Blood Axis

In the official Blood Axis bio, the sound of this musical vision is described as "spanning from neo-classical raptures to guitar driven aggression... requiring a highly attuned level of intelligence and a mind free of pre-conception to appreciate its vast scope." Formed officially in 1989 c.e. by a then 20-year old, Michael Moynihan (the year he became a member of the Church of Satan), two songs, "Lord of Ages" and "Electricity" claimed their (or, rather, his) recorded debut; the latter track dedicated to Mithras, the ancient Persian sun god. Other single track releases followed, but it would be at the close of 1995 c.e. that Blood Axis would release a full-length album: The Gospel of Inhumanity, which sports the vocal offerings of Ezra Pound, Charles Manson and, of course, Moynihan's own. Mr. Moynihan gave us some of his valuable time to discuss the latest release and his rather Satanic take on the current state of affairs.

NOT LIKE MOST: What is the history behind Blood Axis, and those involved, up to and including the new CD?

MICHAEL MOYNIHAN: Blood Axis found its inception in 1988, although the inherent ideas naturally go back considerably further than that. I have always been the driving force behind it and consider Blood Axis one facet of my Will on earth. Others have assisted in various musical and non-musical ways, but this has always been according to my dictates. Essentially there is only one "true member": myself.

NLM: I remember reading about "The Gospel of Inhumanity" as a working idea about four years ago. Why had it taken so long to release the final project?

MM: Mainly because Blood Axis does not operate at all like a "normal" music group. I am not dependent on releasing CDs every year to pay my rent, and am glad to keep it that way. Being thoroughly detached from the music industry means Blood Axis can operate according to its own imperative, with little concern for anything else. Many of the songs on the CD were conceived of in one form or another as far back as 1991, and slowly evolved to final fruition over a number of years. The CD was also not recorded in any standard fashion, but rather we put it together piece by piece over a period of many months, working on it when and how we thought appropriate. I was in no particular hurry to see it released, as I wanted to be totally happy with the final result.

NLM: The title of the CD is very provocative and will, no doubt, pique the curiosity of many Satanists. What is the premise behind the title and what are your views on man's penchant for casting infliction upon his own?

MM: I actually found the title on an obscure old alarmist book about the war philosophy of Treitschke. "The Gospel of Inhumanity" is certainly more realistic a concept than proclaiming the Gospel of Peace and Love, which is a figment of some deluded self-appointed saviour's imagination, as well as that of innumerable pacifists, humanists and other braindead fools. I think man should accept his nature as it is and always has been; pretending otherwise is only paving a road to oblivion.

NLM: What is your involvement with Feral House, the Abraxas Foundation, and Storm Productions and what new releases can we expect in the future?

MM: Well, it might make sense to answer that in chronological order. I have nothing to do with the Abraxas Foundation, and haven't for probably four years or so. I was only involved from 1989-1992. I have no idea what the Abraxas Foundation does now, if anything. Prior to ceasing collaboration with that, I had already inaugurated Storm as my own small company, doing silkscreened prints and also publishing books. I released the book "Siege" back in 1993, having already published an illustrated edition of Nietzsche's Antichrist (the images done by the incredible graphic artist Trevor Brown, who is now coming to greater and long-overdue prominence) in 1988. The latter book is long since sold out. In 1994, Storm began putting out music we felt important on vinyl and CD, and our sixth release (the CD "Fire of Life" of vintage recordings by the Process Church-related band, Changes) will be available in September 96, with much more in the works. In 1995, I moved to Portland, Oregon from Denver and have since then also worked for Feral House as a managing editor. I am also presently researching and writing a book about Norwegian Black Metal which will be published by Feral House next year.

NLM: Are you involved with any projects outside of your directly-affiliated companies?

MM: I have assisted in operating White Devil Records, based in Seattle, which has issued three releases by Charles Manson, and we will have a CD of a rare Antonin Artaud performance, "To Be Done With The Judgement of God" out soon. I also write and edit regularly for a number of different magazines which relate to music, culture and religion.

NLM: In the 1990s, there has been a noticeable proliferation of books promoting elitism or anti-egalitarian ideals. (William Henry's "In Defense of Elitism," being one that profoundly comes to mind.) Do you see this as a viable shift in our society as a reaction to what's occurred in the past, or does it seem a mere trend in terms of its growing acceptance? Do you think that Satanism might have had an influence to any degree?

