Hello Luciferian Rites, thank you for accepting our invitation. First, as you are not so well known here in France, can you introduce yourself for our readers?

Abomination: Greetings to all the readers and "THE PAST IS ALIVE" zine writers and designers. We are Luciferian Rites from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. An honor and a pleasure to be part of this first edition of the zine and promote our music to another continent, as well as our latest album titled "When the Light Dies" under the label Moribund Cult Records USA, and demonstrate some of the new generation of Mexican Black Metal. We are originally from a small town on the border that divides Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, Texas, our band is formed by four members:

Count Shadows: Voice

Abomination: Guitar

Serpentor: Bass

XIII: Drums

In this years the band has changed markedly in our lineup, losing one member who initiated the project, but not for that the project dies. The band began in late 2006, we are a project that has never stopped the rehearsal, created new songs as well as seeking and receiving members which can be a great contribution and element to the band, in this interview will speak as clearly and humanely possible to make us understand.

You said that your primary influences are Behexen, Sargeist, Satanic Warmaster, Noenum, Horna, etc. and the least we can say is that it sounds really close to! What does this scene means for you? What are your personal classic in that scene and why?
 
To be honest we never deny that the Finnish Black Metal scene has been what has most inspired us and liked so far since the band started, and these bands especially has smack us hit in the face and say “this style is cold, dark and hateful”. For us it meant a new style, something totally different from the other bands of the genre, which reached to the soul in a piercing, penetrating to the heart sound and infests our ears with a black metal which we believe is the best styles in the Mexican Black Metal (but this is only our opinion), and with this thought, this was what the band needed a cold and raw sound, which marked the beginnings of the band. If we talk about a disk or classic band that we liked and we always have in our favorite one you could say they are:

• Horna - Envaatnags Eflos Solf Esgantaavne

• Noenum - Black Esoteric Evangelium

• Behexen – By the Blessing of Satan

• Sargeist - Satanic Black Devotion

• Baptism - Moribid Wings Shatanas

• Satanic Warmaster – Carelian Satanist Madness

These albums are filled with a somber feeling, full of hate, anger, but with a primitive sound that only a heartbreaking guitar and drums with a rhythmic sound can achieve. The truth is we have a huge appreciation and above all, respect for the Mexican Black Metal scene in general, I say at least by Mr. Count Shadow and me, Abomination. We also stress that for us the style of Finnish Black Metal is one of the best among several others that we like.

Beside Finland, are you interested into other Black Metal scene? What are the album who slaps you in the face lately?

Of course we like other Black Metal scene, one of the styles attracts us most is the French, German, Japanese and Swedish, each of these countries have great bands that are for us a source of inspiration, each of these countries and we do not mean to stereotype or anything of that kind, each of these named countries carries a very noticeable style, but really there are bands that have a very particular sound to others, and those bands, and those songs, They are what lead us to say "that's incredible." An example is the Japanese Black Metal band, Arkha Sva, with a single, cold and tearing sound; Swedish Watain which is one of our favorite too, have a repertoire of bands but not extensive range of bands we like and different styles. Speaking personally we like the Black Metal in general from the first generation to its most recent bands and subgenres that have been made, we are not people closed to new music and do not like to stay with only the bands and listen, too we like to hear new things and subgenres Black Metal itself. If we talk about a disk that is our favorite in this question if we could not say just a CD as the band have different opinions about it and every member has his album and featured song, and in this case would be equal, everyone not You could say only one since the Black metal and every song that comes to the soul and is a particularly unique in any case.

More specifically, in your country, what Black Metal bands are the most iconic or really worth interest for you? I think of a cult band like Xibalba but also to new bands like DEORC who released a very good album, close to the old Burzum.

