Calvarium’s debut ‘Skull of Golgotha’ is a real strong, hatefilled Satanic Black Metal release which gave them a position in the top of the Finnish Black Metal scene. Reason enough for me to do an interview with Molestor Kadotus. Actually this interview is send by mail some months ago already but due to some delays it took quit some time to get it answered. In this long period of silence between me and Molestor Kadotus, the band already recorded an upcoming mcd which will be out at the end of this year…so that is already something to look forward to. In the meantime you have to do it with ‘Skull of Golgotha’, which is a must for fans of the Black Metal scene and definately a MUST for the fans of the Finnish Satanic Black Metal scene in particular.
Hails Molestor Kadotus, how are you doing?
Hails! Quite okay actually. The greatest thing is that we just finished recording the upcoming MCD assault of Calvarium and it came fucking great!
Can you first of all introduce the band to our readers and reveal your history because Calvarium is still quit unknown to most of our readers?
Calvarium was spawned in the year 2000 as a duo of Lord Sargofagian and Veilroth. They recorded a rehearsal demo with an approach of evil and melancholic, destructive Black Metal. I joined the group a while after that which resulted in the second rehearsal demo. We entered studio in aim to record a professional demo tape when Dynamic Arts got interested of us and we set a deal for a full-length which led to another studio session. The Satanic opus was named ‘Skull of Golgotha’, perfect for the debut of our skull crushing assault. Now we are ready to launch another blasphemy unto this godforsaken earth…
All three members are also playing in other bands so is Calvarium therefor only a side project? And what does Calvarium mean to you?
Yes and no. We are fully in Calvarium although we have our own other bands as well. The term “sideproject” repulses me as it gives the idea of “not so important” or something. Yes, for example Lord Sargofagian mainly concentrates on Baptism but that doesn’t mean that Calvarium would be just a sideproject for him. I guess the “main character” in Calvarium is Veilroth and it is kind of his “main band”.
Calvarium for me is a channel to violate this world with my burning hatred and propaganda. It’s an expression of what I think and how I see/hate things. Unholy force of darkness, folded into Black Metal Art.
What were your influences to start Calvarium both musically and lyrically?
The first rehearsal demo had some Shining influences in it as at that time the debut of Shining had just been released and it kind of started this “wave” of suicidal, doom Black Metal. The influences of Dark Funeral’s ‘Secrets..’ album and Gorgoroth are maybe quite obvious when listening to the full-length although it never was our intention to “copy” those bands etc. Actually it was quite coincidental that it resulted so.
For me lyrically there hasn’t been any “role models”. Of course everything has an effect on everything but the lyrical side is purely conceived of the darkness inside me.
And what er your lyrics about and are they important for you? I really like the song ‘Jumalviha’ but I don’t understand what it is about so can you tell a bit more about this specific song?
My lyrics are all about Satan, darkness, hate, even depression and suicidal feelings, misanthropy.. These quite general subjects when talking of a Black Metal band, but all in a very personal level. HATE is perhaps the key word when talking of my lyrics. Hatred is a very powerful force for me in my everyday life and it pretty much is the center of everything where I now exist.
‘Jumalviha’ is my favourite track too and also lyricwise. The title is translated ‘Godhate’ or ‘Hatred of god’. Hard to translate fluently actually.. But it’s all about how people should reject the light Christ offers and travel the darker path. One should tear existence of Christ inside to choose the stronger way. Cursing god, praising the night and powers of Sathanas. A very strong lyric for me, kind of strong declaration against Christian thoughts.
Now let’s go back in time a bit. There was a 5 track demo recorded which made Dynamic Arts got interested in Calvarium. What can you tell about that demo? Those songs also have been re-mixed to be on the full-length album ‘The Skull of Golgotha’. What’s the story behind that?
Yes this was pretty much answered before.. So the demo we recorded ended up as a part of the full length. It was remixed yes, but because another reason, change of studio.
‘Skull of Golgotha’ is out now. Are you satisfied about the album and what can you tell about the album, studio, producer etc.?
Yes, we are totally satisfied with the album. Although I must admit that it doesn’t sound so good anymore because of the magnificence of the new MCD, hah.
