Black Metal Banchan - Part 4 - Philippines Addition (Deiphago + Pinoy Snacks + Feng Shui)!!

For this round of the Black Metal Banchan, we're going to take a brief detour to Southeast Asia, wherein floats a collection of islands renowned for their relaxing beaches, beautiful women, and, of course, extremely violent political scene.   Yep, you guessed it!!  The Philippines!

First, we're going to explore the delightful music of a fun Filipino black metal band by the name of Deiphago.   If I'm not mistaken, Deiphago are one of those super brutal "bestial black/death war metal" bands similar to Black Witchery, Blasphemy, etc.   You can usually tell it's one of these bands NOT by the excessive amount of bullets-and-spikes adornments, but rather by the fact that they almost always rock the style of corpsepaint WITHOUT the white.   You don't see Beherit, Blasphemy, or Proclamation running around on stage with any of that white clown paint nonsense on.   Nope, only the black paint (except for Caller of the Storms from Blasphemy, who doesn't wear any at all because because either he's too cool for it and just wears sunglasses, is already black anyway, or maybe all of the above).   Even Archgoat and Black Witchery go without it sometimes!

Just a typical Tuesday night for the ol' Deiphago gang!!

It looks like Deiphago formed in the late 1980s and went under several generic "evil" names before finally settling on Deiphago (or "god-eater", if I'm not mistaken) in 1991.   Anyway, these dudes put out a few (including one accidentally amusing) cassette demos before calling it quits in 1998, and for most bands the story would have just ended there.   However, the band was far from over.   Apparently, Sidapa and Voltaire 666 (the brains behind the operation) relocated to Costa Rica for whatever reason in 2004 and started up the band again!   They decided to not fuck around with cassette demos this time, and immediately started releasing professional material (splits and an LP) before being picked up by Hells Headbangers and thus ascending to trvly kvlt status.  

  Probably wouldn't be my first choice if I had to
pick a creature from the 1st edition Monster Manual to inform the listener
that this music is pure sonic annihilation.  Just look
at that puny fucking knife.  I feel like you'd only get like 100 XP for
slaying one of these things.

Deiphago are frantic, brutal, sloppy, and absolutely do not fuck around with their obliterating wall of Satan-obsessed, blasphemic noise.   However, while Satanik Eon (2006) is pretty crazy, I think their Hells Headbangers debut, Filipino Antichrist (2009), ups the ante in terms of sheer insanity, in no small thanks to Devastator's (from Nicaragua, and of extremely questionable political beliefs) insane, machine gun-like drum torture.   The band just never fucking lets up!  Endless blasts, frantic guitar solos (like something Trey Azagthoth would come up with on PCP), and Voltaire 666's lunatic shouting make this is seriously some of the most intense shit I've ever heard in my life, especially since I'm pretty sure these guys are serious about what they're into.  I don't really know how to review this stuff so far because it's just so ludicrous.   Even the Sarcófago cover, while faithfully executed, is definitely superior (especially since it features real, sloppy-ass warpspeed drums as opposed to the programmed crapola on the original).   Seriously, call me a wimp, but by the end of this album I feel like my brain has been completely fucking fried.   Definitely not recommended listening to these albums back to back if you value your sanity.

The lyrics to the title track pretty much sums it all up:

"From islands of the Southeast
I was born with warrior's blood
A descendant of Detinos
I bring vengeance, chaos and death
Bagobos guide my path
As I go into war

Filipino Antichrist, 2009 vinyl re-release album art.
Now this is more like it!!  Still kind of a shitty knife (sword?) though :(

I am a Filipino Antichrist
To Satan I gave my life
Worship Him with fire and blood
I trample down the heavens
Worship Him with swords and guns
I am warrior in Satan's name
From a a place where the sun dawns
And pours blood of my forefathers
I walk the earth with might and pride
Ready to conquer full of hate
The law of the strong within me
I smite all of Christianity

I am Filipino!
I am Antichrist!"


  

Not content to chill for too long, the band re-recorded and re-arranged their 1993 demo, giving it finally a proper release as an EP early in 2011 before releasing a split (comprised of Discharge and The Exploited covers) with Nuclearhammer later that year.  After this, the band decided to unleash another blitzkrieg of brutality with Satan Alpha Omega (2012).   This time around I must admit the cover art is way better, as they got the immensely-talented Benjamin A. Vierling to do some really whacked-out, Satanic/occult medieval grimoire type stuff.   This time around, these dudes are for real, right?  Is this Deiphago's magnum opus?