Mexico has very good Black Metal bands, Xibalba is one of the most recognized bands in the underground scene in our country, as Avzhia, Black Vomit, Sargathanas and Ereshkigal among other bands that are very good. Bands like Deorc to be honest, we have not had the opportunity to meet the project because in recent years the Black Metal scene in Mexico has been growing incredibly, there are more bands, side projects and several different proposals also thematic styles and I have no doubt that this band Deorc is well recommended. At present we have many bands as mentioned earlier, many of them belong to the Underground in our country, there are elites or Horde, as they are called, they carry large musical projects; we have had the opportunity to share the stage with great bands, pioneering bands as the above are good and recommended for lovers of crude, strong and primitive as old school Black Metal sound, with hints of Death Metal in his riffs, marked drumming and driving blasphemy and hate speech in all its glory. For we are not a source of inspiration but of respect, this is not to say that the bands do not like them or they're bad, on the contrary, most of the members we like some more than others, but we are very attached to this Black Metal style, our influences and tastes are paramount above, so these great bands of our country a greeting and a great respect and admiration for all the years I have been active and staying in the underground scene in Mexico.

It is more common to hear first-wave-influenced bands in Central America or South America, like Bathory, Venom, etc. What do you think of them? Are they a part of your "musical education"?

These legendary and cult in the metal scene in general, bands are renowned in our country and what I've seen highly recognized throughout the American continent, are very recognized bands and Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Sarcofago, among others are cult bands that are in our country and source of inspiration for many Mexican Black Metal projects. In our opinion these bands are good as we have mentioned, we like many styles and genres but we focus more particularly on one and we will not deny, when we started to look into this revelation of music we could find these bands, either by friends or buying compilations where these large projects were. To be honest Bathory is one of our greatest tastes protruding from the other bands mentioned, never deny that drives like Sarcofago - INRI or To Mega Therion Celtic Frost, they are very good and recommended but the band has always preferred to listen and enjoy the albums of Bathory, albums like Bathory, Under the Sign of the Black Mark or Blood Fire Death are discs that most us have delighted in his repertoire, so we can say that if all these bands and more have been part of our musical education on the way, not only the band but from the formation of our lifestyle, knowledge and foundations of the genre.

For this album you signed with Moribund Records, which is not a tiny label in the genre! How did this collaboration comes? Will it last for next releases or is it just a one shot signature? What it feels to be signed by a label which released, among other, Judas Iscariot, Xasthur, Leviathan...?

Moribund we know that is a big well-known label in some way. The way we present ourselves with the seal was by email and were able to communicate with the owner of the label, Odin Thompson, and to show our new album was recently recorded so we can get an agreement with him and release our second album When The Ligjht Dies. We plan and decided that we will release another album with the same label, but we're still working on it; the third album is still not complete, needs further adjustment, so now is not in our plans to release a new CD by this time, but rather begin to structure it and probably next year, without an official date yet, we get in the studio. As for being on this stamp is Moribun Cult, the truth was a goal that had given the band joined the label that has released albums of great bands like Sargeist, Horna, Judas Iscariot, Leviathan, Arch Goat, Dodsferd, Host Satan. Among many others we know and some are sources of inspiration for us and our music, it's an honor to be part of this stamp and we are more than happy to be here and to move forward as a band.

Musically speaking, you have a very "traditional" approach, miles away from many current releases that absolutely seek to "think outside the box" or "innovate" (which in general is rather a sign of decline). Is it totally your will or you don’t think about it? What do you think about the evolution of BM music, with things like post-BM, pagan BM...?

Well as we mentioned earlier, we are not closed to new genres and subgenres that have formed the metal in general. In step this time, but the truth is not our enjoyments some, others on the contrary we like, such as Post-Black Metal or Shoegaze, as you like to call, it's a good genre, something different and melancholic dyes having a ripping sound as the Black Metal; It is a fusion not well accepted by some but praised by others, the truth that is only a matter of taste, and respect the opinions based on this genre; some people like them some do not, in our case we like bands like Alcest, Lantlôs, Amesoeurs are good bands that we like to hear, are not inspiring but good music that can accompany us for a while, in fact Most members have played in different bands and is of the same or different. An example Serpentor has played in death metal bands in the past and has another project of Black Metal (Perpetua Tenebrae), XIII has participated as guest member of several bands of our city, gender include the Death Metal, Grindcore, Punk, Rock Classic and even our country; Our guitarist Abomination, one of the founding members of the band, is on different projects of a more aggressive Black Metal (Demon Kultur) and the other is the genre Post-Black Metal (Grieving Mirth), some not as founders but are also dedicated each in their projects, and we think these alternative projects always learn something new and can be used for delivery of this band. We have mentioned, we are not closed or clinging to always hear the same thing, we are people with different musical tastes, but what has always brought us together and we are here, is this genre and this style of Black what we love and we like.

