As you might of heard Scum is a band that contains Samoth (ex-Emperor, Zyklon), Faust (ex-Emperor, ex-Dissection) Happy Tom (Turbonegro) and Cosmocrator (Mindgrinder). On vocals is Casey Chaos, lead singer of legendary American Hardcore Punk heroes Amen.

There is a lot of anticipation among the black metal community about what scum will sound like? Would be fair to hypothesis due to the mention of sabbath and neurosis as influences that the project has a doom metal edge to it?

I would say dark as oppossed to doom, but the elements of the album as a whole are truly unique and unpredictable.

How did it feel to be playing in the same band as people who played on such legendary releases as in the Nightside Eclipse and Apocalypse Dudes?

It's an honor. I love and support both bands to the upmost!

Has a album title been decided on for the debut Scum album, and do you know at this date which label will release it?

The name for the album has not been finalized yet,samoth said "Gospels for the sick", so i think thats gonna be it, but no label deal is signed yet - we are still free and we still have to mix it, so we will see what title best fits the album then.

Why was the name "Scum" chosen for this group?

Faust came up with the name and we all thought it fit, it was the first name and i think the best.

How did you first get into black metal in the first place, and how did you get in contact with members of the norwegian black metal scene?

I have been friends with Killjoy half my life. I have been friends with Mortiis and Satyr for a long time now,s pent lots of time in Oslo and made many plans. We met 2 years ago for this project which now is Scum. Mortiis is also contributing to Scum as well so there you got 3/4 of the original Emperor line up - the chemistry between Samoth and Faust is the real magick. 

What are your top 5 black metal releases of all time and your favourite black metal release of 2004 respectively?

2004: Behexen - By the Blessing of Satan

Top 5:

• Emperor - In the Nighttime
• Darkthorne - Under a Funeral Moon
• Bathory - Blood Fire Death
• Immortal - Pure Holocaust
• Carpathian Forest - Anything!!!

What is your views on symphonic black metal bands such as Cradle of filth and dimmu borgir and what do you think of the fact that black metal is becoming commercially successful in both the usa and to a lesser extent in the uk?

Black metal to me means it can only go so far, there may be a few bands that are an exception, but I dont think about success, otherwise I would not be doing what i do for the last 3 albums. It's either honest or not.

Is there any black metal musician who you would like to work with in the future?

I dont think anything could top this experience, there are alot that i respect, but I think this is the best.

Your former colleague in Amen, Rich Jones has accused you of embezzlement and of having a serious drug problem and claimed that you were disrespectful to fans and were faking your punk ideals. How would you react to his comments and is there something that Rich Jones himself is not telling us about that particular moment in Amen’s history?

It's impossible to embezzle money when you have an accountant for the entire band to use, Drugs - I have a heart and lung disorder. Fake... yeah that's why we are here today, 'cause I am fake. Ungrateful dead.

Band members in Amen don’t seem to last long, why do you think that is?

This is a hard band to be in, like any great band there are many changes. Mine are primarily to keep new blood and throw away the poisioned old blood.

How did you find your current colleagues in Amen?

It is always the same, they saw or were fans or friends of Amen/mine and they came to me cause I'm fake.

Amen are one of those bands who polarise opinion,  I've encountered people passionately obsessed with Amen to heartfelt yet worrying degree and people who have exactly the opposite opinion. Why do you think Amen evokes such strong emotions in people?

Because its passionate, honest and that's what strikes a chord in people. Some people don't know or can't accept it, either way people will be affected for better or worse.

How would you say the current Amen album "Death before musick" contrasts with the previously released one (We have come for your parents)?

Well on the parents album I went in everyday and would track a song a day,first lay down drums with drummer then i would do 3 guitar tracks and a bass,did the whole album in a month,the last was an ongoing saga of my death and the ultimate demise .only to step into the new fight.which we hope will be out soon.as well as pisstory.

What do you think of a perfect circle’s reworkings of black flags “gimme gimme gimme” and fears “lets have a war” on their recently released covers album?

I have not heard it.

Do you think the extensive popularity of bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, Sum 41 and Good Charlotte has eroded the anti-establishment nature of punk to the extent that the majority of those within the genre have lost sight of the original point of punk?

Those bands are an advertisement, not music, and most definately are the farthest from punk as you can get. Green Day has a bit more history but are a pop band, and thats what they are good at pop songs. I'm sure alot of those kids after a while will seek other music of substance and there you have the underground, a world of real music thats totally new.

What do you of the recent rise in popularity of “punk pop boybands” such as Busted and McFly in the UK?

They should be put to death.

You are friends with some of the current innovators on the UK alt. rock scene such as Ikara Colt and 80's B Line Matchbox Disaster, do you think british alt rock in the underground at least, is getting its visceral eccentricity back finally after the doldrums of britpop?

Yes there are many great bands in the UK like the two you just mentioned just fucking up shit, taking it over. In these violent times, the sound is violence, the music is violence. As well as Japan, extremely violent and filthy.

What are you opinions on the re-election of George W. Bush, the war in Iraq and the Hutton inquiry here in the UK?

I am ashamed to have him as a president and all of his actions, he is what Mickey Mouse was to Walt Disney - a puppet, a puppet that wants all the oil. If he wants it so bad why doesnt he go there and get it himself?

The metal community have been saddened and shocked by the tragic and untimely demise of Dimebag Darell. What is your favourite Pantera song and why?

Probably "Walk", 'cause he walked the walk and talked dimebag talk. For that alone he deserves a medal.

Do you have exclusive details for us on the Amen boxset that is coming out soon?

The boxset is called "Pisstory: A Catalogue of Accidents/A Lifetime of Mistakes". It is a 4 disc-boxset, limited to 2000 hand numbered pieces, that is only available through www.cdbaby.com/caseychaos. This has recordings from when I was 12 years old in my skate punk band to my old hardcore band's album up till now. So it's sort of like a sonic diary. It's truly amazing that all of the songs are unreleased. There are over 90 songs and over 4 hours of music. All the proceeds will go to help keeping the band alive and help us to record a new album and get back out on tour!

Can you tell us when Amen are next touring the UK and Scandinavia and whether Scum will ever tour?

Amen 2005, new album and hopefully a tour to follow soon after. Early to mid 2005. Scum, we shall see.

Finally, which is better, Entombed or Hypocrisy?

I like certain albums by both. but if i had to choose... I would say Entombed.

[This interview was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]