Band: SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT
Country: Canada
Style: apocalyptic black metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Verminaard

Greetings, Verminaard! I guess, questions regarding SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT’s past bored you to death, therefore let’s better talk about it’s future...

- Since the release of our second CD, we have taken a break from most band activities, save for a show we played on October 31st in our own city. We have just recently began to write material for the next compact disc project. We are also preparing for a tentative European tour that will occur in the Spring of 1998.

Sorry, but I had to write down a couple of FAQ’s. First of all, concerning your band’s name... Where did you take it and why did you choose such a strange name for BM band (it fits some grindcore band perfectly, but a black metal one...)? Is there any special meaning, hiding behind these two simple words?

- Our drummer, Paulus chose the name Sacramentary in early 1993. The original meaning of the words is very simple, and is also the concept that the band «stood for» from the beginning, and that is the abolishment of all religious sacrament. We believe religion is for weak minded fools, and that it is used only for an escape from reality. This includes right hand AND left hand religion. To be a «Satanist» is just as idiotic as being a «Christian» (EXACTLY!!! - ED), as far as I am concerned, as they are derived from the same school of thought.

What was the reason for using black metal aliases? Are you just following BM tradition or there were other reasons, which forced you to name yourself as Verminaard?

- We have chosen to use aliases in this band because we do not want individual glory from playing music. To use our own names would be an act of conceit, if you ask me (And to imagine that some bands use their own faces on their covers to sell albums).  My reasons for choosing Verminaard specifically are just that.. my own reasons, and are quite unimportant to anyone. The only comment that I wish to make is that it has nothing to do with faggish role-playing games. My alias has nothing to do with the fantasy series of «Dragonlance»! Apparently, there is a character in this saga that goes by the same moniker. This is only a coincidence.

Your new album had to be released in Autumn of 1997... What causes such a long delay?

- Well, the album was recorded in August of 1997, and it was released on Hallowe’en 1997, so there was actually very little delay. I suppose the only delay that we experienced was the fact that the Canadian Postal Service is incredibly slow, and it took a long time to receive our finished product from the manufacturing plant.
 
I read a lot of «River Of Corticone» reviews and surprisingly noticed that many people consider you as «grindcore»...?

- Grindcore? Interesting. I have a lot of influences, and I have never listened to grindcore. The closest thing to ‘grindcore’ I listen to would be old CARCASS, I guess. Perhaps it is due to the overall speed and aggression of our material. Ironically, however, «River of Corticone» has a 9 minute doom song on it. I know of zero grindcore bands that do that.

Can you enlighten us a bit regarding the main concept behind your first CD?

- I could, yes, but it would require too much time and space. If anyone would like the absolute particulars of the concept story that is «River of Corticone», a paper has been written by our guitarist, Wor, and can be viewed at our website.

Some songs from «River Of Corticone» have definitely strange titles; like  «Commencement: Ouodo’s Lamentation Of Stratagem», «Reassessment Of Preliminary Defensive Procedures»,  «ATK»...

- It is all to do with the concept that I mentioned earlier.

If you’ve read my review, you had to notice that I named SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT as «black metallish DISEMBOWELMENT»... What do you think about such comparisons?

- Well, to be honest, there are a lot worse bands out there to be compared with. I respect DISEMBOWELMENT greatly, as their releases are very original and awe-inspiring. In retrospect, however, we do not purposely use our enjoyment of this band to influence our music directly. I would rather be compared to DISEMBOWELMENT (quite an original band) than be compared to the hundreds of boring «typical» black metal bands out there.

Few words of Canadian black metal scene... Can we hope, that SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT won’t be the only BM band, coming from that country? Besides you, I’m familiar only with BLASPHEMY, KATAKLYSM and BLOOD OF CHRIST, although as you can see, none of the above-mentioned bands can be named as «100% black metal»...

- I believe that the Canadian scene has always been very underground. Even back to the old days, when bands like ANVIL, RAZOR and VOIVOD were at the height of their power, you never heard much about them. The scene here is very alive, and I am proud to be a part of it. There are, unfortunately, quite a few very mediocre bands that just perform a rehashed CANNIBAL CORPSE style of death metal here. That is OK, though. The untalented bands will come and go, and the true metal warriors will remain forever.

