Woods Of Belial are a Finnish trio, composed of Wohi, Blood and Horned Black, that gathered in '95, and play eerie Black Doom in the blackest vein. WOB released their two first demos on Meat Hook Productions, "Thy Unholy Pentagram" in '96, and "Baxabaxaxaxaxabaxaxaxaxa! 666 Yndstr Draconis" in '97.
   After several delays and unsuccessful deals with several labels, the band finally complete their full length "Deimos XIII", that is released this winter on the Finnish label Firebox Records. Misanthropic Propaganda Productions also released the 2 first demos of Woods Of Belial on tape format in 2003. A dialogue with the axeman Wohi is conducted by Darg, unveiling a bit more about this extremely Dark and dismal Doom Metal act.

 – Hi Wohi! How are you and what's up in the country of thousand lakes?

 – Hail! I'm ok but a bit tired at the moment. It should be spring but it's snowing.

 – I start with the most boring and hateful question for you, I guess. Could you tell us who, why and when established Woods Of Belial, the most depressive and deviated doom band in Finland or even the whole world?

 – Woods Of Belial was formed in 1996 by me and Blood, Horned Black joined in 1997. We formed the band because we wanted to create the most depressive and deviated doom metal ever. I'm glad if we achieved that.

 – Your 2nd demo has very strange and mystic title. What does it mean? No doubt which path you choose to walk. First demo has very straight title as well.

 – "Baxabaxaxaxaxa..." is just a cryptic play of words, it combines pre-islamic tradition with modern and thus represents perfectly what Woods Of Belial was up to in 1997. It doesn't actually MEAN anything.

 – At the same time Necrostorm left the band. Why? Was the music you play too happy for him or what?

 – Necrostorm was never a full-time member of the band, so he left because we didn't need him anymore. He also had some other activities that took his time.

 – Ok, I have to tell you that your debut grind me totally. You are so heavy, slow and sick. Are other opinions so optimistic too, if we could say like that of course ha-ha, and are you proud of this piece of schizophrenia?

 – Thank you, and yes, of course I'm proud. We have got quite many positive comments anyway, which I think is very surprising. We thought that people wouldn't actually understand what we're doing.

 – It's definitely doom but I also hear Black Metal and Industrial music influences. Atmosphere is diabolic, dark. You also experiment with machinery sounds and use many samples. It all makes your music more interesting and quite original. How important are those two styles and those all strange arrangements in your style?

 – We started with mixing black metal with doom, and the industrial elements came about later when Horned Black joined the band. We thought that they'd suit the concept of Woods Of Belial just perfectly so we kept on using them.
   Strangeness in general is important in the music of Woods Of Belial.

 – It took a long time to release your debut album. Are you so lazy or there were other, more important and independent from you reasons? Maybe because some supernatural powers didn't want you to finish work at this album? It's so evil you know.

 – Heh, maybe that's why it was delayed. It really felt like something had something against us, because we had a lot of problems with schedules and we even were signed to two record labels that got out of business. The truth is that we are also lazy, no doubt about that though.

 – Could you compare your two demos and "Deimos XIII"?

 – "Deimos XIII" is much more consistent than the demos. On the demos we were still experimenting, whereas on the album we think we've found the right formula for Woods Of Belial's music. But of course it will still develop – and even we don't know where.

 – You signed a deal with Firebox. I guess this label was created for you and vice versa. They have almost doom metal bands only. Are you satisfied with their job and promotion?

 – I also think that Firebox is the perfect label for Woods Of Belial, and they have some really good bands on their roster (Swallow The Sun for example). As for a definite underground band I think they have done good job for us.

 – There's a lot of very good doom metal bands in Finland. Your country has many bands which play very depressive and suicide music at all. What do you think, why this kind of music is so popular in your country?

 – Because Finland has the highest suicide rate in the whole world. To tell you the truth I have no idea. But I'm glad some people are still making some real doom metal and not just trendy synth black metal.

 – Do you think it's because of Moomins (in Polish "Muminki") in some part? Somebody said that in Finland many children kill themselves because of these characters. That's why I'm asking.

 – I have no idea of that, I'm sorry... Heh.

 – Now I'd like to ask you about suicide in general. Is it a proof of courage or weakness? What do you think about it?

