INTERVIEW TO DENOUNCEMENT PYRE

INTERVIEW SESSION HELD FOR CAI CAI VILU ZINE # 2, ONE OF THE MOST HIDDEN HORDES OF AUSTRALIA. GREAT INTERVIEW!

1.  Decalyust, from the austral South American lands. You could start with a brief review, for the cult worshippers who still don’t surrender under the shadow of Denouncement Pyre.

Ave, Denouncement Pyre was formed in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia and began as a 2-piece. From early on we saw that this band could become a vehicle for channelling and releasing the darkened energy with governs our existence. This year (2010) we have released the first full-length after numerous demos, 7” ep’s and a mini-album, which has strengthened our will and set the course for the next stage of this band. 

2.  Denouncement Pyre has been editing demos, EPs and splits since 2003. Why did it take you until 2010 to release a Full Length?

There are various reasons why it took so long for the first album to materialise. Firstly we had been occupied working on the previous releases as you mentioned so we have always been very active since the bands inception. Furthermore there had been line up changes that effected progress of the album at various stages. From one perspective, circumstances that hinder our progress are far from ideal and we will always try and overcome these, but from another we don’t place time constraints on our work; it simply takes as long as it takes. What is most important is that we are satisfied with the final result and all that we had to overcome to have this album materialise has been worth it.

3.  The last Lp, “World Cremation”, edited by Hells Headbangers, is currently considered as the best album. How do you take these appreciations? Why do you think this album has attracted so much attention?

I definitely think World Cremation is our strongest work to date. There would be little point in re-producing what we have already done with earlier releases as it has always been a goal to advance with this band, as it should be a goal to advance in all facets of life. I am not referring here to becoming ‘bigger’ or more widely known within any scene, these are truly irrelevant, but more to the mastering of our own instruments, capabilities with song writing, understanding & expression of themes, etc.  All aspects of this release were taken into account and so this album has been a really focused effort.
The response has surpassed my expectations. It has been a huge leap forward and it’s especially good to hear that there are certain people who have understood and connected with some of the more underlying themes and energy on this album.

4.  There is a teaser video in the label’s website, and also in their myspace. Who is the author of this video’s image collage? Do you consider those images as a faithful reflex of the ideology and philosophy of Denouncement Pyre?

This album teaser was compiled by a close friend under my instruction & guidance. Most of the footage was shot at various locations in Europe, whilst the remaining images were filmed close to where I live. We managed to get some real footage during a mass in a cathedral in Rome as well as some other obscure locations with historical and symbolic meaning. We had a good idea of what we wanted to create and so we were very specific of what images to use and how they were to be presented. Yes I do consider the ideas to be relevant to our ideology and sound. Any visuals that go with our music tie in as one and the same. For me, there is no difference and they serve the same purpose. We wanted to do something a little different to give our followers an insight into the album. I think through the video teaser we achieved this.

1.  Since its beginnings, Denouncement Pyre has proclaimed destruction, war and savagery against all the pathetic humanity. Do you think Denouncement Pyre is a real tool of hate?

It is a tool for our own ideology, that is certain. Though hatred for the pathetic herd that majority of humans reside within is only one aspect of this ideology. Hate is a powerful emotion, however I think as one needs to master their emotional responses to the world around them, rather than be overcome by them, to spend ones whole life seething with hatred for everything is a life wasted. There are many things in people, situations, life circumstances, etc that I find repulsive & disgusting but at the same time you can’t let these determine the course of your day. Control is the key here. We are propagating a philosophy that is far deeper than what is simply a mortal response to the mundane world.

2.  I have read in a few interviews that you are a connoisseur of the HLP (hand left path). How has it been useful, as illumination, the occultism of HLP in your personal life and in Denouncement Pyre?

I have never said or written that I am a connoisseur of the left hand path. Of course there are those who are more knowledgeable and experienced than I, some of which are people I am fortunate to be in contact with and have interacted with. The path I take is my own and I will not preach to anyone about what they should or shouldn’t be doing, nor claim to be an expert in this area. Whether you want to be a hopeless drunk, junkie, magician, a commoner with a wife and kids or a metalhead simpleton whose life consists of posting on forums and working a shit job then it is entirely up to you. By all means be good at it and take it as far as you can. There are few who will take a step outside of the common circle and think ‘Is there more to all of this?’. Most people can only see what is directly in front of them. Whatever the answer is when you ask that of yourself will determine your own experience. That and converting words into action. I don’t waste my time reading endless amounts of books or studying texts to switch from one ideology to the next. Real studying of the world exterior to your being consists of knowing yourself first. Of course what poison I inject into Denouncement Pyre is the same blood that flows in my veins. Whether this is understood or identified by anyone outside of our circle is not taken into consideration at all. But I am grateful and supportive of those who share our fire & will.