Your satanic concept is fully claimed, in the SARGEIST manner, once again. In a way, don’t you think its a bit hackneyed to still use these themes in 2015? Is it a form of opposition against all other religions, is that a tribute, or is it pure belief ? What means Satanism for you?

Our music or songs our albums topics vary, for example the first talk of a sickly hate this thing called life and hatred toward other human, not just to them but to oneself, and of course we also talk about presences hellish, dark things that are only in our dreams and nightmares, that we also try to print on the first CD. However in our second CD hate speech, Melancholy, hellish demonic themes but is an album more inclined towards death, not as violent death or murder, but as something that is not extinguished but transcends, the next step in our evolution such as, death and what it brings to us is something that causes us curious, but that's just for us. Instead topics such as Sargeist or Behexen, just to mention in this question, are more focused on the occult themes and this is not a topic you understand what the overnight, are years of compression and devotion are complicated issues not everyone is willing to accept, we believe that Satanism is a belief that free you from religious oppression, that you kept as a slave knees apologizing for something that is not your fault, and yet they all believe and I think, good for us is freedom, but that means for us freedom and to expand our knowledge, we know that never reach the infinite knowledge but at least try to nurture, and personally speaking, the band members have beliefs more focused on our culture our true culture of death.

What do you think about satanic cults that exist in Mexico as "Black Mass" or "Santa Muerte" who practice animal sacrifices and sometimes even commit murder? This is a phenomenon that is not new in your country, in a way, is it something cultural?

The Black Mass and the cult of Santa Muerte are very different in Mexico do not doubt the existence of true practitioners and devotees to the Black Masses, and those who practice in our opinion those people who go out and kill and say they do on behalf of Satan we believe fans are just very inexperienced, or also that traffickers conceal a death and pose as a sacrifice, since itself has given this farce. As for the actual people who made sacrifices and kill people, well that the truth can not be said to be certain, as we have not seen or heard of that, have known of meetings and are just rituals, however the Santa Muerte is which itself is cultural, not mean we should kill someone or that someone has to die, it's nothing that, the Santa Muerte is guiding us and cares for us, which takes you when it's your time to leave this physical world, is the end of this life and the beginning of a new importance, as important and really linked to our culture that has always been recognized in some form as something mystical and divine, so important and real is death here and everywhere, but in this country it is that the more we worship; Mexicans over time the canonize to remember what we all come in this world, is devoutly revered and appreciated by people who follow it. Not that worship death of people, but rather that we are aware that our turn will come someday as we say and say yes.

Death in Europe is something taboo, which is hidden and which we do not speak. On the opposite, in Mexico, it is celebrated at parties like the "Day of the Dead", which shows that your people are more used to live with death, in a natural way. Is it only a cultural question or is it also related to the violence in some places? If I take the example of the "ALARMA!" shop, which exhibits corpses from various events, in France this kind a newspaper would be immediately banned from sale (or censored). What is your opinion about it?

