interviews

2021-08-03 Interview Zazen sounds

ALUK TODOLO is an instrumental power trio performing Occult Rock since 2004. Their music is a methodical exploration of the powers of musical trance. Part occult black metal fend and part snide kraut menace, the band conjures rabid obsessive rhythms and abyssal disharmonic guitars, subliminal spiritualist vibrations and bizarre, magick summonings. ALUK TODOLO reduces psychedelic improvisation to a bare, telluric instrumentation, in which dry, spare percussion grievously mines the scrapes, shrieks and shimmer of mutated guitar and bass. The band’s sound is monolithic and stabbing, hypnotic but unpredictable, minimalist yet teeming: a dangerous, noxious coil of all things black.

1 Thank you for accepting and discussing deeper your work. Much time passed since we shared the Stage on Funkenflug in the Alps and Armageddon Festival in Lithuania. Impressive deliverance of your sound on stage. Do you miss the shows this period? You seemed quite selective in shows all of these years. What are your criteria to confirm a show?

I don't know if I miss it. Nostalgia is not a mood I cultivate much. But I like memories. This is what happened at Funkenflug: During the last part of our set , I improvised an hemiolic drum part, with a circular movement. Through my closed eyes I started seeing some lights, mimicking my drumming geometries : two circles gyrating in offset. I opened my eyes, to make sure. On the top of a hill, two persons were rotating fire chains, in complete synchronization with my gestures. From where they were there was no chance they could see me. This interconnection was profound, subtle and precise, and I'm glad I saw it. Later that night, Sortilegia played under the storm. Funkenflug was pure magic! We are not selective, we just go where we get invited, when it is materially possible. 

2 What is the meaning behind your band name?

Aluk Todolo translates as "the way of the ancestors". It is an ancient Indonesian animist cult, still alive today. It's important to know that back in 2004, we were not looking for a band name, as there was no band. Aluk Todolo was formed when the name was pronounced. The name implies that our music preexists us, and defines our path as a process of reformation, to find back the original shape of man, the image of god.

3 Occult Rock was a great surprise back in 2012. Very intellectual and vibrant. Tell us more about this work, what inspired you and the essence behind it please.

In substance, this album deals with the alchemical transformation and manifestation of the primordial vibration into matter through all its elemental phases: Fire, Water, Air, Earth. Of course, from the alchemical point of view these elements are symbolic of different energies, which are portrayed  by the different tracks, each one being one aspect of one element : two aspects per side, two elements per disc, so four in total, or eight aspects, hence the octagon . On other levels, the music itself descends from above to the physical plane, just as incarnating spirit into matter is our mission as musicians.This will appear clearly to anyone listening attentively and looking at the John Dee sigils used in the cover art.

4 How did it all start back in 2004. What were your motivations to start this Unique project of experimental art?

Our Motivations were not intellectual. It was intuitive and irrational. As I said the name gave birth to the band, but also, our first show was booked before our first rehearsal. During five days all the fundamental principles established themselves, for us, servants of the music.

5 Descension was an obscure noisy and avant-garde offering... The vocals even if not present in your works all of these sounds you deliver sound complete as soundtrack music. Why did you decide not to have vox in your recordings?

Being exclusively instrumental is one of the sine qua non conditions of our band, probably the first principle established. On some level the first Ash Ra Tempel has probably something to do with that, but the true reason is that Aluk Todolo was created to craft some entheogenic music with rock instruments. So it has to be a hundred percent esoteric. Since vocals are somehow always exoteric in a rock context, they do not fit in the formula. As the purpose and essence of the band is vibratory, the "voices" in Aluk Todolo are subliminal, a sort of residual chant, which lies in between the notes and beats, hidden somewhere in the folds of the audible

6 A great 4 way split with Nightbringer, Saturnalia Temple and Nihil Nocturne was released back in time. Killer atmosphere by all the bands participating... Even the sound is different it sounds like one entity in the end of the listening. With Der Blutharsch I can say the same even the sound is close after the change of the musical style Albin decided to follow with his band. How do these collaborations happen?