Huge improvement over the last album cover.  This
is actually really cool!      

At this point, while from a songwriting perspective there really hasn't been much of an evolution, it's clear that this album does at least have slightly better production standards.  Also, they picked up a new drummer too!  Devastator's out, and is replaced by a mysterious Costa Rican dude by the name of Savnok.   I have no idea where he got this name from (unless it's his real name ha), but a quick Google search brought me to this page.  At this point, I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get a really strong nerd vibe from these guys.   Just watch the fairly awkward interview below... it seems like behind the extremely evil and violent music and imagery, they probably play their fair share of Magic: the Gathering.



Anyway, like I said before, this is album is basically just a newer, improved version of Filipino Antichrist.   Same old story- artillery drums, chaotic warped guitars (to the point where it seems like improv at times), barely audible distorted bass, frantic shouts and screams...obviously, being a band for over 20 years at this point has only made the band more extreme.   If you want, you can actually listen to the entire album for free here.

Which leaves us with the band's latest album, Into the Eye of Satan (2015).   This time around, the dudes have enlisted super-producer/string virtuoso Colin Marston (of Behold the Arctopus, Dysrhythmia, Gorguts, Krallice, and probably a bunch of other stuff) to try and tame the chaos into something that is at-least somewhat half-way listenable.   However, that's not to say that this is more "melodic" or any less crazy than their previous albums, as the typical Deiphago insanity we have grown to love is still there, except it's just a bit easier to tell what's going on due to a much improved mix (I still have no idea what the fuck the bassist is doing though).  While it's true that some of the songs have some slower parts occasionally, we've still got the bizarre solos, the sloppy, blasting drums, the demon-possessed vokillz, etc.   However, the songwriting seems to be a bit more varied, experimental, and, well...psychedelic!  Seriously, it almost has this sort of strange, otherworldly vibe to it...it kind of reminds me of that title of that one Ween song, "Mushroom Festival in Hell".   Maybe Colin Marston got these dudes to finally chill out (at least for a little while) and smoke some weed.   I can see it now- "No, seriously, it will totally help your songwriting!"   If you were on some heavy duty hallucinogens in Hell, this would probably be an appropriate musical expression of that experience.   Bestial black/death war metal gone psychedelic?

Cover art for Into the Eye of Satan.   Pretty cool,
but I can't help but wonder if they intentionally
wanted the "eye of Satan" to resemble a butthole.
I feel like this is what Satan's asshole looks like
after eating a giant bowl of ghost pepper chili.  

Anyway, I guess it's important to mention that Deiphago have come under some controversy recently because allegedly the guitarist, Sidapa, assaulted a woman at one of their shows sometime last year.   I have absolutely no idea want went down exactly, nor do I want to get into that for this post, so while I think it's worth pointing out that this band may be at the very least kind of sketchy, for now I'm just going to focusing on the music.   After all, this post is about FILIPINO METAL, SNACKS, AND HORROR MOVIES, so I don't want to get bogged down with speculation about other shit.

Phew!  Well, after all that, I'll bet you're just dying to find out more about Deiphago!  Don't worry buddy, I've got you covered.   Check out the links below:
Follow Deiphago on Facebook so you can "like" things they have to say:  https://www.facebook.com/666division
Enjoy browsing Deiphago's wacky website: http://deiphago.webs.com/
Check out Deiphago's page on Hells Headbangers' website:  http://deiphago.hellsheadbangers.com/

SNACKS

Aw shit!!  Now it's time for the part of the banchan that's everyone's favorite!!  It's snack time!!  For this installment, Gumiho and I were joined by two mysterious entities, the ones known only as Über Officer and Gwishin, who dared to travel with us on our mayhemic journey to the land that unleashed Deiphago upon the world.    However, while the scenery was excruciatingly beautiful and the beaches torturously relaxing, we did find some time to see what was going on with the Filipino Snack Scene (FSS).   Check it out:

Ni Mang Juan (chik'n skin)


I have no idea what's going on in this commercial.

GUMIHO: (spits it out and makes a face).
ÜBER OFFICER:  What's the name of this again?
WULF:  Chik'n-skin.
ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah, I definitely tasted a lot of SKIN, but not so much chicken.
WULF:  Ooo, scathing.  But chicken skin is good!
ÜBER OFFICER: Yeah, it doesn't taste anything like chicken, just skin.
WULF:  Like human skin?

Ni Mang Juan's Chik'n Skin...too extreme?

