Cooking with Satan

Have you ever wondered what’s behind the bricked windows of that grey building next door or the tunnels swarming beneath your feet? Well guys, I know someone who did…

Through his explorations, Sylvain Margaine brings back to light forgotten witnesses of times now long gone. And sometimes, all it takes is to simply flip the coin to allow us to take a glance behind the curtain and contemplate the colossal mechanisms of the city-monster, never quite asleep nor dead.

It won’t take you long to understand you live in a place full of magic and mysteries, you were just too busy to realize these warp-zones are surrounding you…

So let the clock stop ticking for a minute and let’s hear what Sylvain Margaine, brilliant urban explorer and author (with his brother) of the breathtaking book “Forbidden Places”, has to say about his passion and lifestyle. Buckle up and bon voyage.

The black-metal mexican gods are back!
These disciples of primitive black-metal inspired by Mayan culture returned this year with a new demo on Nuclear War Now Productions. So we decided to contact Marco Ek Balam, leader of the ancient horde, to learn more about the past, present and future of the band. His story is the one of the rising underground metal scene in the ’80s and it’s one to be praised! What follows will bring you back to an age where internet wasn’t there and the gods of the underworld were marching onwards the face of the earth. Enter the Xibalba!

Welcome to the part II of our Mayhem Archive, a testimony of the early black-metal scene in Norway revolving around (the true) Mayhem.
Here’s the last known interview of Dead (and Dead alone), second and most notable vocalist of Mayhem who killed himself in april 1991, by Evil (A.K.A Morgan Hakansson of Marduk) originally published in Slayer Mag.
This brings us back in the days, at the very end of the first black-metal wave, right before the media explosion that considerably altered the essence of the scene…

Check part I here.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

A really cool interview I did with Dennis Dread, the infamous illustrator, some time ago. Enjoy!

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

This interview is the start of our massive south east Asia Black Metal scene report that we entitled “East Of Hell”.

From now on we will propose on a regular basis interviews from musicians, label managers, tape traders and die-hard followers who support this TRVE underground scene. A scene deeply rooted in the old-school shape of Black Metal: primitive, raw and totally uncompromise. Many, many great bands come from this scene and they all preserved the original essence of this genre now in serious decline in western countries. No room for trendies here, envenomed by ruthless life conditions and cultural censorship, their wrathful musical assault has nothing to envy to the so-called tenors of the scene. Hailing from Singapore, Istidraj is one of these bands and its charismatic leader Lord Arian Inferno answered our questions about his music, his life and the asian BM scene. We hope you’ll enjoy this first episode and guarantee you some really cool upcoming stuff. Stay updated.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

In a little over a year span, Grammal Seizure (the one man Power Electronics tour de force is actually visual artist Erik Stanger) has produced 10 CD/EP’s, participated in a various artists compilation, and has a track coming up on the Sleepchamber Tribute download release (through Kill Your Godz). The musick is like a hammer, smashing through the social taboos of todays dogmas. Attacking our perceptions of the mind as band such as SPK and Whitehouse had before him with musick paid for in pain and suffering. Through his hard work, he has already generated considerable noise in the blogosphere. Sharing a considerable amount of musick with his fans for free. And what should happen with so much Grammal Seizure musick available for free? His CD sales have also blossomed. His name has gotten out there and is recognized. His musick is sought after. A case study for the modern musician. All this from Baltimore Maryland.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

P. Emerson Williams (or 333 as I call him). Musician, artist, illustrator, web mogul, chaos magick practitioner. Since the late 1980’s P. Emerson Williams has been making his mark in a world that is not often seen by the mainstream media. But through his incredible work ethic and vast amount of creative energies, as well as a knowledge of how to tap into the powers of the web, he is now able to reach across to his fans in a multi-medium fashion that has only become possible since the turn of the century. And just when the world catches up with him, he takes another quantum leap forward – as he did in 2005 with the multimedia work “Panic Pandemic”, and promises to do again this year with new releases including the newest Choronzon recording “Controlled Substance”. Perhaps the best way to describe 333 is like a Whirling Dervish – of the Sufi Order… Both in the constant movement and spinning (in great productivity), but also as a man on a mystical journey.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

It’s 1997 – to the outside world the future couldn’t seem brighter for Sleepchamber… completing a successful German Tour, CD’s were now being distributed overseas and in the US by the Italian label Musica Maxima Magnetica and the German label FünfUndVierzig. And, perhaps more promising, Cleopatra Records out of L.A had signed the band with the promise of even wider distribution.

