AHRIMAN) I guess the scene have desperately been awaiting a band like us. A band that has a concrete message. And playing blackmetal the way it was meant to sound. No really, I don't know. But I'm sure the timing of our first release meant a lot.

ATL) What's your line up right now, and why all the previous member changes?

AHRIMAN) Besides myself on guitar, the new and current line up consist of; Emperor Magus Caligula-Bass/Vocals, Alzazmom-Drums & Typhos-Guitar. Who cares about the past. The future is what's important. I can assure you that our current line up is the best so far. Both personally and professionally.

ATL) I read sometime ago about Dark Funeral getting banned (from France) correct me if I'm wrong. Do you take this as an accomplishment?

AHRIMAN) Yeah that's true. Caused by our Satanic points of views, our albums are more or less banned in France. As far as I know they are nowadays only available through mail-order in France. However we are still aloud to play in France. I don't know if I take this as an accomplishment, but events like this makes us stronger of course. No one can stop our Satanic Crusade. We will continue no matter what.

ATL) People say Dark Funeral has one of the best stage acts- explain to us here in the U.S. that have not been given a chance to see you, what goes on at a Dark Funeral show.

AHRIMAN) Our show is like a black mass. The introduction consist of a destruction ritual. Which is performed live by the four of us. We are painted like demons, wearing spikes and rivets, and of course covered in blood. We are also armed with ancient weapons. The show also includes fire-breathing as well as two huge inverted crosses with impaled pig heads, which we in the end of our show brutally slaughter. We have planned a complete new show, which we are going to perform after the release of the new album. What the new show will include will be kept as a secret till the day the first one takes place. But it will be even more brutal and impressive, that's for sure.

ATL) Every song has so much power of evil. Why do you choose to show no passion, and just pure evilness?

AHRIMAN) We create music that are born in our blackened souls. If there is no passion there, we can't create any passion in the music either.

ATL) Everybody felt let down when we heard your U.S. tour was canceled. What exactly happened?

AHRIMAN) I understand there are many disappointed because of this. And believe me, it was not our wish to cancel the tour. Unfortunately everything was so badly organized there was no possibility for us to complete our American Satanic Crusade. Under better conditions we would had gladly made all the shows, but this was not the case. Therefore we decided to cancel it. Hopefully we will be back under better conditions later this year. Stayed tuned...

ATL) You did play one show in Chicago; did that hold up to your expectations? What's different about playing in Europe, and playing in the U.S.?

AHRIMAN) We actually completed 5 shows. The one in Chicago was the first one out of five. There is pretty much the same playing in Europe and the States. What differs most is that you get much better conditions when touring Europe. And that makes it possible to make a good show every night.

ATL) What's new with Dark Funeral- your recording? Also what can we expect to see in the future from you guys?

AHRIMAN) Our new Satanic Symphony is already put on tape. It was recorded during three weeks in the Abyss Studio, September'97. It's titled "Vobiscum Satanas". And it is scheduled to be released in Europe by No Fashion Records, March '98. The US release by Metal Blade will follow shortly after. Vobiscum Satanas includes 8 tracks of the most Christ raping music ever recorded; Ravenna Strigoi Mortii, Enriched By Evil, Thy Legions Come, Evil Prevail, Slava Satan, The Black Winged Horde, Vobiscum Satanas and Ineffable King Of Darkness. Stay tuned for a new Satanic Symphony of pure evil. You have been warned!!!