ÜBER OFFICER:  Just skin.
WULF:  I like chicken skin! Gwishin, what do you think?
GWISHIN: I just spit it out.
WULF:  Same reaction as Gumiho?
GWISHIN:  It's just salty...
WULF:  Hold on, I'm going to try a little bit more (grabs a handful).
ÜBER OFFICER:  The texture's not bad.
GWISHIN:  It doesn't really have any...texture.
WULF:  I actually think this is really good.  I really like it.
GUMIHO:  Really?
WULF:  Yeah, it tastes like-
UBER OFFICER: Skin.
WULF:  Yeah.  It tastes like roast chicken skin, but...(continues eating)
GUMIHO:  Oh my god, you're going to (finish the whole thing)...!
GWISHIN:  You're going to have diarrhea.
WULF:  I think this is really good.  I don't know how healthy it is, but I would actually eat it all the time.   OK, now, rate it out of 10!  Uber Officer?
ÜBER OFFICER:  So on a scale of 1 to 10...maybe, like, a 2?
GWISHIN:   I'm not going to eat it, so I'll give it a 0.
GUMIHO:  Um...0.
WULF:  I think this is good as fuck.   I'm going to give it an 8.5!

AVERAGE RATING:  2.625

Funky French Fry Snax (sweet cheddar)



WULF:  It tells us that it contains "real potato".
GUMIHO:  It's OK... better than (the Ni Mang Juan Chik'n Skin).
WULF:  What does it taste like?
GUMIHO:  Potato and cheese.
ÜBER OFFICER:  I don't know, I'm not getting any "funky" flavor, but it tastes much better than the Chik'n Skin.  It's got the crunchy texture, but it's "airy", so I like the "airy" taste...
WULF:  Kind of like Postick.
ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah.  Post-dick?  I've never had any post-dick.
WULF:  Oh my God... real mature.
GUMIHO:  But Postick is better, I think.
GWISHIN:  I like the sweet cheddar flavor, but it's too salty.
ÜBER OFFICER:  No, that's the ocean water.  :p

WULF:  OK, I actually don't like it very much.
GWISHIN:  He's (just) going against us!
WULF:  No!  I'm really not trying to!  I'm not trying to be a hipster.  I (just) don't like that powdery taste.
ÜBER OFFICER:  The powder tastes like that mac and cheese mix.
WULF:  Yeah, that's true (everyone else agrees).  But I like (mac and cheese powder) when it's mixed with milk or whatever, I don't like it by itself.
ÜBER OFFICER:  That's why I like it.  It reminds me of mac and cheese.
WULF:  Oh, so you like that?  So it's a big hit!  What do you rate it?
ÜBER OFFICER:   Maybe like a...9?  8.5 or a 9.
GWISHIN:  Wow, that's great!  I'll give (it)... 3.  I don't really (like it), I'm not going to buy it.  It's much better than Chik'n Skin though.
GUMIHO:  5.  Not that good.
WULF:  Yeah, I'm going to give it a 4.
GUMIHO:  I don't like the powder.
WULF:  I don't like that either.  So a 3 or 4 for me.
GUMIHO:  I like powder, but this powder is-
WULF: It's like Postick, but but if you added like uh...some kind of like, sugar, to the macaroni mix-
GWISHIN:  Yeah, it's way sweeter.

AVERAGE RATING:  4.75

Mini Chocolate Pretzels



WULF: OK, so it's got (questionably) racist Native American stereotypes on the cover (of the bag).  Let's try it!  ....So it's pretzels dipped in chocolate, kind of like,,,Flipz?  (Uber Officer), you know Flipz?  Anybody?  (silence) ...You know, the pretzels covered in chocolate??  Flipz!  Back home?!
ÜBER OFFICER:  At home I call them "chocolate-covered pretzels".  (laughs all around)
ÜBER OFFICER:  (finishing the snack) It's like Pocky or Pepero, but the chocolate's better.
GWISHIN:  It has a better flavor.

GUMIHO:  It's good.  Um...what can I say?  (It tastes like) Nutella and a snack...
WULF:  So (it just tastes like) chocolate?  Nutella?
GUMIHO:  Hmm...just chocolate.  Right.
ÜBER OFFICER:  I'm kind of mixing the cheese powder with the chocolate-
GWISHIN:  Sounds disgusting.
WULF:  Whoa!  OK, could be a secret combination (Uber Officer) has discovered.
GUMIHO:  I'll give it...8.
GWISHIN:  This is like...sweet plus salty.
WULF:  I really like that combo.
GWISHIN:  I love that combo.
WULF:  But it's gotta be done in the right way, though.  Like, the other snack wasn't that good, but-
GWISHIN:  But this is good!
WULF:  I really like that style too.
ÜBER OFFICER:  But (this) is more of a dessert.  You have to be in the mood for (this snack), right?
WULF:  ...Yeah, I think this is really tasty, but I think the only problem is that it does not have a strong aftertaste.  It kind of hits you with the one-two punch and then there's not that much that really lingers after.  It just kind of makes you want to eat more.  Which is not really a big deal, but when you're out (of the snack) you're kind of sad.  ...but yeah, this is a solid snack!  I'm going to give it an 8.  Highly recommended.
ÜBER OFFICER:  I'll give it an 8 also.
GWISHIN:  8.
GUMIHO:  8.

