Interview with Kaiser from Ad Hominem

Few names in black metal carry the same charge as Ad Hominem. Since its birth in 1998, the project led by Kaiser Wodhanaz has walked a path that refuses comfort, compromise, or conformity. Whether you see it as philosophical rebellion or pure sonic aggression, Ad Hominem has always existed at the limits of what black metal can be : raw, hostile, and deeply aware of its own chaos.

With Totalitarian Black Metal, Kaiser returns after years of silence to reclaim his ground with a statement that feels like a declaration of war. In this conversation with Metal Detector, he opens up about the meaning behind that title, the essence of provocation in extreme art, the freedom that fuels his lyrics, and the upcoming South American tour that will bring Ad Hominem to Colombia, Ecuador, and Chile for the very first time.

It’s not a safe dialogue. It’s not meant to be. It’s a reflection on how far one can push the boundaries of expression and still call it black metal.

Read or watch the full interview below.

What's up everyone and welcome to Metal Detector. Today we have a special guest, a very special guest. Since 1998, he has been leading one of the one of the most underground and radical projects in black metal with a brand new album totalitarian black metal and a tour in South America coming soon. We're honored to have you with us, the mastermind Ad Hominem. Welcome Kaiser Wodhanaz to metal detector. How are you today?

Hi, I'm fine, thanks Andrea.

Awesome. Okay, I usually like to start with a little background, but let's skip the formality and get straight forward to it. So my first question is going to be: what inspired the concept behind Totalitarian Black Metal?.

Oh well pretty big question.. the thing is most people don't know that I used the totalitarian black metal mention on the first album, it was just a a caption inside the CD and I've been off from the scene for quite many years and I want just wanted to strike back with a an explicit album title and I just believe that it was fitting this comeback just to explain and show what Ad Hominem is. So that's just it just it you know this is the kind of.. yeah the thing is that the totalitarian black metal mention was already used in the first album Planet Zog - The End and to me was just defining the band the band music so I believe that using this mention as a title would be fitting the return of Ad Hominem since I have been off the scene for seven or eight years. So it was just a strong saying a strong mention just to say Ad Hominem is you know without any compromise and you know just totalitarian black metal music in the the way it is on the music side on the lyrical side just like a face in the face. So that's it.

All right. In your lyrics, how do you choose which topics or themes to explore?

Well,  from the beginning, I have, founded, the band and lyrics on my despise through the human, I mean mainly in humanity and the bad sides of it. So, I mainly pick the negativity of everything I hate and I despise and put them back in the lyrics which have no boundaries because I mean  I'm a free man and black metal should be free music without any limits and that's it. I every time exploring the most extreme contents may people like it or not. So that's it.

All right. In the song Gas Mask Devastation, what message are you trying to deliver?

Oh, some you know I guess some lyrics are made for spreading an idea, a concept, so but the message is just you know brutality violence and annihilation and one just doesn't have to think or try to understand and it's more like you get the title and the lyrics if you can understand them just the way you want you can interpret it and it is very personal So I guess just like someone who will write a poem or any kind of lyrics or it's just personal thing and you know everyone can interpret it in a way or another. So it's up to you.

Yeah. And how's the creative process step by step. Do you write music first or lyrics first?

It depends, most of the time I start with composing music, but at the same time I may have a couple of ideas, you know, just titles popping popping at my head and, yeah, now there's no rule. Once again, I guess sometimes I have a title in mind and I will compose a song which would fit the title and lyrics but more of most of the time I'm doing the music then trying to find a suitable title. So yeah mainly this but there's no rule. It can happen in both sides.

Got it. And what differences have you noticed between the French metal scene and scenes in other communities you played?

I don't know. Look, I'm not so much into the scene. I'm not so following everything that is happening. So talking about a scene is kind of restricted I guess because it's like putting every band in the same pot and I don't believe it's a good thing. I know people like to say, "Yeah, the French scene, the Finnish scene, the Swiss scene." I-I couldn't say once again, there's no scene. I mean there are bands even talking about the black metal scene is restricted because some bands are playing like true black metal some other consider themselves so well the French scene the French bands are different from each other so I wouldn't link at least Ad Hominem or other band to each other we are just like different elements doing our own stuff and that's it. If people like to talk about a scene, okay, good for them. But, I'm not so much into, you know, caring of, where this band is or whatever.

In the title, Arbeit Macht Tot uses provocative historical references in your lyrics. What's the intent behind?

The interest behind him, the provocation, provocation is part of black metal is part of Ad Hominem black metal without any provocation is just music, classic music, boring music. You know, if you have something extreme to deliver as a music, the lyrics have to be extreme as well. As I always say, talking about the the night and the woods and the moon doesn't have any anything extreme or provocative. So yeah, referring to historical events in mainly talking about war and religion and genocides. It is part of black metal. Metal is about death mainly. Some would say Satan, some would say something else. But it has to be extreme. The music is extreme. So it has to provoke. It has to do something to people. The intent is just that black metal has to be provocative. It's an extra music with a extreme sound. So I couldn't I couldn't just write basic or dark lyrics. It has to be provocative. It has to be moving people and you know historical references are always related to humanity and then Ad Hominem is about humanity. So made I mean.. yeah

Have you faced censorship or backlash during shows and how do you respond?

