ACHERON
Lately
Acheron released an album with covers they did during their career. Covers
that come from all kinds of metal and titled this album "Tribute To The
Devil's Music". However, I think this title would be appropriate here as
well!
1.FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATIONS FOR
YOUR “TRIBUTE TO THE DEVIL’S MUSIC”. THERE ARE SOME GREAT COVERS IN IT!
VC- Thank you. It is a collection
of cover material we recorded during this last decade. It is an album that
represents a lot of the stuff that inspired me when I was growing
up. And we I brought up the idea to BLACK LOTUS RECORDS, they were very
interested. So, we came together and released this special “Tribute to
the Devil’s Music” for our loyal fans.
2.HOW HAVE YOU SELECTED THE SONGS THAT
WOULD BE CONTAINED IN THIS TRIBUTE? WHICH WERE YOUR CRITERIA? WAS IT MADE
ON PURPOSE THAT THIS CD IS ALMOST EQUALLY DIVIDED BETWEEN CLASSIC AND EXTREME
METAL?
VC- This album features songs that
ACHERON recorded for various “Tribute Albums” and “Bonus Tracks”. It is
every cover song we ever recorded in the studio. I believe there are lots
of different kind of bands represented on this album. Bands that inspired
us in one way or another.
3.YOU SAY IN THE BOOKLET’S LINER NOTES
THAT YOU HATE THE COVER YOU DID TO JUDAS PRIEST’S “DEVIL’S CHILD”. PERSONALLY
I LIKED IT, BUT WHY HAVE YOU RELEASED IT SINCE YOU DON’T LIKE IT AND WHY
DO YOU THINK THAT JUDAS PRIEST AND EXTREME VOCALS DON’T MATCH? AFTER ALL
THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF A COVER SONG, TO TRY AND CHANGE IT, BRING IT UP
TO YOUR STANDARDS AND GIVE ANOTHER FRESH TONE TO IT.
VC- Well, I’m just a big JUDAS
PRIEST fan and I really respect Rob Halford’s voice. I really don’t “hate”
the recording, I just feel it doesn’t do the song justice. As I said
before, this album is for the fans and this album was to include “all”
the cover songs we ever recorded, no mater if “I” liked them or not. (Ha,
Ha)
4.I REALLY LIKED THE ARTWORK WHICH
SEEMS LIKE IT’S BROUGHT BACK FROM THE 80S. IT HAS THAT FEELING AND VIBE.
WAS IT MADE ON PURPOSE AND WHY?
VC- I loved the artwork. It was
done by a German artist by the name of Timo Wuerz, who also did stuff for
THOU ART LORD and ASTARTE. I told the label the concept I had for the cover
and they told him. It came out just the way we wanted it. And a total 80’s
Metal vibe, that I thought was excellent. Perfect for a release like this.
5.YOU BELONG IN THE METAL SCENE MANY
YEARS NOW (MORE THAN A DECADE). HOW EASY WAS IT FOR YOU TO RELEASE AN ALBUM
EVERY YEAR? WEREN’T THERE TIMES WHEN YOU THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE OUT OF INSPIRATION
AND YOU NEEDED SOME TIME TO LIE BACK AND RELAX?
VC- ACHERON never released an album
every year. (Ha, Ha) We had too many problems with record labels in the
past to do so. We have taken time off at times, to get our minds focused
again. And then the Dark inspiration kicks in and you do what you do best.
It doesn’t take much to bring out my darkside.
6.WHY DO YOU THINK METAL KEEPS INVOLVING
SO MUCH THE OCCULT AND RELIGION?
VC- Because there is a lot of mystery
and emotions behind them both. Many people like to be artistic about their
beliefs and practices. To me ACHERON is my demonic creation. It represents
the things that I hold very close to my black heart.
7.LUCIFER WAS THE ANGEL OF MUSIC AND
LIGHT. HOWEVER MOST OF THE PEOPLE KEEP ON CALLING ONLY HEAVY METAL MUSIC,
THE DEVIL’S MUSIC. WHY DO YOU THINK THIS HAPPENS?
VC- Heavy Metal took Rock n Roll
to the next level. It was much more rebellious and up front. When religious
groups saw teenagers proclaiming their freedom by singing along with people
like Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper, they had to declare war on it. So
they labeled it “The Devil’s Music”. A music that was supposed to bring
out all kinds of “evil” emotions and make the listener do all sorts of
diabolical deeds. You can thank the Christians for that great title/label
for Metal music. (Ha, Ha)
8.MOST OF THE EXTREME BANDS CALL THEMSELVES
SATANISTS AND MISANTHROPISTS AND TO BE HONEST I AM NOT A RELIGIOUS
PERSON AT ALL BUT I FIND IT FROM A POINT ON A BIT CHILDISH AND TIRING,
LIKE THEY DO IT JUST TO PROVOKE PUBLIC. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
VC- Why is a person’s ideas and
beliefs childish, just because you don’t find any interest in them? I’m
personally sick of bands that sweep all their dirt under the rug and sing
about so-called positive topics. When I write something it is because I
feel strongly about it. Do I care if I provoke the public? Hell no! Do
I like pissing people off? Sometimes. Welcome to the wonderful world of
music, where you can write about what you want. And ACHERON has always
been an anti-religious Satanic band and that will never change. As for
bands that do it just for shock value…..well, they aren’t real anyway.
