Toronto-based NUCLEARHAMMER have recently
released a new demo called “Xaos Tenawas - Demo MMXXIII”, which contains two
new invocations of destructive Black/Death that emanate the infernal black
void. I had the opportunity to interview founding member Axaazaroth (drummer,
vocalist) to get some updates from the band, including some insight regarding
the upcoming opus. Having said that, grab a beer, take a seat and set your eyes
on the screen for a moment as we unravel the prophecies of apocalypse.
1. Hails! How’s everything going in the
Nuclearhammer camp lately?
Axaazaroth: Hailz!! Good, we just released the new demo on vinyl
and got Impugnor back in the fold so things are going well as far as prepping
for the new album and we even played a show recently for the first time in 6
years or whatever the hell it was, that also went over rather well for the most
part. Shows are a very rare thing for us nowadays and will remain so in the
future.
2. Recently you released a new demo called
“Xaos Tenawas - Demo MMXXIII” – can you tell us something about the recording
process/inspiration behind this release? Are the reviews meeting your
expectations?
Axaazaroth: It's a rehearsal demo of new material we have been
working on the last 7 years, two tracks that we recorded off the floor in our
reh space/recording studio as instrumental versions, added vocals after, mixed
and got mastered professionally. The recording process was a bit messy and
frustrating from beginning to end but we finally got it done, in fact, the
first track Majesty of Pestilential Imperium is missing the entire ending
because I felt it sounded too sloppy and off time in one specific part and
couldn't be re-recorded so I just decided to give the listeners a slightly
shorter version which works better as a preview anyway. The album will have the
full version of the song the way I originally wrote it from beginning to end.
3. Have there been any obstacles over the
years that have contributed to the band’s recording hiatus, considering you
haven’t put out a full-length since 2014? I know you guys recorded music with
several other projects, though I’m almost certain Nuclearhammer is your main
priority?
Axaazaroth: Yeah other band member’s schedules, work and family
life really gets in the way, we had two members depart from the band recently
around the time of the Xaos Tenawas recording for that reason alone but we
gained Impugnor back as a member thankfully since he is not bombarded by
typical normie life bullshit. We don't do this as full time careers, although
sometimes I wish that was the case, minus all the touring since I am not a fan
of constantly travelling and having to play shows. It also takes us years to
write new music we are satisfied with and have to practice a long time to get
tight and exactly how we want it. Being involved with other projects is never
an issue and hasn't held us back, in fact it’s been very beneficial when
Nuclearhammer was on a hiatus after the Serpentine album and all the shows we
played. As far as not having anything new out since 2014, we would have had a
3-way split out a few years ago if things had worked out with one of the other
bands involved but instead we had to sit on our material for 5 or 6 years, but
I am aiming to get that recording released very soon and before the new album
is out. The only positive thing that came out of that ordeal was it gave me time
to figure out the best mix and get help with mastering.
4. “Serpentine Hermetic Lucifer” left a mark
in the underground and people are still talking about it. How would you
describe the differences between your latest release and your old material? Will
there be a new album in the near future and what can we expect? Is the vision
and your influences still the same?
Axaazaroth: I'm glad people like SHL as much as they do, we gained
a lot of new fans with that album but the new material in my opinion will blow
it out of the water. Some people might not like it though. I couldn't care less
what people like or accept in metal these days since everything is so inverted
and subverted it needs a massive reset. But if they like Xaos Tenawas, they
will love the new album Xaos Void. The songs are MUCH longer and drawn out, it
will be a total of 4 tracks clocking in at 50 minutes or so, very hypnotic and
full of fury, chaos and immense atmosphere. I would say the vision is still the
same but even more intense and vicious than before.
5. You’ve been with NWN since “Serpentine
Hermetic Lucifer” – what makes working with them an ideal label for
Nuclearhammer?
Axaazaroth: I wouldn't say working with any record label is
"ideal", there are always internal issues and disagreements and
things that are not ideal for the band or label but as long as NWN is
interested in releasing our new material I can't complain since he gives us the
best deal. He is also expanding his operations now into a vinyl pressing plant
so I'd say it's probably the best label to be on.
6. What albums have you been spinning
lately? Also what are some of your favourite releases/highlights of 2023?
Axaazaroth: Too many things to list honestly but as far as black
death goes, lately LUCIFER'S HAMMER - Hymns to the Moon and The Burning Church
demos since I got the vinyl reissues of those recently and been checking out
their other material I slept on for many years it seems. COFFIN TEXTS - Gods of
Creation, Death & Afterlife, INVERTED - There Can Only Be One, both albums
from 1997 that went under my radar for many years. GRAVE - Into the Grave,
EXTERMINATE - Pact, GRAVE UPHEAVAL - Demo LP, METHGOAT/SUBSERVIENT PERVERSITY -
Hot Rails, War & Murder split, AUTOPSY - Acts of the Unspeakable, VLAD
TEPES/BELKETRE split and everything from diSEMBOWELMENT as always!! Highlights
of 2023 would be ARCHAIC MALIGN/FLAGGELIK KOMMANDO 666 - Poisoned Minds Towards
the Oneiric Fields of Morbid Hallucinations split, GOTTHAMMER - Godslaying
Sonic Barbarism, PROFANE ORDER - Tightened Noose of Sanctimony, CURSED PAST -
The Return Into Night, PRISON HELL - Sex Penitentiary and the split with
ABRAXAS BLACK, TSALAL - Encapsulating..., PROFANATICA - Crux Simplex, DEMONCY -
Black Star Gnosis & Diabolica Blasphemiae, also TETRAGRAMMACIDE's new album
just to name a few.
7. Musically, how would you describe
Nuclearhammer's sound? I’ve seen your music get tagged as everything from Black
Metal, Black/Death, to War Metal and NSBM.
Axaazaroth: I just describe it as hypnotic black death. Our
primary focus is the overall atmosphere of whatever we are pushing and
propagating, so our sound ends up being very atypical and can't fit into one
specific category at all times.
8. Do you ever feel like you are competing
with anyone in the genre, given the growing number of quality death/black metal
bands?
Axaazaroth: No, once you start thinking competitively like that
you fall into wanting to sound like whatever the latest "thing" happens
to be. We've never been about fitting in to the latest trend or what sells the
most currently before the next useless thing comes along for all the people
with short attention spans.
9. How do you see the future of black metal?
It seems like the genre has been infiltrated by all the wrong people as of
late.
Axaazaroth: Has it ever!!! the future is very bleak on all fronts,
black metal included until people wake the fuck up, stop being afraid of
getting called certain words and take it all back from the parasitic rats, but
instead of doing that, I'm sure they'll be lining up for their 50th booster
shot while their wives and daughters are raped by hostile invaders hell bent on
colonizing Western countries.
10. Thank you for your time man. Would you
like to add anything else before we formally close this interview? Perhaps a
message to your enemies?
Axaazaroth: Thanks for the interview, been a while since I've done
one. Fuck all enemies and infiltrators, none of you will escape the VOID!!!