MM: I'm sure Satanism has had an influence to some degree, although like all "subterranean" philosophies, it's hard to gauge its direct effect on the mainstream. I have no problem with elitism, and adhere to the concept, but I also recognize and would point out the incredible amount of nitwits proclaiming they are members of the "elite." I've seen tons of them among the Satanists, just as they abound among racists and probably most every other fringe social group, too. What you call yourself is meaningless as far as I'm concerned, since talk is cheap. It's what you produce and demonstrate in the real world that matters, and that is what separates the wheat from the chaff.

NLM: I noticed that your base of operations had moved from Denver to Portland, Oregon. What prompted the relocation? And, did Boyd Rice [of NON] follow suit?

MM: Denver was fine for awhile, although the hot, dry, endlessly sunny weather was really causing me to long for a more northernly latitude, somewhere closer in spirit to my European roots. Portland had always sounded good, plus I had close friends there, so I decided to move. I have no idea where the rumor about Boyd comes from, as he still lives in Denver.

NLM: Who are some of your role-models through history and what qualities have they inspired in you?

MM: I don't see much of a point in giving a checklist of names here, but I will say that the people I find most inspiring are those who live their lives to the fullest and implement their True Will, shaping reality according to their vision.

NLM: There's been a split in opinion among some Satanists concerning Xtianity and its future; some say that it needs to be eradicated as it's been one of the more prominent social cancers, others say leave it alone because it keeps the weak-minded pacified and out of the way and it may just kill itself off anyway from prolonged inertia (which, at that point, would no doubt be replaced by drugs and television, if that isn't already destiny). As a Satanist yourself, what side of the issue do you take and why?

MM: Neither. Frankly, Christianity is of no concern to me, nor has it ever been. I wasn't brought up in a religious household, and I don't have the leftover guilt or anything I have to rebel against as a result. Christianity has no affect on my life, as I have minimized any way it possibly could. I've always lived by thoroughly heathen values ever since I was a child, and will continue to do so until I die. I have no interest in wasting my time trying to "fight" Jesus, Jehovah or whatever imbecilic followers they might have. That said, Blood Axis is thoroughly "unchristian" and I will certainly confess to utilizing religious imagery in what would be considered a "blasphemous" manner by Christians, but that isn't my reason for doing so. I'm opposed to weakness, be it Christian or otherwise, but obviously the vast majority of the botched forms under the mantle of humanity are weak in one significant way or another, and always have been.

NLM: It's been a so-called "radical" viewpoint to equate Jesus Christ with Adolf Hitler, though I can't see any sizable correlation: Christ was an impotent carpenter who tried to infuse mankind with mediocrity and his own unrealistic views on human behavior (if he even existed at all as a singular person), whereas Hitler embodied a strong leadership archetype and, policies aside, wished for a people to rise to their inherent capabilities. Since asking this question of the herd and getting the typical reactions of fear (of a symmetrical symbol, mostly) and prejudice is fairly pointless, what is your undiluted insight into the matter?

MM: It's quite insulting to equate Jesus with der Fuehrer, and no doubt the latter would spin in his grave at the thought.

NLM: In closing, what is your prescription for an ordered society?

MM: The only place you will find an ordered society is where people with common background and common interests exist on a more tribal (and by that I do not mean "primitive") level. This is very rare nowadays, certainly so in this polyglot empire of losers we're currently stuck with. The only chance for an ordered society is either for the present one to break down entirely and something more like what I just referred to arise from its ashes, or else the imposition of a dictatorship using tactics of mass-coercion that would make the Third Reich look like a Sunday picnic! But really the question you need to consider is: ordered for WHOM, and for what PURPOSE? [end of interview]

Blood Axis Discography:
"Lord of Ages" and "Electricity" on The Lamp of the Invisible Light compilation CD (Cthulhu)
"Walked in Line" and "The Storm Before the Calm" on Im Blutfeuer compilation CD (Cthulhu)
"The Abattoir Eternal" introduction for one track on Kiss The Goat by The Electric Hellfire Club
"Eternal Soul" (Germania mix) on The Pact compilation CD (Asafoetida)
The Gospel of Inhumanity (Cthulhu/Storm)

Forthcoming Blood Axis Releases:
"Bearer of 10,000 Eyes/Lord of Ages" on Mysteria Mthrae compilation CD (Athanor)
"Life" on Souvenirs from Hell compilation CD (Cthulhu)
Blood Axis 1989-1996 double-LP vinyl boxset retrospective (Cthulhu/Storm/Misanthropy)

[Among other things, Mr. Moynihan is head of Storm Productions. Product information is available by writing to P.O. Box 3527, Portland Oregon 97208]

All material copyright 1996 and beyond by Purging Talon Publishing. All rights reserved.