Customer Reviews

Infernal Texts: Nox and Liber Koth

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"The Infernal Texts: Nox & Liber Koth" (Second Revised Edition, 2004) includes a foreword by author/editor Stephen Sennitt, who explains that the book "was originally published as two separate limited editions [. . .] by Logos Press in 1997 and 1998." A short biographical note about Sennitt states that he created and edited the occult journal "NOX" and is the U.K. Coordinator of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. In addition to Sennitt, who receives authorial credit on the book's front cover and title page, a number of other authors have pieces that appear in this book.

As the book's subtitle indicates, it is divided into two main sections. Sennitt describes the first section, "Nox," as "an anthology of truly _Infernal Texts_ on the cutting edge of modern sinister occultism!" "Nox" is further subdivided into three parts. The first is described by Sennitt as "a representative selection of transgressive essays from the satanic Order of the Nine Angles." The second subdivision is a collection of texts from the Werewolf Order, which is defined in one of these texts as "an elite sodality of black magicians who are creating a new world order based on satanic principles." The third part of "Nox" is a group of "essays by a loose configuration of serious Left Hand Path Occutists"; Sennitt calls this "ever evolving, ever mutating" group "The Nameless Sodality." Altogether, the texts of "Nox" take up pages 8 to 79 of the book. They are followed by a demonic-looking series of illustrations (81-88), and then by the second main division of the book, "Liber Koth" (89-118). On the book's back cover, "Liber Koth" is described as "a book of invocations utilizing Lovecraftian symbology."

Overall, I found this to be an intriguing collection of writings. Some selections from the Order of Nine Angles section include "Satanism: Its Essence and Meaning," a short essay by Anton Long; and "The Satanic Mass," the text of a ritual. Selections from the Werewolf Order section include an essay, "Are You a Werewolf?", from the WO Den Zarathustra, which explains the ideology and organization of the Order; and "Radio Werewolf," an essay by Betty Purdy about "the sonic propaganda unit of the Werewolf Order." I found the most interesting article in the "Nameless Sodality" section to be Phil Hine's "The Howling," a description of a "shaman's journey" which he undertook. He describes in detail the remarkable ritual techniques by which he accomplished an exploration of the demons of his own psyche. "Nox" also features pieces by David Myatt, Peter Smith, and others. "Liber Koth" features a series of sigils, names, and magical workings. Koth is described as "the Black Tower of Set which overlooks the Abyss," and also as "the Tower of Chaos, the Secret Eye."

As a whole, the authors in the book cite and draw on a huge range of cultural phenomena: kumdalini yogic techniques, orgone energy, Odinist paganism, the story of Jesus Christ, the myth of Oedipus, the Tarot, the use of hashish and "magic mushrooms," working with crystals, "magickal masturbation," the use of the Ouja board, and more. Some of the names cited along the way include Anton LaVey, Aleister Crowley, Austin Osman Spare, Nietzsche, and Jung.

Parts of "The Infernal Texts" struck me as underdeveloped, bombastic, or obscure. Also, the blatant racism and homophobia, not to mention the idolization of Charles Manson and Hitler, in Purdy's "Radio Werewolf" may strike even the most iconoclastic readers as going too far. Yet at times the contributors attain real moments of prophetic grandeur, and offer serious, open-minded readers glimpses of a vast and wondrous cluster of alternate realities. I recommend this book in particular as a follow-up to Anton LaVey's venerable "Satanic Bible" and "Satanic Rituals."

Stephen Sennitt, member of The Esoteric Order of Dagon, has been involved in the occult for many years. In 1986, he founded NOX magazine, dedicated to Chaos Magic and influenced by, among other, Kenneth Grant and H.P. Lovecraft. The magazine also worked as a forum for others interested in the "dark" side of the occult, and eventually it became quite successful. Sennitt has been involved in the occult ever since.

The Infernal Texts was originally published as two separate volumes, Liber Koth (1997) and Nox: The Black Book (1998). The present volume is an anthology which, according to the author, is "on the cutting-edge of modern sinister occultism!", and it's made up of two parts, Nox and Liber Koth. Nox is separated into three sections:

The first, The Order of the Nine Angles, consists of different essays from the satanic organization with the same name. This particular group has gotten a bad rep within certain circles, because of its ties to the extreme right, but nonetheless, the essays are still well-written and have a wealth of information for anybody interested in their view of Satanism.