BLASPHEMY once was the most popular Canadian BM (I prefer to call them as «primitive grind», though) band, and (if I’m not mistaken) their lineup included a nigger, playing guitar... What do you think of this fact? Isn’t black metal a kind of music, meant only for the White Men?

- I can assure you, that you are not the only one somewhat confused by this fact. If I am not mistaken (and I could be, as it is only a rumor), the nigger is now a rapper and sells crack-cocaine from his ‘gangster car’. Anyway, who cares... he is just a fuck. Black metal is strictly a white man’s realm, as far as I am concerned. Elite music for the elite society. Simple.

Lord Ahriman @ DARK FUNERAL once said that «there’s no such music as «pagan» or «viking» metal - it’s only pure fucking black metal which rules supreme! We cannot allow anyone to mix it with other musical styles...» Any comments?

- I personally think that metal is metal. There are some exceptions however. EINHERJER, for example, play «viking metal». But after a listen of their «Dragons Of The North» CD, I think that they sound like a more mainstream top 40-ish metal band. In a way, I agree with Lord Ahriman when he says that all these titles are getting out of hand. When people ask me what kind of band I play in, I just say metal. Metal is the only true thing of most of the titles. Viking metal cannot exist in the 20th century. It is the same as people performing ‘medieval music’ on their $5000 keyboard. If you truly wanted to be medieval, you’d actually learn to play the appropriate instruments, as opposed to using gear that did not even exist in medieval times.

Imagine that you’re the last man on Tellus left after some kind of cataclysm, which made the whole humanity to cease into everlasting oblivion... What will be your first steps and actions?

- The event has yet to occur in my life-span, and therefore it is impossible to infer just what one would do. I could state what I think I would do, and then after the event, I would end up doing something else. So I guess I’ll just deal with that when it happens.
 
Tell me about the person, named Verminaard... Are there any differences between your image and real life? Can you mark out your temper’s distinguishing features?

- The person named Verminaard is simply a state of mind that I enter when partaking in band activities, either musical or otherwise. He is cold, calculating and intelligent. He frowns upon any form of weakness, be it physical or mental. The real life image that is myself is identical, in every way, to the creation of Verminaard. It has a ‘title’ only for band purposes. 

Is there really any chance for christianity to fall? Wouldn’t it be the end of world civilization, as some predict? What can you (personally) suggest and do in order to erase this scum (or to make it’s end come nearer)?

- Of course there is a chance. No one would ever have thought that the Celts would fall either, but they did. The end of Christ’s reign on this planet would not bring the end to our civilization. It would greatly reduce our populace, and I am all in favor of that. Everyone fights Christianity in their own way, but my best advice is to educate yourself about other possibilities. Engross yourself in science, and in mathematical thesis. They only true escape is in the stars. This is where the next level of life stimulus must be attained.

Do you feel satisfied with your band’s present lineup? Are there any plans for inviting additional musicians in the band?

- We would welcome an additional guitar player into our line-up. We used to be a four piece, and we worked well together. This guitarist would have to be exactly to our needs, as we do fine as a three piece already. I think finding a member that has similar ideals to us would be a challenge. However, we will entertain offers.

Catharsis Records is a very small label, hence it’s quite natural if you’ll tell me that SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT moved to the more powerful and bigger company...

- At the present time, we are still on Catharsis Records. However, the distribution rights to all Catharsis Records releases are now owned by Plastic Head, and it’s thus a step closer to ‘more powerful’ things…

Some people dream of «total destruction of this world» - do you agree with them? Isn’t this a kind of an egotistic thing - I mean, our civilization can be brought to an end only through nuclear or violent biological war, which means that not all human kind, but animals and other living creatures will die as well...

- I could care less about it. It is always good when something dies. Especially humans. However, I am much to busy to worry about such an occurrence. When nuclear holocaust comes (and it will) I will be gone. And so will you. And so will everyone else. And no one will be left to give a shit.

