Band: ABIGOR
Country of origin: Austria
Style: black metal
Questions by: Kai Mathias Stalhammar
Answers supplied by: Virus 666 P.K. (guitars)

You have numerous demo recordings behind you… And as “Origo Regium” CD you’ve released back in 1998, doesn’t feature all of them, please talk about these works of yours.

- "Origo Regium" was released to satisfy the need of our fans of some more demo recordings, but we never wanted it to be a sell-out so we decided the feature only a few selected songs of the demos and limit this CD, so both the CD as well the original demos will always be originial and rare, simply just some collector item's. As you might know, we released "Ash Nazgh", "Lux Devicta Est", "Promo Tape 2/94" and "Moonrise" as the last official demo, they all showed a progress of development, but none of these demos offers an acceptable sound nor production to be fully released by a label...

Furthermore, here comes yet one more question regarding that “Origo Regium” piece. Why does it feature only eight tracks off your demo works? Wouldn’t it be better to include all of the early songs by ABIGOR into this, let's say retrospective recording?

- As I said, in our opinion it would not be better at all. The demos are ok, but don't represent what ABIGOR stands for, so those recordings are a part of our past we're proud of. BUT - "Verwustung" or debut offers a lot of overworked demo songs as well, so why the hell should we re-release that old shit?!

Sorry, but I haven’t heard anything concerning “Structures Of Immortality” 7’EP with an exception for the fact it was issued back in September 1998... so you tell me what it’s all about! Besides that, what’s the sense in releasing a vinyl nowadays? You see, most of metal fans don’t have the appropriate recorder in order to play ‘em… (Wasn't it a homage to the past days of UG, by the way?)

- If NAPALM would have agreed we would love to see all our releases on vinyl too because vinyls are great, better than CD's, anyway. I guess those who order the 7" have a player, don't you think so? "Structures Of Immortality" was limited to 500 pieces and already sold out at it's release date. It offers "The Spirit Of Venus" and "Magic Glass Monument", both of the album "Supreme Immortal Art" but without tons of synth and effects, so you can here it's entire structure and complex guitars...

Even if Hoernix seems to be pretty well-known studio, it looks like it has pretty bad equipment, since all of the recordings by ABIGOR possess more or less poor sound in terms of producership… And I believe you had enough funds to book a better studio...

- HORNIX has a fucking great equipment, the problem is that the producer lacks some dedication, also in the studio nearly everything sounds great but at home it sounds quite differnt / shitty. But however, we are totatlly satisfied with the sound of all our records, but we will book another studio for "Warmachine" because of the change in the material we simply need another / better / quite differnt sound, so we'll see how it finally turns out.

“Orkblut” MCD differs a lot from all the other offerings you ever beget… It seems like a certain conceptual story lurks behind, erh? Any comments on that?

- "Orkblut" was a concept, yes. The story of a pagan warrior, from the day he rises until his death, a strange concept...

Going deeper and yet even more deeper into the aeons past... “Apokalypse” MCD is your most raw recording to date. Let me assume it was some kind of a tribute to the older black metal acts, the ones you wanted to pay homage to…? Furthermore, this disk has some really weird song titles…

- "Apokalypse" offers some typical black metal in my opinion, straight and aggressive. It's no tribute just some effective piece of metal that we felt
the need to release after we were pissed by all the melodic, overproduced shit that have been released at this time. Yep, a few titles are in German (it's definitely not what I meant, man. Although, some irony might be quite appealing this time - ED).

“Satanized” is the latest CD by ABIGOR. Are you still pleased with the way it turned out? What would you name principal and most important difference if comparing it to the former works of yours?

- Basically we are satisfied, as on all records there could be things that we could have done better, but yes, acceptable! The main differnce is that Moritz joined ABIGOR on drums and that I wrote all the music and lyrics, so it is definitely a different album, but finally typical ABIGOR and if people don't understand a step in a different, even a typical step for ABIGOR, they can fuck off at least. I mean, listen to "Satanized" closely and you'll understand what's the difference and you'll have to recognize that it is still ABIGOR.

What caused Silenius’ departure? Is he too busy with SUMMONING or what? Actually, is he still into black metal?

