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.
emofag: Hail Istidraj, for those who don’t know you & Istidraj, could you please give us the history of your band? What led you to play BM?
A.Inferno: Hailz! I’m A.Inferno Ov Istidraj… I’ve been into Heavy/Thrash Metal back in
1988… Somewhere in 1990 I discover bands like Sarcofago, Bathory etc… Thats where it started & till now I’ve been possessed by Black Fucking Metal!!! Istidraj spawned forth in 1993 anno
bastardi… Istidraj had vomit forth 1 demo, 1 rehearsel promo, 2 ep’s, 3 album’s & 5 split releases…
Our wrath opus so far:
“Eastern Blood Reh/Demo” (Unreleased till included “Singakult Black Metal” Album as bonus)
“Metafizika” Album
“Bhinneka Tunggal” Ika EP
Istidraj/Luger Split EP “Total War Epuratio”
Istidraj/As-Sahar Split EP “Conquerors Of Syonan-To”
Istidraj/Insane Vesper/Ironfist Split EP “Unholy Demonic Trinity”
Singakult Black Metal Album
“Blasphemic Rites” Rehearsal Promo
Istidraj/Dry Split Album “Singanezian Heathens”
Istidraj/Makam Split Video CD “Alive In Solo”
“Blasphemous Ritual” Album
“Blasphemized Perversion” EP
e: You released a tape, “Blasphemized Perversion”, in september on the french label Chambragaz Records, is the tape format something you really dig? Tell us more about its content… The tape was limited to 100 copies, is that sold-out already? It seems that the label doesn’t exist anymore right?
A.I: The new EP has been only out on pro-CDr promo & tapes… Chambragaz Records has closed down due to some shit happens between them… Currently we are hunting for label to release it on CD & 7″EP.
e: Do you have any particular connections with the french scene? Who are the french bands you know & appreciate?
A.I: I’m only in contact with few french guys like Pzkw of ex-Luger, Arggon of Black Worshippers & Grimvald of Armaggedon…
I adore those above-mentioned bands & also Antaeus…
e: Before “Blasphemized Perversion”, you released “Blasphemous Ritual”… What was the feedback for this one? Did you manage to tour to promote the album?
A.I: Hell-yeah! We been doing live holokauzt around asian hell to spread our stuff… The response was ok… the CD album is out of print by now…. maybe will be re-press sometime in near future.
e: The artwork on “Blasphemized Perversion” is really sick… Who’s taking care of the art direction in the band? Did you ever have any problem in your country with the explicit content of your artwork?
A.I: Thanks for the compliments! I’ve been leading the horde since the beginning… So far no problems with the cuntry regarding our blasphemous arts!
e: The production on “Blasphemized Perversion” shows a huge step compared to “Blasphemous Ritual”, tell us more about the recording sessions of the EP and the studio where you recorded it…
A.I: We recorded the ep at TNT studio in Singapore… We’ve been recording there since our first album till now…. The session goes as per normal… Desekrating the recording equipments with our hell-hymns… We are much more stronger than before…
e: Istidraj stands as a old-school BM band… Are you fed up with the current BM scene? What’s the meaning of old-school to you?
A.I: I’m glad to see some few true bands around… I don’t actually care about the establishment, Thru those years you can see for yourself which bands will be around & which bands will fade away…
e: I’m really interested about how you deal with BM life in Singapore so if you don’t mind I’d like to ask you a few questions about that.
First of all, how is the scene in SIngapore? Please introduce us to a few bands & labels of your choice…
A.I: We don’t care about the scene which filled with clueless kids around… Only few true bands which we support like: As-Sahar, Impiety, Blaspherion, Infernal Execrator, Imperial Tyrants, Ctanic, Eternal Oath.
e: Are you guys friends with Impiety? Can we talk about a Black Metal community in Singapore?
A.I: Yeah.. read above….
e: I read that you’ve been playing in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand… Is there a strong link between the Singapore scene and the other scenes in Asia? What do you think of the other band communities in asia?
A.I: The connection is strong without the so-called scene.
e: How is Black Metal perceived in Singapore average society? Here in Europe, (average) Metal is something that doesn’t really shock anymore, corporate radios plays Metallica and you can find Motorhead T-Shirt in fashion stores…
A.I: The mainstream act will get recognise easily.. We are too obscure to be known…
e: Istidraj is a satanic entity, with anti-christian lyrics right? Why anti-chritian? What is the importance of christianism in singapore?
A.I: We are not just anti-christian… We denounce the existence of all religions… The hypocrisy of it all which fuels our hatred to blasphemize…
e: What is the meaning for you of anti christianism & satanism?