AVERAGE RATING:  8

Whattatops



WULF:  Is there only one in there?
GUMIHO:  Yes...
WULF:  I think you're supposed to bite into it, because there's chocolate in the middle.  Let me try.
GWISHIN:  Is it good?
ÜBER OFFICER:  It's not bad.
WULF:  This is kind of like choco pie.
GUMIHO:  Mmm.  Ah!  Choco pie!
ÜBER OFFICER:  Choco pie's better.
GUMIHO:  Ah yeah, right.  But (they) taste (similar).
WULF:  I think we're (all) missing a crucial component, which is that middle part...you're not supposed to eat it like (how we're eating it now, which is divided up between 4 people).
GUMIHO:  (It's) pretty good.
WULF:  The middle part's the weakest part, actually.

It looks pretty good, but yeah...it was kind of shitty :(

ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah, I didn't like the texture.  It's kind of (inaudible).
WULF:  Yeah, it started off strong but... (it's) kind of a disappointment.   ...This is kind of a basic...what's it called?   Little Debbie's?
ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah, it's like a Little Debbie's.   But Little Debbie's tastes a little better.
WULF:  It's kind of like a Little Debbie's cheap dessert snack kind of thing...(a) chocolate muffin with sprinkles on top...with a weird chocolate middle spongy...
GWISHIN:  It's like salty and sweet mixed (with) salsa, but...it's not good.  Wow!  It's horrible!
ÜBER OFFICER:  I didn't like it.  If you want a dessert, it doesn't really satisfy you.  I give it about...a 3...3-plus.
WULF:  3.5?
ÜBER OFFICER:  3.5 I guess.
GWISHIN:  1.   Horrible.
GUMIHO:  Mmm...8!
WULF:  Whoa, Gumiho's the hipster!
GUMIHO:  Yeah, I like it!
WULF:  I am going to give it a 4...it started off strong, but that middle part I didn't really like that much.  So, yeah...too bad.  Sorry!

AVERAGE RATING:  4.125

Pee Wee (spicy chili)



GWISHIN:  Oh, spicy!
ÜBER OFFICER:  Are these pork rinds?  Oh, I like the spice!
WULF:  OK, hold on!  (starts eating)  Thoughts?  (Über Officer), go!
ÜBER OFFICER:  I like the spice, (but) the texture is not as good as the (Funky French Fry Snax), so... it's a mixture of "it tastes good" with-
WULF:  Does the stink come from vinegar, you think?
GWISHIN:  Yeah.
ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah.  The taste isn't horrible, but I wouldn't eat it (normally).  The experience is not pleasant.  
GWISHIN:  I don't think this is a snack.  It's more like banchan.  You have to eat it with rice.
WULF:  Yeah...you think it would go well with rice?
GWISHIN:  It's...too strong (of a) flavor.
WULF:  Yeah...yeah.  OK.  Gumiho, what do you think?
GUMIHO:  I like this one.   I wish it was less salty, though.  
WULF:  Too salty?
GWISHIN:  You could eat it with rice.
WULF:  I think this is the best snack so far.

Bonus points for the cool Super Mario rip-off mascot.  I guess
that's supposed to be Pee Wee maybe?