 – If you can't face your problems but rather kill yourself, it's weak. And it's also very selfish. But it's still everyone's own choice and I can respect that.

 – So what inspires members of WOB to compose such kind of music? Are you so sad and evil every day?

 – No one is sad and evil 24/7, but the darkest moments inspire us. The evil in man in general is also very fascinating in a sense.

 – And what about lyrics? Is there any place for some light and hope?

 – There is no place for light and hope in Woods Of Belial's lyrics, absolutely none. They are nightmares that you can't get out of.

 – Could you tell me if there's some kind of philosophy that WOB try to spread? Do you have your own life philosophy and if yes, what is it like?

 – The common philosophy within Woods Of Belial is utterly misanthropic and nihilistic. The direct message is "kill yourself" but you have to figure out yourself what exactly we mean with that.

 – Do you think there will be a day when people won't need any form of religion at all? I'm afraid that most of people are too weak to live without some king of gods, religious believes etc. doesn't matter if it's Christianity, Satanism, Muslims, Jechovas, or others. It seems people need to be under some kind of control. What do you think about it?

 – Most people need leaders, be it religious leaders, political leaders, military or anything. We might get rid of religions, but we will never get rid of the "sheep thinking". I don't care. The world would be a difficult place to live if everyone had their individual thoughts and knew what they wanted.

 – And what do you think about all this circus that happens in Iraq? One year after main war Americans do not want recall their army. Spain did it. Once Mika from Impaled Nazarene said there will be a great war between Europeans and Muslims soon. Is it possible, what do you think?

 – The situation in Iraq is ridiculous; the Americans fucked it up themselves. I totally agree with Mika on this, and, if they continue like this, I expect the war to launch within a few years only.

 – Doom metal is not very popular nowadays. There are few bands only which release doom record from time to time but many good bands are existing in deep underground. Do you think there will be one more boom of this kind of music like at the beginning of the '90's?

 – I'm pretty sure that doom metal will never become popular. Most people are making themselves too busy to listen to slow music like doom metal. It's ridiculous.

 – Could you recommend us any other bands from your underground which are worth to listen to?

 – Swallow The Sun.

 – Not so long time ago mighty Unholy was deactivated. It was one of the most original doom metal band on this sad world. Do you like them? Does this band inspire you in any way?

 – I like them a lot actually. It was a huge inspiration in founding Woods Of Belial anyway.

 – Do you have any side project bands? If yes, what kind of music do they play?

 – We all have our projects, but they are insignificant when talking about Woods Of Belial.

 – And what kind of music do you like to listen to?

 – I listen to a lot of different kinds of music, doom and black metal, progressive rock, folk/ethnic music, ambient etc. Not industrial though, that's Horned Black's ground.

 – Nightwish, Children Of Bodom and other similar bands are very popular in your country (a little bit in Poland too by the way). Do you like such kind and full of sweet melodies music?

 – Sweet music, that's not really my cup of tea. But I like some of their songs and I respect them as musicians.

 – What's with your free time? Maybe you're going to nightclubs with techno music where... A DJ is Holocausto from Beherit?

 – My free time is mostly spent with music and heavy drinking. No nightclubs or discos, not even with Holocausto as the DJ, heh.

 – Does Woods Of Belial play any concerts? Are you planning any concerts and what kind of reaction of fans should be during them? Mass suicide, self cutting, funeral atmosphere etc. Could you imagine your gig?

 – Woods Of Belial does not play live, because arranging a proper concert would be practically impossible. I can't even explain what we would plan if it was possible.

 – What are future plans for the band? Are you going to do something special for 10 years anniversary next year?

 – No, time is irrelevant for Woods Of Belial (as everything else). We are planning to record a second album at some point, but it's still too early to talk about when.

 – Ok, I think that's all. Hope I didn't kill you with those all questions ha-ha. Thank you for this interview and I hope that thanks this some people will interest in your music that Woods Of Belial plays. Would you like to add something? Feel free to say what you want and swear we won't wait for new WOB album another few long years. Good luck!

 – No-no, actually I woke up a bit during answering. Thank you for the interview, very good questions, I hope I just managed to answer them all in a satisfying way.
   Concerning promises, Wohi does not promise anything. Sorry.

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