Dagon, INQUISITION: “Satanism is the philosophy of black metal”
February, 15th, INQUISITION band has visited Kyiv to give a show for Ukrainian fans. Bloodreddistribution spoke to Dagon, INQUISITION frontman, about black metal and Satanism.
Working with labels. Is it worth it, or is it better to produce and promote music on your own? To what extent is it appropriate for labels to dictate their terms? Are you satisfied working with Season of Mist?
Yes, very satisfied, because the label has had no influence over my decision as a songwriter, or the vision of Inquisition. What many people don’t understand, is that label is simply a tool. It’s like your hammer, your screwdriver, you use it to build things. And Season of Mist has been our tool for wider distribution, growth, positive growth. And I say positive, because even though we are underground in spirit, we do want growth, and before the day the band is no more, we would like to have approached as many people as possible without compromising anything. With Season of Mist, they never get involved in the vision of Inquisition or the spirit of it. They always ask me, you know, what we would like, they do things with class, and when I say with class, I mean, they simply want to give a good… I hate calling it a product, but they do care about giving a good product to people. But without making us plastic or superficial. So, they’ve been very good, and that’s why I’m happy with them. And Michael is a great man!
What is the reissue of “Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan” about? Just releasing additional copies with brand new artwork of Paolo Girardi? Or is it something more?
It is the new artwork on the cover, on the layout, and on the inside. Every re-edition will feature the original artwork on the inside. And what this is, it’s creating an overall theme that encompasses or represents the world of Inquisition. Once all the re-issues are released and put together, they’ll form a kind of a puzzle, it will form an overall collective art piece, stand by Paolo Girardi from Italy. We feel like he represents Inquisition well, and it’s no secret that it was the idea of the label. The asked me a permission, Michael talked to me and he gave me his ideas, and asked for my approval, and once I carefully listened to his ideas and everything, I changed a few things. Part of it was also because of the controversy with the artist we have been working with, who we are no longer working with, because unfortunately there was some miscommunication between him and us. But it’s not because I fired him, like some people think. Truly, I want to be transparent. Once the extreme left started to explode, all the stuff about Inquisition artist, it affected a little bit distribution issues and everything. And it’s not our fault. It’s not his fault. It’s just the people who run distribution and media and so. Michael thought it was best to look for someone that had already been working with us, but not compromised by leaving the original artwork, and simply by having it inside. But it was the idea he had anyway. To bring something fresh, you know. Still with the classic and cult.
If one does believe in Satan, then he is a Satanism adherent and religious. Are you? Or does your ideology linger within music borders?
I think, Satanism is simply a name to represent the philosophy on an existential level. It’s a name that, of course we all know, we know where it comes from. But for those who do not really understand, it comes from the Abrahamic view of the opposite force. Every ancient religion and philosophy has always believed in duality. I don’t think there’s any philosophy or religion that hasn’t believed in duality. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddha, everything. Nobody invented duality. Duality is something in nature. You know, we have sunshine, we have rain. We have darkness, we have light. I don’t mean to mention the obvious, but people forget the obvious sometimes. And Satan simply is an ancient Hebrew keyword for the opposing force, for those who did not know. And so, Satanism represents the opposing force. In black metal, in the early days of black metal, it was taken as a form of symbolism, to show that we are different. We look into the darkness, where others choose not to look into. And we choose to lift the veil of darkness, and look further in the darkness. Kind of like if we were in space, cosmos, we would maybe want to know what’s inside that black hole and understand it. Satanism, therefore, maybe is not a religion, it’s maybe the non-religion religion, which is a little ironic. It’s a philosophy that we have simply given it a word, because it goes everything against what ancient Christianity always represented. And maybe even though Jesus himself, if he did exist, maybe there are many things that you would not have agreed with his followers today, but that being said, during thousands of years, his followers and churches that came after, really were selfish by limiting the knowledge of the spirit of people. Maybe Jesus himself did not promote ignorance, but the truth is after him came much ignorance. And Satanism is all about, as I said, exploring what’s after that veil of darkness and opening the mind.