GUMIHO:  Me too.
WULF:  It's absolutely delicious.  
ÜBER OFFICER:  The flavor is good, yeah.
WULF:  I like the really strong taste.  It's fairly spicy, it's got a kick.  
GUMIHO:  It's not that spicy.
WULF:  Well it's not THAT spicy, but it's spicy enough.
GUMIHO:  Not for me.
WULF:  OK, Gumiho is trying to be metal.  (in a grim black metal voice) IT'S NOT SPICY ENOUGH FOR ME.  It's got kind of a vinegary, spicy, little bit salty taste.  It's like shrimp cracker kind of thing.   According to the package-
GWISHIN:  It's shrimp?
WULF:  According to the package it's...cassava starch, whatever the hell that is... coconut oil, sugar, iodized salt, MSG-
GUMIHO:  MSG!!
WULF:  Cassava starch...hold on.   Ah, wheat flour, it's just wheat (I think this is wrong).
ÜBER OFFICER:  (probably getting really bored at this point)...Are we still recording?
WULF:  Yeah.  I think this is a killer snack.  I think it's awesome.  Gwishin, what do you give it?
GWISHIN:  5.  
ÜBER OFFICER:  I'd give it about a...what was the (inaudible)? 
GUMIHO:  Potato?
ÜBER OFFICER:  I'd give it about an 8.5.
WULF:  Wow, you really liked it!
ÜBER OFFICER:  The flavor is good.  But, you know...
GWISHIN:  Too strong.
ÜBER OFFICER:  No...just...the smell?  You know, you have to make a choice.  You're either going to eat that snack, or you're going to be able to talk to that girl at the party.
WULF:  (laughs) Haha yeah, those are tough life choices we face on a daily basis, as humans.
ÜBER OFFICER:  You've got to make a decision.  You're going to eat this stinky snack, or you're going to talk to the girl.
WULF:  I'd take the snack.  (Gumiho)?
GUMIHO:  8.5.
WULF:  8.5?  You really liked it!  I'm going to give a 9.  I think it's killer.  Anyway, in the meantime, I'm going to finish (this) one, then I'm going to finish the rest of the chicken crackling.
GUMIHO:  That's gross.

AVERAGE RATING:  7.75

Breadstix (cheese)




WULF: OK, so we're at the airport now and Gumiho and I are eating Breadstix Cheese by Nissin (however, I was mistaken, as this snack is actually made by Monde Nissin, a Filipino-based company not affiliated with the Nissin Foods corporation from Japan, but it still says Nissin on the package so I guess that's why I was confused).  It says at the bottom, "new look, same yummy taste!"  So, anyway, we're eating them.  (Gumiho), what do you think?
GUMIHO:  Um...it tastes really good, and I think it's for kids.  (It has a) rich cheese taste. which I really like.  
WULF:  (Uber Officer), what do you think?
ÜBER OFFICER:  I like the crunchy texture, like a breadstick, and the mild, cheesy flavor.  
WULF:  Yeah, you know, that's good.  That's very interesting that you said "breadstick", because I was kind of looking for a word...
ÜBER OFFICER:  It's called "breadstix" though. (laughs)
WULF:  Shit.  You got me.  OK, well anyway, I like that it tastes like a breadstick, but it's not overpowered by the cheese.  It's not too strong.  It's not like a Cheez-It.  At first you bite into it, and it's kind of a "bread-y" taste, almost kind of like a wafer-kind of a taste, or like an animal cracker, kind of chalky taste, but inside is a very subtle cheese taste that's really nice.  Not too strong, not too salty.  It's a delicious snack.  
GWISHIN:  I like it.  It's very soft, like, buttery...it says "cheese" on the cover, but I can't really taste cheese.  
WULF:  Well, I think the cheese taste is there but you can't taste it at first.  It's a subtle cheese aftertaste.  

Kind of a boring presentation, but really tasty!!

GWISHIN:  I can taste more butter than cheese. 
WULF:  Yeah, I think you're right.  Maybe more butter than cheese.  
GWISHIN:  But they should change the name from "breadstix" to "butter".  
WULF:  To just "butter"?  Not even "breadstix"?
GWISHIN:  No, "Breadstix Butter"!
WULF:  "Breadstix Butter".
GWISHIN:  Not "Breadstix Cheese".
WULF:  Yeah, that would maybe be better.  Or would it be "butter"?  (blahhhh)  OK, any final thoughts, (Gumiho)?  What do you give it out of 10?
GUMIHO:  Mmm...they have some iron here.
GWISHIN:  Iron! (laughs)
WULF:  That's good to know.  In case you're iron-deficient, look for Breadstix Cheese.
GUMIHO:  It contains some protein here.
WULF:  You don't have to read the ingredients list!  Out of 10, what do you give it?
GWISHIN:  I really liked it.
GUMIHO:  9?
WULF:  Wow!
GUMIHO:  9.5!
WULF:  Hoooooly shit!
GWISHIN:  A 9.
ÜBER OFFICER:  I thought it was pretty good.  Maybe like a 9, yeah.
WULF:  OK, a 9 is like "knock your socks off!"  "Pretty good" is like a 7.
ÜBER OFFICER:  Yeah, it's a pretty good 9.
WULF:  Well, I'm just going to say...Uber Officer is only being like that because he's sick.
GWISHIN:  No, this is the best Filipino snack ever.

