1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new album?
Hails, here’s N. Kapalika, speaking on behalf of the Apostles.
There is not much to say about our activity since the release of ‘Revelation’. We all have been busy promoting this new gospel and we’re satisfied to see that the response is excellent. Things are going well, ‘Revelation’ gets positive reviews and feedbacks. Now we’re planning new live ceremonies for the upcoming months to celebrate our evangelium on stage. Be prepared.
2.You had released your new album during the beginning of July, how would you describe the musical sound of the new recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?
The sound on ‘Revelation’ is clearly more powerful, with a far better production than in the past. This is due to the great work done at Drudenhaus studio with Neb Xort for the mastering. It’s Malhkebre’s most professional recording thus far, but it was very important to maintain the traditional rawness in the band’s sound. Of course black metal has to be crude, raw and sinister, and it was some kind of challenge to preserve this audial cruelty despite a better production. Finally all elements fit well together, be it the vocals or the samples, and the overall production respects the original sound of Malhkebre while making it evolve to higher standards. We’re totally satisfied.
3.I have noticed when I listen to the album there was a great amount of originality without having to resort to keyboards or non metal elements do you feel your music stands out in the black metal genre?
There are a lot of non metal elements on the album! Malhkebre gets its influences from the whole spectrum of the Arts Noirs, and blend it in its compositions. Samples of course, but you can even hear some saxophone on “Hystérie révélatrice”… we have absolutely no limits when it comes to expression. Every musical form can be an efficient tool when used properly and black metal should NOT limits itself to “basic” metal. We respect the bands who do things the traditional way, when they’re done with faith and talent, but we refuse to acknowledge this approach as something cast in stone. The only law is “there is no law”, faith above all other considerations.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the new album and also are they related to the Apostles Of Ignormity'?
Lyrics are completely related to the Apostles’ doctrine, as Malhkebre is one of the Apostles’ mouths. Everything done within Malhkebre is done by and for the Apostles, for Ignominy. We are a sectarian entity that propagates its own beliefs through arts, and Malhkebre is nothing but a tool in the name of religion.
As you can imagine the album’s lyrics deal with spirituality, self-humiliation and elevation. The Apostle’s philosophy is a philosophy of doubt: to refuse the established order, the common “truth”, to refuse the supposed superiority of man and every kind of self-deception. We all are worms, every fucking one of us on this shitty planet. There is no elite, there is no superior race. No religion holds the truth and no political system is the key to harmony. There is only the omnipotent vanity of man, who comforts himself with lies, and everything he builds is destined to fade and perish. Face your own self, pass trough the mirror, burn down what you believed in and accept your own mediocrity. Acknowledge that you are nothing, and that He is all. These are the first steps towards spiritual elevation. Relève toi, assume toi…
5.How would you describe your views on Satanism and Occultism?
The Left Hand Path -which can took a lot of shapes- is above all a long and painful one. It’s the work of a whole life. A life of studies, readings, rituals, experiences, failures… paradoxical as it may seem, failures are more important than successes, because they force you to put yourself into question and change. To accept you’re not perfect and to evolve, rejecting your ego. The cardinal virtues are humility, patience and will. Don’t brag too much about your practices or realizations, stay humble, discreet, and keep your rituals secret. Learn by yourself, from your own experiences and not from the other’s. Never consider something as a plain success, as something acquired. Our biggest adversary is not the world but ourselves. That’s why the practice of Occultism is demanding, difficult and unrewarding at short term. Such are His ways, and only the worthy and the sincere ones will tread this path till its end.
6.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
There are a lot of great memories associated with live ceremonies, too many to be detailed. Many bad ones too, of course. A satisfying stage performance is when we reach a point of transcendence, when we literally lose contact with reality and become subjected to His might. When we forget that we are on stage. Then everything can happen, even descending from the stage and beating up some fans. If you see Eklezjas’Tik Berzerk punching someone for free, then it means that it’s a good ceremony which is occurring. First time it happened was in Zürich during the tour with Christicide (RIP). It wasn’t planned at all, we just feel the urge to do so at that moment. And it was great.
Generally speaking, losing contact with reality is the purpose of every form of religious music, whatever tradition it belongs to. Transcendence, elevation, becoming close to a divine presence, are the goals of a musical ritual. That’s why we call our gigs “ceremonies”: it’s a form of magick. And the more powerful it is, the more unpredictable it can be. The best we can imagine would be to see people not just moshing but fighting each other of course. A black metal concert has to be somewhat dangerous and uncomfortable, because every form of violence is a gift in His Name.
