Most bands throughout their career seem to follow a certain pattern with their music. They surface in the scene, shift things around throughout their careers, try new things and fade away. It's a pretty simple procedure, with few bands ever really making and effort to try and start over again with their sound and style. But some bands make an effort to re-invent themselves, not just for a certain album theme or concept, but an all-encompassing change to help bring a renewed life, if you will, to the fold. Australian metal regime Destroyer666 -- made up of vocalist/guitarist K.K. Warslut, guitarist Shrapnel, bassist S. Bezerker and drummer Deceiver -- are one of those bands that have made an effort to get the ball rolling once again. They have made an effort to break away from any set genre and explore music how D666 wants to. Trends don't stick to these Aussies. Chronicles of Chaos hooked up with metal avenger K.K. Warslut to discuss their new album for Season of Mist, tiled _Phoenix Rising_ (how fitting, eh?), the metal scene and tour plans for 2001. He even offered up some sightseeing ideas, as well. Here is how it all unfolded...

CoC: I personally think that this is your best work to date. It is quite easy to see the growth of the band since your inception up to _Phoenix Rising_. Why do you think D666 sounds this way?

K.K. Warslut: Evolution, I'd say. _Phoenix_ is a very experimental album for Destroyer666. We wanted to break away from genres. D666 will never be experimental to the extent of many bands out there, but nonetheless I've always felt a great need to distance myself from others. That shows in D666, despite in many ways being a traditional metal band. We don't fit neatly into any one specific genre. The worst genre for me, of course, was the so-called "retro" genre. In fact, now that we have experimented a little and stirred the pot, D666 shall resume the course taken earlier and proceed stronger than ever. The next album is composed as we speak.

CoC: What was the reasoning for the album title? Has the band been reborn, as that is usually taken from the idea of a phoenix rising?

KKW: Yes, I think that's the case in many ways. We now have our strongest line-up ever, with all members contributing to the wall of sound: S. Bezerker on bass and Erik on drums. We played New Year's Eve 2001 and it seemed unanimous that this was our strongest line-up ever. The phoenix symbol is just another form of the same philosophy that is inherent in D666. The idea of eternal recurrence. It's a philosophy necessary in order to start deprogramming and destroying the world.

CoC: How do you think you guys hold up to the other bands playing black metal inspired music in North America or Europe? Do you really care or follow what other bands are doing?

KKW: I only follow bands I'm interested in. There's far too much out there now to even think about keeping up with every release that comes out. Fuck the world, I say.

CoC: Tell me about the Australian metal scene. It seems to me that there is a lot of good acts out there right now, and it always has seemed to be that way. Am I right? What bands do you like?

KKW: Yeah, the Aussie scene is great. Fucking loud and proud. Very traditional. I love it. For me, Aussie metal started with Hobbs' _Angel of Death_ LP from '88, then Mortal Sin, Sadistik Exekution, Disembowelment, Incubus and Slaughter Lord. There's no denying that Australia never produced the amount of bands the US and Europe did, but that is more to do with population than anything, I think. But the bands we did produce were always heavy and there are a few world class gems in there, I think. Some of the best bands to look out for at the moment are Long Voyage Back, Gospel of the Horns, Grenade and Vomitor.

CoC: The production on this new disc is top notch and the playing seems to have been captured in all its might. Was there any new way you went into recording? Do you like studio work?

KKW: We recorded differently this time around. We needed a more sharp, defined sound. The songs demanded a different sound, so we recorded differently than we normally would, which was to record the rhythm tracks live and overdub vocals and leads later.

CoC: Was there certain material omitted from this disc because it didn't suit the flow of things? If so, why were they cut?

KKW: Yeah, that happens a lot. Some just weren't part of the picture, you know? But some of those cut pieces will appear on the next album _Cold Steel for an Iron Age_. This next release will see a mix of _Unchain the Wolves_ and _Phoenix Rising_.