However, things are not always what they seem…

The gods had begun to frown on John’s life a year earlier. On June 21st of 1996 Swedish nanny Karina Holmer was found sawed in two in a dumpster down the street from John’s home. Her torso was left in two separate bags… Her lower portion has never been discovered. Although no charges were ever brought against John, he was brought in as a suspect and questioned. The fragile world of Sleep Chamber quickly began to splinter.

Also smoldering under the surface, out of public view, John was suffering from a 9 years hardcore addiction to Heroin. The fabric of the band had already begun to disintegrate. Friends of John even held a benefit concert to help him with his drug addiction in the early summer of 1997. It would be the second to last show of Sleep Chamber.

Effectively Sleepchamber ceased recording in 95 just before the Nanny Murder. A huge catalog of unreleased tracks managed to keep the band in existence by name till 2000. A final Sleep Chamber show went down December 31, 2000. It featured John, one musician and a dancer.

The final blow came on November 2 of 2001, when Zewizz girlfriend, and former band-mate, Laura Graff died from a heroin overdose. Heartbroken and addicted John went further into seclusion.

If this is where the story stopped then we would be left with the memories of a large number of outrageous live gigs, many compelling releases, and a virtual who’s who of former band mates sprinkled all over the “underground” musick landscape. But November 2 was not the end of the world for John or Sleepchamber (as of 2000 Sleep Chamber became Sleepchamber).

In 2004 John beat heroin addiction, reformed Sleepchamber and began producing musick. The first foray came quick, with the ultra limited release of “Sirkle Circus” – a collection of remixes. Work on other projects quickly began to fill John’s time. As of 2008 John has a number of projects nearing completion, and the hunt for a distributor has begun. All of this is good news to fans who have been hungry for new material for nearly 9 years.

In early 2008 “The John Zewizz Appreciation Society” was created by me out of frustration at the lack of Internet representation of a true American musick pioneer. As an archivist, completest, and all around obsessive compulsive pack rat, I knew going in that this was going to be a time consuming effort. During the Spring of 2008 I had the…
»  read on…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

“We sing the praise of war. Not for the way it makes people die, but for the way it makes people come alive”. This is how Arditi (re)introduce themselves when their latest album was released earlier this year. Their music brings the war at your doorstep like a blood-stained letter from the front. Grandiloquent tales of glory and sacrifice stomping mercilessly on the battlefield, Arditi has definitely something to say and they say it well. So I couldn’t miss the opportunity to interview this great band. The questions took the form of an ABCD questionnaire where, as you’ll see, the duo played the game showing a great sense of humor. Unless…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

De par ses activités de musicien et de label manager, Shaxul est une figure incontournable du Metal underground. Son label, Legion Of Death, est aujourd’hui LA référence en matière de Metal extrême issu des quatre coins de la planète. Fort d’un catalogue comprenant des groupes allant de l’Afghanistan à la Malaysie en passant par la Thaïlande, la Jordanie et les Philippines, le label, qui presse uniquement du vinyl en édition limitée, ouvre la voie à une scène majoritairement ignorée du grand public. Un interlocuteur idéal donc pour notre deuxième épisode de la série East Of Hell, consacrée à la scène Black Metal d’Asie du sud-est. Activiste passionné et ardent défenseur de la bannière Metal, Shaxul nous parle ici de son label et de ses projets musicaux, de ses motivations et de sa vision de l’underground, sans fausse modestie ni langue de bois. Un discours aux antipodes du music-business et une dévotion exemplaire… Trop rare pour qu’on passe à côté.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

