(interview done in october 1999)

In the beginning there was a band called Dark Lust so far, which style was a kind of dark death metal who released a demo, back in ’92… the band splitted-up, and the vocalist decided to form another act putting with him the drummer and one of the two guitarists… the name chosen was Necromass! So after the releasing of a 7” Necromass changed line-up and from that moment that guitarist (Seth) and drummer (L.C. Blast) closed themselves into the abyss… Where they have gone??? Are they dead now??? …The abyss’ gate re-opened… Their monicker is now Altar of Perversion and they play nothing but wicked black metal!!!

 And here is an interview with Seth (gt + vc) done in october ’99, some time after the listening of their first demo named “The Abyss’ Gate Re-opens” (ok, maybe this interview is a little bit old (but not obsolete) but I don’t give a damned fuck!)… simply beautiful macabre!

Vanish: The first question is fairly superficial: in what period and what circumstances Altar of Perversion has been formed?

Seth: The first incarnation came as Forgotten Stars, before and after mine and L.C. Blast’s involvement with Necromass in ’93 e.v. (“His eyes” 7”), but it was more a project of mine back then, with L.C. Blast as session, that didn’t go anywhere for lack of worth members to join and money. The real beginning was in ’97 e.v. when in spite of money problems still being there, we managed to find a bass-player; I decided to do also the vocals, changed the name into Altar of Perversion and we begun to rehearse. That bass-player soon revealed to be only a stupid average, trendy human, thus he was kicked out and replaced by Rexor, you know the rest of the story.

Vanish: From what bands do you personally took inspiration in the composition of the songs featured on “The Abyss’ Gate Re-opens”?

Seth: I never take direct inspiration from other bands for the composition of our songs, the whole process is far more complex and deep. When the lyrics are about some personal experiences I will concentrate on that and try to invoke the atmosphere that I was breathing during that certain experience, to put it out translated in the form of Black Metal. In other cases both the music and lyrics can be a consequence of each other, then being the consequence of something else as well, but your question is not about this so I’ll not go too deep into it. Anyway I’m aware that, unconsciously, some influences are there. Vanish: Among the tracks, “Black Magickal Suicide” is undoubtely the piece that strucked me mostly, both for musical and lyrical aspects: unless it doesn’t deal with something of extremely personal, would you illustrate me its text? Seth: Yes, it is personal but if I wrote a text about it I can also explain something: there are some details that are evidently exagerated and some perverted imaginations as well; for the rest it described something real that I have experienced and searched for (more or less unconsciously), being killing my self (spiritually), a spiritual death that was my self-initiation to darkest paths and more wisdom. Other details can be read in the lyric itself, I won’t go deeper than this. The matter is anyway deeepened in other lyrics for songs that will appear later.

Vanish: Is there a real necessity (in your case) to use a war-name or is it the purity of the kind of music you play that does it require it? What’s your opinion about the actual (so-called) Black Metal scene concerning this thing?

Seth: The respect for Black Metal’s tradition and the will to keep it pure is one reason to use a ritual name (as I prefere to call it), but as a consequence of this and of the way how I take and live Black Metal (that’s like a cult), the ritual name assumes other meanings as well: it is for me reflecting some qualities and natural inclinations of my character and at the same time represents an aspiration and the will to get closer and closer to its essence and meaning. Then, I  am not a so-called “normal” person any time but the use of such name further marks my separation from the rest of humanity and throws me totally into A.O.P. and its whole entity, corpsepaint also has the same (+ others) purpose for me, yet there is to say both these things are not a mask to temporarily hide my real personality, but on the contrary, a means to fully unleash my purest essence, if you know what I mean (Yes, I’m not at this point! -Ed). I can add that I will probably change the name Seth that I use since ’93 e.v. for something else. My opininion on this aspect of B/M related to today’s scene (but not only) is that there is a lot of superficiality and ignorance and that such things in most cases are used because at this point everyone is doing so; as other aspects of B/M, also these important points are little more than a game for many people

Vanish: Do you consider the fact to play in a B/M band (as yourself define A.O.P. of course) like a sort of outlet, direct consequence of a certain (or is it that?) state of mind?

Seth: Outlet is not the proper word, for me. But yes as I mentioned earlier to play B/M implies and is a consequence of a certain (that) state of mind. It can’t be something like “This song sounds good, what a catchy riff…” etc. it must be possessed by something really mysterious and obscure, certain vibrations that give that sense of evil power (according to the correct sense of the word) being there while you create music and that you still feel every time in it. There must be this rapture into darkest abysses of daimonic kaos… For me Black Metal is this, not stupid “music” for the entertainment of human fools. Vanish: The monicker “Altar of Perversion” is maybe in relationship with your personality and/or an event that marked the course of your life? Seth: Yes, it is surely in relation with my personality, in the sense that I am always attracted by everything that is extreme, immoral, evil etc. and that I have some kind of cult for perversion in general. The whole name well represents both my body and mind and this also implies more “esoteric” meanings of the name: the altar being just myself (body + mind), that is the temple inside which I work to call forth and keep certain energies etc.; perversion being what took me to transgress and destroy all human rules, values, morals and illusions, that took to the spiritual death I mentioned over,and conseguently to total a-morality that means wisdom, enlightenment, magikal intuitions etc. (Believe me, I really understand what you’ve explained…- Ed) the dark sinister path. Moreover, the name Altar of Perversion simply sounds just great and creates a really unholy and malignant atmosphere + a certain aura of mystery, macabre, dark sex, secretness…

Vanish: What’s your (personal?) definition of the word “art”? Do you consider yourself an artist? In what circumstances the music is not art for you?

