We began our communication with the simple question: What is black metal?
“Black metal is an extremist form of metal music with the sole purpose of exalting Satan! It is not about the forests, trolls, Vikings or a Blashyrkh! There is no one sound to black metal; Venom, Mercyful Fate, Hellhammer, the true Mayhem, Darkthrone, Abruptum, Beherit and Blasphemy, they all have different sounds and yet they all play black metal!”

Deiphago make what I would name black metal. Forget about the entire index of romantic…, horror…, unholy…, satanic… etc. categories, and let us stick to the two words. Why did V666 develop his musical taste in the extreme direction, instead of following the mainstream taste of pop and rock, buying releases from artists that sell a lot of albums? He quotes a certain Angelripper.
“This is best summed up in the words of Tom AngelRipper:
“Black Metal is the game I play ‘cause no one showed me the right way. I am a bloody Antichrist, only believe in bad. I spit at the church, Evil I get.”
Our ways are shown by the eye of Satan!”

Deiphago comes from the far East and live now in the far West, at least if we regard Norway as the centre of the Universe. So, what’s there to The Philippines and Costa Rica that made you record and release the sheer brutality named “Filipino Antichrist”? Is Costa Rica as Christian as The Philippines?
“Philippines and Costa Rica are both Christian countries as a result of the Spanish colonization. The brutality is due to our devotion to chaos and Satan! Where we are doesn’t affect us, as we are already part of the chaos!”

Sometimes I think it’s strange that black metal has spawned and spreads from the Western societies mostly. I mean, bands from Thailand, South Africa and elsewhere in the so-called development countries must have way more to oppose against? I suspect that the violent attack that Deiphago after all, is more natural to you than these Nordic melodic walks in the forests? 
“Black metal can come from any part of this planet. All religions have their own Satan and to side with the left hand path is not a game. It must be part of your nucleus. At first, the Norwegian black metal had pure intents on spreading Satan, the problem was when Euronymous died. Every single band in Norway claimed to be black metal and ultimately destroyed the essence of black metal.
To do what we do, is not natural for a band in the Philippines. It is natural for me and Sidapa since we both came from a lineage of an occultist.”

A lot of discussion about who started what has been going on for years. Venom’s “Black Metal” started the nametag perhaps, but it would be interesting to know what/who started the whole thing, seeing it from your point of view? After all, Venom’s music is far from what we consider to be Norwegian Black metal, which again is far from what we consider to be American Black metal, which again is far from what we consider to be French Black metal… and so on…
“Venom influenced numerous bands that would build upon what they have created. Sodom, Hellhammer and Bathory were all directly or indirectly connected to Venom. The Norwegians built upon the music of Bathory while the South American bands like Sarcofago built upon Sodom’s “In the Sign of Evil”. It is an evolving phase and is limitless but comes down to one single point, and that is Satan!”

How do people regard you and your band?
“The people regard us as Satan mongers! Here in Costa Rica, there is a small group that shares our vision but not exactly a scene. We don’t approve a scene as it connotes trendiness and people in it are there for the wrong reasons. We would rather obtain followers scattered all around the planet with a strong allegiance to Satan!”

To play music on stage is a welcomed happening to most of metal bands. Every interviewee says that playing live is a kick and releases a lot of energy, as well as gaining a lot of energy. Now, how great is it to play the same songs all over again? And, why do you actually perform your (inner) visions to an audience that probably doesn’t always understand your message, your ideology and what you aim for? Would it be better to play for 200 that understood your music instead of 500 where perhaps 350 had read about you on Blabbermouth? (Perhaps some just read about you, became curious and went to the concert! What would they understand?)
“To play live is a desecration ritual, to be a part of same minded individuals calling forth Satan! And yes, I would prefer playing only in front of people who understand our message.”

When Deiphago plays live, how does the crowd response to your chaos? I guess it’s not like in Norway, where the crowd just stands there, mostly watching…
“There will always be too sides of crowd response. The ones who get devastated and are left awe struck and the ones that would let the energy in them!”

As said a couple of times, the music is incredibly brutal. And you’ve made room for some effects, such as in the closing of “Storming Chaos”, which is my favourite track on the album. How do V666, Devastator and Sidapa actually work in order to differentiate the songs, yet keeping them within the frame of sheer brutality?
“We have made it a point that each track should stand out on its own. Sidapa composed them in a way that the totally is as destructive as each of its parts.”

There are [almost] as many different sounds as there are bands. However, there are two different strategies. One is the Underground way, which means a distinctive rather thin sound, where atmosphere seems more important than a levelled mastering or a perfect mixing. The other is the top notch sound, where everything is loud and clear and often claimed as being less atmospheric and more sterile. However, what I’m interested in, is the way you approach the sound you desire. Do we speak of numerous hours of testing, recording, mixing and mastering?
“What we envisioned is to release an album recorded in full analogue. There is no digital manipulation of the sound. What comes out of the amp is captured as it is and mixed. More hours are eaten up by mixing and would take a lot of time before we are satisfied with the final result. This is analogue audial torture!”

With song titles such as “Christ Eater” and “Satanic Metal” we’re not speaking about flowers or anything, I suppose. However, on such a short album, and mind you, it couldn’t be much longer, you have even found room for a cover. Why?
“All our releases have a Sarcofago cover. It has become a part of our releases and will always be. This is our homage to the Brazilian black metal gods!”

Reading the short note on “Subliminal Satan”, I can help but wonder what you do when you meet up with your friends? As in, is the music on an artistic outlet or is there more to it than just words? I mean, war, death or vengeance is not about nice family values I suppose…
“I don’t have any friends. I have allies of the same cause and when we meet up it would be an exchange of ideas on how to propagate Satan!”

Being a Filipino Antichrist, is there anything you like about the modern black metal scene at all? Your music holds strong relations to in example Blasphemy, Revenge and Profanatica…, and somehow I can’t really see Deiphago on stage with in example Dimmu Borgir…
“We are allies with Blasphemy, Black Witchery and Profanatica. Deiphago is part of this resurfacing barbaric form of black metal with the aim of reclaiming the essence of true black metal! It is now our time and we strike fiercer than our Norwegian counterparts!”

In “Satanic Metal” it is written that you “…propagate Satan at will until all religion has died…”. So, what is it that you actually do to reduce in example Islam to ashes? You know, those of us who listen to the music are already on the same mission…
“The mission is to get more warriors in the name of Satan through our music to destroy all this so called right hand path religions including Islam!! We spread messages! We are the Charles Mason while the people that we influence are our Richard Ramirez!”

I must say that many black metal bands have had an intro that feels more like walking in the park than envisioning the apocalypse or something. Kudos to you for making something that actually feels more like a soundtrack to Armageddon than how beautiful trees we have in the forest nearby. How did you work with the album to make it a whole unit, rather than just one track followed by another?
“Focus! The output is already determined even when we are still in the compositional stages.”

So, if somebody becomes happy from listening to your music, how wrong is (s)he? I, for one, do not become jolly at all….
“There is only one feeling a listener would get from us, and that is Hate! The closest thing to happiness that could happen is ecstatic, ecstatic to kill and destroy!”

www.deiphago.com
www.myspace.com/deiphago
www.hellsheadbangers.com

Composed by Roy Kristensen