We do not have many rules or laws, but though we have some guidelines, we call them the Artist’s Virtues, which are quite important to us. The following describes them all and our thoughts behind it. Like the first point already tells the observant reader, rationality is very important, this means if we feel that a certain point should be added, edited or maybe even deleted, we will do that.
Rationality
Rational thinking is important! Only through rational thinking, reason and objectivity religious- and conflicts of differing interests, which doubtlessly belong to the most unproductive wars, can be avoided. To think rational means to do that from which you know that it is right, rather than doing that from which you know it is wrong. Just because something one is doing strokes ones ego, it may still be unproductive and is therefore hostile toward the artist and his personal productivity.
Sense for detail
Artists need a sense for detail. Without it they would not be artists at all. To see things that remain secret to others is one of the most useful artist’s weapons, because it may help them to direct the beholder’s, listener’s or reader’s mind toward the respective topic, thus allowing the creator to subliminally direct thoughts and to influence or even provoke certain ways of thinking as well. Always be aware of the power of your weapons, whether these are of physical or psychical nature does not matter at all.
Subtlety
Subtlety is equivalent with putting your sense for detail into practise. Whatever intention you have with whatever art you create, there will be an idea behind it. Use it well for this is your manner of expressing your mind, thoughts and opinion. Intentions do not have to be published for they may be personal ideas of the respective artist. To a greater degree it is helping every artist to examine the reactions of those who are interested in their arts, so every intention is important, but most of them should never be spoken out, thus avoiding the destruction of its impact.
Impurity
Sand, blood, water or opinions… all of it differs mostly even in itself. Pure water would never hold you alive. Pure blood doesn’t exist. If you try to display purity it will most likely look impure instantly. Those who get the hint we consider real artists.
"Purity is a dream. Nothing is pure."
Depravity
Moral is an invention of the human being. The today understanding of “morality†has gone way too far in many areas, so that absolutely natural things have been demonized by a society which more and more slithers into complete ignorance and self deception. We, The Architects of Filth, stand united against mental images of any moral code which tries to turn around the direction of the human being, to rape creativity and brainwash the unborn children of the artist, which are his arts, before they are even born. Art needs truthfulness. As we will neither lie to ourselves, nor to our children, depravity is still a useful "stylistic device" for The Architects of Filth, because depravity is real and exists all over the world. Use it wisely as you would also use any other weapon.
Perversity
Perversity can be seen as the factor producing the most provoking elements to the word of today. The media uses all kinds of perversity to dominate the masses, to build opinions and to lead people into directions predefined by them. However, this is only one of the many ambivalent meanings of the word. As long as your perversities do not harm innocents, children, animals or represent illegal acts, we even encourage you to use them as shocking or provoking elements of your art.
Blasphemy
We do not support organised religions. For us, blasphemy is just another element of art, like perversity and depravity. Although it is quite easy to blaspheme about almost any topic, we prefer to do it with style and reason.