You don’t look like a person pleased with life of yours... Why? Are you among the ones, willing to die? Have you ever met death face to face? I mean, if you did, then you would just live and be happy with this simple fact, no doubts. Life is our supreme pleasure, don’t you agree? What is so fucking attractive in death? No-one knows what awaits us there, consequently we must live, associate with other individuals, work, create and do everything which makes us «alive»... if not, then you (I don’t mean you personally) are a pathetic looser, unable to create anything worthy, worthless nonentity who poisons his own and others’ lives... Such «persons» have only one way: to commit a suicide - OUR world would become only better without their presence.

- I don’t necessarily look forward unto my own death, but I truly would not mind the death of others. Am I willing to die? Absolutely. I fear not my death. I hope that it is a long ways away, as I have a lot yet to accomplish in my life-span. However, I will not look over my shoulder watching for it. When I die, someone will likely kill me for being so apathetic. I just don’t care about it.

«True - false», «trend and fashion»... Your comments...

- a) What is true differs from person to person. One is true in his field if he takes part whole heartedly in whatever he endeavours to do. It is not up to an outside entity (another person) to determine your own authenticity or falsehood. That can only be determined in one’s own heart and mind.
b) To me, the biggest trend today is people avoiding trends. It is trendy to be non-trend. People claim to be original in their thoughts and ideals, but they are full of shit. I am not an original person, nor are you. We listen to and partake in black metal. That is trendy because of the simple fact that we are not the first to do it. It is 100% impossible to be completely non-trendy. I don’t care who the fuck you are.

Beauty, peace and harmony - do these things exist in your mind, or total blackness is the only thing that dwells in your conscious?

- Of course these things exist. There can easily be beauty in Blackness. Beauty, peace and harmony exist in my mind. They have to, to remain sane. These things can exist in the real world as well, after we cleanse religion and subhuman cultures off the face of the planet. I look forward to it.
 
Do you work? How do your working day looks like? Is there anything special which occupies you while you’re free from work (studying)?

- I currently study electronics and telecommunications at a technical school. I believe that education in technical fields is the only way off this destroyed and hopeless planet. I also own a distribution label. I also work at a metal bar that I do on evenings and weekends to generate enough income to pay my bills. I do what is necessary to survive in my current society.

What do you know about Russia? Russian (black) metal bands? What do you think of my nation?

- I know of a few bands, and have heard a couple of them. I have no relevant thoughts of your nation, as I have never been there. I respect your land as one of the northern people, and I hail to thee.

What (or whom) do you like (dislike) more than anything (anyone) else and why?

- People that kiss my ass. So many people in my home city have the members of SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT placed on some sort of martyr level. This is unacceptable. People actually ask us to sign our names on their CD’s and other merchandise. This is why we use aliases... so occurrences like these do not happen. We want nothing more than to be ignored locally. Getting letters, and emails, etc. from pertinent people in the underground is excellent. But unwanted correspondence from losers that do not know our cause and have been into metal since the latest trend arrived are asked to fuck off.

What future will bring for SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT? How long will your band stay alive...? (You see, some say things like «the band I play in is my goal in the whole life and I will play there till I die» - if a man has enough brains he must understand that it’s impossible...)

- SACRMENTARY ABOLISHMENT will remain until our existence becomes redundant. If we have no new ideas, then there is no point in continuance. Case in point, a band like SODOM should quit. They were gods in their day, and they insist on releasing rehashed lame material year after year. All they are truly doing is ruining the name that they made for themselves. Another band is UNLEASHED. Their old material was good, and J. Hedlund wrote amazing lyrics. Now, it seems as though he is just releasing CD’s for no reason. His lyrics are childish now, and the music does not progress (and once again I hail thee! You’re absolutely right again... - ED). When SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT becomes even close to that, it is time to quit.

Final spells, final curses...

- Thanks for the interview, and I wish you success. Look beyond the obvious for further attainments. I shall place our contacts here now.

SACRAMENTARY ABOLISHMENT
c/o Verminaard
864 Millbourne Road East
Edmonton, Alberta
T6K 0S3
CANADA

Catharsis Records
PO Box 539
#21, 10405 Jasper Ave.
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 3S2
CANADA

Email: cross@oanet.com