It took me quite a while to really get into this band…
I bought “The Trident” when it came out but only listened to it a couple of times. Good for me and you, that was not the case with their last effort, “Electrocution”. I guess this album came out at a good moment for me: spring was still expected in Paris back then… Who knows? Anyway, this unique mixture of Sludge and Hardcore concentrates everything I like in both genres. The production on this LP is really huge and tempos are faster than what you can hear in their previous work which is something I definitely enjoy. On top of excellent music, Unearthly Trance always came up with interesting lyrics and the use of occult symbols. “Electrocution” is no exception to the rule. I needed to know more. So when Relapse gave me the opportunity to interview Ryan Lipynsky I coudn’t say nothing but yes… Apologies to the band and the label for delay, this webzine lives in its own space & time. Check this out, that’s a good one…

emofag: Hi, I’m Simon from emofag webzine, a french webzine about international good music. When I say France you think about ?

Ryan Lipynsky: Well strangely I think about all of your toll-roads first ha ha! I actually really like France and think it’s a very nice place. I like the respect for history culture and the arts. The south of France is really amazing and when I went there many years ago I smoked some great weed. I am not a typical American jerk who blindly dislikes France for no reason at all, I like to check out a place and then decided if I like it.

e: Have you ever been in a trance-like state?

RL: Yes absolutely. Sometimes from focused meditation and other times through mind-altering substances. When music is mixed with one or both of those mentioned the trance is heightened. I have played live before where I close my eyes and kind of loose touch with what is going on around me on many occasions. In fact, that is the goal.

e: When that happenned the last time and why?

RL: The last time was the most powerful time. It was through natural intoxicants and it only lasted 10 minutes and lingered for about an hour. It was an invigorating experience.

e: Did drugs or any chemical substances played a role in this?

RL: I can say yes to that.

e: What’s your Relationship to drugs and booze now?

RL: Smoking and the occasional beer Is my M.O. these days. I’ve mellowed considerably and think it is for the better. The older you get, the more you must understand that moderation is the key for longevity If you think that you get do hard drugs all the time with out consequence you are a fool. These days in the US many are…
»  read on…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

Depuis “Hanger” d’Unlogistic aucun album de Punk français ne m’avait fait cet effet là…
Est-ce l’imagerie croix de fer du groupe? La syncope rythmique façon Métal Urbain? Le casus belli qui suinte de chaque texte? Ou tout simplement l’affriolante barbe du chanteur? Peut-être un peu de tout ça à la fois… Mais quelque chose me dit que Déja Mort est bien plus que ces premières et fugaces sensations et j’attend avec impatience la suite de leur parcours discographique. En attendant jetez une oreille à leur impérial premier album “Tête De Mort” et prenez le temps de lire les réponses de Gwardeath, insolent frontman cagoulé de cette formation Bordelaise, à nos humbles questions.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

I was just browsing Blabbermouth without really payin’ attention, as usual, when suddenly this unexpected but nevertheless great new appeared on the screen: Arckanum is about to enter the studio to record its fourth album! For those of you who don’t know Arckanum (shame on you maggots!), this is the BM band which should have no secret to anyone who looking for a true authenticity in the scene. After its acclamed debut with the album “Fran Marder” who defined the Trollish Black Metal genre, its second release “Kostogher” is one of the best thing who ever happened to Black Metal. The kind of music posers try to play but they can’t. Arckanum is raw, dirty and definitely Metal. The double LP “Kampen” is considered to be the latest Arckanum album but since then the band granted us with a few releases among which the split with Svartsyn “Kaos Svarta Mar” will remain forever has one of the most inspiring Black Metal act since a long, long time. Shamaatae, the only man behind the mask, is now back again to show to the world his vision of Metal. And so we ask him questions and he gave us answers. Behold, Shamaatae is now speaking:

