I Am Standing In God’s Way
And I Stand Not Alone
I Am Wielding My Way Through
Everything Bows For Chaos
Rob Oorthuis / Centurian ‘99
Centurian Exegesis
On this page Rob Oorthuis and Oskar van Paradijs will try to elucidate some of the themes and ideas behind the lyrics of Centurian. Should you have any interesting questions or comments you would like to share, please contact us through Centurian@chello.nl
About Chaos…
‘What do we know […] of the world and the universe about us? Our means of receiving impressions are absurdly few, and our notions of surrounding objects infinitely narrow. We see things only as we are constructed to see them, and can gain no idea of their absolute nature. With five feeble senses we pretend to comprehend the boundlessly complex cosmos, yet other beings with a wider, stronger, or different range of senses might not only see very differently the things we see, but might see and study whole worlds of matter, energy, and life which lie close at hand yet can never be detected with the senses we have. I have always believed that such strange, inaccessible worlds exist at our very elbows, AND NOW I BELIEVE I HAVE FOUND A WAY TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS…’*
I will try to put it simple. Behind and beyond all forms lurks the nothingness of the Primal Chaos. The lame senses of man can only perceive that which proved beneficial in the course of our evolution. We lay our forms upon the world, not vice versa. Other animals developed different sense organs. The whole of reality remains out of our grasp, a single glimpse would probably drive us raving mad. This vortex of all impressions at once could be called, in Kantian terms, the "Ding an Sich" – the ‘Thing by Itself’, which mercifully cloaks its inherent Evil nature. For it yearns to regain control, to dissolve all forms into One again.
Chaos is the Womb and the Grave, the All & Nothing, the Alpha & Omega.
A ‘Theory of Chaos’ sounds much like a contradiction in terms. I mean, one can only describe true Chaos in negative terms, in what it is not, since it eludes all order imposed on it. I can only communicate total disorder by proxy. All that is, all form, is extorted from the Primal Chaos. What we perceive of the world around us is only a tiny slice out of the Whole. We wrest our order from the Chaos so that we may have our day under the sun. This will not last.
What remains of the universe if not observed? Without any form of life chiseling out its unworthy doings?
What thrived in Chaos was banished with the ascend of life. Without life the full range of possibilities will be restored, the potential of the Whole will be pure and undivided again. In a spiritual sense this expresses itself as the urge to be absorbed, to be at one with the Whole again: the death of the Ego – let everything decay and return to naught!
* H.P. Lovecraft: From Beyond.
The Dweller in the Abyss
The name of the Dweller in the Abyss is Choronzon, but he is not really an individual. The Abyss is empty of being; it is filled with all possible forms, each equally inane, each therefore evil in the only true sense of the word – that is, meaningless but malignant, insofar as it craves to become real.
That which is beyond is within, just as that which is within is beyond.
[In preparation]
To Those Who Hear the Numbers Speak
My name is three hundred and thirty and three, and that is thrice one.
The number of Choronzon is 333. Aleister Crowley spelled the name Ch=8, O=6, R=200, O=6, N=50, Z=7, O=6, N=50. According to the Qabalah, the traditional mystical system underlying most of Western esoterica, each letter of the alphabet has its own numerical value. Thus every word can be translated and added up into a number. These numbers are thought to hold an inherent mathematical ‘truth’, which reveals the hidden essence of the thing a word refers to. The Qabalistic numerology known as Gematria explores the relations between different words and concepts, as revealed by their numerical values. The number 333 equals Choronzon with Dispersion and Darkness.
Centurian - "Liber ZarZax"
There is no being in the outermost Abyss, but constant forms come forth from the nothingness of it.
Then the Devil of the Æthyr, that mighty devil Choronzon, crieth aloud, Zazas, Zazas, Nasatanada Zazas.*
ZIRDO LONSHI DEPEDE ZARZAX – I am the Power 333 of the Tenth Æthyr!**
Back in the 17th century, the Elizabethan mathematician Dr. John Dee, with the help of his skryer Edward Kelly, formulated a magical system to visit the higher spiritual spheres. This system, now known as the Enochian System of Magick, consists of 30 different spheres or ‘Æthyrs’. ZAX, the tenth Æthyr, is a non-dimensional realm in which nothing exists, yet everything is. It is the Outermost Abyss, comparable to Hell. It is a place between life and death, a place of Chaos, where everything is possible. The name ZARZAX can be given to any entity, thing or happening which contains the dark, destructive part of Chaos.