So, Satanism is, in essence, a philosophy of questioning things, of asking. Even though we may never come up with a real answer, it’s good. It’s good to think and question what other religions and philosophies tell us not to question. Satanism is keeping an open mind, so maybe we can find some harmony within ourselves. And harmony is good, because this is what allows us to live and flee from ignorance. Ignorance is a poison. And just to close the answer, because it could be a lengthy one, why Satanism? Why not call it anything else? There are other words for it. There is existentialism, philosophy itself, maybe even Buddhism. But Satanism, I would say, is the philosophy of black metal. And the reason is, because even though everybody has roots in folk, with a past in their own culture, the advantage of Satanism is that it’s a neutral point. It’s a point to a new reality, where all of us worldwide can find, I hope, a coming ground. It comes after folk, it’s symbolic of being oneself, without being attached to any religion at all.
“Black Metal in essence must begin with the recognition of Satan as the foundation of the Black Metal code. This is where Black Metal began and this is how it must be, always, there should be no doubts”. According to these words, which bands can be called black metal bands?
Maybe I can name some bands, but I think the most important thing, instead of naming bands that represent black metal, I would say, it’s better to speak about the essence. This may be a controversial answer, but people say that a band is only black metal when it recognises Satan as its theme, but, again, Satanism is a force. You can give it a different name. Whatever you believe in, it can be a different name. Even paganism itself is a form of rejecting any dominate religion that’s been put upon them without their approval. So, I think, any band, in my world, is satanic when they reject everything that has been imposed upon them. Say, within their country, whatever dominate religion is, or form of government, or anything that has been put upon them, without giving them a choice, and rejecting that is a form of Satanism. Any band that rejects the system that controls them, in a way is satanic. May be they give it s different word, a different meaning, but in my world, that is satanic. Black metal bands are those that mostly reject the Abrahamic religions, mostly, as number one, because the world has been changed by Abrahamic religion itself. Everything from Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Those are the three mostly dominate religions for the past few thousands of years that really shaped the world in negative ways, maybe, maybe positive ways. But really, there’s been much, much more negativism and destruction socially because of those religions, mostly. The truth is, the three major religions really are guilty in destroying many things worldwide. They’ve done good, but really they’ve done much more bad for society, and I think, any band that rejects those beliefs, and explaining why, and by being a better human being, and ore intelligent being, by rejecting those, does deserve the title of being a real black metal band, satanic band, truly.
Small gigs vs. festivals. What is better for you?
There are advantages to both, but really, of course, the small clubs I enjoy more. It’s a really difficult question to answer, because I have a passion, no fear to say, I have a huge passion for supporters. I even don’t like calling them fans, there is more than that. They are like your kids, you know. They put so much devotion into what you are doing, they’re so loyal. “Fan” sounds just superficial. But really, there’s no other word. So, fans, supporters, for them, because of them, the small gigs are much more meaningful. But I’m also a huge fan of audio, of sound production, and the beauty of the festivals is that it’s a great moment for the musicians. I get the trendy amps, I sound louder… It’s less about the fans, more about what I enjoy on stage. You get to have, you know your larger banners… To some people that’s more superficial, but yes, at the end of the day, gigs are more important, and more special. It’s what got you to those festivals. It’s the energy…
In the past two years, you had two shows at the Brutal Assault festival. How did you find it? Was the audience responsive?
Its great! Another amazing European festival that proves that metal is really is in the DNA, especially in the Europeans, it’s a part of the culture now. It’s not like the phenomenon of the 80’s anymore. Metal is cultural now. There are generations now. Kids growing up to it, at these festivals now.
Brutal Assault festival is hosted in an old historic place. Does it give you any additional source of energy?
Yes, it does. Not when I played, because they had us in a tent, but I remember the meet&greet, the fans, and it was there in a fortress. it’s great walking there, and in all the old bricks and the smell, the humidity in there. And I like the environment, even outside. It’s a great atmosphere, it’s unreal. I would never imagine, back in the 80’s when I was a teenage, that I would be in Europe in some of these old forests during a festival.
Originally posted on Moshpit.ru
Photos by Chernov Photography