7.Do you have any touring or show plans for the new release?
As I said previously, we’re currently working on booking ceremonies to support ‘Revelation’. We will play in France in October with Horna and Behexen, and at the Satan’s convention in Speyer (Germany) late December. Other appearances onstage will occur in the future, in several countries so you’ll have opportunities to share our liturgy, and maybe be a part of it yourself if you’re worthy enough… There are numerous souls we have to corrupt, numerous bodies we have to beat. The propaganda must be spread; the faith has to be celebrated.
8.The new album was released on I, Voidhanger Records, how did you get in contact with this label and also how would you describe the support they have given you so far?
Eklezjas’tik BerZerK: I discovered this label through their works with some bands of their roaster. Their releases have all great packaging with big booklets and are of good quality. Their roaster is not a typical extreme metal roaster, and each band has its own identity. And Luciano has given us the best and respected all his engagements. He believes a lot in “Revelation” so we believe in him. I Voidhanger is maybe not what the Ignominy’s fanatics wanted, but we’re not here to please all, we don’t care to be a simple number on a big catalog or metal supermarket, we don’t care to be on a pseudo occult label. We want to work with devoted people that are transcended by our Art Noir and give their best to spread our doctrine. Nothing less nothing more at this time, fuck rumors.
9.I know that the vocalist also runs Battlesk'rs Productions, are there any new releases coming out on that label in the next few months that black metal fans should be aware of?
Eklezjas’tik BerZerK: We are working on the next OSCULUM INFAME full-length opus, also a tape release of the last THOU SHALT FALL. We have currently less releases planned as we are more and more concentrate on The Apostles of Ignominy. Lots of releases will spread our anger in the coming months.
10.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to the newer music by fans of black metal?
The feedback is overall excellent. ‘Revelation’ gets positive reviews from everywhere. It seems that the album was awaited, or better to say that there is a demand from the audience for militant and uncompromising art. The black metal scene as a whole is nothing but a joke. That’s an old story, but now we can see that even the “religious” movement has become a trend. Superficial bands pops from everywhere and youngsters proclaim themselves as true practitioners of the kabbalah or whatever form of occultism they didn’t even know four years ago but of which they are now specialists. Bands with a traditional black metal imagery à la Marduk turning into tantric sorcerers in no more than two years, sure, credibility is at its best.
I’m repeating myself but I can’t stress enough how HARD and LONG is the way to the Left Hand Path. Studying, practicing, learning from the Black Arts, melting it into your everyday life to become someone else, is a lifetime task. People CAN’T understand His mysteries in a few months or years. Malhkebre has been here since more than twelve years and we know that we are just at the beginning of our journey. We take this spiritual path seriously and feel humble in front of Him. And so we focus on real devotion, instead of superficial yet impressive manifestations. That’s why Malhkebre records so few releases, why we never really tour or try to play at huge festivals. We do things slowly, because they have to be done in a proper mood, with proper rituals, at the right time, backed with the right occult knowledge that is so long to obtain. The result is a work of fanaticism that took its time but is completely uncompromising and full of its force. It sounds different than faint-hearted productions, it is different to experience on stage and I guess that a growing part of the fans understand that and -even unconsciously- want that, because they start to be fed up with fake bands. Thus the good response.
11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part off?
The Apostles are still active with their other projects. Mostly with Sektarism, with some new releases to come. The second album is already recorded, and there will be a split LP with Darvulia, each band offering a 15 minutes exclusive track. This said, it will be Darvulia’s last work. The band is definitively dead, and Crüxvheryn K. accepted to reactivate it only for this release. It’s the very last nail in the band’s coffin.
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
The Apostles’ influences have always been the same. Every talented and dedicated practitioners of the Black Arts, whatever musical style they choose: Antaeus, Diamanda Galas, Elend, SVEST, Grunt… be it black metal, harsh noise, drone or cryptic classical music, we take influences from everywhere.
13.What are some of your non musical interests?
To witness the mediocrity of man and His grandeur in every aspects of life. Studying history, arts and esotericism, practicing martial arts, smoking powder made out of human bones… Black metal is just the tiny top of the iceberg. You can reach Him every time, everywhere, in every domain of your life.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Memento, homo, mors ultima ratio!
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