The second part, The Werewolf Order, deals with the group with the same name, founded by Nikolas Schreck, and this too has much interesting things to offer.

The third part of Noz, The Nameless Sodality, has several different essays written by different names within the occult, all with different backgrounds but all devoted to the Left Hand Path.

The second part of the book, Liber Koth, has several different invocations all inspired by the mythology of H.P. Lovecraft, for instance Yog-Sothoth and Cthulhu. This part is more of a practical nature compared to the first part's theoretical focus.

Overall, The Infernal Texts is mostly written to already practicing magicians. It's not written for beginners to the occult of the Left Hand Path, and if you don't feel like practicing magic, then I doubt you'll find it very interesting. However, if you ARE a student of the "sinister occultism", then you should definitely give it a try.

First there never was an Order of Nine Angles. Anton
Long, Christos Beest, etc were pen names of David Myatt all written in his Satanic phase which did incorporate National Socialism. Later he he dropped the Satanism and he
founded "Reichsvolk" and influencd "Combat 18", a notorious right wing fighting group. Then later he converted to Islam and is now an anti-zionist whatever.
Last I heard of the "Schrecks" they were fronting a group that actually worshiped the god Set as opposed to the Temple of Set and now that group is defunct.
The only text of present value is "Liber Koth" which
is a very practical mini grimoire of Lovecraftian magic. I hope the author would consider publishing it once again in seperately even in a chapbook if necessary.
PS Even though "Liberaunchy" has nothing to do with the book or the review I put it in because I liked it

What do racism and homophobia have in common with magick or with the mysteries, aside from these "themes" being an historical "curiosity", when humans were more idiotic than we are now? I don not know. There is NO REASON why bigotry in any form should be tied in with the black arts, no matter how "cool" it seems. I do not care for any excuses or apologia for those parts in this book; racism, homophobia, etc., are disgusting, outmoded beliefs and attitudes which should have gone the way of the dodo bird and slavery, never to be supported by anyone.

What is our problem? Apparently we refuse to mature as a species. Is magick is not enough anymore? Are we that desperate for more more more "power" that we begin to cannibalize eachother via troglodyte hatred? How stupid. These demonizing (ironically) attitudes do not make anyone "hardcore", it just makes one ignorant. I don't understand how homophobia helps anyone's rituals, spells, etc. How does racism do the same? And how does this truly empower our magickal or mystical paths?

I hope someone edits that garbage out of this book. How is the racist material in this book "chaos magick"? Or even "dark chaos magick"? How are these racist stances part of a magickal curriculum? They are not. Obviously the material was intended to "shock", but why not put information relevant instead of loser shock value fluff? That bigoted stuff really is completely uncalled for. Why did this very intelligent, and apparently experienced occultist, AND publisher, give the time of day to that stuff -aside from shock value- is beyond understanding.

Apart from some knickknacks from other occultists, specially Phil Hine's material (who happens to be gay!), the only useful part of the book is at the end; the Lovecraft inspired rituals. There is much better occult and magickal material out there (and some of this better material was contained in the magazine the information in the book was extrapolated from in the first place!), with enough darkness to make any black magician shed a black, oily tear.

Libraries strong in occult and chaos magic will welcome this collection of works edited from the famous occult journal NOX from 1986-91. It includes the 22 'Infernal Texts' from the Order of Nine Angles and others and offers a range of topics from 'Lovecraft & The Dark Gods' to 'Tuning to Alpha'. A serious pick for any occult library.

for those who are into traditional Satanism as well as the Old Ones - buy this book! i've been delving in this same dark current for awhile - mixing the Left Hand Path with the Cthulhu Mythos - and have found only a few who understand. this book resembles many of my own ideas, so i loved it. great illustrations too. my only complaint is that the book wasn't longer. if your interested in Satan, chaos magic, and Lovecraft, then read the Infernal Texts: Nox & Liber Koth. also, feel free to visit my own site, CultofCthulhu dot net

Venger Satanis
Cult of Cthulhu

Why the hell is this book over $100 here when you can get for $12.95 directly from New Falcon publications?!