INTERVIEW: Baxaxaxa

German Black Metal fiends BAXAXAXA recently announced their debut full length album is set for release via The Sinister Flame (read my review here). Although active since the 90’s, their journey has been shrouded in mystery and lengths of quietness until in recent years they unleashed a demo and 7″ via Iron Bonehead. Now that their debut LP opus is announced, it seemed a fitting time to discuss their craft!

1. Let us begin by talking about your influences, to me it is clear that you favour the more mysterious bands such as Mortuary Drape, Mystifier, Root, Tormentor and the like. There is some likeness to fellow German bands and Scandinavian bands, but a lot of your sound feels older and more veiled. Would you agree with this? If so perhaps you could shed some light on the music and any other things that forged your sound.

Well, we agree of course as far as you say that we are influenced by old bands. And people say that they detect some Mortuary Drape and Root in our sound. Don‘t get me wrong: We like those bands. But our influences were especially old Samael, Bathory, Sodom and Hellhammer.

2. The obvious thing that may confuse new fans of your music is that you formed back in 1992 to unleash a demo before taking a decade off from releasing music until your split with UNGOD whom you share an almost identical lineup with (more on that later). What was the reason for such a sporadic release schedule? Did the music require this much time to take form or perhaps other things were getting in the way of creativity?

First of all: The Split with Ungod is not a proper release. It is just a vinyl version of the „Hellfire“ demo by Baxaxaxa and the „Magicus Tallis Damnatio“ Demo by Ungod. So to be correct there was no Baxaxaxa release from 1992 to 2019.
You see: Baxaxaxa is not just music to us. It is more like a possession. We just decided to record new music because we felt inspired and the songs came to us. This means that if the inspiration leaves us, we will not record anything new. We don‘t feel like something got in our way. Baxaxaxa is more like a hidden path to our souls that is just open once in a while and that we can take as an alternative route in our lives.

3. Now in the previous question I mentioned UNGOD, what is the difference between having these bands? Both have a few similarities at least sonically, though perhaps BAXAXAXA feels older and more mystical than the more straightforward Black Metal of UNGOD. Perhps the spirituality is completely different, so here is an opportunity to explain to us once and for all the importance of each.

Ungod and Baxaxaxa are like the two sides of a coin. Ungod is in fact less mystical than Baxaxaxa. But Ungod is a part of our hearts like Baxaxaxa is. Except for the different line up and parts of the music, both bands are the same to us.

4. Back to this interview, BAXAXAXA, your debut full length album “Catacomb Cult” is due out this year via The Sinister Flame. In recent years Iron Bonehead released a really cool demo and an even better 7” (“Devoted To HIM”) which showcase marvellously that something special was due. What can fans expect from your LP? I have heard, and reviewed, this superb effort but I think it is important the band can say in their own words what to expect rather than just my opinions.

Well, first of all: Thanx for your words. And great that you like the new demo and the EP. I think if you like the „The old Evil“ demo and the „Devoted to HIM“ 7“ you will not be disappointed. The album is mystical and evil just like all Baxaxaxa releases. Perhaps it shows more different aspects of our sound since there are 8 songs on it and we were able to experiment a little bit. But don’t mistake the word „experiment“ with „adding modern influences“. The „Catacomb Cult“ album is in no way modern. I would say: Expect an old school Black Metal album. Mystical and evil.

5. Are you totally satisfied with “Catacomb Cult” and how it was executed? The artwork and production are clearly following the same aesthetic while the music continues very much in the vein of its predecessors, while taking things further into the darkness. Is there anything you believe could have been better or is this your magnum opus?

I don‘t know what will happen in the future. So I don‘t know if we could release a better album. What I can tell is that „Catacomb Cult“ is the best Baxaxaxa release we can do now. We are very satisfied in every way. From the music to the artwork and the reactions to it so far.

6. Unlike many of your peers, you actually perform live which is excellent. Sadly I have not been able to catch you live at the time of writing this, so please share some cool live experiences you have had and tell us what we could expect from your live rites. Do you plan to take the touring further afield or stick to more exclusive performances?

I am not a friend of calling a Black Metal show a „Live Ritual“. I think Blasphemy started to call it that way. Today some bands are building up a haunted house on stage so that you got the feeling that you are on a fairground. Than they call this a „ritual“. In fact it is nothing more than the gun salutes at an AC/DC concert. Just a show and nothing else. With Baxaxaxa we will never be like that. You can watch some of our shows in entire length on YouTube. There is nothing that distracts you from our music. Just some short statements that represent our philosophy like the ripping of a bible or the using of an upside down cross. A Baxaxaxa show is like our music. Mystical and old school without any cheap show effects and tricks.

7. Finally, I would find it very interesting to hear from such a cult band who you believe is worthy in todays underground? Which bands truly carry the black flame and honour what is needed?

Well, who are we to tell anybody something about today’s underground Metal? We live in the past as far as music is concerned.