"Liber ZarZax" is ‘The Book of the Power of the Tenth Æthyr called ZAX’, the book of Choronzon – the destructive force of Chaos. It is like a book or grimoire glorifying the End of the World. The book is carnivorous and hungry. It is a means of feeding flesh to the Vortex – a gateway into Nothingness.
* Aleister Crowley: The Vision and the Voice.
** Peter Carroll: The Mass of Choronzon.
The Reading (ZarZax Unto Zax)
The Book is opened. Solemnly the Statement of Intent is formulated. ‘Reality’ dissolves as the spirit commences its journey through the Æthyrs. I am part of ZAX, with the cry "Zazas…" I return to the Abyss once more. A new cycle begins.
Heading for Holocaust
The Agitator leading the masses into fires of retribution and war. A theme of all times and places. Nowhere can Man develop his full potential for Evil better than in a state of total war. Incessant warfare being the closest realization of hellish Chaos on earth.
Colosseum of Blood
Again we return to the lustre of the Ancient World. Pagan Rome had its ways of dealing with hostile alien cults. During festivities in the arena, christians were butchered by exotic beasts, in front of a cheering crowd. This song recalls those glorious days of yore… (And hell yes, we do know that the Colosseum of Rome was actually built some decades after Caligula’s reign!)
Hell At Last
My hate for ‘god’ will not end with this life. If there be a hereafter, it will be Hell for me. I find the prospect of having to spend the rest of eternity among god’s followers deeply disgusting. My Bond with Satan is in the blood, my single goal to bring down Christ and his worshippers!
Ritually Slaughtered for Satan
This song is celebrating the vision of finally getting rid of all Christ-worshipping human trash. In my opinion it should not only be directed against christians, but also against those other "Peoples of the Book", jews and muslims – None Be Spared!
The basic purpose of any religion is to control people. This is cloaked with a moral question: "Why should we behave like so and so?" Answer: "Because God tells us to!" Well, and since ‘god’ apparently has nothing to say, we will punish trespassers in His Holy Name… - What a crap!
If we reject the law of ‘god’, then instead we stumble upon the problem of how to found the Rules of Man. My option here would be to skip the problem by just killing them all. Hail Satan!
Feeding Flesh to the Vortex
A little ditty to get you in the mood for entering the Void.
Conjuration for Choronzon
A ritual to invoke Choronzon. Preliminary chants and blood sacrifices charge the air, I renew my Pact with the Demons of Chaos. My body is a vessel. Annihilation of the Self in order to bring about madness and eventual disaster. "TELOC-VOVIM" is an Enochian title for Choronzon, meaning ‘Death Dragon’.
Speech of the Serpent
Satanism in the Grand Tradition. Exaltation of the world of the flesh as a playground without restrictions.
Back in 1944 there occurred a split in the Dutch Calvinist Church, caused by a quarrel over the question "Did the Serpent actually speak in Paradise?" - O yes It did! And still does, to those who listen well…
Committed to Hell
Life sucks. Willingly I shed both flesh and soul to join the Legions of Hell. I become one with Choronzon - 333, a pure spirit of Hate to strike the earth with Chaos and Madness. The "Million Favored Ones" is a Lovecraftian phrase referring to the minions of Shub-Niggurath, the Black Goat of the Woods.
Fornicating the Nazarene
Jesus loves you, love your enemies…
What is a ‘love’ that is spread equally among the whole of mankind? Being ‘almighty’, god does not prevent the appalling suffering of his ‘loved ones’. So how do you distinguish between the loved ones and the damned?
Ah! Enter the Afterlife – He loves you when you’re dead!
Be real! Love is of the flesh.
Dead Black Nucleus
Everything gravitates towards its end. As an instrument of Darkness, I will try to hasten that process by all means. In this song my innermost core is likened to a Black Hole, a state of total dissolution and Death, from which there is no escape. In the end, Death conquers all!