On the Powers of the Sphinx" was Tyler's (the Ajna Offensive) idea. He selected some bands he liked and assigned them the task of illustrating musically one power each. I guess the fact we're an instrumental band made him think of us for "To Keep Silent" in the first place, but we wouldn't have accepted to work on this project if it didn't make sense to us, and crafting this piece was very challenging and interesting, and somehow showed us the way for the elemental concepts of Occult Rock. I like the fact that this is not only a compilation record around a theme, but something special, with a magic purpose. As for the collaboration with DerBlutharsch, it was Albin's idea. It was difficult to collaborate as we were never in the same studio. It was kind of nightmarish sometimes. But in the end it was necessary. 

7 Which Artists influenced you as a teenager for your musical creations? France has a strong genre in the extreme sound. Which bands would you recommend that are not so much popular in the scene for our readers?

I can recommend you these three great french and extreme records, for ages 7 to 77 : Vlad Tepes/Belketre "March to the black holocaust", Magma "Köhntarkösz " and Costes "Livrez les blanches aux bicots".

8 Can you share more words regarding the release of Archives VOL.1 Compilation? Will there be a second chapter soon?

Archives vol 1 is a bit more than a compilation of leftover material, the selection of tracks and the order in which they are compiled is made in a way that draws a sort of secret, inverted map of our discography, by focusing on some key-elements. If one listens carefully he can find some obsessional formulas permeating through all our other albums, be it in the form of a sound, a rhythm, a tune or a vibe. Yes, Vol. 2 is in the plans. 

9 “The whole secret may be summarized in these four words: “Inflame thyself in praying.” “The man of earth is the adherent. The lover giveth his life unto the work among men. The hermit goeth solitary, and giveth only of his light unto men.” ALEISTER CROWLEY” Your thoughts please.

The first quote is a famous thelemic instruction that we can easily relate to our practice of music. Immolation of the I, through evocation. Occult Rock I is this. "the gross must pass through fire", the gross being the man of earth of the second quote. It is taken from the Vision and the Voice, in the magnificent 13th Aethyr, ZIM, with NEMO and the garden. (Thanks to P.Pissier for his new superb translation). To understand it : In the book of the Law, Crowley states that the man of earth, the lover and the hermit represent the three true grades of the holy order, i.e "the devotee and the magician and the mystic". I'll just add that one must not forget that they are all necessary to the system, exactly like the guitarist and the bassist and the drummer in a power trio, hahahahahaha!!!!!

10 a compilation Which are the fountains that influence you and are an important vessel for your evolution and transformation as an Individual and Artist?

Lavar ha sklerijen.

11 Masses turned to a political correctness Hysteria the last decade. Another effect of Kali Yuga. The lack of freedom and expression, turning away the mentality of the individual from the tradition and Spirit. Your thoughts please.

I would not worry too much. Give it 4000 more years and things will be back to normal.

12 How do you approach the Sacred Science of the Occult as an Individual? Which traditions and systems are of your interest and maybe you cross as an Individual?

As an individual I admire the Truth in Light. I spell Tradition without s and my systems are singular. All are worth studying, but with Aluk Todolo we create our own, in which syncretism implies synchronicity, and intuition is knowledge. 

13 Noevdia and Ajna are important labels in the dark side of the Art. In my way of perspective, Art must be connected with Philosophy. Otherwise, it is a dead womb. Your thoughts please.

Yes these are great labels, run by passionate and erudite men. It is an honor and a pleasure to work with them. Just as there is no Sound without Vibration, Art without Philosophy doesn't exist. Trying to untangle the knots that unite them will only tighten them, hence, rejoice! The womb is alive! Babalon!

14 What can we expect in near future by Aluk Todolo? Close the interview please with few words that stand as bedrock for your inner discipline and evolution towards the cosmos.

A new album is in the works. It should see the light before the end of the world. "Neither pleasure nor pain should enter as motives when one must do what must be done". J.E.