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

Just give one single spin to the “Waterloo” split and the fact that there are fuckin’ killer bands in Spain shall be definitely printed in your mind. Among them, Another Kind Of Death is about to release their long-awaited debut album and finally get the attention they deserve. Catchy HxC Metal combining Noise elements, inventive drumming and devastating vocals parts, here’s your new favorite Metal act from Spain or wherever… Before they get too damn hype we ask them a few questions to which they kindly replied… I think you should read.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

READ THE ENGLISH VERSION RIGHT AFTER THE FRENCH ONE

Ok, la section “Interviews” n’a pas été updatée depuis quelques mois mais on se rattrappe tout de suite et maintenant avec cette interview d’Aluk Todolo, obscure formation française à la musique rituelle étourdissante, hybride de Rock Psychédélique ténébreux et de Black Metal, puisant son inspiration dans la tradition occulte. Prochainement en concert à Paris, l’évenement s’annonce tout simplement incontournable, alors en attendant de découvrir le groupe sur scène pour la Grand-Messe, A.H à bien voulu répondre à nos questions.

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

You walk down this dark back alley at night, whipped by an ice-cold rain. You’re tired, broke and filled with auto-destructive feelings. A neon sign is flashing, you push the front door, looking for some liquor strong enough to burn your guts and, why not, some venomous female company to forget this dog-day you could call “my best “life’s a bitch” experience so far”… Men dressed in black with faces full of scars looking at you as you approach a free table and grab a chair. You order a bourbon and gaze at the half-naked woman (is this a bruise on her face?) dancing on the stinky stage. The night has just begun and will probably end bad…
A tall dark-haired man approaches and sits at your table, his name is Bain Wolfkind and he’s going to talk to you about his music and everything else if, of course, you buy him a drink…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

This year, we got the opportunity to discover on a larger frame the mind-blowing talent of this Brooklyn native singer known as Julie Christmas… If “Coward” by Made Out Of Babies confirmed all the good we were thinking of them since their debut on Neurot Recordings, the Battle Of Mice album, “A Day Of Nights”, brutally brought us the certitude that she’s among the greatest vocalists we can hear today (and there are not that numerous)… Added to the fact that she seems to be quite an interesting person, I had no other alternatives than sending her my questions… Few of them returned unanswered, but regarding her schedule you won’t be surprised that she have better things to do that answer stupid questions from a stupid webzine… But, well, we manage to talk about Black Metal, James Bond girls & Chuck Norris, so I think this interview is not that bad… See for yourself!

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

Back in the dayz (love to write that, makes me feel like a gangsta), I used to listen a lot of Neo-Classical, Folk & Ambient stuff… I remember listening Amber Asylum on a cold winter night as the high-school bus was bringing me back home, my forehead against the window, eyes gazing the bleak nocturnal landscapes of my hometown… And I know what you think but this webzine is called emofag so fuck you… Then I moved on, found more entertainment in Rock n’ Roll and sold my Amber Asylum CDs… But from time to time, I do make quite interesting discoveries in the genre and Dwelling is one of them…
Find the time to listen to their music, we’re on a high level of stunning beauty and commitment here, and enjoy a bit of soothing melancholy in this sick world of ours. But read the interview first…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

I discovered Colossloth on Myspace, I think he sent me a friend request, yeah, he asked me the supreme favor of being my friend… And I said “yes”, of course, or “approve” or something like that… Then, I discovered that it was good music there, well I mean not that good but good enough to make me ask him “hey, would you be ok for an interview?” and he answered me “yeah mate”… So I worked on my questions based on the only tunes I know of the band, which means the ones on Myspace, shame on me, and forwarded them to the guy… Andy answered us and then I discovered that he makes not only good music but he’s also a really cool guy and this is something I really appreciate… And by the way, check our Myspace page, Tom will thank you for that…

emofag: Hello Andy, how was your day today?

Andy Woolaston: Really good, thanks. It’s stopped raining for five minutes so I think summer has arrived.

e: I’m really into english breakfast, the baked-beans thing… Is that what you usually have?