Oh well doing a show with Ad Hominem is like a mission impossible you know we are banned I mean we are not banned but we are boycotted in many countries there's still a couple of countries at least in Europe you know I'm speaking about Europe but mainly Italy Finland also maybe Czech Republic are quite okay but and Even in the the eastern countries it should be okay. Now the thing is that in most of the western countries there is still a huge boycott from people who should get a life and have a a hobby, a passion or something and who are just here to piece the bands off and to prevent the events to happen just because you say this or that and they got offended and you're a bad guy and whatever you know any kind of shit, So playing live is quite tough. But on the other hand, it's a good point, I guess, because once again, black metal shouldn't be a music for everyone. And if the gigs have to be private and secret, well, I don't mind. You know, this is underground music for underground people. If you disagree with the music or the lyrics, you just don't go. But stay away and do your own stuff. You know, get a life. That's it. I won't go to some events, concerts or conference or anything I dislike. I will not boycott it because I don't have any interest for it. You are free. Do whatever you want. You know, say whatever you want. If I agree, that's good. If I disagree, that's good, too. So keep keep going, you know, get a life and but so far, you know, it just doesn't work. So we're trying to play live every time we can and I have much respect for the promoters and people who make those gig happen because it's a huge pressure a huge organization. So, you know, thanks for that and I hope we'll be able to go on stage for many years maybe.

How do you decide which musicians to work with you for live shows or recordings?

As you may know, I've been living in Italy quite a while ago now. Was back in 2008 to 2010. and I started a lineup over there. the lineup evolved people some quit the band some other join but I'm still working with the Italian guys because I have you know the root of the band over there and I mean at least the root of the session members and obviously I need skilled musicians and with no pressure regarding the once again the image of the band or that may happen around it all the problems that it may occurs but yeah mainly skills you know playing sharp and being being like 100% behind the the band and the project that's pretty important and besides music. It's like a life experience because you have to travel together, we are not professional. This is a you know a second activity. So we have to get along and it's just not a job not a work. So you know there's some kind of friendship and we have to enjoy what we do and if we if people don't do they just have to to pass and so just like you know classic bands there are many important elements like the music like the people and be able to play that's it the the main thing.

Okay. I would like if you can share more details about your upcoming South American tour.

Well, so far we have four booked dates which would be two in Colombia: Bogota and Medellin, one in Quito Ecuador and one in Santiago de Chile, there might be some other one but nothing is certain now. So yeah that's it. I looking forward this tour and I guess people in South America are waiting for us as well since we never been there. We've been to Brazil, Mexico which is norm but never been to those countries. So I guess there would be a Yeah. an audience with a the will of seeing us on stage. So, let's see how it goes.

Okay. As a Colombian fan, I'm so excited that this is your first time performing in Colombia. What do you know about the local scene and what are your expectations for the show?

I'm in touch with a couple of Colombian people and everyone told me this is going to be crazy. you're gonna dig it, so yeah, I'm expecting for, you know, crazy people. I mean, maybe crazy or not, you know, we just go and play and that's it, I know there are many many gigs in your country. It's you know when when I see all the the concerts it's brain brainwashing because sometimes I say like you have one concert every day almost you know during the week in Europe it's like you're waiting for a gig and you know so it's pretty good for you and it's amazing that the scene is going that well over there. Sadly I would like to hear all bands coming from those country. I mean there are many but once again maybe I'm not into that scene enough to catch those bands but let's see how it goes you know I’m  just  eager for this experience and that's it.. We'll see.

I was telling you that looking forward to see if you guys are playing soon on North America or you guys have any plans to play play here?

in North America? No, not so far. I've been in touch with a couple of promoters over there, but I know for instance in the US it's it depends on the states. I know the situation is quite complicated especially now traveling to the US and Canada to play is like you know you have to pay I don't know how much to get there with the instruments there are many taxes I don't know exactly but I know it's pretty tough and you know I've been in touch with some promoter in Mexico but so far nothing happened. So no, at the moment there is strictly strictly nothing to expect. So maybe next year let's hope for something over there.

Okay. Awesome. All right. And if you don't mind, I have one last question.

Yeah. Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

Okay. Is there any books that have inspired your lyrics and to your approach to music? any book that you would like to recommend?

Oh well well well let's say the maybe Nietzschean books which has been inspiring to me in my way of thinking in my visions. But once again the whole project is based on my feelings to humanity. So it's pretty spontaneous. I more into using historical references or just you know looking around seeing see what's happening and get inspired by the whole mankind. But yeah, side projects in which I was using books as the references such as the most of them Nietzsche or Baudelaire but when it comes to Ad Hominem it's more like you know physical and I mean from the guts so you know straight to the point and you know just based on the emotions that's it.

Got it. All right, Kaiser, thank you so much for having this time with us. Even though the internet connection and the technology is not helping at all, well, I'm trying to we're trying to this interview.

Yeah. Yeah, we made it -

..to make it work. So, yeah, I think Thank you so much and looking forward to see more of your shows, more of your festivals in Europe and see you soon. See you around.

Yeah, thanks a lot. And if you need to keep in touch or you know updated just follow the page everything that will happen will be you know posted on the Facebook page. So you got it.

Okay. Awesome. Thanks.

Thank you.