To be honest the Day of the Dead is a tradition culture here in this country every first 2 days of November; the first day of November is called All Saints Day. The first day is dedicated to placing an altar to a person who is no longer in this world, putting the things that person they liked living in it, whether liquor, snuff, candy, her favorite food, etc. This includes a visit to the cemetery to clean graves and to live with them for a while in his final resting place, some people may talk to the dead but do not see it like I was crazy, because in our culture, it is the month of animas in which they are among us, so some speak as if they were on our side. However, the first day is to celebrate all the children who have died and day 2 is to celebrate adults, but unfortunately this rich and beautiful tradition has been lost, so you could say it's natural, but just people never cease to feel when a relative or friend passes on the other side. As for violence in our country, what we can say, some cities are more deadly than others; here our home city, Nuevo Laredo, was one of the most dangerous for some time, while the majority of the members has at least one story to tell linked to organized crime, some very unfortunate and many others that may seem exaggerated, and We will not go into detail. Regarding ALARMA!, the magazine is still selling but not like before, because in some newspapers, and only in some, to sell more editions use the raw image of an accident, killed, burned, drowned, with a striking header. People buy it by curiosity, and newspapers sell full daylight to everyone, and these magazines are devoted today to those killed by drug trafficking, which abound beheadings, torture victims, executions, buried in cement alive in acid waste, anyway. The truth in no time we are proud of violence by organized crime, nor of the newspapers sold sensationalism.

Speaking of themes, what do you think about all these Black Metal bands who claim a strong identity in their music and prints? What do you think of the NSBM movement by the way?

For us it is something we admire and respect, to see that a band has such a strong passion of those lyrics, it is worthy of respect and admiration, as so fervently claim to these issues and also with an incredible passion, what we can say is that in these years we have not only playing but listening to Black Metal, we have seen and heard different bands, different styles and themes. In some cases we can not say much because we do not know in part, if not the whole issue, an express band on stage and in his songs so at this time we know a band and know their subject only our view of the pure music, sound, distortion, rhythms, voice. What can we say, we like to listen to everything in a band, from production as some call it old-school and modern production. We are of varied tastes in our music but we do not, we are always faithful to the kind of sound we seek, accept advice but not interference. Concerning the NSBM, we understand that for some is a very important and sensitive issue touching and really understand it, they are beliefs, is devotion equals enormous respect for fairness, that and nothing else, we like bands that talk about this theme, bands like Armaggedon, Grand Belial's Key, Absurd, are to name a few of the bands that we like a lot of this current obviously his music is amazing and very powerful so we can only say that it is their great admiration for how they this great music, and we understand that for some is a very important and sensitive issue touching and really understand it, they are beliefs, is devotion.

Have you ever had the opportunity to go to Europe? If not, would it be a wish? Have you heard about immigration waves that are happening now?

Unfortunately I was not able to visit Europe, it is a dream and a goal to visit these lands, it is a place nearby known to us have been able to visit, and what we have said is amazing, almost otherworldly, even if all the life is lived in the same place obviously to see culture, totally different structure and behavior we would another world, but it is a desire to go before our physical existence in this world ends. As for immigration in parts of Europe we would be liars complete it were something that, as these are issues that we do not know, all I've heard is about the conflicts in Syria and are seeking political asylum in different parts of Europe, is However, from then on nothing, the only immigration issues we know and hear are those that exist in our city and the neighboring town of Texas, it is the only topic of immigration we know.

How sounds the Mexican scene for you ? We oftenly said that the public in Europe is completely jaded compared to the public in Latin America, do you think so ?

In our country, the scene has a good support, a stronger in other parts not so much an example is our city, but not many people attending the support is really likes. In places where we have had the opportunity to play have observed that the behavior of people is different, including the accent and expressions, but that happens everywhere, the scene is strong in Mexico just that sometimes either how is the economy in this country or even something as vital as giving good publicity to the event, strongly influences how many people attend the event, and there are more reasons as the place, the area of ??each city, etc. Who likes going and does not look at that, we know that the scene is totally different to anywhere where one can go, the truth have never heard of the European scene is less strong than the Latin, and we'd be liars if opináramos something about the European scene, as if we had been there since so far we have not had the opportunity to go to Africa, hopefully soon be able to go and take a tour, that would be a great honor for us, so to now we can not comment can only comment that in what we have seen is very quiet and powerful, either photos or video is that many people supporting the metal of many styles and genres, what can we say, for us it is the cradle Metal.

