Abigor - in honour of PK

From Imhotep #11 (and #2)

01 - the earlier days, an interview replied by PK, made back in 1997.

"Abigor is a demon, the demon of war - a commander of the infernal legions of Satan. Those who knows all about gone and upcoming battles and wars. We've found the name in our former days, during studying black-arts and witchcraft. The first time the demon's name appeared in a book called Das Buch vom Teufel but also we've got more information concerning the existence of Abigor from other scripts. Concerning the 'logo', I would not call it logo, it's for us more a kind of symbol which reflects and shows the spirit of Abigor, furthermore we don't see the inverted cross and the inverted pentagram as a kind of rebellion or whatever, it has a personal value for us, that's the main reason why we've chosen it. "

"Verwüstung / Invoke The Dark Age!" How do you look upon your debut album today?

"I'm still proud of it, at the time as we've released it, it has shown Abigor's capacity as its best. But time has brought changes and as we've developed as individuals and our art through Abigor has developed, therefore it's difficult to make comparisons how I see "Verwüstung..." today... The Dark Age will be paradise for us and hell to our enemies and adversaries. The time will rise when we sit beside Satan and watch you die... And at this moment we'll feel harmony, when we'll see mankind's end."

What is black metal to you?

"Black metal is in some ways the musical aspect of our believes, the worshipping of Satan, darkness, death and all its powers - that's also the reason why we've chosen to play black metal. We want to realize ourselves by our art, and to spread words of Satan. Christians are weaklings, no matter if they're destroyed or not we'll rule, so we don't really care too much about them. But of course we do support the war against Christianity. If a church is burned a part of my heart laughs, but the other part knows that this is not what we want to reach, nor do we come forward on our path with such actions...

Sometimes I want to get rid of Christianity and all its likes (Islam, Jews, etc.), but actions like graveyard desecration and church burning just promote their values and therefore Christianity. So lots of individuals in the genre have to wake up - think and learn, realize they are aims. Don't fight to fight, fight to win ! Of course some of them are just stupid kids and brainless idiots that hopefully will be trodden down in the dirt along with Christianity as soon as possible... We really find it sad that we've to use a lot of time trying to re-establish what so-called 'self-declared' Satanists have ruined for US, all well for all those who know what I am speaking about, all the true ones..."

"Orkblut - The Retaliation"! This is a concept album about a warrior! The story is named "Storming Onwards on Pagan Paths!" Could you tell us about your aim with this album and why you want us to unite and combine our philosophies?

"There's no special reason behind the concept of "Orkblut..." for me. It's an epos about a warrior, TT has written all lyrics on "Orkblut..." so I can't make exact statements concerning the concept of this release... Maybe the message is a kind of - ...once the flames burned high, I've seen my brothers die, revenge guides my way, all their churches will burn one day..."

"Untamed Devastation"! The fight you describe in this part, is it the pagan warriors against Christian souls? "As your god falls by your side", it says. Whose god?

"Damned, I am really tired in explaining, why, what, etc.!! We're a black metal band, therefore we support all anti-Christian and Satanic values. On our land once they worshipped the pagan gods of the Germans and Celts - Landgodhtru - meaning be true to the god of thy homeland - and that's a term which fits. Through hundreds of years the nations of Europe have lived involved in the mystic of nature - the elements, the powers of life and death, the eternal being, existing, and leaving this earth... The power of the natural circles have been realized and worshipped. The culture where we descend is a culture from Germans and Celts - a union that has brought a culture to life of might and wisdom. The pagan gods, like Wotan, have been worshipped on our land. But Christianity has infected the heart of Europe like a tumour, and it has extinguished all ways of freedom, of individual life. Wise Mages and Witches have been burned and killed in the name of Jesus, not only in the middle ages, but also hundreds of years before... There is not too much left of this union with nature and the wisdom of our ancestors, so it's time to find ways back. Maybe it's the time to follow the call of our hearts, and with our believes we've broken these boundaries - we're free and we've found a way of living in occultism and Satanism where the religious beliefs of our ancestors also have their place."

