Since probably most of our readers aren’t aware of the Portuguese beast called Filli Nigrantium Infernalium my first questions most be related with the beginning of the band. Everything started somewhere in 88 - 89 with the creation of what would afterwards be called Bactherion and a few years later the Beast, Filii Nigrantium Infernalium...
“Well, yeah... that’s it. First of all, the birth of the Beast inside this Me that I used to be before I really entered the fucked up domains of darkness, through Slayer, almighty Thomas Gabriel Warrior, Quorthon, Venom and Voï Vod. What else could I add? Maybe Carnivore (laughs)! Anything else is out in our website or in our bloody music. The beginning of the band was just that, a beginning. It isn’t the most interesting part. I could point out several moments, line-ups, members, friends, unfriends, etc, but that would probably be quite uninteresting, anyway. I’ve been always into individual morbid freak-out, anyway.”

Do you still remember how the name Filii Nigrantium Infernalium come up?
“Yes, It came up when I translated a lyric (written in English, then translated to Spanish) to Latin. It had this verse: “Sons of Infernal Darkness, I command you to...”. Only later on I realized how accurate it would fit not only regarding myself but also the music I make.”

Can you recall what lyric was? Was it a Filii lyric or of someone else?
“Not a Filii. It was a Necrodisaster (a band-project name previous to Bactherion) lyric for a song that never ended up in anything listenable. Quite in the Sarcofago’s “INRI” vein.”

Under the final moniker you release the demo tape “Os Metodos do Pentagrama” and the cult MCD in ‘95 “A Era do Abutre”. After that a complete silence for 7 years...
“Yes, complete silence relating to the metal scene. Too much morons and so-called “true evil” wimps out there speaking. No use speaking amidst the cattle. I mean, I have already (this is real, I’m not joking at all...) spoke to real sheep in the countryside, just do it, try to say “beeee” to a sheep and it will answer to you (they’re quite polite, anyway): “beeeee”. It’s not a real deep dialogue, but it’s more clever than speaking to most “true metal people”. Taste the whip and experience the sheep! Unbrained people should learn to keep their mouths shut. But, well, I suppose this is a part of our condition, I mean our human condition. And for some, their subhuman condition... everyone is convinced about their own intelligence, including myself. It’s this survival instinct bulshit. I’m conscious about my “disrespect” and “disloyalty” regarding the “scene”. Well, fuck it. It’s all a crap.”

It’s a natural behavior anyway. Lets face it there will be always the sheep and the wolves. The strongest amongst the wolves will devour both sheep and wolves, simple as that! We are no more and no less than a part of the animal kingdom... with basic instincts!!
“Yes, maybe, but let me disagree slightly at this very point, since I consider the classification of living creatures divided between “sheep” and “wolves” to be somehow basic. There’s much more than just sheep or wolves in existence. More than just action and retraction, or domination and submission. And we might be much more than any other part of the animal kingdom (is it a kingdom or a republic, by the way? - everything is language, maybe); in some perspective, I consider humanity to be the supreme creation of Pangea (through Satanchrist Yaweh, for instance, or Zeus Allah) with the “natural” purpose of conducting mother Earth towards Her utter suicide. Following on, we might even admit that nuclear power is the highest point of natural evolution towards the most advanced degree of a self-conscious existence: suicide. But, as almost everything in life (even life...) it’s only a possibility. I don’t exalt instincts above anything else, but inteligence. As you say, every animal has instincts, so it’s no big deal if you have them. Almost tautological.”

Personally I took acknowledge of Filii when the MCD was put on the streets. I remember clearly an interview that you gave for a radio station at that time. “A Era do Abutre” was somehow a controversial release. At that time the press in Portugal wasn’t still used for such blasphemous Portuguese releases...
“Well, it wasn’t then and I don’t know if it really is nowadays, since I don’t blaspheme (today) exclusively against Christ, but also against the cultural mass and popular idols, like those of race, nation, flag, history and so on. The “true-evil” versace trend, Paris, Milano, London (laughs). I’m a fucked up iconoclast, you know, I’m eager to thrash all mass idols around, especially those that mess up with my individual freedom. Kill Fuck Die... this is my Satanism. Fuck churches; fuck the flock, even if it dresses black. Well, especially if it dresses black. I only hail the true country sheep. Fuck God and please, don’t take Satan much too seriously. Human sheep can go and watch football or sing national “ancient” folkloric shit hymns or stuff like that... Well, I hear myself and I guess that I’m really pissed-off. Not constructive at all, Must be the “Metal Discharge” CD burning on my ears. Destruction rule, don’t you think?"

