Interview:	ACHERON
Title:	Neverending journey down the Left Hand Path

Vincent Crowley, well known as the strong minded mainman behind the cult US Satanic Death Metal act Acheron and also nowadays involved in the band Wolfen Society, is a very interesting personality. As Reverend Vincent Crowley he was once a member of the famous American Church Of Satan. Also he is known as a member of the mystical Order Of The Evil Eye.

These days Acheron getting attraction through their new mini album, named „Xomaly“ – reason enough to take a deeper look into the different views of Mr. Crowley himself.

Hello Vincent, at first, please describe yourself with a few words as a person!

„I am the vocalist/bassist for the bands Acheron and Wolfen Society. I’ve been involved in the underground Metal scene for many years. I’m also an active Satanist.“

You´ve explained various times, that Satan is more of an archetype for you. What does it mean for you especially?

„Indeed. I don’t consider “Satan” to be the mythological being that the Bible writes about. Instead, I consider “Satan” to be a symbol that I can relate with. It has symbolized “The Rebel” and “The Adversary”. A character that would not bow before any god. He wanted to be God! This archetype is perfect for a person like myself. By “Satan” also represents that dark force of nature that I fear so close to.“

Which specific experience in life has led you to the darker side of existences, to Satan?

„I was brought up in a Christian household, so I got to see firsthand how that religion was a load of shit. My parents did their best bring me up, but their “faith” got in the way of many things. The more they wanted to cage me, the more I wanted to let loose. I also saw just how humans were herded and needed to fit in. Then I started to read on The Occult. When I came across “The Satanic Bible” by Anton Szandor LaVey, I was hooked. Then I began the journey down the Left Hand Path.“

Which are your daily little rituals, to pay your dark master your respect and dedication?

„Just being myself. Embracing my darkside is all that is really need. I am not held to any daily rituals or ceremonies. When I do a ritual, it is special and it means something. That is when I pay homage.“

Can you report real experiences with summoned demons and called evil forces during practiced rituals?

„No, because that stuff is very personal. And my version of “demonic forces” may be very different from someone elses. But I can say that I have connected with a special “friend” that goes by “Xomaly”. It is my personal guide to the dark regions.“

What has „Xomaly“, the title of your new mini album, to mean?

„Xomaly is that force that I connect with. It is the perfect balance of nature. It is the Light of Darkness (Lucifer), it is the Flame within the self (Satan), it is the essence of the earth (Belial) and the depths of reality (Leviathan). A demon, a God, a power.“

Is a concept behind „Xomaly“ existing, and if yes, which one?

„It was me paying homage to that great force. I´m Xomaly!!!“

Which is the greatest mistake among lot´s of others in the whole Christian religion, in your opinion?

„So many mistakes, so little time to explain. But the biggest mistake in the Christian religion is the denial of human instincts. Everything that is natural is a sin to the them.“

What are you doing mainly in your free time?

„All kinds of things. But my favorite is sex.“ [laughs]

What is your daily regular job?

„I work power equipment in a warehouse.“

The great done frontcover artwork of „Xomaly“ – what does it mean?

„It shows the creature as being made up of many predatory animals. It is a beast of endless strength.“

Does the main instrumental character of „Xomaly“ represent the upcoming musical future of the Acheron sound?

„Not really. The two songs were just a demo versions to get an idea of what the songs could sound like. The new versions are much more powerful and heavier. The songs on the upcoming “Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood” is a combination of the rawness of “Rites Of The Black Mass” with the musicianship of “Those Who Have Risen”. I think all fans will like it.“

Aaron Werner´s keyboards are played very fascinating and with totally moodful mystic. So you don´t have to miss Peter Gilmore´s play, I think. What´s your personal opinion about it?

„He did a good job. But Aaron Werner is no longer in the band. We decided to take out the keyboard element and make the songs sound more heavy with a bigger guitar driven sound. Keyboards are great, but they do take away the heaviness at times.“

Which were and still are the main inspirations for Acheron´s music?

„Everything that is Dark! The sinister regions of my psyche makes me write what I do.“

The unique and epic Satanic Death Metal style of Acheron is touching many souls in the scene of extreme Metal, as is well-known. How became it developed over all the years?


„It grows and goes in various directions. It is always evolving, without compromising the true Acheron sound.“

By the way: what does the band name Acheron mean? A mighty stream of the death in occult literature, if I´m remembering right … right?

„In Greek Mythology it is the “River of Woe”, which is one of the rivers that leads the souls of the damned to Hades.“

Which are the deeper dark philosophies (if they existing) behind Acheron nowadays?

„It is far beyond typical “Satanism”. I have my own views on things and am trying to incorporate them within the ideas. Satanism, to me, is always evolving and going beyond. I want to tap into all the occult pleasure of this world.“

Which were your early idols out of the Metal scene? Which ones have influenced you?

„Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC, Accept, Motörhead, Venom, Celtic Frost, Destruction, Slayer, Bathory, Possessed, Kreator, Metallica, Manowar, ect, ect.“

Which bands do you listen to nowadays? Only Death Metal stuff?

„Morbid Angel, Deicide, Incantation, Impaled, Immolation, Diabolic, Nile, Decapitated, Sinister, Infestdead, Mystic Circle, Hypocrisy, Entombed, Dismember, Obituary, ect, ect.“

Vincent, which imaginative visions do you see, while listening to your own music and having closed your eyes?

„Every dark image I can imagine. Many visuals, due to me being connected with the music.“

What is your definite goal with your music?

„No goal. Just to keep experimenting and evolving, without straying to far from our roots. To me, every album is like a ritual. Same objective, but a different path.“

Have you been felt already during your childhood, that you longing to do something special and dark when you´re older?

„I get darker and darker as I get older. It actually freaks me out at time. Who know when I will go insane over this? I’m so normal at times and then that “otherside” comes out. It is crazy. And the older I get the more secretive I am with my Occultic side. Many things should be kept a secret to the masses. Only a few should be let into your personal world.“

What´s your opinion to all the nowadays acting „evil-image“ Black Metal bands, all the trendy hordes? To their blind using of ancient occult symbolism and signs?


„To each their own. The key word here is “acting”. I never act. I go with my true feelings. If that means being in a good mood and joking around, so be it. Because when I then go into the Dark mood it feels so much more extreme. Balance is the main factor here. Any symbol is nothing more than what you make of it. You give it power. Many don’t understand that.“

What do you think, will be the global situation for Black Metal in ten and twenty years?

„Who knows? I just take it one day at a time. Hell, the earth may not be around in 20 years!“

Your biggest disappointment in Metal?

„The lack of support. Many fans don’t go out to shows anymore and support the bands they like. They only go to the “big” shows. You have to support all the bands to keep this genre alive. And buy the CD, don’t download it off the web! Support the bands, don’t rip them off.“

Your greatest hope in Metal?

„A resurgence that will bring Metal to the surface again.“

Last special words?

„Many thanks for the support. We hope everyone get s a copy of our CD’s “Tribute To The Devil’s Music” and “Xomaly”, and gets the new “Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood” CD when it comes out on Black Lotus Records October 2003! Hail the Underground! Ad Maiorem Satanae Gloriam!“

© Markus Eck, 10.11.2002

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