“DARKNESS ALLOWS YOU TO EXPERIENCE THINGS COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY” – A. (CHAOS INVOCATION)

For 21 sacrificial years and counting, Chaos Invocation’s singular, spellbinding strain of adversarial Black Metal art has been presented venerably without hype, explanation nor ado about anything, manifesting via the medium of Satanic frequencies the most deeply-held and fiercely-guarded convictions. Never one for unnecessary words or shameless self-promotion (content instead to let the music speak on his behalf), guitarist and songwriter A. emerges briefly from the familiar, welcoming embrace of ever-darkening shadows to deliberate conspiracies with serpents, escalations of activities and intent, and navigating a world that wants us dead to access hidden gateways and commune with higher forces.

Chaos Invocation had been brandishing the black flame for 20 years already when your fifth full-length offering ‘Wherever We Roam…’ materialised in the dying embers of 2024. In these times of universal ignorance and indifference, what has inspired you to soldier on in the face of adversity and how gratifying is it that you have been able to continuously present to the masses consistently-high-quality creations of unholy art, conceived, crafted and channelled in His name?
“Well, if you do something out of passion and belief, it is natural that you keep going no matter what happens around you. Releasing a new album is surely not only just a ‘by-product’ of our work, but one should know that Chaos Invocation is more than a band for us. It is a formative, changing constant, a mindset, a very important part of our lives, of which we share relatively little with the outside world. So, when we release an album, we are putting a part of our lives out into the world, but it’s certainly not for the masses. Twenty years may sound like a long time, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Especially when we bear in mind the probability that time doesn’t exist… So Chaos Invocation is a vocation, a calling? If so, have you managed to identify the force or energy that invokes you to create this art? The void, the serpent, darkness, death, Satan?… Does it exist inside or outside of us or is it everywhere and everything all at the same time?
“What I wanted to say is that it is not the duration but the intensity that determines how you do something. As I said, we share very little of it with the outside world. By the way, I do think time exists. It is a strong force. Time can be a gift, but it can also be a potent enemy. But back to the actual question…
“Chaos Invocation might be a vocation, a calling, but it is even more. ‘Calling’ refers to what one is meant to do in their life, based on talents, interests, and passions, right?! But Chaos Invocation and the things that go hand in hand with it became our purpose. ‘Purpose’ is a broader term and refers to the overarching aim or goal in life and can encompass multiple callings. It is the deeper understanding of why we exist. In simple terms: the calling is the ‘What’ and the purpose is the ‘Why’.
“Now one might say that it is our destiny, but I wouldn’t agree on that, since I believe that free will plays a central role in my life, even though I do know that higher things / powers / aspects are at work in and outside of us, everywhere at any time. Those do have an impact on the world, the mind and the body, and thus also on our music.
“Ever since we said that satanic aspects, liberation, rebellion, opposition, defiance and the sacrifice of the ego take an important role in our beliefs and work. I understand that you want to know what those forces are and what they can be assigned to, but to be honest we don’t want to make our religious beliefs completely tangible and understandable for everyone. We know that people often propagate their beliefs excessively in order to gain more followers for this persuasion. But that’s not who we are. We have no missionary intentions. We are talking about sacred things and we do well to treat them with the utmost respect, which includes that we do not make those accessible for everyone.
“Our main goal in Chaos Invocation is to find a comprehensive way to give free reign to the things that are inside of us and to manifest them in our music. I think we’re succeeding in this aspect. Therefore, our releases provide sufficient answers for those who want to dig a bit deeper. On our spiritual quest, we are still learning. Learning takes an important role in our religion. Learning takes time, which brings us back to the beginning of my remarks.
“In that regard it should be enough to know that Chaos Invocation is a theistic Black Metal band. With that being said, all cards are on the table.”