9.YOUR BIOGRAPHY SAYS THAT YOU ARE
ONE OF THE FIRST TOTALLY SATANIC DEATH METAL BANDS. SO? WHY DO YOU FIND
IT SO IMPORTANT TO LABEL YOURSELVES SATANIC? BY THE WAY DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH CROWLEY OR IS IT JUST A COINCIDENCE?
VC- Because it is a part of what
this band is about. It is much more than a “band” to me. It is an alter
to give my sacrifices to. Each song I write pays homage to the darkside.
There are some ideas of Aleister Crowley’s I admire, but I am more of a
LaVeyian type of person.
10.A WHILE AGO A PERSON APPEARED IN
THE GREEK TV CLAIMING TO BE A HIGH PRIEST OF THE CHURCH OF SATAN HERE IN
GREECE AND THAT HE WANTED TO BUILD A CHURCH FOR LUCIFER. A BIG FUSS TOOK
PLACE OVER HERE AND ALMOST EVERYONE WAS AGAINST HIM AND HE WAS TREATED
LIKE A PARANOID. HOW ARE PEOPLE BEHAVING TO YOU OVER THERE? THE SAME PERSON
SAID THAT DURING A CEREMONY LUCIFER APPEARED TO HIM AS AN ARAB PRINCE ON
A HORSE. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN LUCIFER AND HOW?
VC- Why do people fear things that
are different? Would this church for Lucifer harm anyone? Perhaps the guy
is crazy? So are many Christians! “Do What Thou Wilt” if what I agree with.
As long as someone doesn’t fuck with my world, they can do what they want.
Freedom to do what you want is true Satanism. Have I seen Lucifer? Not
lately. (Ha, Ha) Lucifer is just another symbolic archetype in my belief
system.
11.YOU HAVE SOME NEW SONGS READY FOR
YOUR UPCOMING RELEASE. COULD YOU TELL US A FEW THINGS ABOUT THEM?
VC- Our new album will be entitled
“REBIRTH: Metamorphosing into Godhood”. It will feature the songs “Church
of One”, Bow Before Me”, “Golgotha’s Truth”, “Betrayed (A Broken Pact)”,
“Xomaly” and “The Kindred”. The songs are longer now and we have decided
to get rid of the keyboard element. We are going to make this a more guitar
oriented album and a lot heavier and melodic than our past albums. It will
be like putting “Rites of the Black Mass” and “Those Who Have Risen”. The
lyrics will still be dark and occultic, with Satanic overtones.
12.IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THE
CREATURE THAT CREATED THE UNIVERSE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK HIM?
VC- How the fuck did you fuck up
so bad?????? (Ha, Ha)
13.WHICH IS THE WORST NIGHTMARE AND
BEST DREAM YOU’VE EVER SEEN?
VC- My worst nightmare and best
dream were actually the same. I had a dream that I was Christ being nailed
to the cross by a Roman. And the Roman that was doing it looked just like
me! As I was hanging, the Roman (myself) looked up and said “This time
you won’t return!”. At that time my face changed into a skull and
the Roman just smiled. I woke up soon after. I figured it meant that I
was putting all my past religious demons away for good. A dream I’ll never
forget.
14. IF YOU COULD TRAVEL IN TIME WHICH
HISTORICAL PERIOD WOULD YOU LIKE TO VISIT AND WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST
FROM OUR TIMES?
VC- I’d have to say 1966, when
Anton LaVey founded the CHURCH OF SATAN. The beginning of the New Age of
Satan. I would have liked to be around when they ushered in such a huge
event. I hate our times! So I wouldn’t miss anything! Except Metal! (But
I could re-invent it! Ha, Ha)
15.WHAT TITLE WOULD YOU LIKE THIS INTERVIEW
TO HAVE?
VC- “Giving the Devil his Due.”
16.THANK YOU! HAVE I FORGOTTEN TO ASK
YOU ANYTHING AND YOU’D LIKE TO MENTION?
VC- No, I think we touched base
on many issues. Thanks for the interest in ACHERON and we hope your readers
pick up our new albums on BLACK LOTUS RECORDS! Ad Maiorem Satanae Gloriam!
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