BLOOD STORM

The following was taken from Pit magazine #22

  Blood Storm is malevolence! After the demise of his band Goraphobia and several tours as the session bassist for Texas heathen metalers Absu, Mezzadurus, 'The Grand Soothsayer' of Blood Storm hath released his almighty offering in the form of The Antlantean Wardragon.
   Mezzadurus talks with Pit about his blackened lifestyle, his band, and the Atlantean Wardragon.
 
   Pit: What killed Goraphobia, and how was Blood Storm concieved?
  
   Mezzadurus: Things didn't work out with members and I quit. I sat out of the scene for about two years and thought about what I wanted out of the music.I also spent those two years studying occult science, and I came up with part of the concept of Blood Storm through devination of myself. Blood Storm is all the attributes of myself.
  
   Pit: When working with devination, what projects you to the outer plateaut?
  
   Mezzadurus: I learn from my own expressions or emotions. It's spheres of power, a lot of elemental energy. I'm creating a clone of myself, so to speak. These parts of myself go through dreamscapes and stages where they experiance a lot of different things, then I get these visions back, like sothsaying.
  
   Pit: So, you're talking about meditation?
  
   Mezzadurus: Meditation is a very big part of it; it's very detailed. There is no area that I don't try to cover. But, for me, it has more to do with ancient tradition, which is more inclined to who I am- the Lyeh text, The Book of Dead Names, the Necronomicon, the Outer Gateways. I'm also into talismanic magik- the construction of talismans and using magikal names of power. I really grasp the concept of channeling entities.All these things I try and express through the music. For me the occult is intelligence and wisdom, self reliance, and, in a sense, universal immortality.

   Pit: What are some of your favorite cuts on the LP, and why.

   Mezzadurus: "Destroyer", "Iron Flames of Battle", "Yuggothian Slayers" are some of my favorites, because i feel i combined the best elements of black, death, and thrash metal into them, more so than the rest of the songs.

   Pit: Give us the quick rundown of the songs and their interpretations.

   Mezzadurus: "Iron Flames of Battle" is infernal chaos and death; it's like the absolute death. When the prime ones of all my dimensions meet, this is what will happen- like a forced entry into our world. "The Atlantean Wardragon" is the hierarchy of my pantheon. "Spell of the Burning Wind" is the oldest song that I have written for Blood Storm. "All One of Doom" is about a part of me that experiences complete desolation. But, at the same time, there are a multitude of beings that are desolate, wind spirits or celestial entities that science would call black holes, but to me they are giant entities of dark matter. "Destroyer" is more about my earthly side, and how I would like to change for the better. Of course it would be through absolute destruction and rebirth to a more deserving, pure, godlike being having dominion over our solar system. "Yuggothean Slayers" is about terrestrial beings who live on the outter edge of our solar system. They control the portal for all these other terrestrial beings to focus on our world. They're the ones who gaurd the gates of the Outter Gateways. The final song on the CD is "Steel Burning Thunder"; it's like a part of myself that is from another time and another place. This is one of the dreamscapes I have had through my spheres of power.

   Pit: How are you involved with Absu? Do you consider yourself a touring member?

   Mezzadurus: I guess. I mean, after touring Europe in '95 with Impailed Nazarene and touring here in America with Incantaion and Inslaved, I didn't know if they were going to want to work with me again or not. Plus, I didn't know what I was going to do here with Blood Storm. This past tour with Enslaved and Inferno in Europe went even better; things were more confortable. I have a great relationship with those guys, they have helped me out a lot. I wouldn't say I'm a definate member, as I don't have any part of Absu's writing process or recording. If they want me or need me, I'm there for them a hundred percent. I look forward to playing shows with them all the time. I love going down there and playing with them Texas Tyrants.

   Pit: Who did the cover art for the cover of The Atlantean Wardragon? It's kinda got that old school look.

   Mezzadurus: The artist is Portello- the guy that does the Motorhead artwork, Orgasmatron and Sacrifice. I got some samples of his artwork because Cacophonous are in touch with him. He sent me a multitude of paintings, and I saw what was to be the cover of The Atlantean Wardragon. If you look at it, it's a multitude of beings inside each other. There is the actual Atlantean Fire Major in the center with the crossed flame swords; and then there is the head of the dragon on top, and the arms are serpent covered. On the outer face of the painting there is a bigger face, but you can't see it. You can see parts of the shadows. It's supposed to be superimposed enitities on top of each other, kind of dimensionalized. I thought this was a great representation of the title.

   Pit: Any parting comments?

   Mezzadurus: Total Antlantean soothsaying visions to everyone out there who have supported the scene. I'm glad there are still a lot of metallers out there who keep the flame burning. This earth has to be burnt fuckin' black, just FUCKIN' BLACK!