How would you compare the Chaos Invocation that presented ‘In Bloodline with the Snake’ a-decade-and-a-half ago with the one now offering ‘Wherever We Roam…’? Ideologically, have your convictions strengthened or become more focused, perhaps as part of the process of becoming older and wiser, or was this same resolve to dedicate yourself to darkness intact from the outset? Musically, are you more comfortable in your own skin, more at ease with expressing yourself in your own unique ‘style’ as opposed to following trends or expectations?
“First of all, ‘In Bloodline with the Snake’ was written by wild, impulsive, passionate, young men who rebelled against the world regardless of the consequences. Not that we are not passionate anymore, but we are now smarter, wiser if you like, but also more reticent. We have realized that we do not have to change the world, but ourselves. As far as music goes, we have always been very confident in what we do. Of course there are songs that we might change a little in retrospect. Know this: the writing process has always been very intuitive in Chaos Invocation. It’s all about the right moment. The ideas have to flow like a stream of lava.
“You asked if our convictions strengthened or become more focused. Both! If not, we would have buried this band already.
“Let me explain something about darkness. Too often people believe only what they see. Other senses are not given enough weight. But darkness allows you to experience things completely differently. You can’t rely on your eyes; you have to be attentive. The insights that darkness gives you can be powerful and light can be deceptive sometimes. The role allocation between light and darkness, good and evil, is more fragile than we think. It is entertaining to observe how people repeatedly misinterpret these.
“Chaos Invocation operate outside of any expectations and trends. We lay bare what is truly there. Nothing less and nothing more.”

How much has your outlook towards and dedication to BM changed and evolved over the years? Are you even comfortable with Chaos Invocation being referred to as a Black Metal band or does a tag like this fail to take into account everything you represent in 2025? Black Metal has changed a lot over the past 21 years; arguably not for the better…
“Chaos Invocation is a black metal band, there is no doubt about that. There are many bands out there in the more and more strange-becoming realms of the Metal genre that call themselves Black Metal bands and I do not agree with them on this. The term Black Metal is now being used in an inflationary manner. That’s something we should work on, but that’s not supposed to become a major topic here. My interest in this music has basically never changed. Only the enthusiasm to discover new bands is significantly less distinctive than it was 20 years ago. Black Metal did change; this world has changed. It seems to me that many people have fallen victim to technological advances. Their peace of mind depends on acceptance, likes and control. One could philosophize about this forever. In any case, we try not to get caught up in this vortex.”

One of the many highlights of the new record is the stark and sobering ‘This World Wants Us Dead’ – an observation that resonates profoundly. The song is fascinating both musically – rich and varied – and also in terms of the message / mantra of the title – ample food for thought there. Are you referring to spiritual death as much as physical death? Today’s world is a spiritless desert, populated predominantly by vacuous NPC types, most of whom are ‘dead’ long before their hearts stop beating…
“The text leaves a lot of room for your own interpretation. Mental and physical decay, the destructive power of nature and gods, dependence, needs, addiction, etc. The central message, however, is: humanity is not here to endure.”

Why are we here? Do you believe there is a purpose to humanity / existence, or is the search for reason and meaning pointless? The mysteries of life are unlikely to reveal themselves no matter how long we spend looking, so should we just focus on experiencing what life has to offer, from the magnificent to the absurd?
“Faustian thoughts are very present in us. We want to know what keeps the world together at the heart. In general, I think a search will never be pointless. The more difficult it is, the more it will shape and enrich you. Even if you are not always aware of the enrichment. Just because you are searching for something, and even if it is the meaning of life, that does not inevitably mean that you cannot enjoy the pleasures of life at the same time. For my part, I see it this way: on one hand, this life prepares us for what may or may not come once we change our form of existence. On the other, we can use this life to shape what will come and to gain as many experiences as possible, to learn and, yes, also to enjoy it as best as we can. Let’s hope that our bodies can withstand our mental hunger a little longer.”Is there a central message, theme or principle behind ‘Wherever We Roam…’? Is the record an account of your own personal journeys, discoveries and adventures or is it focused on the bigger picture – humanity as a whole?
“Lyrically we continued where we stopped with ‘Devil, Stone & Man’. With the exception of ‘No Throne Withstands’ and ‘This World Wants Us Dead’, all songs tell of our search for gates to other levels, interactions with higher entities, lucid dreams, death and devil (and the flesh between), life and Lucifer, darkness and light. The central message will quickly become clear once we have released the second part of this album, so I don’t want to say anything more about it at this point.”