ÜBER OFFICER:  It is good, yeah.
WULF:  Is it better than Chik'n Skin?
GWISHIN:  I hated that.
UBER OFFICER:  Oh, yeah!
WULF:  Is it better than-
ÜBER OFFICER:  It's better than all the ones we've tried so far.
WULF:  Is it better than Pee Wee's Chili?!
UBER OFFICER:  Yeah.
WULF:  OK, well anyway, I'm going to give this snack an 8.5, I think it's very good.  I think a slight improvement would be breadsticks, cheese, and jalapeno.  I think that would be really good.
GUMIHO:  Nooooo.
WULF:  Well, you guys are idiots.  Or it would be "Breadstix Spicy Nachos", I think that would be really good, too.  It needs a little bit of a kick, I think, to it.
ÜBER OFFICER:  It's pretty addicting.
WULF:  (Gumiho and Gwishin think this is a bad idea)  Well, it would be nice to have the option.  Maybe we should write them and tell them that they should make a "Breadstix Spicy Nacho Cheese" option.   Anything else?
GUMIHO:  Try it in the Philippines!

AVERAGE RATING: 9

MOVIE: FENG SHUI



While this isn't an amazing movie, it's kind of interesting from a cultural perspective.   I have no idea if this is actually an accurate representation of the average Filipino when it comes to superstitions, but I've noticed that throughout this movie there is a lot of talk about luck, demons, Christian and "Eastern" mysticism, cursed objects, etc., but with very little in the way of skepticism or anyone questioning the supernatural events that transpire throughout the film.   I'm also not sure if this was intentional on the part of the filmmakers themselves, and even though I may have happened to be in the Philippines recently, I'm definitely not an expert on the Pinoy cultural attitudes about this type of stuff.

No, this is not a lost Alejandro Jodorowsky
masterpiece.   

Anyway, the story is about an affluent family that lives in the suburbs and the mom (Kris Aquino, by far the best of the main actors in this film) ends up getting ahold of a bagua mirror.   While she initially experiences a bunch of good luck, a bad shit starts happening to her and the people around her.   In addition, weird supernatural wackiness starts happening like ghosts/zombies popping up out of nowhere, people start dying in ways that relate to their Chinese zodiac sign, you get the picture.   There's also a bunch of family drama about infidelity, the awkward position of having to choose between your mistress and your family, etc...basically, the kind of crapola you have to deal with on a daily basis if you're living in Manila.

Anyway, the highlight of the movie for me I'd say is actually at near the end of the movie, which involves a woman getting blasted with a shotgun.  Now, I know that sounds horrible for me to say, and the scene I'm assuming is supposed to be shocking and violent, but...the problem is that when the woman is shot, she literally flies back like 20 feet in the air, which caused me to burst out laughing and re-watch about 27 times.  It only made it worse when it happened again, but this time to a man, and he flies absurdly in the air as well which unfortunately reduces the "harrowing" atmosphere it seems like they're going for in this scene.

According to this source (the final
authority on anything having to do
with ancient Chinese astrology, if you
ask me), if I was a character in this movie
the image above would be the last thing
I would ever see (born in '86)!!

I'd also like to mention that parts of soundtrack for whatever reason kind of remind me of a cross between "The Return" (off of Ancient Rites' Dim Carcosa (2001), one of the first metal albums I ever ordered and metal bands I got into!) and the OST to The Room (2003).   Some parts wouldn't even make bad dungeon synth if they were reworked a bit!

So in closing...would I recommend this movie?  Not really, although it isn't a bad film!  It's got a few "scary" moments and some unusual twists and story developments, but it's not exactly essential viewing.   All in all, I'd say if you got together some friends to watch this film along with some Pinoy snacks (see above) and a bunch of Red Horse (San Miguel is for posers), I'd say you're in a fun time!   I hear there's a sequel too, but I can't vouch for its quality.   I would have watched it and reviewed it for this entry, but at this point I feel like this is long enough and I was just ready to get it over with.

Till next time!!

Do you want MORE Black Metal Banchan??  Check out our previous entries in the series below:
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3

Interview with Bestial Desekrator of Sexual Fornications and Goetic Ritual of Nocturnal Damnation!!

Interview conducted via email in August, 2014.   

Thanks to Gumiho (구미호) for the translation from Korean to English.