Centurian - "Choronzonic Chaos Gods"
The Choronzonic Chaos Gods are the supreme Demons of Chaos. They fight against order and creation of all that is holy. They are the gatekeepers of Hell and operate in the name of Choronzon.
Damned and Dead
Doomed and without future are the christian herd, for they have a complete lack of will-power. Always on the verge of falling to the Temptation of Sin. Christians are stupid and blind, they are already dead and so is their god. Christ poses no threat, but as a matter of hygiene it is wise to stay away from his teachings.
The Law of Burning
This world is plagued by the laws of ‘god’; one is not allowed to do as one wills. You can choose the easy way and bow to those laws (live as a christian, jew, muslim or whatever creed), but this will not protect you in the afterlife. The motivations and ambitions of a Satanist clash violently with the current rules of society. When a Satanist nevertheless manages to develop his True Ego, he will be free and powerful in the afterlife. Such is the Law of Burning: the Satanist will stand the flames of Hell, because during his time on earth he got used to it.
Hail Caligula!!!
A hymn glorifying the Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula (37-41 A.D.). He was without doubt the most cruel and sadistic of the Cæsars, even surpassing the infamous Nero. Caligula used his might and dominion at the cost of anyone who stood in his way. Annoying people were simply put to death at the whims of the Emperor. Those were the days…
(For those inclined to read books: check out ‘The Twelve Cæsars’ by Suetonius. Nice biographies of Caligula and other Cæsars!)
Misanthropic Luciferian Onslaught
The slaying of god’s children for Satan’s glory.
Let Jesus Bleed
Should Jesus return to this world, he will be crucified again. There will be no salvation, but just certain death for him. We will nail him again and again and again!
Blood for Satan
Blood is energy, blood is life. Giving your blood to Satan is giving power to Chaos and Death. One will be purified (i.e. become free of god) when one gives blood to Satan. The dark force within a person is set free if he donates his life-blood to Satan.
Soultheft
God tries desperately to preserve the souls of his flock. Apparently he needs them to stay in power. When a soul falls away from the holy flock, god will try to ‘save’ that soul. He will try to wrest it from the sphere of darkness – in vain! The ‘white’ forces, send out to get the job done, bow in defeat before the powers of Satan.
Cross of Fury
The Satanist is burdened with the hate from god and his brood. Christianity stands in the way of a Satanist. According to christians we all have to carry our own burden, our own cross. Ironically, the burden of a Satanist is christianity.
In the Name of Chaos
A song exalting anarchy and disorder. Under the reign of Chaos all will be equal. The lyrics glorify the death and destruction of everything that stands for order. Order stems from god, in that sense this song is blaspheming the supposed ‘creator’.
Centurian – "Of Purest Fire"
"Of Purest Fire" kicks off with a demonic evocation taken from the movie Hellraiser III.
Hell At Last
The demo version of the song which was later to reappear on the "Liber ZarZax" album.
The inhumane longing to become at one with the Master. The ‘second death’ is the death of the soul, the price I willingly pay to enter Hell.
Soultheft
This song was re-recorded on the "Choronzonic Chaos Gods" album.
Better Off Burning
Jesus Christ provoked his death on the cross, and in doing so he tried to burden mankind with his blood. Dumbfound by the unexpected demise of this "son of god", his worshippers concocted a ‘reason’ for his suffering: Jesus was redeeming mankind from sin! For some people this became a pathetic fetish: kneeling, begging for forgiveness, "I am not worthy", etc. – the whole sado-masochistic routine. I wish to maintain my dignity, therefore I am way better off burning in Hell!
God Got Killed
Legions of Satan invading the Kingdom of Light to get rid of hoary Jehovah.
Of Purest Fire
Fire is the Satanic force of annihilation. I evoke demon firestorms to cleanse this world, to incinerate all christian filth.
For further reading: check out these cool sites.
The John Dee Publication Project
Donald Tyson: ‘Truth about Coronzon’
Chaos Magick: Phil Hine’s Fifth Aeon Agregore
The Magickal Art of Austin Osman Spare
Twilit Grotto: Archives of Western Esoterica
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