- Silenius was tired of that style of black metal we did. He's still in black metal, stuff like SUMMONING of course, but more into that primitve vein as ILDJARN and stuff like that... it was simply a personal reason that
caused his departure from ABIGOR.

ABIGOR looks like a very productive band judging by the quantity of demo tapes and CDs you have brought forth the light! How do you contrive to put out each new effort that fast…?

- I don't know, but currently I am quite lazy and lack some free time for ABIGOR. I guess "Warmachine" will be recorded in Summer 2002, so between "Satanized" and "Warmachine" there's more than one year and a half, nearly unbelievable for ABIGOR...

How do you share responsibilities within the band?

- Currenlty I am the mastermind of the band but with Moritz on drums I've a very professional and supportive mind so I hope he'll help me out with the new material, but basically I keep the work of the lyrics, guitar, synths and sonstructures.

Tell us few words regarding each of your (as well as Thurisaz and Moritz's) side-projects, as I believe there are many.

- Thurisaz is only in ABIGOR, Moritz is in so much other bands too, KOROVAKILL, SIEGFRIED, ANGRY ANGELS, DORNENREICH, some more.

Why did you decide to divide “Opus IV” into two parts? If I’m not mistaken, “Horns Lurk Beyond The Stars” belongs to T. T., while the second chapter is all-written by you… Am I correct?

- Yes, and that's it. There aren't any special reasons for that, just an idea we wanted to realise!

Why didn’t Elisabeth Toriser participate in any ABIGOR’s CDs besides “Nachthymnen”? Her voice sounds truly bewitching, especially being an addition to the raw and chaotic form of black metal you perform!

- Because we only decided to co-operate with her at "Nachthymnen", that's the only reason. "Opus IV" with Elisabeth would have sounded awful for example!

As far as I remember, “Unleashed Axe–Age” features a certain statement regarding the so-called “viking-trend”. What made you assert exactly what you asserted?

- Because at this time all came up with some pagan, viking image, we never felt too close to that so we simply wanted a line between ABIGOR, in case these lyrics and the rest of the bands.

By the way, what is trend to you (“trend” in the whole; as a notion, you see)…?

- I don't care about trends! I mean what is "in" at the moment, especially within the black metal genre?! I don't know it, mainly because I am not informed as I haven't read any zine for more then 3-4 months nor am I interested in...

“Darkness” and “winter”; these themes seem to prevail in your early recordings lyrics-wise… Let’s just recall the song titles like “Kingdom Of Darkness”, “Weeping Midwinter Tears”, “A Spell Of Dark And Evil”, “I Face The Eternal Winter”, “Frozen Soul In A Wintershadow”… Cliche…?

- No, mindmelting and embracing form and state of minds that flow into the songs and lyrics, we feel an attraction to it.

I’ve heard that you kinda despise CRADLE OF FILTH… Why?

- I simply don't like their music and image.

What about ABMS (Austrian Black Metal Syndicate)? Does it still exist?

- No, dead since ages.

As you reside in Austria, I suppose you’re the right person to be asked if it’s true that Michael and Lethal Records appear as diehard rip-offs…

- LETHAL REX was a rip-off label yes, but it's closed for a while and I don't have any info on it.

Have you ever heard of the Italy’s heavy metal band, carrying the name… ABYGOR? As well as a French one...?

- Never.

Any comments on relationship between those of Russian and Austrian origin? How do you, sons of Osterreich, regard us? By the way, strangely enough, Austria is the only country in Europe which spawns lots of metal acts who contrive to compose their lyrics in Russian!

- Hm, not really I am not that informed abour Russia at all, it has a great history but the Communists destroyed so much... Besides that we've the same problems, we're surrounded by humans, aren't we?!

As far as I know, you have almost neo-nazi government over there at the moment…

- Bullshit! The FPO is the best political party Austria offers at the moment, the rest are false and ignorant assholes!

Hmm… That’s all I think. Any last words?

- Thanx for the support and interest in ABIGOR.
http://www.infernalhorde.com/abigor

ABIGOR contact -
Email: exitusnox@direkt.at