Band: VIKING CROWN
Country of origin: USA
Style: raw black metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Killjoy (vocals)

What were actually the reasons to start up VIKING CROWN? It was more of a Phil’s intention than yours, I assume?

- It was Philip's idea to continue with VIKING CROWN for sure. He asked Opal and I if we wanted to join him and we both agreed to help him create musical genocide.

Phil Anselmo (a.k.a. Anton Crowley) is most known for being PANTERA’s frontman, and I guess there were more than just A LOT of freaks out there utterly surprised whilst finding out he’s totally into black metal…

- I really don't know much about that or any kind of reaction from those types of fans. I would assume most of them would really hate VIKING CROWN which is ok by me.

Hasn’t “Unorthodox Steps Of Ritual” been conceived and performed by Phil alone?

- Yes, Philip did "Unorthodox Steps Of Ritual" by himself. It was never really intended to be released or heard by very many people, it was something that he originally did only for himself.

Furthermore, as far as I know, that CD (or what was it originally?) was put on tape back in 1994… in order to be re-issued by Hammerheart only six years later. Wasn’t it just a recording made for pleasuring oneself back then?

- Exactly, except it was on Baphomet Records and licensed to Hammerheart. They did a very good job on the packaging etñ, especially on the vinyl version.

Anton Crowley… this is the name Phil placed a choice upon, as a handle… Let me suppose it’s just a sort of combination… Like ANTON Szandor LaVey and Aleister CROWLEY… Huh?

- It was because of legal matters concerning his record label with PANTERA that he used that name. That's in the past and now he uses his real name... But of course it comes from Lavey and Crowley - you are correct in assuming that.

“Innocence From Hell” is far beyond the loathsomeness in terms of sound execution… Had it been recorded THAT roughly solely on purpose?

- We very puposefully record everything ultra lo-fi, a good production would not be right for VIKING CROWN. We want to capture a very dark and sombre vibe.

“Banished Rhythmic Hate” is the CD spitted unto the face of god by Baphomet / Housecore lately… Sadly, I haven’t heard it yet… Is it picking up where “Innocence From Hell” left off? Musically, lyrically whatsoever…?

- "Banished..." is also very lo-fi - it's the only way we record when it comes to VIKING CROWN, and it will always be that way. It's released on Season of Mist though not our label. "Innoncence..." and "Unorthodox..." were on Baphomet.

By the way, it looks like you and Phil both own Baphomet and Housecore Records… What made you form yet two more record companies? If these ones are what all of us use to consider “record companies” of course…

- We decided to collaborate on putting out music, it's our way of promoting bands we like and also putting out our own bands. So far it seems to be working out ok, but it's too early to tell if it will be a successfull venture... only time will tell.

Red Stream put out a CD by CABAL, yet another band you take (took?) part in, quite some time ago… Aren’t you going to revive this project in order to go ever further, as I believe “Midian” was a sort of re-release?

- CABAL was a death / thrash band that I've been recording in 1990. It was released by Red Stream a little while back, and I have no intention on recording another CABAL album. It was just a one time thing for people into early DARK ANGEL, SLAYER and SEPULTURA.

Any comments on EIBON? Is it only a side-project you guys all participate in, or rather a band of the full value?

- EIBON is definately a side project. It's taking so long to get the first record done that I don't think there will ever be another one after the debut comes out.

And what about THE RAVENOUS? I still get high on “Assembled In Blasphemy”, even though I can’t but easily figure out it’s a pure continuation of what once was named AUTOPSY and later buried… The sort of departure I bitterly mourned until “Assembled…” got stuck in my stereo…

- THE RAVENOUS has a lot of similarities to old AUTOPSY mainly because Chris writes all the music, and his style is very distinctive. He writes amazing sick morbid riffs. THE RAVENOUS is a full time band that we take very seriously. We will be recording our second record very soon to be titled "Blood Delirium".

