| Interview with Fornicator By: Blissfulviolet |
| Known as the 'Northernmost' metal in the world and one of the first pioneering black metal acts alongside Beherit, stands Black Crucifixion. The band remained silent for many years however, they are alive, well and still as cult as ever. |
Blissfulviolet: How are you and things in
Finland ?
Finland ?
Fornicator: In global perspective they are
very fine. In the perspective of global
warming they are shit as the weather in my
neighborhood has turned really shitty during
the last ten years.
very fine. In the perspective of global
warming they are shit as the weather in my
neighborhood has turned really shitty during
the last ten years.
Blissfulviolet: Many can try to describe or
put a label on someone’s music. In the case
of Black Crucifixion, the band is known as
one of the pioneers of black metal. How
would you describe the past Black Crucifixion
and the current band?
put a label on someone’s music. In the case
of Black Crucifixion, the band is known as
one of the pioneers of black metal. How
would you describe the past Black Crucifixion
and the current band?
Fornicator: The spirit is the same but it sounds different. Back then we rebelled against the
convention by playing as brutally as possible, now the rebellion comes from having more
variation and substance in our art.
convention by playing as brutally as possible, now the rebellion comes from having more
variation and substance in our art.
Blissfulviolet: Have your thoughts on the black metal scene changed any since you felt that
the real scene died back in 92?
the real scene died back in 92?
Fornicator: Well, of course it did not really die. It just smells funny. There is still some
interesting music to be found in the scene.
interesting music to be found in the scene.
Blissfulviolet: Considering that Black Crucifixion has not been active in the metal scene as
most bands, this has given you and your band members time to experiment with your music
and enjoy life. Has the band been working on any new material for a future Black Crucifixion
release?
most bands, this has given you and your band members time to experiment with your music
and enjoy life. Has the band been working on any new material for a future Black Crucifixion
release?
Fornicator: Yes, we are currently working on new material that will be released in the
“nearish” future but knowing us, that might take a month or two as we worked on the Faustian
Dream album for ten years. But the cover artwork is already chosen so let’s keep our fingers
crossed.
“nearish” future but knowing us, that might take a month or two as we worked on the Faustian
Dream album for ten years. But the cover artwork is already chosen so let’s keep our fingers
crossed.
Blissfulviolet: Do you personally check out any live bands, support or keep up with today’s
metal scene in Finland ?
metal scene in Finland ?
The music we are recording is much more aggressive than the stuff on Faustian Dream, which
was our “Rock’n’Roll” album if like.
was our “Rock’n’Roll” album if like.
Fornicator: I listen to and buy metal albums and occasionally go to a great venue five
minutes from my house. But the last band I saw there was Celtic Frost, so that might not count.
minutes from my house. But the last band I saw there was Celtic Frost, so that might not count.
Blissfulviolet: The last album Black Crucifixion released was Faustian Dream. It surprisingly
took about ten years to complete. Ten years is a long time. How much of the recording
changed or progressed throughout the 10 years and why did it take this much time to
complete?
took about ten years to complete. Ten years is a long time. How much of the recording
changed or progressed throughout the 10 years and why did it take this much time to
complete?
Fornicator: Yes, it was quite time consuming. A lot of it changed and only half of the material
from those sessions were used on the final album. But of course there were long pauses when
we did not work on it. This way it turned out as good as it did, the original 1996 plan would
have resulted as a shitty record. It was worth while to kill our darlings and conceive new ones.
from those sessions were used on the final album. But of course there were long pauses when
we did not work on it. This way it turned out as good as it did, the original 1996 plan would
have resulted as a shitty record. It was worth while to kill our darlings and conceive new ones.
Blissfulviolet: It’s been known since years ago that some members of Beherit were involved
with Black Crucifixion. To this day rumors remain abundant on the internet regarding
Holocausto and belief that Black Crucifixion spawned as a Beherit side project; however this is
not the case. Please elaborate on Holocausto’s role in Black Crucifixion’s past.
with Black Crucifixion. To this day rumors remain abundant on the internet regarding
Holocausto and belief that Black Crucifixion spawned as a Beherit side project; however this is
not the case. Please elaborate on Holocausto’s role in Black Crucifixion’s past.
Fornicator: Holocausto is a friend and we grew up in the same town of Rovaniemi. His
personal influence and help was crucial in the beginning of Black Crucifixion but the core of the
band was elsewhere. We just asked Sodomatic Sluaghter to join as a drummer as he was the
perfect man for the job at the time and of course there were not too many black metal
drummers around in 1991 and the same goes for our first bass player. Holocausto supported
the band in the beginning by contributing intro & outro on our first release and joined in for
some lyrics with me. There’s no reason to undermine or exaggerate his role during the first
year of the band. But no, we were not a Beherit side-project.
personal influence and help was crucial in the beginning of Black Crucifixion but the core of the
band was elsewhere. We just asked Sodomatic Sluaghter to join as a drummer as he was the
perfect man for the job at the time and of course there were not too many black metal
drummers around in 1991 and the same goes for our first bass player. Holocausto supported
the band in the beginning by contributing intro & outro on our first release and joined in for
some lyrics with me. There’s no reason to undermine or exaggerate his role during the first
year of the band. But no, we were not a Beherit side-project.