Without any doubts, they still have the Thrash Metal flame burning on their hearts! Have you seen them in Headbangers Fest?
“Yes, of course, I wouldn’t miss the mad butchers bestial invasion. And there was also Sodom and Dismember... I would like to see them once again (and with a decent sound.) I’m really fond on thrash metal, like Exodus, Kreator, Slayer, Voïvod, Infernal Majesty, Tankard, Possessed...”

Why have you decided to, after Bactherion, start singing in our mother tongue?
“My” “mother” “tongue”... It’s a curious expression, and It’s deconstruction would take long, so I’ll leave it for another day. I recall this question, back in 93, and then on and on, it was asked to me; the answer, again, can only be one: what does it matter? Maybe I could ask why every band in the world - except Root, Master’s Hammer and some Spanish heavy metal bands sing in English. But I don’t feel like asking this, everyone sings the way they feel they want to sing. It’s just as simple as that. Considering the lyrical quality most bands prove, It’s completely irrelevant. Originality that was the principle. Experience. Ah, by the way... Portuguese is not my “mother tongue”. I don’t give a fuck about “mother tongues”, anyway. I would love to use some absolutely personal and incomprehensible language.”

Why don’t you do that? Tolkien have created his own language (laughs)...
“Well, that was one of his many talents! Yes, I could do it, maybe I will. But I also enjoy recognition and direct understanding. For instance, “Puta Infernal” is, at once, the same in four iberian languages. I find it curious and amusing.”

What lead the complete silence of 7 years and above all now the comeback?
“Well... Can you truly explain why does it rain? I don’t mean the scientific explanation, which is quite poor and tells you nothing about this mysterious phenomenon of existence and nature...”

I believe its well explained by now why does it rain, at least we have a scientific explanation, on the other hand about Filii... Well we all know that the comeback trend that some old bands have jumped in is exclusive due to financial interests and I will not say any names. For some it’s just a matter of having a few more money into the pockets to live a few more years... Every action has its cause, simple as that! Even if humans do not understand some of them!
“I understand the principle that postulates that for every action there has to be a cause, but the way I see things, that principle is not absolute. Landing again on material words, yes, I would certainly apreciate if some money appears in my pocket... That would be fancy and delightful. What can I say? But somehow I suspect that this is the wrong band for that. It’s a shame.”

Since during those 7 years I believe you were simply a spectator. How do you see now the Portuguese scene?
“Now, I wasn’t simply an spectator, since I didn’t “spectate” anything at all. I kept on going to some gigs (Priest, Wasp), but I was completely out of the scene. I had my own inner and private scene, listening to the bands I could never stop listening, playing my guitar and creating songs and lyrics. And I have to admit that I haven’t come back entirely. Concerning many things I don’t have a real nice opinion (nationalists and fascists morons, mainly) and concerning some others I think there are great bands and really nice people. And great fans out there, who still go on, proving that you can live for metal and not being at the same time a lobotomized subhuman (the moral majority - as well as the so-called “immoral” majority).”

What about abroad? Are we still at the tail of the worldwide metal scene or something changed over the years?
“Well, I don’t give a fuck. What do you mean exactly? I can play my music, it’s hard, but it’s also hard in Spain or France. I’m not worried about this country that has given me an ID card (that which some call “my fatherland” (laughs)... poor guys!) and taxes to pay; I mean I’m not worried at all about its image worldwide. I’m aware that many people in the world are worried about the “image” their countries have around the world, and they walk proudly when they think about their football team, or their armies, or their Miss Beauty Whore, or their gastronomic supremacy. But that’s all unintelligent weakness to me. So to me there is not a worldwide scene formed by many “national” scenes, but a global scene; I don’t like Judas Priest because they’re English, even if they come out with this “British pride” bullshit, but because they’re universally geniuses. The same applies to bands like Sepultura (“Morbid Visions”) or Kreator. Or Ángeles del Infierno, who sang in Spanish, but had a truly Judas Priest alike sound... And well, to answer your question, yes, many things have changed, but my mind keeps rotting at fast pace, as always. As time rots by... the fundamental things in life: only death is real.”

