Moribund Cult Artist Abhor interview is up....
1.
I know Abhor has been active for yrs in the European underground but
to your North American folk you are a band that is very underground.
Tell us a bit about the band and what your past has been like?
We’ve
been on the scene since 1995 and released many albums with
different Italian labels. That’s why our distribution has been
unfortunately poor and rather limited. Every full-length we released
is a different chapter on our history but at the same time they’re
all deeply marked by our sharp and broad style.
The
line-up has changed through the years. On the first period of our
existence some members of historical Italian black metal acts has
contributed to record our albums. However we’ve become a
stable triad on the last years.
2.
With Abhor Moribund is the 1st connection I have with band . Has the
sound always been a mix of 70's Horror Soundtracks, Prog Rock and
Black metal as it a very interesting sound indeed. Where did this
inspiration come from?
The
base of our music has always been black metal carved with esoteric
themes. During the years, we’ve evolved a personal taste for horror
music and the insertion of prog/rock elements emerged as naturally
consequence! As you probably know, Italy claims a strong tradition of
progressive rock, and we’ve all grown up listening to Goblin, Le
Orme, PFM and such bands... in addition to this we find interesting
using “doom” parts on our songs, with sample of good old horror
movies.
3.
Abhor seem to like to mix the old german and polish Black metal sound
with A soundtrack/Prog rock element with "Ab
Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti" Is
there a running theme with the album o r just a collection of
chilling and haunting songs?
The
whole album has been written by Saevum and Kvasir, we work
comfortable together. One of us come out with a guitar line and then
we start the arrangement of the other instruments. The result is what
you listen to the cd…we’re just inspired by tons of bands both of
the black metal scene and other genres.
This
is anyway the most mature and intelligent album we’ve done so far.
We can’t get tired of listening to it!
Concerning
the lyrics I can say that the lyrical concept of the album is the
Witchcraft. An argument that surely has already been used by other
bands, but not for this banal or uninteresting. It has been quite a
long process writing the lyrics, we went for a long research in the
region where we live, looking for ancient books, manuscripts and
witness from elderly. For this reason lyrics are both in English,
Latin and Venetian Dialect.
4.
Do you think a band like Abhor is really a black metal force now or
is it something all more and expanding all the time?
Black
Metal for us is more about the essence and the way of being then the
music itself. It’s a form of esoteric art available to the few who
can perceive the refinement…we’re gonna praise the Black Metal
verb forever.
5.
How did you come to work with Moribund . One of the finest
Underground metal labels around . Their release consistently are a
cut above the rest..
Simply
sending the promo to the Old Goat and he got back with a deal.
Personally we’re satisfied on how things are going and that’s
important for us to have a solid label behind. It’s gonna be a
killer-release!
6.
Your website zine http://www.legioneocculta.com/ is
very minimalist and distant was this on purpose as I like the feeling
of what Abhor presents in art, music and themes.
We
would personally have avoided the website. The putting on line of it
has almost been an obligation, because folk asked it continuously.
It’s a little bit outdated but we’ll revisit it soonish with a
new and even more minimalist and essential version. We don’t
support the so-called nowadays social-network, so every
myspace/facebook or whatever account is a fake. Here you got one more
reason why we put up a website, so that people can have the official
connection and way of communication with the band.
7.
Will Abhor be working on any Videos or DVDs as the music really fits
this. I would like to say you are the Goblin of the Black metal
world. Its just what I hear..
As
actors do, so we bow to compliment…thanks. We wish the
listener to remind such band listening to our music and apparently it
works. Honestly we don’t copy their music but I can say they
influenced us strongly both with their works and their
live-performances.
About
a Video we have some projects going on, but I can’t really say how
long they’re gonna take.
8.
Will Abhor be performing live in 2011 at all . I was wondering what a
live show is like at I know they have been done. Are they very
visual?
Currently
we’re just a studio band. Our living situation and the distance
between each other doesn’t allow us to performance live easily.
Anyway we used to make gigs often till 2006. The visual side has
always been important for Abhor, as our art is global. By that I mean
both musical, literal and visual. We used costumes, candelabrums,
webs, fire-breathing etc to get a theatric and unearthly
atmosphere…yes we took care a lot about the visual side.
Future
in uncertain…and we do not want to exclude to came back on stage…
9.
Whats your collective thoughts on the Current Underground music
scene. Are Webzine, digital releases,social networking, internet
radio and Internet a blessing or curse to what you create?
I’m
answering to a web-zine interview, so I’d be hypocritical to curse
the internet-phenomena..even if I should do it! Lots of things
changed from the first ’90. Back there were tape-trading and snail
mail that ruled..I guess I am a nostalgic and I guess those time were
better. The negative aspects of the web is that Black Metal has
become available to the masses and wide-spread. Times ago it was
really eliterian. Faith, Coherence, Purity on Black Metal are no
more, we’re not breathing the same insane air of the ’90. The
broadcasting has broked the scene.
10.The
vocals with mixing Grim Black metal, Sung Female and spoke word
moments make it all the more interesting. has just happened over time
or was this always the way?
We
always tried to get a mystical atmosphere by a unique sound. Then
the using of different vocals, the sudden variation of theme, and the
composition with different musical instrument makes it more
interesting…as you said…
11.
If someone was to ask the members of Abhor what style you play and
what is the overall meaning of the band how would you tell them ?
ABHOR’s
music stands for the unmistakable mystical atmosphere that makes
personal and unique the
sound
of the band. The concepts concern Occultism, Esoterism, Alchemy,
Witchcraft, Satanism and Folklore..
12.
You have working with many labels is this just the way for a band
that is more cutting edge as labels normally have a hard time
promoting more experimental bands?
Man,
honestly we’ve seen bad times. We’re always been on the edge, got
poor contracts, and shitty distributions. After 15 years we’re
still alive, stronger than ever and finally getting a good promotion
and distribution by Moribund Cult. That’s a good reward for never
having giving up.
13.
If you have any closing thoughts please place them here..
Check
out our new album, 27th september.
You’ll be surprised to find such a
mature and intelligent album. Very unlike almost every black metal
act nowadays.
Thank
you for sharing your thoughts Mr. Clint and thank to Absolute Zero
Media...see ya in hell!
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