3.  Back to World Cremation, how was the creation process of this aberration? What was the inspiration for this LP, whether visual documental, literature or historic genocide?

Majority of the material on the album was written by me and composed before InVotan joined the line-up on drums. He did however influence certain parts so it was still a collaborative effort and not a one man project, so to speak.
World Cremation may sound like a phrase that infers a clear one-dimensional meaning; however for us it is somewhat ambiguous and cannot be labelled so easily. The album is based on a concept of creation/destruction, a duality that can be found in all levels of manifested existence. The themes we use often have an underlying meaning, a multitude of possibilities in terms of how they can be interpreted. Part of this is to leave it to the listener to decipher the meaning. As with our own world, not everything should be so obvious. Speaking of inspiration, it ties in with the whole band and also the ideology that has been discussed throughout the interview.

4.  Songs as “Purification” and “Salvation, the fading light” really got my attention because of their lyrics and execution. Can you give us some details about the symbolism in each one?

‘Purification’ is about the cleansing of the individual. It is very confronting to realise what you truly are, as opposed to who you think you are. We are all a channel for a great force, a shell for a spirit and will that is capable of great things. An understanding of this will only brought about by purifying the true self, riding of all corrupting influences in the mundane world.
‘Salvation, the fading light’ questions the destiny that awaits all existence. In a way, it opens fire on an opposing view to ours, that there is a life ever after as depicted in the holy sense. Death is inevitable, and whilst I have my own view of what that entails and/or represents, we choose darkness and its twisted and myriad forms, over any false sense of light.

5.  Is Denouncement Pyre an elitist band, because of the fact that it is keeping the cult alive with only two members? Is this an ideological issue because you can’t find the right musicians?

We recorded the album with only 2 members because that was all that was needed to complete it the way we had envisioned. Previously we have recorded and performed live with a full-line up, which is what is required to play live, nothing to do with being ‘cult’.
It has been a challenge to find the right members though, we wont work with just anyone and the number of capable musicians, who share the same spirit and understanding as we is very limited in this country. I won’t sacrifice the quality of a performance for the sake of playing live if it means with incapable people. If we do not have the right line up, it will not happen.

1.  How was the experience in Nocturnal Graves? Did you participate in the realization of the lyrical or musical part in some of Nocturnal Graves’s Lps?

I contributed to Nocturnal Graves as a live member for some shows in Australia & Europe from 2009-2010. There were some really killer gigs in there and it was a rewarding experience. However I had no influence over the direction of the band and apart from the odd line of backing vocals on the full-length; I contributed as a live session member only.

2.  I know that you have a side project along with Eradicator, called “Hunters Moon”, which is more oriented to classic Black Metal, in the line of Venom and Bathory. Since when did you have plans to create this new band and why?

This was a band the J.E started back in 2006. He felt the need to create music which as it would be was not suitable for Denouncement Pyre, and I agreed to contribute the lyrics and vocals. He would end up leaving D.P. in 2007, for reasons completely unrelated to Hunters Moon, however we still worked together on ‘The Serpents Lust’ mini-album which was released in 2009.

3.  “The Final Solution” is a phrase which covers a whole in the world’s history. Do you think that the final solution must be equally or more brutal than the German Empire to Judaism, the Christian race and its related branches?

Death conquers all and does not discriminate.

4.  Related to the last question, “The Final Solution” was re-released in a compilation called “The Storm to End All Wars”, under the Chilean label Kuravilu Prod. How was the contact with this label? Are you satisfied with Kuravilu Prod.’s work and distribution?

This was a re-release of our first demo which was recorded in 2004. Many people over the last few years have contacted us searching for copies, although it has been long sold out. I became aware that a few copies had been sold for 5 times the original price, so we decided to make it available again with new artwork/improved layout for those who were interested in hearing it. Also included are the tracks from the first 7” (Under the Aegis of Damnation), so it is kind of a send off to the early days of the band.
Working with Kuravilu went to plan. The only issue (which was not their fault), is that a few of the tapes turned out warped and the sound really suffered. Only a small amount of these were distributed before we caught onto it and these copies have been replaced since then, with the majority having a good sound like the originals.