Bands from Latin America give the impression to really live their music and do not consider it as a hobby among other, regarding Black Metal scene but Metal scene in general too. Do you agree with this feeling and where do you think such devotion can come from?

We believe that all people who love music and music do not opt ??for this as a hobby but as a lifestyle, which carries with pride and respect, we do not mean to be fans but devoted to gender, and we truly believe Sorry that this comes from our passion for this genre, the love that he has for Black Metal, this could hear gay for some, but what we're trying to say is with the greatest appreciation that we will have to Black Metal, this feeling have towards the Black Metal is love, love for this music that comes to you to the depths of your spirit and raises it to different dimensions and unfamiliar emotions. Well, it's just a way we feel, is why people not only in Latin America but around the world carry with pride their tastes, because they appreciate it so that only they know and only they could explain why lead that lifestyle and why they love this music, this is an individual thing because we are not all equal, we all have similarities but passionately carry their musical styles differently, the decision to bring this lifestyle is something that only takes oneself but the reasons are different and that's why we could not answer for others but talking about us answer as many as we have known it behave differently.

Do you know the French scene? What do you think of it? We sometimes said that some French groups like Bekhira or Funerl (pre-Kristallnacht) had some influence on Finnish bands like Satanic Warmaster, do you agree with it?
In the personal opinion that we have for the French scene is that they have a unique style and very peculiar, bands like Celestia, Deadly, Bekhira, Armaggedon are unique and interesting, each band has a very different style, they could have a strong influence of Finnish bands but these bands managed to create his own style with a unique essence.

As we can see, you've done a few live shows, what does it means for you? Do you understand bands who refuse to play live?

At the time the band has managed to be active we always opted for presenting live, in fact the band started playing scenarios before you can record a demo home, the reason was we always wanted the band to be heard in a more direct way and not just for recordings. We understand the bands that decide not only record and play live, as we have known that we have explained in a more direct way and from our point of view is very simple and comprehensive, there are times when a person brings in mind a project is very personal, whether the letter, composition, rhythm, structure, and might sometimes the project creator does not find serious people who achieve or simply find support but only by compromise and do not take it seriously and because these cases is that sometimes projects are only in solo recordings only, but also met people who like to not only record and play live and make music to express their feelings and manipulate the project at will, which is incredible that one person achieves an entire project, we have always admired but always say that there is nothing like seeing the band live and direct listening to the songs.

What do you think about fanzine nowadays? At the time where internet and social networks are everywhere, is it still on purpose for you? Generally speaking, what do you think about the increasing of such new media in BM music?

We believe that the Fanzine are a very good resource of obtaining information of a band, either in the past days and these days, we know and recognize that the Internet is the most accessible to find wider and unlimited information medium, but for us Fanzine were the ones who gave us information when we were starting and wanted to know more about it, of course today also consult the Internet, would be a lie to say no, but zines have that nostalgia and incredible sense of open and leafing as you like, knowing that the decision about his shelf, drawer or shelf and read it to your taste as opposed to having to turn on your computer or view and download your battery cell; we opted more for reading, in short we believe that all means are effective, provided it is in a serious way and not just pages or blogs that are dedicated to mock and offend music in general.

From your point of view, do you also see a saturation in the number of bands playing Black Metal? What do you think on it?

We know that today there are many Black Metal bands around the world, including in our country there are bands that do not know when we hear and say this is good, very good. We do not believe there is any saturation, it is good to be born and grow wings and gender, what if we refuse outright is that some do it just for attention, do not seriously. There are bands that rely more on image than music, there are some who as are satanic and just babble, will not say names because we are not that kind of people, but so is the life of everyone, we have our ideals well fixed and our own way of acting, never will refuse to see and hear new bands and enjoy this genre is unique.

Many thanks for your answers! If you want to add something, the last word are all yours. Regards.

Thank you very much for space in this Fanzine, a greeting from Mexico to readers and to all those who collaborate in the development of the magazine, hopefully soon be able to introduce their lands and play live.