The following interview is courtesy of Stuart J. Babin. It was originally intended for use in issue #1 of Spectres of the Dark fanzine. Unfortunately, the 'zine never saw the light of day so we decided to include it here for your enjoyment.
Original text:I SENT THIS INTERVIEW TO NYARLATHOTEP THROUGH REGULAR MAIL, HIS REPLY BACK WAS DONE VERY QUICKLY SO, WE WERE ABLE TO SQUEEZE THEM INTO THIS ISSUE. TWO OF MY QUESTIONS WERE NOT SPECIFIC ENOUGH AND HE ANSWERED THEM IN THE WRONG WAY, I WILL EXPLAIN DURING THE INTERVIEW. THERE ARE FOUR BANDS THAT I AM VERY INTERESTED IN WITHIN THE NEW JERSEY SCENE: ABAZAGORATH, EVOKEN (INTERVIEWING SOON), WARHEAD, AND KRIEG (INTERVIEWING SOON). IF YOU HAVEN'T BECOME AWARE 0F THESE BANDS YET, I STRONGLY SUGGEST ALL FOUR,-stu
Stu: Greetings Nyarlathotep! How have you and Abazagorath been doing?
Nyarlathotep: Hail to you stu! I'm fine and Abazagorath continues to push forward, so all is well here. ....
How has the response been to your recent release, shows etc.? Which bands have you been playing with?
Since our CD Tenebrarum Cadent Exsurgemus has been out for almost a year now, I would hesitate to call it a "recent" release, but I guess it's doing okay. The promotion has been slow at time, but we continue to receive great reviews, and as time goes on, more distros are picking it up, so I really can't complain too much. Yeah, we've played a few shows lately. Back in Dec. we supported Suffocation and Vital Remains, and this past Saturday (Feb. 14th), we headlined a show with Blood Storm, and a few local bands.
Has there been any feedback from labels wanting to sign the band? (I was intending bigger labels)
Allow me to clear up a little confusion... Abazagorath is signed to Elegy Records. Tenebrarum... came out via this label, and we are under contract to do the next CD with them as well. At that point, we may explore some other possibilities, but I wouldn't mind sticking with Elegy if they can help us grow. Now we did release our debut 3 song mini-CD, Channeling The Ethereal Moons through our own label, Ancient Music. We pressed it in a limited edition of 500 copies, and few distros still have some copies available for sale. At one point Wild Rags and Cryonics Records were talking to me about doing a repress of Channeling..., but we decided against it. As it is, we recorded new versions of 2 of the songs for the full length. So Channeling... stands as a rare cult release....
Tell us how Abazagorath got started. What are the other members previous band histories etc.? What were some influences?
It was early 1995 when I decided that after years of procrastination, I was going to remove myself from an unfullfilling musical situation, and finally put together my 'dream band...' one that would be brutal ands dark. I quickly recruited Warhead to play drums, and since good drummers are the hardest musicians to find, I was already in decent shape. I eventually placed an ad in a local music paper looking for guitarist. After having been contacted by 5 or 6 fucking morons, I finally met 2 guys who seemed suitable - Cythrall and Morgul. We got together and jammed for a few hours, and everything seemed to click (...at least for the time being!), so by June the black cult of Abazagorath was brought forth... Prior to this, I had been in a thrash/death band called No Restraints for a few years. I had become dissatisfied with the musical direction, and we just weren't getting anywhere, so I had to get out! One positive thing I can say is that band's former members - Warhead, Mithras, Ravana - have contributed to Abazagorath as either session or full time members! Warhead has also played in a band called Sedition, Morgul had spent time in many bands, like Taste Of Fear, Crom used to play drums for Infester and the Meatshits. So we all have some previous experience. When Abazagorath started it was inspired by Venom, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Destruction, Bathory, Sodom, Mayhem, Dark Throne, and Emperor.
I have heard a lot about the scene in New Jersey. Can you tell us a little about the area? Do you think that underground bands are becoming more popular to the public?
I suppose you must have heard how lame the New Jersey scene is! Ha-Ha! I seriously do not believe that there is anything cohesive enough to be considered 'a scene'. Sure, you've got a handful of underground metal bands, 1 or 2 cool record stores, a few people doing zines, etc., but I go back to the late 80s and early 90s, when there was actually a New Jersey scene. There were a number of good death metal acts around like Ripping Corpse, Incantation, Revenant, and there were shows going on every weekend. Now, it's just a shadow of what it was... With the exception of mega- commercialized acts like Cradle Or Filth, I do not see too many underground artists becoming to popular here. It is especially hard for local acts to generate much support! On the other hand, I hate all these trendy little fucks that infest the scene, so I hope they all stay away from us!