1.  The art in “World Cremation” denotes a lot of symbology. To you, what is the truth behind this Lp’s art?

The cover artwork was painted by Andrei Bouzikov under my direction. It ties in with the album well as the serpents & angel represent duality which I mentioned earlier, 2 opposing symbols yet from a certain perspective represent one & the same. It also symbolises the process and source of creation, the abyss after the light, and the extension from the great abyss to the material plane. The angel is headless, or without identity, because it is a symbol rather than anything ‘actual’. It may not be so common when compared to majority of underground album covers, however I think it suits this album really well.

2.  How would define Denouncement Pyre’s music? The influences of such an extreme country speaking about bands which have been a big inspiration, such as Bestial Warlust, Slaughter Lord or Sadistik Exekution?

We describe our music as Black Death Chaos. Spiritual in essence, occult in practice, defiant in nature.  My motivation for making this music is not really taken from other bands. I am as much inspired by things outside of metal music, as well as non-metal music, as I am by the bands you have mentioned.

3.  Denouncement Pyre has apparently performed live rituals, according to some pictures I have seen in the internet. If so, what the environment that the band creates (inverted crosses, chains, goat heads, etc)? What bands have you shared rituals with?

We have performed live 7 times in the bands history with the last time in 2007. Generally the response was killer, most of the time very violent and chaotic. We performed alongside bands like Gospel of the Horns, Nocturnal Graves, Destruktor, Cauldron Black Ram, maybe a few others. If we will ever play live again is currently a question I do not have an answer for. There are many factors involved, time reveals all.

4.  Occult sciences have created entities under their stars such as ALEISTER CROWLEY, THEODORE REUSS, ELIPHAS LEVI, SALOMON, ALEXANDER SANDERS, etc. Have some of you inspired you, or are there any others I haven’t mentioned?

I wouldn’t say that any of those you have mentioned or any philosophers or practitioners of LHP ideology have necessarily inspired me, as my interest in occultism has mostly grown from my own experience, whilst the motivation to expand on this is also something internal. However they have some interesting ideas and concepts between them, some of which I can identify with and some where single ideas stand out and the rest I would find little use for.

1.  The Baphomet is the grand androgen of hermeneutical cults. What do you think about the Baphomet and about one of the cults that were accused because of worshipping the Baphomet: the Templar?

Baphomet is a powerful symbol for those of the shadow side and one of great relevance to all left hand path adherents. I find the history of the Knights Templar very interesting and somewhat thought provoking, however as time clouds all truths, its hard to know what is factual and what is not. The connection to Solomon’s Temple could be a key here; it is definitely something that is of interest though I am hardly an expert in this area.

2.  I must suppose you know bands or zines from Chile and South America…What bands have attracted your attention?

Lately I have heard Wrathprayer and Communion. Both cool bands.

3.  What aspects are important for Denouncement Pyre at moment of accepting an interview? Is it important for all of you if it is a paper zine or a web zine? Do you think both are important to keep it underground?

I prefer to read print zines, to hold something in your hands is more of an experience and they have more of a visual appeal. However, leading up to and after the album I have done maybe 40 or so interviews, plenty for webzines too. It’s a necessary evil as they are time consuming but it does help to spread the word on upcoming releases. I have only refused some based on the content (questions) being irrelevant or poorly written.

4.  What do you think about the job done by Hell Headbangers? Will you continue in the future with this label?

Hells Headbangers have proved to be a great label to work with. They have done everything we have asked of them and more. They are very organised and professional in their dealings and we will see going forward if there is an opportunity to work with them again.

5.  What do you think about the following records?

1) Bestial Warlust “Vengeance War Till Death”
Total Carnage…. An Aus classic             

2) Venom “Possessed”
A really good album, but still I think it is overshadowed by the first 2 LPs.

3) Celtic Frost “Morbid Tales”
Another classic…. who could disagree…..

4) Mayhem “De Misteriis Dom Sathanas”
Captured something really dark here, lead by example and in this style of black metal this album has rarely been equalled or topped.

5) Coroner “Punishment for Decadence”
Not overly familiar with this album. Then again I’m not a big Coroner fan.
6) Pentagram (Chile) “All Demos”
Cool old school sound. Evil Death Metal

7) Accept “Restless and Wild”
I like some old heavy metal, this album and Metal Heart are pretty cool.

6.  Comrade, we thank you for answering to this interview for the second edition of Cai Cai Vilu. Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks for the interest & support. World Cremation is available through Hells Headbangers Records now [www.hellsheadbangers.com]. We also have some merch & releases available, so interested freaks can contact me decaylust@hotmail.com

Nex Est Sanctus…

FOR BLACK SERPENTOR

CULTOALCHIVO@GMAIL.COM