Well its true, I somehow relate with your way of thinking. But still you must agree when I say that it’s probably easier in the US, Germany, Poland, Sweden or whatever to have their own bands recognised and to play music! I mean how many labels there are in Portugal? How many bands do you know that recorded albums? Not to mention producers? How many bands went in European tours? We have the same names for like 10 - 15 years... and I’m not just referring to Metal but all sorts of styles!! I mean a musician is still someone with a low credibility in Portugal!
“Well, if you loath earning money with music you shouldn’t give the least fuck about that. I don’t. Once again, it’s like rain. Things are like that, so... I’ll go on moving forward or sideward, my way, here or anywhere else. These problems are outside my concerns, which are related to aesthetics exclusively. Only death is real, in any part of our “lovely” and “graceful” world.”

“A queda” was the 7” Ep that brought Filli once again to people’s mouths. Do you think that by the fact that its released in a vinyl format will limit the exposition? I mean probably most of the people now do not care much about vinyl, for me its simply more valuable but most of the fans nowadays don’t even have a vinyl plate on their stereos...
“I celebrate that! Thank you, man, and the ones who feel like you. It won’t trouble my poor, Christian, humble mind... Satanized. Greetings and felicitations, children of technology!”

Carnivore! Have you followed Pete Steele’s career? I mean when carnivore disbanded and he formed Type O Negative?
“Yes. I liked “Origin of the Feces”, but ever since... Quite pro, but not for me."

How did the cooperation between you and Tenser (the label who released “A Queda”) appeared? Were you simply looking for someone to release your comeback work or what?
“Well, It was just like that. Tenser did it ok, don’t you agree? Tenser records Mastermind, by the way, owns a very fine Mongolian music collection. Its something to have in mind...”

I notice some sarcasm in your words. Aren’t you happy with how things turned out?
“Sure I am! You’ll notice sarcasm in each and every of my words, probably... And I really like mongolian singing, so it’s an accomplishment he will certainly recognise! I mean, I enjoy their singing much more than those “neo-romantic” soap and utterly cheesy “enchanted” female voices that infestate heavy and rock music nowadays... Our EP is a piece of art, both in sound and physical, material expression. And it’s our return, what else could I want then? But this was just the return, you bet it.”

You have already played a few gigs being the most recent at the side of Hate Eternal, Dying Fetus, Deeds of Flesh in Porto and previously with Opus Draconis in Lisboa (barreiro). I don’t know how have people react in Porto but at least here in Lisboa the gig was great! By the way how went things with Hate Eternal? Have you meet Erik Rutan?
“Great show, yes. Great sound, great lightning, heavy bangers around. An impressive eyesight of the great city of Oporto, from the nevertheless old and nice Gaia shore. Wine like deep blood. What else? Ah, Erik Rutan. A most polite gentleman and an utterly fierce deathster: but I haven’t spoke to him, not much anyway. Nice staff.”

I do not know how were things in the past, but at least now you have a manager, Pedro Cruz (the person who were behind of the now defunct Portuguese label, Dark Records). Why have you decided to have someone who would take care of all the things related with the band?
“Because my mind is chaotic and I think that Cruz has the perfect will and skill to take us right down to the depths of the darkest Hades, there are up or above. Don’t you like his surname, Cruz? Follow the cross (laughs).”

