released June 2, 2009 through Arctic Music the album, as with past releases, has received excellent reviews from both the US magazines/zines as well as international ones.
Support for the album kicked off on July 5th, 2009 in Philadelphia, PA when Kult ov Azazel co-headlined the Hostile City Death Festival with Valac as session guitarist. The when rehearsing for upcoming shows in October 2009 Kult ov Azazel brought Armanen in to cover guitars for live performances. That same month the band headlined the Milwaukee Blackened Festival and one one off show in Los Angeles, CA on Halloween night. While in Los Angeles Xaphan and Hammer entered Black Static Studios and within a few hours banged out a cover of “In League With Satan” for a Venom tribute to be released as a split endeavor with Teratism. December 12, 2009 Kult ov Azazel took their blasphemy to the island of Puerto Rico. With this performance the band also made history by being the first national/international black metal to play Puerto Rico. This was filmed to be compiled with other live footage for a future DVD release in 2010.
At the beginning of 2010 Kult ov Azazel teamed up with Frank Watkins At the beginning of 2010 the band was hit with Xul’s decision to take an indefinite hiatus. With scheduled dates for 2010 already confirmed Xaphan and Hammer were forced to make the decision to make adjustments to the lineup. Armanen was given a permanent position on guitars and former/session member VJS was brought back to play bass. With this lineup Kult ov Azazel embarked on a mini tour billed as the Nihilistic Terror Across Texas headlining the West Texas Death Festival and then joining up for two shows with Teratism and Witchaven. Due to certain circumstances Hammer was unable to do the Texas tour so Tony Laureano filled in on drums. Then in May they completed the Nihilistic Terror Across Florida mini tour, having filmed their hometown show for a future DVD release. However, after the Florida shows complications arouse that put the band on complete hold from the month of June until October when the band began rehearsing as a 3 piece with Armanen on bass for their appearance at the Samhain Black Metal Festival MMX in South Carolina. After this festival appearance the band began writing for a new album but again that was put on hold due the contract with Arctic being up and no label interest.
Fast forward, February 2011 at which time Negativity Records approached the band with interest to release future recordings. With this new offer the flame had been lit again. Since the beginning of March Xaphan has resumed writing with contributions from Armanen, who as of May 2011 has moved to bass guitar and Necrol was back in the band to fill the guitar position. The end months of 2011 were spent writing for Violators of the Covenant. Also in December of 2011 Forbidden Records re-issued the bands first recording “Order Of The Fly: The Ultimate Edition” with new cover art and previously unreleased tracks.
2012 began with Kult ov Azazel coheadlining a show in their hometown of Fort Lauderdale, FL with Cannibal Corpse. Also in January of 2012 Negativity Records released the split 7″ between Kult ov Azazel and Teratism titled “In League With Satan”. In February Xaphan was interviewed for the black metal documentary “Out of The Black” and the band announced the addition of Amduscias to handle future guitar duties. Currently the band is working on pre-production for the new album. It was announced in June 2012 that Xul had returned to the band.
In 2013, Necrols returns to the band to replace Amduscias and Xul takes leave again to be replaced on bass by Vastator. With this lineup Kult ov Azazel headline the only show for the year in Miami, FL during the month of October at the Black Kvlt Fest.
The year 2014 is spent on further writing of the new album and more pre-production on it. The band headlines both Wrath of the Goat III & IV with Archangel Sin Scythe filling in on drums for the WotG III Festival in Wilkes-Barre, PA and with Paul Collier filling in drums for the WotG IV held in Chicago, IL. In October of 2014 Kult ov Azazel announce that Hag (ex-Pact) had joined the band as vocalist.
AGAINST THE PLAGUES
AGAINST THE PLAGUES is a extreme metal act based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 2005 when two musicians from the black metal group Forest of Impaled – Varyen od drums and Adrian Adamus on guitar, decided to to create their own project.They started working under the name “AGAINST” but after few months extended it to AGAINST THE PLAGUES. Originally starting as a “project”, they hired Swedish musician and producer Wojtek Lisicki (Lost Horizon,Luciferion) to help with arrangements and production of the first album. However, after a few months of cooperation the “project” turned in to a full time, active band with Lisicki becoming a full fledged member and shortly before entering the studio, Orlando Logan Perez (ex VEX) joined the band as their singer and bassist to round out the lineup.
In 2007 , the band signed distribution deals with Century Media Records in U.S. and Plastic Head in Europe and released their debiut album “Architecture of Oppression” .
AGAINST THE PLAGUES received outstanding reviews in popular metal magazines like : BW&BK , Metal Rules, Metal Hammer, Lords of Metal, Metal Maniacs, Masterful magazine.
In 2010, AGAINST THE PLAGUES signed a deal with Dutch label – Vic Records, at which point, “Architecture of Oppression” was re-mixed and re-mastered by legendary producer Dan Swano (Katatonia/Marduk/Dark Funeral/Edge of Sanity) and re-released in Europe under the new title “Decoding the Mainframe”.
Shortly after “Decoding the Mainframe” came out, guitarist Adrian Adamus left the band and was replaced by Marco Martell (ex Malevolent Creation).
Just short time later , in March 2010 , AGAINST THE PLAGUES released their first official video for the track “Great are the Eyed” which was shot in Miami, FL.
In late fall 2010 the band returned to the studio and recorded 4 new songs for mini album called “The Quaternion”. Finally “The Quaternion” was self released on December 21st 2012.
AGAINST THE PLAGUES immidiately hit the road in U.S. to promote “The Quaternion” in 2013. In March 2013 Milo Kovacevic (ex Kommandant/Ezurate) joined the band as a new bass guitarist.
In June 2013 after first leg of promotional shows in United States the band parted ways with singer Logan Perez. Perez was replaced by vocalist Shaun Albro (ApotheCarrion/Ebonmortis).
In January 2014, band parted ways with Marco Martell and announced Aaron Covarrubias as a new guitarist.
Currently AGAINST THE PLAGUES gearing up to release some new material in the Spring 2014. The band is also confirmed to headline Florida Death Metal Fest in Fort Lauderdale on March 22nd 2014.
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