It took fucking forever to get this interview done, which was entirely my fault.   Anyway, there's been a few updates since this interview took place- at the time of this writing, Goatphomet is on hold since earlier this year, and Nocturnal Damnation has acquired a new member, Patiwat (Zygoatsis, Masochist), a well-known figure in the Thai underground black/death metal scene.   Also, Nocturnal Damnation released a split with Goatchrist666, "A Domination of Tyrant's Necro-sodomy", earlier this year through Inhuman Assault Productions.

Listen and support Nocturnal Damnation's music: https://nocturnaldamnation.bandcamp.com/

Keep updated about Nocturnal Damnation's music:  https://www.facebook.com/OfficialNocturnalDamnation/

Check out Nocturnal Damnation's official website:  http://goatwar.egloos.com/

WULF:  It seems like you're in two bands right now, Nocturnal Damnation and Goatphomet.   Tell us a bit about these bands.   Also, why did you change the name of your old band, Adokhsiny, to Goatphomet?   And what does "Adokhsiny" mean, exactly?

Bestial Desekrator

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:  Hails (Wulf)! It is a pleasure to do this interview with you.   Simply saying, Nocturnal Damnation and Goatphomet are Black/Death Metal bands, but stylistically both bands are quite different.   Nocturnal Damnation is bestial black/death metal influenced by Blasphemy, Black Witchery, Sarcofago, Beherit (old), Goatpenis, Naked Whipper, and Bestial Warlust, and Goatphomet plays ritualistic black/death similar to Goatlord, Archgoat, Teitanblood, Nocturnal Blood, Void Medication Cult, Sperm of Antichrist, Embrace of Thorns.   The reason why I changed Adokhsiny's band name to Goatphomet is because I wanted the name to be more black/death metal-sounding.   I thought about it a lot, and it just wasn't the style that I wanted even though I wanted to play black/death metal when I reformed Adokhsiny.   As for the name, Adokhsiny means "Ancient Korean ghost name" (edit:  I still don't know what he's talking about here)!

Patiwat

WULF:  On all of Nocturnal Damnation's records, the instruments are played by Infernal Saviour of Nuclear Onslaught and Warmageddon, from Spain.   How did you meet this guy, and why did you decide to collaborate with him?   As for Goatphomet, it looks like you're in that band with fellow members Nuclear Vaginaliax and Rotten Clitorias Vengeance and H. Goatkommander.   Are these current members Korean as well?   The reason why I ask is because the former members of Adokhsiny were originally Koreans, but eventually the Korean members left and you were joined by members from other countries (such as Devoured and Tormentized from Malaysia, and Obispo from The Phillipines).   How did you meet these guys?   Wasn't it difficult to write music with members in different countries?  

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:  I remember that I knew about Infernal Saviour coincidentally.   At that time I ran an underground label that he wanted to release his album through, and I thought this was a good idea.   So I released two of his albums, and then we started to talk about many things.   I asked him to help me with Nocturnal Damnation, and he agreed.   That's how we started recording together.   So I think that the reason we worked together is because we wanted to help each other, but now he's not in the band.   Honestly, I don't want to talk about Infernal Saviour because he's not a member anymore.   On the internet, there's a lot of bad gossip or rumors about me and my band, so I don't want to talk about him anymore.   As for Nuclear Vaginaliax and Rotten Clitorias Vengeance, he's Korean, and H. Goatkommander is a member of the Peruvian black/thrash metal band Hell Torment.   He helped me as a session musician on Goatphomet's demo.   As I told you, knowing about friends from other countries is because I ran an underground label, so I helped them with the releases of their albums.   I wasted a few years seeking band members in Korea, so I gave up having Korean members.   This is one of the reasons why I work with foreigners.   There is some inconvenience working on music this way in Korea but I'm used to it by now, so it's not that hard for me.

WULF:   You've said before that you don't really associate with the rest of the bands in the Korean metal scene.   Why?   Are there any worthwhile bands that you DO associate with or recommend checking out?   Also, since the Korean metal scene is so bad, where you like to be instead?

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:   I used to hang out with Korean bands around 2002-2003, when I was younger.   I was just beginning to play music.   Honestly, I still haven't met people or bands here that suit my musical tastes.   There are so many trendy bands in Korea, and they just aren't my style, so it's hard to hang out with Korean bands for me.   But also, I don't have much interest in this kind of music, such as metalcore, melodic death, post-thrash, slam, brutal death, melodic black metal, etc.   So I don't feel any necessity to check out these kinds of Korean metal bands.   Sometimes I check out new Korean bands, but they're usually just metalcore or melodic death, or it's just news about new music by (popular Korean metal bands such as) Sahon, Oathean, Silent Eye, Method, etc., so I don't have much interest in this.   But if there's a really good black/death metal band with an underground aesthetic, then I'd love to support them.   But I'm afraid that I haven't seen that kind of band yet (Kalpa is/wasgood, even though they're a different style from my music, but I still feel like I'd like to listen to them if they released a new album).   Honestly, I've always thought that I'd rather work on music or tour in Germany, Italy, USA, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, etc. than in Korea.   

