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BACK
ENOCHIAN
CRESCENT - In The Sign Of The Horns
By Chris Bruni
Listening to Enochian Crescent's new album, Omega Telocvovim, is
one of the most unique black metal experiences of 1999. On top of
being Finnish, these true Satan worshippers are sick, demented beings
who thrive on serving and paying homage to the horned one below,
and Omega Telocvovim is their ultimate testimony. It is their third
release, following the well-received Babylon Patralx de Telocvovim
mini album and their debut album, Telocvovim, which was on Woodcut
Records. Omega Telocvovim simply proves that Enochian Crescent are
for real and will take the black metal world by storm, blowing away
many of the big shots in the scene. Enochian Crescent have this
great underground integrity to them and add a touch of class amongst
all of it.
Demented Enochian Crescent vocalist/Devil worshipper Wrath and guitarist
and songwriter Victor let loose and gave us a glimpse of what goes
on in their twisted psyche on their new release and their quest
for total domination in the black metal scene.
"In my opinion, Omega Telocvovim pisses from great height over
most of the uninspiring crap that gets released as 'black metal'
nowadays," Victor spews forth. "How can I give such an
arrogant statement? Because sadly it is true. The state of contemporary
metal is horrible. Bands don't write good music anymore, just music.
We are an exception. Omega Telocvovim is a product of dark passion.
It has DEDICATION written in big bloody letters across every single
note. We don't play music just to hang around in the metal scene,
we want to produce something that actually has a meaning and touches
the listener, deeply. Omega... should arouse either perverse satisfaction
or furious refusal in the listener."
What was the intention when the band first formed and how long has
the chemistry been active?
Wrath: "Victor and I met the first time in the summer of 1995a.b.
and almost immediately decided to form the ultimate black metal
band, a band that could conquer the now-empty throne of the most
extreme and depraved Satanic black metal. Victor, Michael, Harald
and Generis have known each other far beyond the year 1995a.b. and
I and Grief have known each other almost two decades."
The many sounds that you bring in play a part in distinguishing
the band. Do you think all these influences make Enochian Crescent
a distinct force in black metal?
Victor: "Well, in a way you answered your own question. What
really drives us is the desire to create something new and unheard
and also to try and capture a mystic and disturbing aura into our
output. Such a void that pesters the listener and won't let them
be at ease while listening. This is the main essence of our sound
and the thing that makes us stand out."
There seems to be a lot of traditional metal influences that seep
into your style of demonic black metal, as well as the thrash reference
points with the traditional black metal sound.
"We play modern metal music," Victor says. "Timeless
and creative. I don't see a big thrash or heavy influence though
my favorite bands are from the '80s like Holy Terror, Sabbat (UK),
and Celtic Frost. We have been creating the same kind of sounds
since the beginning of the '90s, but I don't see Enochian Crescent
as a retro band in any sense. We are very much living in the present
and I would go as far as to claim that the concept of time, as in
a western linear sense of it, is quite meaningless to us.
"We don't really plan ahead when writing songs," Victor
continues. "They just happen to turn out that way. As Wrath
would say, 'Nothing is intentional for the possessed.' You said
that you hear references to several 'styles' of metal, but as I
see it they are not influences but an integral part of the Enochian
Crescent sound."
The Finnish black metal scene seems to be at its creative height
these days, where the Finnish bands are the ones to take it to the
utter extreme. So is it true that the unique lifestyle in Finland
plays a part in the diversity of the bands? What is your opinion
on the ever-evolving Finnish black metal scene?
Victor: "I do concur. The way of taking things to their extremes
is a part of our natural character. Also, unlike in the now dead
and decaying Norwegian BM scene, there are no musical rules that
you have to follow to make Finnish black metal. In fact, I think
it would be fucking stupid to limit one's sound just to fit into
some category defined by lesser men. Black metal musical aesthetics
are limitless. It's up to the attitude.
"We are a Finnish band in that sense that we produce very original
and strange music," Victor proclaims. "I don't think that
there's any generic 'Finnish' sound, it's more like that weirdness
is the ingredient that makes us very Finnish. We are born and grown
here, and that is important in the essence of our music; the cold
fist in your intestines."
So how intense are you guys as people?
Wrath: "Intense? For example, the lyrics of 'Grey Skin' were
written after I had burnt a horned inverted cross on my chest one
night. I think nobody who knows me considers me as a very sane or
normal person. Wouldn't you concur?
"About the other members; they are quite normal," says
Wrath. "At least when compared to mine and Victor's demented
personalities. Victor is one of the most prolific occult minds living.
He, like I, is a hermit and a practicing occultist, or a Warlock
if you will. The experiences we have had through magik and rituals
cannot be described by mere words. These experiences have had a
great effect on what Enochian Crescent is today -- abnormal, eccentric
and a very sick black metal band. I leave the portrayal of myself
to Victor..."
Victor, referring to Wrath: "This morbid shrieker is a born
Satanist. He actually is the only person that I have ever met that
has truly dedicated his or her entire life to follow the voice of
the Dark One, both physically and mentally. You should see his scars
and hear his mesmerizing stories! From an ordinary person's perspective
all of us are a warped bunch indeed. But why should we burden ourselves
with the prejudices and self-imposed restrictions of the common
man? In the darker paths nothing is common."
What does the name Enochian Crescent mean?
Wrath: "Enochian symbolizes the unknown, the ancient and the
sheer power of Black Magick of the Watchers. Crescent symbolizes
the element of night, destruction and the fear of darkness. The
Enochian Crescent that glows its dim light in the night is a beacon
to us, the Nephilim."
Explain the trilogy and concept of Telocvovim then...
Wrath: "The Telocvovim trilogy is our offering of praise for
the Horned One. We sacrificed four years of our lives to create
a worthy tribute to our Master who is enlightenment. We were committed
for four years to gain as much servants as possible. Every servant
who has read the praises has invited them into his very soul. And
every soul sings the songs of Lucifer so loud that even the pearly
gates will rust, the angels' wings will wither away and the faces
of the jewtraitor and his mortal-raping father will pale before
this omen of forthcoming victory. If we were to think that Heaven
had groins, the Telocvovim trilogy would definitely be a very nasty
kick into them!"
Enochian Crescent have also gained a notoriety from their live shows,
for which the band have been banned on several occasions due to
their particular stage theatrics and antics. What does an Enochian
Crescent performance entail?
"At the infamous Emperor support gig in Tavastia I sliced a
5-centimeter-wide wound into my right arm and by doing so I severed
an artery, the muscle of my thumb and few sinews," says Wrath.
"At other gigs I have cut my left arm, drunk blood, burned
myself with candle wax or get whipped by the ominous Mr. Litmanen
of Babylon Whores!
"If someone satisfies our demands we MAY play live again,"
Wrath continues. "If not it does not bother me at all. Playing
live is definitely not on our favourite-things-to-do list. I prefer
being in solitude and being isolated from the herd. Mingling with
people doesn't do anything for my personal evolution."
The future does seem unpredictable, so can you guys give us a glimpse
of what lies ahead for Enochian Crescent?
Wrath: "We will only wander more far from the herd in our path
of eccentricity and deranged Magick, both music and lyric-wise."
Victor: "Indeed we as a band don't plan on having any kind
of a career whatsoever. Enochian Crescent as a band is more based
on spreading the vile sickness that is in our minds in the form
of dark and excruciating music. Therefore we cannot have any kind
of pressures regarding the following releases. 'Career' bands who
try to plan their sound and progression are a totally different
breed compared to us."
http://www.enochian-crescent.com
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