It has been said by many an ignorant individual that being an American black metal band is just as ludicrous as a Raggae band made up of whiteboys from the middle of Kansas. Of course, those detractors have never encountered the violent fury of Illinois’ own EZURATE. For nearly a decade now EZURATE have been churning out some of the rawest, most unrelenting unholy black metal the U.S. underground has ever experienced. And now it’s your turn to engage in their musical mission of all out nuclear warfare…

PIT: Since you’re new to many of our readers, can you give me a brief history of the band?

Mike S.D. Hellstorm:

EZURATE was born in 1993. The band active at that time, before we changed the name of the band to EZURATE, was AMAYMON (1994-94). AMAYMON was a new band started by Blackthorn from IMPURITY (1992-92), Hellstorm, ex vocalist Count Nocturon, bassist C. Hamilton, and ex guitarist Lord Captor of BLOOD THRONE. They had the completion of one song "...at the Shade of the Dark Weeping Cypresses" which was to appear on the very first EZURATE demo. From then on, we wrote/arranged/recorded/produced four more songs which became the EZURATE 1995 demo. The fifth song stayed off the demo, but was to later appear on our first album (later recorded in 1997). As for lineup changes, it was always a struggle to find other demons who’ve chosen to dedicate themselves to true black metal. To this day, we have worked through with many other morbid souls to come to what is known as EZURATE. Now, the current lineup is Mike-S.D.H./drums; Holocausto Inferni/vocals; C. Hamilton/bass; Mordecai/guitars & Blackthorn/guitars. Mike "Sir Dameon" Hellstorm is the only member who has been consistently active and involved in EZURATE since its early inception. He's been on every EZURATE recording.

What are your stage shows like - do you go all out with corpse paint, chain mail, swords, etc. like your band photos?

Our music is of the Occult. Our shows are a place to unveil our aggressions. It’s ALL OUT WAR!! So we come prepared to battle via Pagan/Celtic ways.

What bands influenced EZURATE the most? I hear a big DARKTHRONE/BATHORY influence…

BATHORY, VENOM, HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST, IRON MAIDEN, Heavy Metal, SLAYER, POSSESSED, SODOM - 90's Black Metal Scene via Norway/Sweden.

Is there a new album in the works right now?
We are in the process of completing "An Ending to Revelations" and "Blasphemous Hierarchy."

EZURATE has a very anti-christian message - where does this root from?

All of us live as Individuals, not to be ruled by a lord whose religion made it a point to rule by means of genocide. We didn't start this war. Early in Celtic times the Pagans were stomped out by Christianity. Their ideas live on in our music.

Is “Infernal Dominatio” a concept album in anyway or is every song simply related by pure misanthropy?

The album was written in part by guitarist Blackthorn. He in part with ex vocalist Count Nocturon related the songs more so by misanthropy. They were mostly about demons and archangels firing upon the heavens. Some songs also about ghosts and the dead. Lastly, a song along the lines of the Salem Witch Trials.

What was it that initially turned you on to black metal growing up?

Porn, bondage and a submissive axe (Laughs)… Gotta have some fun here. These questions are so serious and all.... Seriously, the answer to the question is the music.

What do you think of the current world situation?

I hate the Pope. Its like every time he sits down and takes a shit the whole world stands still in amazement! How about Catholic priests and child abuse? WW3 is about us. Here's a quote from Sam Kinnison about the Pope: "He rides around in the bulletproof caboose looking like robo-Pope, Loves God, Hates Crime, and is coming to your town.”

Where will the future of EZURATE be leading?

Our future is like this - nothing absorbed, uncorrupted and unscathed by “FLU-METAL” (knocking Nu Metal) – “Metal with the flu " or that which is sick and sickening the word metal.
You can expect Loud, Brutal and evil metal music from this EZURATE regency.

**Please note** that this article has been modified since the depature of Tony "Bukakke" Baranakke


Ezurate
CHICAGO USA
Contact by Email:ctnokkuron@aol.com