Talking about words... Satanic Anarko Black Metal is the simple words that are used to describe what Filli Nigrantium Infernalium is all about. On the gig that you gave in Lisbon with Opus Draconis I remember you kidding with that “labeling” thing. If I remember well you used a “infinite” number of words to describe one of your songs, something like: “the next song is a song of speed, death, heavy, blasting, desecrating, symphonic, epic.. blabla metal”. What is your... humm.. Lets call it relation, with words used to describe the bands?
“Well, at some extent is OK and useful, but sometimes it’s really crappy and ridiculous, and it seems that some shitty bands hide their mediocrity with these long and pompous denominations. Back to our concert, maybe you don’t recall, but I was announcing a new plus-quam-malignus project. It’s called Necropachachatorz6666. True evil metal, blabla, for the coiffeur dark boys and dark girls. Maybe joking, anyway.”

At some extend I can point some similarities between Satanism and Anarchism. What do you have to say about those two... lets call it philosophies of life?
“I’m utterly individualistic, above norms, traditions, masters, gods, dogmas. In this sense I’m a rebel angel, in mind and soul. Give me freedom or give me death, aesthetical freedom, moral freedom, etc. Let’s call it something like dark aristocratical anarchism. I loath as well the historical tyrants, ‘cause they have always found support on the mass mediocrity. Satan Christ is my idea of Übermensch. And real dictatorships have always promoted the poorest expressions in art. Fuck censorship. Hell! Here we go again, the long labeling expressions. Well, I’m only trying to be synthetic and inclusive at once.”

Nietchze also had his own vision of Ubermensch. How man should be more than simply man, regardless if he was one or not...
“Nietzsche, once again... I don’t really think Nietzsche himself had a defined concept of “man”, “simply man” or even “ubermensch”. Some think that he was looking for men who really could be fully human. And this can include so many things, if you think about it... Nietzsche has taken me into silence concerning him or his books. And I regret the excessive vulturing feast on his name, in mouths so floppy that can’t even be considered “dirty”. So I won’t speak about Nietzsche, I’m sorry. In almost every line which he wrote the irony is so deep that I can’t take him as seriously as I can take many other writers. Thanks God, he would probably say.”

In all your previous releases there were guest appearances (like Moonspell and Decayed members) and as far as I know in “A Queda” there is also some guest musicians, am I right? Can you clarify us about that?
“Yes, but only Ricardo Amorim, he plays the main solo on “Puta Infernal” (“HellWhore”). The other musicians belonged to other bands but at that time they were fully in Filii Nigrantium Infernalium (F.E.V.E.R. and Ironsword).”

I was trying to find out what the word Belathauzer would mean, when I crossed on the internet with several marvel comic books websites where the name is pointed as a Demon... Did you took the name Belathauzer from a comic book character or is this plain coincidence?
“My God, I didn’t know about that! Should I take them all to court and fight for my rights? Get on and bring me my legal Squad! I’ve been ripped off... Or maybe I’m over-reacting: yes, it’s obviously a curious and capricious coincidence. Life is beautiful, isn’t it? Just let it be, brother.”

Well its better not trying to fight for your rights ‘cause Belathauzer was created in mid 70’s...
“Yes, indeed, I was born in mid 70’s (along with “Sad Wings of Destiny” - not a coincidence). Accurate guess... And I only fight for my wrongs, anyway, never for my rights. A bad joke, but a right one as well... Let it be, let it rot.”

What about now, what can we expect from Filli Nigrantium Infernalium on a near future?
“Total Destruction and utter poison. Real satanic Heavy Metal, our way. Come to our concerts and you’ll get the blood spill right on your face. Peace and love. Total Destruction, chaos and darkness. How typical, isn’t it? But it’s just like that and God allows me not to tell any lies...”

Are you thinking in a full-length album or its something that is still not in your plans?
“Yes, that will probably be the next step. But I’ll tell you more as soon as I tell you more.”

Well Belathauzer it was a pleasure talking to you. The best of lucks for Filii!!
“Eternal gratitude for you, Nuno, and let Ancient Ceremonies be blessed with the cunt-juice of Bloody Khali for long and long centuries. Great magazine, as every reader may check. Ah, we have now, for the first time, official t-shirts (Orgia de Trevas) More info at our hellwebpage. Only Death is Real!”