Many Black metallers (especially in Norway) have declared a kind of war against Christianity! Let us look into a crystal ball: In a distant future, all Christians have vanished into a black hole! What then?

"As there can't be only evil, there can't be only goodness, therefore there will not only be Satanists, or only just Christians. It will/must always be a kind of positive and negative, one cannot exist without the other. Maybe it's always a kind of equilibrium. Fuck, difficult to describe. But in my opinion, those who really take it serious don't wish to get any attention with their actions, it's not a kind of..., lack of affection, it's hate towards the oppressors, named Christianity. But I agree that there'll always be weak Christian minds, unfortunately with lots of influence in politic etc."

"Nachthymnen (From The Twilight Kingdom)"! Why does the night attract you in such a matter that you created a hymn in honour of the Night?

"Mortal minds fear the night and its hidden powers, the creatures and individuals which grow with the night... Maybe I am a dark person, everyone has a 'second' face, his true face - maybe mine is dark and gruesome, who cares, it's important that I know what I am, and for what I stand for and believe in. We're the wolves amongst the sheep, unseen..."

I must say that the layout is very good and such is the music! The music is based on melodies, at least that's how I feel about it! But why is it wrong to try to discover something beautiful within your music?

"There's no contradiction at all. Of course a dark person will consider darkness as beautiful. Nevertheless, we don't want to sell albums just 'cause of nice female vocals and nice synths. We want that people buy our releases because they understand our art and the way of expressing our thoughts concerning this existence and our beliefs... Fuck, seems that I am just babbling some shit here...".

Something I find attractive about your music is the disharmony! It especially occurs within "Opus IV", but it is surely present also on "Nachthymnen..."! What I mean is the sudden and surprising changes you have within your songs!

"I wouldn't call our music that original, it's simply because we know how to play our instruments and if more musicians would be able to do this like we do, there would be more great bands, and not just a mass of beginners. I would say with "Nachthymnen..." and "Opus IV" we've reached the top of our musical capacity, and it'll surely not increase too much on the next releases, but I think this doesn't matter at all. Our musical standard is amongst to top, and we'll of course do something different on our next releases, in some ways..."

What inspires you to write such music you writes?

"I don't know for sure what inspires me to write such music. There are of course other bands, but we don't try to copy them, they're simply an influence, no more nor less. I am most creative if I listen to 'bands' like Brighter Death Now or In Slaughter Natives, but it depends on the mood. If one speaks from my personal favourite bands, these are Aura Noir, Ved Buens Ende, Zyklon-B, Slayer, Kreator, In Slaughter..., Brighter Death..., Marduk, Abruptum and Mysticum. Of course others too, but these are the best."

"Unleashed Axe-Age!" A typical Viking song, or what!!! To be serious: Why did you write such a vision?

" Because of the same reason as I've written the other lyrics, simply a lyric which deal with northern mythology. We've mentioned these statement because at this time there were a kind of boom on 'Viking-black metal' bands, and we we're not willing to be linked with their genre. I don't see this era as a dark chapter in Europe's history, it was a time of glory and pride, but "Unleashed Axe-Age" is not a hymn to those who lived in this time....

"Scars In The Landscape Of God!" Do you believe in god? I hope you do, because if you don't, I cannot take this lyric seriously! I mean, how can you destroy the promised land of god if you don't believe in him?

"I believe in the existence of God, but not in his dogmas. Take a look, all religious dogmas concerning the good and mighty God are just guidelines to beg for heaven."

Austria! Are you familiar with the history of your homeland?

"I am interested in the migration of nations concerning my homeland and in the middle ages while the rest is not worth my attention. About Vienna..., it's total fucking shit to live here, I hate it, too much people, too much pollution, too many Turks. Unfortunately it's impossible to live in my old home due to work - too big distances to drive each day, also all other band members live here. But we're just here during the week, on weekends we're all in our old homes, to drink, to meet old friends, to walk in the woods. Of course there are lots of forests near Vienna, but it's simply not the same as in my old home..."