What are some of the other bands around your area that have been getting attention lately?
Two other bands worthy of attention are Warhead (melodic but still very intense blackened death speed metal) and Evoken (monumentally depressive doom metal)! It is no coincidence that these groups both feature Abazagorath members within their ranks..., Look for both bands to put out for CDs for Elegy later in 1998!
What is your description of Abazagorath's sound? Do you consider yourselves a black metal band? Is everyone in the band influenced by the same type of music? What is your opinion of the growing number of black metal bands in the US? (Many people have expressed their disappointment with Abazagorath's latest CD for lacking the black metal sound.)
When Abazagorath started, our music was pretty primitive and harsh, but as time passes we are developing a much more grand, majestic sound. The compositions are becoming more intricate and elaborate. We sure as hell aren't a Christian rock band! Fuck! That was rather a poor question, Stuart! I'm very disappointed! We share a few common musical interest, but we all have our own personal favorites and influences, and this only positive, as it widens our possibilities. Yes, the black metal scene is walking up a little bit over here, and there are some worthy bands - ABSU, Angel Corpse, Usurper, etc. - but it really does not affect us too much. When we started, practically nothing was happening in the US, but we just did what we wanted to do. Now things are picking up, and we are still doing what we do! Really, the quality of the bands is much more important than the quantity! So in short... trendies and incompetents: Get Out!
What ideas and thoughts have been taken to write the lyrics? Is it variable process? Are you the only one who writes and contributes to them? What are you influenced most by?
Of course, the lyrics are influenced by Satanism and the Occult, and can be inspired by what we read, see in a film, or think and believe! Sometimes and idea overtakes me and I can sit down and the words just flow out onto the paper. At other times, I'11 have an idea bouncing around in my head for years in the hopes that-eventually something will form around it to flesh it out! Sometimes, I won't write anything for almost a year, and one night I'll write enough stuff for 3 songs! As the band stands right now, Crom also contributes greatly to the lyricism and writes most of the music.
In your CD book you seem to have a lot of great pictures of the band, who and what came up with the ideas and style for them? Do you wear corpse paint when you perform? Can you tell us a little about the picture on the CD cover of the cement inverted cross? Where does Tenebrarum Cadent Exsurgemus come from and what does it mean?
The visual aspects of black metal - the corpse paint, weapons, etc. - have always appealed to us, so it was only natural that we implemented them into Abazagorath's image. We do also like to reflect this in our live performances as much as possible, but are not always able to do so, usually do to some sort of time constraints or other problems you run into when doing gigs. Our former guitarist Morgul found the CD cover's photo in a book on ancient Europe. I believe that giant stone inverted cross is located somewhere in Britain or Ireland. It was most likely erected as a Christian monument, perhaps to symbolize St. Peter, who was actually crucified upside down! Anyway, we really liked how it looked - very powerful! - and decided to use it for our own unholy reasons....! The title for the CD is Latin for "As Darkness Falls, We Arise." At the time of the completion of the album's recording, we were looking for a title, and I had already been using that phrase to close out much of my correspondence. We thought it reflected our personality and the fact we are determined to conquer.....
What are Abazagorath's plan for the future? Any upcoming shows?
Right now, we have 6 brand new hymns completed. Some titles include: "In The Woodlands Shadows," "From the Timeless Eons," and "On Wings of Evil".... We hope to be hitting the studio by the middle of 1998 to record our second CD, and as mentioned earlier, it will emerge on the Elegy label. I'm sure we will be more active on the live front as well, but unfortunately, I don't expect to do any serious touring due to our job and educational commitments.
Nyarlathotep, thanks for the interview and best of luck to you and the band! Any last word or comments?
Thanks for the questions, stu, and good luck with the zine. Copies of Tenebrarum Cadent Exsurgemus can be ordered from Elegy for $14 (US)/$16 (World), and is also available from numerous other distos. T-shirts and long sleeves shirts are also available, but quantities are limited so write about availability. Anyone writing to me should send a stamp/SASE or IRC for reply. Trendies and morons need not get in touch. Zines should send a blank tape and $1 for a promo.