CoC: Why do you think most bands don't last more than a few albums? What has kept D666 alive and going after all of these years?

KKW: Plain and simple: FIRE! Fire has kept me with an up, and 'till now, an inexhaustible thirst for metal and the things you can do with it. The ideas and concepts that come with being part of an underground extreme music scene are large. You know that extreme sounds generate extreme emotions. When that emotion is tempered with discipline, the real war can begin. I think musicians and artists today are simply messengers. That's how I feel, at least, and the magnitude of the message I'm relaying never ceases to inspire and amaze me. It's feeding me. Some would call that SATAN. I'd certainly call it heresy. What you attach to it doesn't bother me. It's that you see it! Hear it! And Believe it! And then act on it.

CoC: Mainstream music seems to have grasped onto a concept that they call heavy metal (Korn, Soulfly, Metallica) -- how do you feel about that?

KKW: I don't feel anything. I turned away along time ago. No one should waste energy on things that are not important.

CoC: What bands inspire or inspired you in the beginning? Do you still listen to those records? Any specific albums?

KKW: My influences for Destroyer666 are everything from Black Sabbath to Burzum onto Destruction and to Beherit. I listen to everything. I guess I've never sat down and thought I want to sound like any one particular band. The only band I want to sound like is Destroyer666. Here's a few of my faves:

Iron Maiden - _Killers_ Black Sabbath - _Mob Rules_ Beherit - _Dawn of Satan's Millenium_ 7" Destruction - _Infernal Overkill_ Celtic Frost - _To Mega Therion_

CoC: You seem to have quite the say in the album material -- in terms of writing and playing. Do you like to have control of the music and where the band is headed? Does it just make it easier to keep things focused?

KKW: I agree that one man will usually have a lot more focus than the group. But that is something that is slowly changing, the next album will see S. Bezerker singing a few songs and maybe even Shrapnel will belt out a few tunes. They are both writing more material than ever, so I think D666 will be an ever-changing beast.

CoC: Has the band ever toured North America or Europe? Hopefully you will one day if you haven't. Any ideas what you want to do should you visit out shores? Any particular landmarks or sightseeing destinations?

KKW: No, we haven't toured anywhere beyond Australia at this stage. 2001 will hopefully see us in the States. Of course I'd love to go see all those friends I'm in contact with over there, but also I'd love to try to see Sandra Good, maybe Lynette Fromm if that were possible. I'd really love to get in safe proximity to your reptiles and other predators before they're gone, I guess, particularly the pumas, bears and of course, wolves. I think I'd like to go tripping out in one of your deserts as well, maybe near the Grand Canyon. Oh, and the fucking old cars? Hell, I love the old US Steel policy, big fucking cool long cars with huge fucking engines. I own a '69 Pontiac Grand Prix 400 at the moment, so I'd really love to get into a left hand drive one. You know? As they were intended. Yes, I do admire the Americans' pursuit of freedom and power through the automobile, up and 'till the early '70s, that is. After which the aesthetics and designs seem to be taken over by fag-arsed poofters. Pontiacs and Harley Davidsons are the horse and coach of our age and every outlaw needs a fast horse, eh? On a more ghoulish note, I'd really love to get to the Plainsfield Cemetery. It's just south of Chicago, I think? I know that it's where Ed Gein was buried next to his mother. I love that tale of that man, a true tragedy of the modern age. Very disturbed. If someone were to do a real life movie of the man, that would be unbelievable! And don't give me that fucking "Silence of the Lambs" movie.

CoC: What makes you want to be a part of the ever-evolving metal scene? Why do you play music? Will it eve come to an end?

KKW: Satisfaction and the pursuit of perfection. Metal is the greatest medium there is for conveying stronger than usual emotions. It speaks loudly to what is known as someone's "heart". With that we can do anything for the silent satanic revolution. Will it ever come to an end? Everything ends someday. I'm hoping to be burned in the fire long before that, though.