What do you think of the world as it is today?

"It's a world of materialism and nihilism in which we live. A mass-consumer society, based on dishonest and falseness, money rules the world. School, then working to earn money to satisfy the personal wishes, and then dying - a nice circle of living. In my opinion mostly people are too weak minded to open their soul and mind to other things, they don't let their eyes see, nor their ears hear. I don't belong to this way of existence, maybe once I've belonged to them, but I've developed, I belong to another species - a higher race, which stand upon these values of mortal minds."

The former question brings me over to another aspect of humanity! Why do we in the West (Western-Europe and USA) help those in the third world? Should we help those when they are guilty in their own situation? I mean, they raise children as flies and then everything turns into poverty and over-population? Are these thoughts too cynic?

"Haha, your thoughts are not too cynic, I totally agree. In Austria it's the shit with ex-Yugoslavia, collection-campaigns here and there, but why?! Maybe, France should transfer their A-bomb tests to Yugo, it would be the best solution. Hmm, I've a bit too strange view' concerning this theme and I am not willing to make too extreme official statements, so I'll let it be..."

On "Opus IV", there is this strange photo of a chair!

"The chair is a torture chair, it represents a part of a great time. A time which is gone, but a time which will rise again."

Then we have this Saturn-drawing! Within this, we have the symbols for various planets; Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Neptune and the last one I believe is Mercury (correct me if I am wrong). Saturn is placed in the middle of it! Is there any particular reason for this?

"The drawing has been done by a friend of us, who is very into astrology. And it has a special reason for the chosen planet symbols, Saturn - the keeper of the threshold..."

"Opus IV" is divided into two parts! The first part is "Horns Lurk Beyond The Stars". What do you mean by this title?

"TT is responsible for the whole lyrical-concept on "Horns Lurk Beyond The Stars", and also for the title, so I am not able to make exact statements. But it is Satan who lurks beyond the stars, the horns will appears, soon... I for myself don't see Satan as a metaphor, I believe in the existence of a 'real' Satan, a creature beyond good and evil, as I am."

Do you live like you will? Will you reach your kingdom? I am referring to the interview in Sub Terra #0 where you state that one has to do well and die like one lives! How is the right life in your opinion?

"As I've said, it's important to find your own personal way of living, no matter if it's accepted by others or not. Always stand proud for what you believe in, hiding in the shadows is not the way of the strong. And if I look into my deepest inner self my thoughts are stranger and more extreme than Christians must burn!"

"Blut Aus Aeonen" is the other part of "Opus IV!"

"Aeonen means Aeons in English, one can't describe the meaning of this word exactly... The 'reaper' does not invite you, he'll come to get your soul... He has lurked since aeons, and when the time has come he strikes, and he'll appear with death and fire... I don't care if others waste their life, therefore is the cover not a metaphor for an invitation to leave their values of materialism."

"The Elder God (My Dragon Magic)"! Do you bow before the vampirelord? Do you consider dreams as something that is not reality

"I am the vampirelord, you've to bow down before me! My dreams are real, it just another dimension, unseen for you, but real for me. The vampirelord is a part of lord Satan, a part within myself. 'Evil' is just a word which can't describe all my thoughts concerning this fact....."

How has the selling of Abigor been so far?

" "Verwüstung..." has sold about 10.000, "Orkblut..." about 7.000, "Nachthymnen..." about 12.000, and "Opus IV" 8.000 at the moment (Sept. '96). Yeah, we're 100% satisfied with the work of Napalm and all upcoming releases will exclusively be released there. They've good distribution worldwide, they also run a sub-label, Napalm America, which works good. Furthermore there is the distance between the band and the label, which is short, and we're all good friends, like a big family..."

How do you wish to end this interview? The space is yours...

"Well, thanx for an interesting and exhausting interview. Watch out for "Apokalypse" which will be released in 1997. If you want to contact us, enclose IRC, even so, no reply guaranteed. Everything is said."