Both studios and the men working there were absolutely great. A lot of madness there, as usual in studios, hah.
How are the reactions from both press and music fans towards ‘Skull of Golgotha’?
Quite varying. Some praise the album very much and then there are some amateurs labelling us as a Dimmu Borgir clone, which is absolutely ABSURD! I mean can these reviewers even tell the difference of for example Cradle of Filth and Veles? There was this one interview, German one, which was all about how we look and sound like Dimmu Borgir and that we listen to it even. I DON’T listen to Dimmu Borgir and if we have ONE part in our whole album with melodic synth (chorus of “Horns of Hate”) that REALLY doesn’t make us Dimmu Borgir. These people should first get their ears off their asses before starting to review music.
Also there has been some very pathetic accusations like from the four-eyed monkey of Barbarian Wrath said in a review of us. I like Barbarian Wrath releases, I do, and I like the style which Barbarian Wrath represents but the guy should concentrate more on bashing the actual music when doing a review than just to judge how the guys look. Maybe he’s too homosexual or something but he really should take another look at the mirror before calling us POSERS.
In all there has been quite a lot people liking our album worldwide. At least judging from our guestbook. It’s of course a good thing although never has been the goal to please the audience.
Is Calvarium a live band and have you played some gigs before already?
No, it hasn’t. And at the current situation it’s impossible to perform live.
How do you guys combine Calvarium with your other bands and can you also tell something about which other bands you’re in?
Combine? Well we don’t combine them much with our other bands. For my other band I’d like to mention Anal Blasphemy, which something totally different than Calvarium. Very dirty and primitive chaotic Black Death Metal Hatred. Two demos are out now and I’m looking for a label..
There are several other projects and bands which I am a part of, several which I maybe will be a part of, but they’re not for my taste to mention here.
It looks like the Finnish Black Metal scene is getting better and stronger with every release, how do you look upon this? Bands like Horna, Impaled Nazarene, Behexen to mention just a few and now also Calvarium all come up with high quality Black Metal albums. Also it is a fact that most Finnish bands definitely have an own identity in comparison to other non-Finnish bands, why do you think this is?
The Finnish scene really is getting stronger after the quit silent time after the era of Beherit, Archgoat, Barathrum etc. Horna was the first to start the “wave” of quality Black Metal with Finnish lyrics and also kind of “second wave” in Finnish Black Metal. Many excellent bands have merged since that.
If I would have to choose one very important band in the Finnish Black Metal scene it would be Behexen which you mentioned. Very strong and Satanic Black Metal the way it should be, one of my all time favourites. Also legions like Baptism, Satanic Warmaster, Musta Surma, Azaghal, Uncreation’s Dawn and several others have really brought Finnish Black Metal the reputation it deserves!
Unfortunately of course with a lot of good Black Metal comes also the shitty wannabes and posers wanting a “piece of the cake” too. To name few are Kadotus, Ondrim, Verivala and countless teen bands.
Finnish Black Metal does have it’s own style, although it varies a lot. There are many Black Metal people outside Finland who fanatically follow the warlike happenings in our small scene and quality Black Metal. I think every country pretty much generates it’s own style in Black Metal.. Due to the old quarrels with Norway and also difference with Swedish Black Metal Finland has made it’s own style. It’s very much in the northern cold way but still differing much from our neighbours.
The mail addresses from both Calvarium and Dynamic Arts Records are the same so that made me think that Dynamic Arts is your own label. Am I right about this? And what is Dynamic Arts for a kind of label because I haven’t heard from them before?
Veilroth works also in Dynamic Arts Records so that’s why the contact address is the same. Dynamic Arts Records is a young label yes and it represents many genres of metal so I’m pretty sure it will stay quite unknown in the Black Metal scene.
What else can we expect in the near future from Calvarium, any upcoming releases or tours?
The magnificent MCD will be released at the end of this year! It’s really worth checking. That’s pretty much the news I can tell now.
Thanks for the interview! Anything else to add to this interview?
Thanks to you also for interesting and professional questions! As a conclusion I’ll send my hails to those appreciating Calvarium’s Black Arts and Finnish Black Metal in general. Praise Hate, PRAISE SATAN!