Back to VIKING CROWN. What kind of ambience were you aiming to force on “Innocence From Hell” as well as “Banished Rhythmic Hate”?

- We create a musical apocalypse, total hate, depression and horror. We are never gonna change, we are the HELLHAMMER of the new millenium, the most hated band by the press since the HELLHAMMER days. We do VIKING CROWN for our own self pleasure.

Are you going to more or less elaborate your music further, or will it be the same kind of stuff… i.e. no drastic metamorphosis planned when it comes to musical and / or lyrical canvas?

- We will never change or progress, if anything we'll regress and become more primitive and raw.

Could you tell me what you guys stand for, in regards to religious issues?

- We are anti-christian, with some occult and satanic themes. Christianity is a cancer and a weakness to mankind.

As we both know, christianity proclaimed sloth, wrath, greed, lust, gluttony, pride and envy each to be a part of “seven deadly sins”. What is your personal interpretation of the aforementioned notions? Furthermore, what sensations whatsoever would you comprise your own “seven deadly sins”-list of?

- The only thing that I totally can relate to is Anton LaVey saying "Do what thou will" (hmm, wasn't it Aleister Crowley?? - ED) - that's my personal philosophy. I don't treat anyone differently than I want treated. If I don't like someone then I certainly don't care if they like me. At the same time I don't really spend a lot of time on being negative or wasting energy on people or things that are not relavent in my life.

What does this self-parodying “Left hand path” movement mean to you, as it is now? Hasn’t it completely discredited and profaned itself many years ago? Contemporary “satanism”, “occultism”, “paganism” and all these ‘…ism’s’ prove to be nearly ridiculous kind of “hired public performance”, y’know. You just got paid to scare few kids and their grandma. The same goes for modern-day black metal, by the way. Now it’s so fucking harmless…

- I agree - and that's why I personally am not into any kind of religion, be it satanism or christianity. I only follow my own rules, nothing is dangerous musically. Punk was in the early days then black metal but now it's all become stagnant.

Are you in contact with anyone being a member of Church of Satan? Vincent Crowley, perhaps… although he resigned a year ago…

- No, again my views of satanic themes are more in the vein of the Omen and the Exorcist, etc. It's the entertainment part of it. More like anything or anyone I'm an entertainer not a preacher... Vincent Crowley is a friend a very good guy indeed.

Have you ever been questioning the meaning of your life, as well as wondering why (and, obviously, what for) you were born?

- I don't believe in a religous creator but more of a scientific beginning, something like evolution and when you're dead--  its lights out --that it-- nothing more.

Erh… Generally speaking, do you believe in cause and effect?

- To a certain extent. But again I'd rather just keep making music than discussing my personal beliefs or being looked at as anything except an entertainer. My only true passion is horror. That's MY religion.

"Gore forever"? Hey, don’t you tell me VIKING CROWN collectively watch only movies shot by Fulci and only Fulci!

- No Lucio Fulci is my favorite director. His films are amazing but we watch a lot of different horror and gore films. But for me ersonally Fulci is the best.

It strikes as you’ve been a part of the underground for many-many years… Didn’t you ever think of giving up, whilst beholding it getting more and more commercialized (I wish it was a nonsense… still it’s a truth)… with rip-offs rapidly growing in number…

- Yeah, it's been a long time. I'm really getting burned out... I'll continue for a little while longer as long as it remains interesting, then I'll quit for good and persue the horror genre.

Quite a typical question: is there anything you know concerning Russia AND the metal scene we have over here?

- We've received a lot of interest from Russia and I would love to play a show over there with one of my bands... hopefully it will happen one day.

Thanks, bro! These are the lines you should fill with the final words of yours… Explaining us why you named the band "Viking Crown", for instance...

- The name "Viking Crown" has no real meaning. Anselmo came up with it. Thanks for your support brother, hopefully we'll have a few drinks together one day!!! Gore Forever!!! Fulci Lives!!! www.necrophagia.com