Seth: Most people think it is a way to exppress one’s feelings, ideals, messages etc. and it often reduces to skills only, that’s not art for me. Art is intuition, being possessed by intuitions and their visions, art is unexpected and chaotic in its process of channelling through one’s mind and body, it is beyond taste. It is a power, an occult power that forms the soil to one’s initiatic path. It may sound presumptuous but yes, I define myself an artist. Music stop to the art when the mentioned things can’t be felt presencing into it, when it is only made for being easily listenable, for entertainment, when it is a means to express frustrations, stupid “feelings”, pathetic protests and other so lowly human and earthly bullshits, that’s no art anymore, how could art be prisoner of such banality and foolishness? Art destroys and crushes all of this.

Vanish: What point do you want to reach with your music and/or with A.O.P.? Where do you want to arrive?

Seth: There is no pre-fixed goal, the path is obscure an long, it could lead anywhere, it wanders through blackest abysses of daimonic kaos…

Vanish: Voices from a corridor are whispering that’s next the release of a 7” for the greek Sinister prod.; beside this, some months ago you wrote me you were recording another demo (containing 3 tx)… does there is any changes between this stuff and the debut cassette by Altar of Perversion?

Seth: We have had some problems with our rehearsal room in the last monts, so the new recordings have been delayed, hopefully we can be ready for november. The demo is much uncertain at this point, the 7” should instead come out, if Sinister Prod. Is not too much annoyed for these fucking delays. We should also record a track for a split 7” with Goatfire (…Out from Hellflame Prod., but not released yet -Ed) and probably something else will come little later. Well, the songs on our demo are all quite old so some difference is there, in the newer ones. Not much anyway, it’s still pure Black Metal, surely the new “rites” are even darker and with a truly occult atmosphere, almost allucinated at times, they’ll make breath infernal blackness.

Vanish: The inverted pentagram in the A.O.P. logo assumes in such circumstances any uncommon meanings from its more known interpretation (The black magick - Ed)?

Seth: Well, Rexor had drawn our logo the first time he came to my home in order to learn our songs, so it was his idea to put it there and I’m not sure  about what meaning this symbol has for him. Of course I like to have it in our logo and for what regards myself yes, it has quite uncommon meanings: what is usually known about the pentagram is only filled with judeo-christian/hollywood nonsense with all the inverted morals it may give to satanism its main symbol. My interpretation is really different: it starts from the point that what this symbol represents is an incredible ancient dark power, that always existed and has had many names through the ages. Judeo-christianity has distorted the whole thing, turning “evil” into something having a moral value, that is pure illusions for fools (Surely…-Ed.). But coming to the point: the inverted pentagram has the shape of a star, this may suggest that it refers to some kind of kozmic power –Satan is also known like a solar-phallic entity, suns are nothing but stars- the sun behind the sun, the black star, the eye of Satan etc…the pentagram is known also as an infernal symbol of course, that implies the secret knowledge, dark/hidden regions of the mind/kosmos and their powers, etc.; it  also simbolizes the four natural elements + the fifth (that has many different meanings) unknown one and the temporal dominion of the magikian above the powers of nature, Pan the great goat-god is the god of nature… There are many other things but alright, I said even too much.

Vanish: In an A.O.P. interview featured on an italian ‘zine you said “cradle of fags” hinting to Cradle of Filth; plus, a little time ago you’ve sent me an anti-C.O.F. flyer. Why this? Do you really think this band is total shit? Ok, they do some bullshits for attract the attention of  fools with lack of spirit, they says silliness on the interviews, they looks like clowns, etc. but at least, don’t you think their music is good? Do you like Marylin Manson (another so-called -but not by me- “clown” from the musical business)? Seth: In that interview I mentioned Cradle of Fags to point out that those who consider those idiots as a black metal band (or, perhaps better, those who identify B/M with C.O.F.) should stay away from us. Even because if black metal is what such people look for and black metal is for them Cradle of Wimps, than they will not find any black metal in Altar of Perversion, ha ha! The fact is: I have been into black metal for so many years, “officially” entered the scene since 8 years now, I was there since the whole thing begun and I always lived it like a cult and I still do. In the beginning I was sure that black metal never become something for the stupid masses, that it would always stay a hidden cult, secret. Through the last years I’ve had instead to observe the decline of Black Metal, to see it become so soft, moderate, stupid, normal, my disgust is endless. Cradle of Wimps is one of the best examples and causes of this (among many others) so Altar of Perversion don’t need any support from people into C.O.F. et similia, and apart from mentioning that in interviews, sendind anti-C.O.F. flyers will make it clear to one person who wites to us.

This is the answer to your “why this?”, apart the things that you mentioned in your question that was enough already, I think. How could I be interested in a “black metal” band that takes photos while washing dishes in corpsepaint? Come on. About their music, I like the “Vempire” stuff a bit but sincerely, all the rest is total shit for me, useless, superflous shit for idiots. Black metal is something else and will always be. About Marylin Manson, I’m not interested at all, their music is shit for the little that I had the disgrace to hear, and for the rest the definition of “clown” fits him too quite well, really.

Vanish: The interview has turned to the end… nothing else to add?

Seth: Thanks for the interview Alessandro. Who wants to contact us please write the address on your letters with only the initials of the band-name, as you read below. Altar of Perversion don’t allow ‘zines mixing Black Metal with other shit like punk, hardcore, alternative, Pantera-like “metal” and pathetic ideals coming with that wimp “music”, to contact us, and so those “B/M” bands who answer to such ‘zines + all people who thinks like them and enjoy that shit. Stay away from us! That’s all. Hail Satan!

To obtain a copy of the “The Abyss’ Gate Re-opens” demo send £7000(Ita)/$5(Europe)/$6(R.o.W.) at the following address:

A.O.P./Seth

Emiliano Nannei

Via Pisana 51

50143 Firenze, Italy.

Note: the address below is now defunct.