Blissfulviolet: This brings me to
ask; do you still keep in contact with
anyone who was involved with
Beherit?
ask; do you still keep in contact with
anyone who was involved with
Beherit?
Fornicator: I’m in occasional
contact with Holocausto and
Sodomatic. They both live near me
and like beer. And of course get
free copies of our re-releases too
keep under their pints.
contact with Holocausto and
Sodomatic. They both live near me
and like beer. And of course get
free copies of our re-releases too
keep under their pints.
Blissfulviolet: Previous Black Crucifixion recordings focused deeply on topics of Satanism
and the Christian church. The last record seemed more dynamic, realistic; yet kept its appeal
of darkness. What inspired this?
and the Christian church. The last record seemed more dynamic, realistic; yet kept its appeal
of darkness. What inspired this?
Fornicator: It is now 2008 and I think that everything there is to say about Satan or any
church has been manifested in many enough songs. I don’t have anything to write about that
just for the sake of it, as I’m not in Slayer and don’t have to pay my bills with music. We
nowadays write about things that have more relevance in our lives, which is not about bills
either.
church has been manifested in many enough songs. I don’t have anything to write about that
just for the sake of it, as I’m not in Slayer and don’t have to pay my bills with music. We
nowadays write about things that have more relevance in our lives, which is not about bills
either.
Blissfulviolet: Is it true that Black Crucifixion only performed live once back in 91’ alongside
Beherit and Impaled Nazarene. What thoughts come to mind when you think of this occasion
and how was the live experience for the band?
Beherit and Impaled Nazarene. What thoughts come to mind when you think of this occasion
and how was the live experience for the band?
Fornicator: That was our only proper gig. On the new Promethean Gift special edition
(originally recorded in 1992) there is a live track from 1993 as well, get it from Paragon
Records. The live experience was new at the time, my first ever. We are going to put out the
live tape as it was professionally recorded. It sounds good and raw, awfully brutal stuff.
(originally recorded in 1992) there is a live track from 1993 as well, get it from Paragon
Records. The live experience was new at the time, my first ever. We are going to put out the
live tape as it was professionally recorded. It sounds good and raw, awfully brutal stuff.
Blissfulviolet: Does Black Crucifixion plan on performing live in the near future?
Fornicator: We have no specific plans to tour but playing a few gigs in the states would be
cool. Contact Jim Mroz at Paragon Records for that.
cool. Contact Jim Mroz at Paragon Records for that.
Blissfulviolet: With technology always on the rise and the internet, bands now have many
new ways to promote themselves; something that was not available when Black
Crucifixion first started. I noticed that Black Crucifixion has an official website, do you currently
run it and has it helped spread the word on your music?
new ways to promote themselves; something that was not available when Black
Crucifixion first started. I noticed that Black Crucifixion has an official website, do you currently
run it and has it helped spread the word on your music?
Fornicator: The site is run by our webmaster. We did want to start competing with a modern
flash based web world but created an old school site so that the stuff is out there if somebody
wants to see it. Yes, it is ironic to call it old school as there was not this sort of thing at all in the
old days when sending mail still meant something else all together.
flash based web world but created an old school site so that the stuff is out there if somebody
wants to see it. Yes, it is ironic to call it old school as there was not this sort of thing at all in the
old days when sending mail still meant something else all together.
Blissfulviolet: That’s understandable, I’m pretty sure by now you have heard of the infamous
Myspace community. Were you aware that there is currently a Black Crucifixion Tribute site,
www.myspace.com/blackcrucifixionfinland Would you ever consider making an official Black
Crucifixion myspace site in the near future?
Myspace community. Were you aware that there is currently a Black Crucifixion Tribute site,
www.myspace.com/blackcrucifixionfinland Would you ever consider making an official Black
Crucifixion myspace site in the near future?
Fornicator: I might be a bit too old to really get into the myspace or facebook hype. It is cool
that somebody runs fan sites though.
that somebody runs fan sites though.
Blissfulviolet: So what’s next for Black Crucifixion?
Fornicator: Same old same old. Working on new material, creating a cool design for it and
making it available for dedicated listeners. That is the cool way to make music.
making it available for dedicated listeners. That is the cool way to make music.
Blissfulviolet: Nicely said, do you have any final comments or thoughts that you’d like to
leave us with?
leave us with?
Fornicator: Get Faustian Dream and Promethean Gift from www.paragonrecords.net if you
feel like some Black Crucifixion would do it for you. They are worth your time and dime.
feel like some Black Crucifixion would do it for you. They are worth your time and dime.