WULF:  Obviously, you use dark and violent imagery in your music and artwork.   How much of a role does Satanism or a belief in the occult play in your everyday life?   Is there a specific philosophy or spiritual belief system you adhere to?   At what point in your life did you begin to explore "the dark side of life" (the Left Hand Path).   Finally, is there any literature of other non-musical art that you find particularly meaningful or influential?

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:  Well... I'm actually an atheist! I don't believe in Satan but when I write lyrics I'm influenced by Satanism, occultism, demonology... It's a musical theme rather than my personal life philosophy.   I'm not a philosopher so it's not easy to explain about specific philosophies, but I adhere to the philosophies of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.   Actually my life has not been smooth, and I haven't been happy since my early school days.   So because I was always alone I began to search for extreme metal music.   I like books or movies about Satanism, the occult, and they inspire me (as well as Johan Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust", Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche's "Also Sprach Zarathustra", "Anti-Christ" and occult horror films such as "Alucarda", "The Devils", "The Exorcist", "The Devil's Rain", "Escalofrio (Satan's Blood)".... and plus "Devils Inside Her"(1977 Adult horror, hahaha).   I want to read books about demonology but it's hard to find these books in Korean, so I just do research and read about this on the internet even though it's still hard to understand completely.

WULF: On the other hand, I'm sure you have some guilty pleasures as well in terms of music.   I know you probably have lots of violent, bestial war metal in your record collection, but what is the most embarrassing album you own or enjoy listening to?   For example, I'm a huge fan of Celtic Frost's "Cold Lake", even though it's considered by many to be one of the worst metal albums of all time.

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:  Well, I've already sold the albums that I think are the worst, so I don't have any records that are embarrassing in my collection.   But some albums made me disappointed or embarrassed.   I'm a huge fan of Morbid Angel but "Illud Divinum Insanus" record was one of the worst albums so I was really embarrassed, but on the other hand it's kind of fun/funny.   Their earlier albums and demos are classics, but their recently albums are really disappointing, so I don't listen to them anymore.   I think the it's better to listen to earlier stuff like German thrash legends Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, and Celtic Frost, too.   It's better for me to listen to the records that I have or bestial black/death, black/thrash, old school death/thrash, or NWOBHM, rather than listening to theerrible albums.

WULF:  The West is terrified of North Korea.  While it's obvious that most South Koreans don't give much of a shit about North Korea and all of their empty threats and war-mongering, no one can deny that the North Korean people are pretty isolated from the rest of the world.   I would assume that most Western music is forbidden, especially something as volatile as heavy metal...similar to how things were for the Eastern Bloc countries dominated by the Soviet Union in the 1980's.   My question is, if you had the chance to perform a live show there, would you do it?   If so, how do you think the people would react to your music?   I know this is completely unrealistic, but I think it's an interesting scenario to think about.

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL: It's a fun question, but I don't like to talk about politics.   It's true that Koreans don't care and North Korea bans Western music, but I'm not interested in North Korea and usually it's about the politics.   So even if there was a chance to perform in North Korea, I'm not that interested.   Also, I think the people in North Korea wouldn't react well.   I'd rather just kick that pig Kim Jong-un's ass instead, that would be more fun hahaha.

WULF:  What are your plans for the future of your bands?   Any new releases coming up?   What about live performances?   What do you hope to accomplish with your bands?

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL:  Currently Nocturnal Damnation is working on new songs with a new member.  I'm planning on releasing a split 7" and an EP, but I haven't found a label yet.   Goatphomet is planning to work on new music this fall or winter, but I'm not sure.   I really want to perform live, but I can't because I don't have any members here to play with.   If I can, I'd rather perform Southeast Asia or Europe than South Korea.   And I want to show that Nocturnal Damnation and Goatphomet are not just studio-only bands (I don't like studio, one-man bands!!!!).

WULF:  That's all the questions I have.   Any final comments are yours...

BESTIAL DESEKRATOR OF SEXUAL FORNICATIONS AND GOETIC RITUAL: Hail the Goat!!!   Death to false!!!