the sinister flame VII - "liberation"

There is an extensive new interview with me, along with many previously unpublished photographs relating to Pyhä Eurooppa (“Holy Europe”), as well as an in-depth review of the book, in The Sinister Flame issue VII - “Liberation” - now available via New Era Productions.

The magazine is aesthetically presented, 60 pages printed in full colour designed by Lunar Revelations, with front cover by I.K. Inho. It features DRASTUS, ORDINANCE, SENTIESSENCE, THE AJNA OFFENSIVE, STYGIAN TEMPLE, GRAFVITNIR and MOVIMENTO D’AVANGUARDIA ERMETICO.

In the thoughtful interview, I am asked about my views on Black Metal. Here is my response:

“ As an artform, Black Metal has never aesthetically appealed to my nature, although throughout my life, I have had and still have many friends involved in it, either as creators or enthusiasts. There is something in Black Metal which seemingly attracts both the best and worst of humanity. It attracts some great, exceptionally creative faustian individuals, but also the worst kind of populace – what Nietzsche called ”the last men” – ultimate nihilists, cabable only of destruction.

I see Black Metal as a uniquely European, perhaps especially Northern European phenomena and form of music, which at its purest is an expression of genuine spiritual energies, albeit dominantly of a chthonic nature. It is a furious art, expressing truly dionysian currents and perhaps unconscious impulses which have lain dormant. On the other hand, I see Black Metal as too often focusing on and locked in descending energies, which simply manifest as perpetual juvenile pseudo-rebellion (such as childish anti-Christianity), unhealthy negativity, nihilism and morbidity.

In other words, I wish that within Black Metal there was less focus on Satan and more focus on Lucifer, the enemy of the false god, who wants to keep mankind locked in ignorance, stupidity and suffering. Lucifer is Apollo of the Greeks, Lugh of the Celts, Balder of the Germanics – the lightbringer. ”