That’s interesting: I didn’t realise ‘Wherever We Roam…’ was one half of a diptych – I suppose the ellipsis at the end is a clue… Are you at liberty to disclose any further details at all about the imminent companion piece? Clearly, Chaos Invocation enjoyed a period of intense inspiration and productivity to channel not one but two new records – what would you say was the spark or source for this?
“It’s difficult to explain what ultimately leads to picking up a guitar and suddenly 19 songs emerging. Were we inspired, did we have divine assistance, was it pure coincidence? In any case, the songs I just mentioned were created within a very short period of time, and it was difficult for us to separate them. But releasing an album with 19 songs simply doesn’t make sense. Listening habits and attention spans barely allow us to concentrate on music for such a long period of time. At least, that’s unfortunately how it is for me these days. That’s why we decided to split these songs into two albums that are lyrically connected. As you said, the ellipsis in the album title of ‘Wherever We Roam…’ is a clue.
“Recording for Part II has already begun. We originally wanted to release the album this year, but it’s probably going to be closer to 2026. Right now, it feels to me as if some things have remained unsaid or unexplained. Something still lurks in the darkness surrounding ‘Wherever We Roam…’, something is still missing, which is de facto true, as only eight of the 19 songs have been released so far. It probably feels different to outsiders, but I personally long for the release of the follow-up.”

The new album marks the end of a long association with World Terror Committee, and was instead released on AOP Records. What were the circumstances or thinking behind this unexpected but successful change?
“The reasons for the change have been discussed with all necessary players and should remain within the circle of these participants. Nothing spectacular, so let’s not hang that matter too high. We are thankful for the work done by W.T.C. and are now looking forward to taking the next steps with AOP.”

Live rituals form an integral part of the Chaos Invocation essence. Presenting the new material to the public, you performed at Catacombs of Metal XXV in February while other ceremonies in the offing for 2025 include Party San Metal Open Air in August. With ‘Wherever We Roam…’ unveiling a new bass player and rhythm guitarist on record for the first time, how is the new line-up working and how much are you enjoying taking to the stage with these allies?
“RK joined Chaos Invocation for the Diabolic Liminal Congress tour with Akhlys and Fides Inversa and stayed as a full member over and beyond that tour. LS already joined the band before, at the beginning of 2022 and played his first show with us in Abtenau together with Venom Inc., Belphegor and Ars Goatia. Although ‘Wherever We Roam…” and its successor had already been written at the time of the line-up change, this does not mean that RK and LS were not involved in the recording process and could not contribute their ideas. The chemistry between us is very good, very potent. We have the same interests and goals and are pulling the strands towards the same direction to bring forth the best and most horrible from this band.”Speaking of Diabolic Liminal Congress, Void A.D. from Fides Inversa told me there was a great connection between all three bands. Was this tour one of the highlights of the Chaos Invocation journey to date? And, as a band that has chosen an almost-solitary course, how gratifying is it to connect with like-minded souls – either within the extended Black Metal ‘scene’ or in the outside world that wants us dead?
“It’s always a highlight for us to go on tour and bring our music to places and people we haven’t seen yet. Leaving familiar territory, comfort and routine behind challenges us to adopt new perspectives and to test our abilities. And of course it enhances the feeling of freedom. M. and I live quite secluded lives. It’s good to step out of that bubble every now and then. The tour with Akhlys and Fides Inversa was very good. As different as the three bands may sound, they still share common goals and views regarding music and religion, which I think were well captured by the tour title. Being with a larger number of like-minded people regularly creates a special dynamic. Conversations are less superficial, you don’t have to deal with trivial matters too much, because you know you share similar interests. It can be very inspiring also. No matter where we went, people understood that we were different from them and that the lives they led were significantly different from ours. The mood of those people shifts, they become more serious, their mood darkens for a moment. Unpleasant thoughts spread. We like that.”

Live photos credit: Void Revelations