A.I: For many years the concept of evil being the roots of blasphemous/misanthropic Black Metal have been here to stay throughout, without this critical belief system Black Metal will not be as filthy and obscured sounding as it is and would in fact be a manufactured and plastic-packaged branding. But sadly this concept has been brought about by the world of profits in epic proportions, with promises of glam in a already dead Black Metal scene. I do not want to be preacher of the black faith but more to the leader of my own destiny… Thousands have got their own views of satanism, to me I believe in the spirit and might of the individual, he who is not afraid to thread the unknown path and he who do not wish to share his path with others, the strongest of the will shall rejoice! So individualism is the key to satanism, not one of many will have the same say in how he/she views satanism as an entity of as a way of life. The meaning of Satan itself is a judeo-christian invention that is borrowed from older pagan religions and to really believe that Satan will bring in the cruel fate of the humankind is too much shallow to believe in… We humans are also the embodiment of the evil entity! If you could describe this feelings in a few words it would be, suffering, death and morbidity… Istidraj exist to blasphemize the mass!
e: Are there many places to rehearse in proper conditions? And clubs that you can easily book for a show?
A.I: there’s a few studios around the island for rehearsel/recording…. The organiser’s need to apply for licence to do show here… we are banned in a pub due to excessive loud noise & kaos during show… No boycott can stop us!
e: From what I saw on your Myspace pics, Istidraj shows seem pretty intense… Tell us how it’s goin’ on stage? Can we talk about a certain form of ritual when you perform? How the crowd usually react to your Satanic onslaught?
A.I: Our live holokauzt is usually filled with kaos along with our blasphemous hell-hymns… We exorzise the mass to their hell on earth!
e: Who is the ultimate BM frontman? Who is the ultimate rockstar?
A.I: Dead of Morbid/Mayhem… The rockstars are alot to mention here…
e: What your family & relatives think about your BM state of mind? Is that something generally accepted in your surrounding?
A.I: My parents accepted the way i am… There’s nothing people can change in my life except myself..
e: What do you do for a living? What about the other guys in the band?
A.I: I’m working in a foreign embassy here… E-Aiman is a immigration officer, Mace Of War is a poly student & Antichristo Xul is a soldier…
e: I really think that somebody should tell the story of east asian BM because at the moment it’s still an untold story, would you be ok to be part of that?
A.I: Well, there’s nothing to be mention here… It’s obscure because we are distance from America/Europa.
e: You also seem to be really into Punk-Rock and that’s good… Who are your fav Punk bands? What’s the link between BM & Punk according to you? Do you think that BM should be associated with politics?
A.I: Well I only listen to old-school Hardcore Punk… Not those wimpy Punk Rock… My fave are The Exploited, The Misfits, Discharge, Crass….
BM has got nothing to do with politics & nationalistic!!!
e: You also run “Inferno Zine”… Can you tell us what does it feature? How do you work on your zine? Where can we get some copies of it?
A.I: I’m working on 3rd issue now which will be out by may 2008… It will feature interview with Warlust, Imperial Tyrants, Infernal Execrator, As-Sahar, Armaggedon, Almighty Sathanas, Misantrophy, Watain, Varathron… The 2nd issue is still available which features interview with Blasphemy, Thornspawn, Demonic Christ, Blaspherion, Black Torture, Dry, Occidens, Morbid Goat Fornicator, Necrophile, Totenkopf… I interview all those bands which I like/support…
It’s available directly thru me for 5$ or 4 Euros, p&p each copy…
e: So what’s goin’ on these days with Istidraj, any record coming out soon?
A.I: As for now we are busy rehearsing for our upcoming “Pandemonik Kaos SingaMalayan Mini Tour May 08″… We’ll release our 15 years of hell-kaos release by this year…
e: You recently got in trouble with justice for having beat up a woman who cheated on you… So, is the trial over now? Are you gonna end up in jail? Will that be your first time
behind bars? What’s your current view on man/woman relationships?
A.I: The trial is over… As that muslim slut has lack of evidence to proof against me… I sodomize & blasphemize her, making her pathetic life miserable… Nothing can stop Satan’s Will… I’ve been behind bars for bashing up some fags…
I do appreciate companion… I do have a new countess which fill my sexual desire & lust…
e: Thanks for answering this interview, the closing comments are yours… I hope we’ll stay in touch in a near future…
A.I: Mega Salutants for the interview & support! Hell-yeah! keep up the evil works with your zine! Cheers!
Raising High the HORNS OV HELL,
A.Inferno Ov Istidraj
OFFICIAL ISTIDRAJ WEBSITE:
www.istidraj.cjb.net
OFFICIAL ISTIDRAJ MYSPACE:
www.myspace.com/istidraj