AW: Yeah I love it, especially with extra black pudding and chips. The food of champions!

e: Could you please introduce the band to our readers, the usual “who-when-what-why” question… We want all the details…

AW: Colossloth is just me, Andy Woolaston. A solo project that started in 2005 after playing in various Grind/Noise core bands and I thought I’d slow things down and get Experimental.

e: You’re signed on Skribble Records, which is more into Indie Rock & Alternative than Drone & Experimental… Do you feel at home there? Do you have to give them large amounts of money each month to remain in their catalog?

AW: I had a few label offers when I recorded “Fly Silver Corpse, Fly’ but chose Skribble Records because they really love Colossloth. I mean they were prepared to release a one track cd with a 15 minute song on! A big gamble. Really cool label. I do have to clean their windows once a month though.

e: Do you read comics? What’s your favorite X-Men character?

AW: Yeah, comics are cool. It’s got to be Wolverine, anyone who looks like a wolf and has 12inch blades on his fingers is good with me.

e: What were your main influences (except lakes, woods, mountains and
goats) when you started Colossloth? Any Justin Broadrick addiction somewhere?

AW: Yeah, he’s a legend! I also love Earth, Cult of Luna, and Sunn O))). I was also inspired by the bands and artists on Cold Spring Records, a fantastic label.

e: Some of your electronic waves make me think to Deutsch Nepal… Do you know this band?

AW: No, I am not aware of them I will google them as soon as I have finished this interview.

e: As I only know the songs on your Myspace page, I may make some dumb…
»  read on…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

You know Scott Kelly for being a part of the ultimate sonic Rock (let’s be wide on this) outfit named Neurosis…
A band it’s no use to introduce as it has influenced 99% of the people reading this interview and this for hundred of different reasons, whether they play music or not…
But you may not know him for being the co-founder and weekly host of the best radio show on the web: Combat Music Radio…
So we thought it was a good idea to ask him questions about this less-known aspect of his “career” for the main reason that’s a fuckin’ good radio show everyone should listen. Of course, as you all know, the new Neurosis album is coming very soon, so we also ask him questions on this forthcoming masterpiece… Scott answered us and you people, are going to read this…

emofag: So first of all, how is your father? We all wish him a good recovery…

Scott Kelly: He’s doing really well. Thank you for your thoughts. I’m not ready to let him go yet, we’ve only recently got to know each other as we really are.

e: I was in trouble recently because my boss didn’t want me to go on a 15 days tour. I told him I was ready to quit the job for this tour as music is my life and then he finally
agreed… Have you ever been in that situation? What was your choice then?

SK: We have always worked close with our bosses to try to let them know 6 months or more in advance of our plans. Usually it works out, but in the early days we would quit jobs for tour all the time. With children to feed that ceases to be an option.

e: I went to see The Melvins last night, you know the new Melvins with the two drummers, and this was a pretty amazing show… Did you see them live recently? Do you often hang out at shows? Any concert that blew your mind in the past weeks?

SK: I did see The Melvins recently and they blew my mind once again. The Melvins are the one band over the last 20 years that has continued to do this to me. They are on such a higher level creatively and musically. The two drummer thing is incredible: the highest level of competence and effort combined with pure creative genius. I don’t hang out much at all, only when I’m doing a gig myself or when the spirit moves me. I spend most of my time at home when I’m not at work. Working on projects and being with my kids. The last thing that really got me as far as live music goes, aside from The Melvins, was seeing Munly And The Lee Lewis Harlots.

e: So, Combat Music Radio got a brand new skin a fewmonths ago… What can you tell us about…
»  read on…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

He is the man behind the greatest Anathema songs, the original founder of the Antimatter project and these days, he should be known worldwide as the author of the beautiful and critically acclaimed “Madre, protégenos” by his new band: Ion.

Duncan Patterson kindly answered to our questions and didn’t get mad because of the recurrent Anathema subject in it. So all praise due to the man & his music. Support them, they’re just great…

emofag: Years ago, right after your departure from Anathema, we were talking to Vincent and he was like: “Yeah we don’t need Duncan anymore…”
Things seem to be ok now between you & them… Was it only a matter of time?
Are you nostalgic of these Anathema years?

Duncan Patterson: Yeah, we have talked a lot over the years. We were young back then, and all said and did things that could have been handled better. That quote is quite funny though, as after my departure from the band 80% of their setlist were songs that I had written. Add to that the fact that I actually left the band, I was never kicked out, its quite comical. As I said, we were young. I had some great times with that band, and also some really dark days. It happened, its in the past, and most importantly we are friends now.

e: You created Antimatter with Mick in 1998 and left the band in 2004… Antimatter keeps on going its own way without you now… As you are one of the original member, are you ok with that?

DP: Antimatter is basically the title for Mick’s solo material now, it is not a band. I have no problem with that at all. I had no intention of using it for myself, or preventing Mick from using it, so all is ok. I chose not to continue with Antimatter and Mick wanted to carry on using the name for his stuff. He is in a healthy position to release his music under an established name. I hope he gets the recognition he deserves, as I don’t know many better singers/songwriters around than Mick.

e: In 2002, you started your own label, Strangelight Records… The original purpose was to re-issue some Antimatter stuff right? Can you tell us more about this label & its recent activities…

DP: I haven’t released anything for a while. I have been too busy actually making music and playing live. My next release will be the Leafblade album “Beyond Beyond” later this year. I set the label up so I wouldn’t have to rely on other labels, or go cap-in-hand to them with demos and that. It’s nice to have something like that to fall back on if need be.

e: You just released this beautiful album “Madre, Protégenos” with your new project Ion… Tell us first what was your first ideas with this project… The first frames in mind before writing…

DP: I…
»  read on…

This interview was first published on www.emofag.net

It’s truly an honor for us to open this interview section with one of the most gifted musician in the actual scene, whatever the place, whatever the genre…
Superstars of the Martial Indus Rock scene, Albin Julius & his band Der Blutharsch will release their long-awaited new album in october 2007.
In the meantime, we decided to contact the man and ask him questions on his work, his life and everything in between…
Sure that some his words, especially in his music taste, will freak out some hardcore purists of the Indus scene out there but that’s the way Albin Julius does: like it or leave it!
Enjoy!

NB : Cette interview a été réalisée en anglais et est donc retranscrite dans sa langue d’origine. Pour les non-anglophones en galère de sous-titres contactez-nous par e-mail pour obtenir une version française de l’interview. Ce même principe sera appliqué pour toutes les interviews à venir dans ces pages.

emofag: I get in trouble with my boss because I have to go to on tour for 15 days and this pisses him off, what would you do if you were me (and I know perfectly you aren’t)?

Albin Julius: Well… I can’t tell you. I have never been in that situation, as I never had a job, so I think you should decide for yourself. I think, of course, that a tour is always more important than a job, as music is my life. But I think you should judge well, you have to get the butter on your bread somehow.
Fortunately, with all my gangmembers, they have cool jobs and can easily take one or two months free, which makes life for us easy. Next time, maybe, do a better planning and get some holiday for this time.

e: A new album is expected in a few months, what can you tell us about the direction it takes? Der Blutharsch keeps on evolving since its very beginning so what about now? Martial Rock n’ Roll? Indus Cocktail Music? A back-to-the-roots album?

AJ: Well. Fortunately, we keep on evolving, it would be poor if we would always do the same thing, and from my point of view it would be boring. I evolve every day, so should be the music.
The new album is getting more psychedelic than anything we did before… I am very happy with the result, and as we nearly finished the album, two songs are still to be mixed, I am really satisfied. This album marks the 10th year anniversary of Der Blutharsch, and I am happy with what we reached over these years and where we went to. As well, the release date is my 40iest birthday… So two good reasons to celebrate! We will be in Barcelona then, and be sure we will party!!!!

e: Did you start recording or are you still writing the new stuff? How do you work when it comes…
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