Marie RavenSoul: Greetings Agamoth, how are you?
| Interview with Agamoth By: Marie RavenSoul |
| Hailing from the UK, Abgott is a band who will not compromise when it comes to sound and originality. They first came onto the scene in 1997 with their first demo titled ‘Celtic Metal Battle’ and since then they have released three albums of extreme, heart pounding music. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on to bring something new to the Black Metal table. |
Agamoth: I am fine thanks, smoking a cigarette.
Marie RavenSoul: Congratulations for being chosen as the
supporting band for Turisas on their up and coming tour in the
UK. How did this come about?
supporting band for Turisas on their up and coming tour in the
UK. How did this come about?
Agamoth: Well, that is a choice due to the label. The label’s
boss is also the director in the UK for Century Media and it
seems we are the only choice for them as we divide a similar
'pushing the boundaries' in Metal. Also, there is not going to be
any other support band like in the old days; it will be only them
and us.
boss is also the director in the UK for Century Media and it
seems we are the only choice for them as we divide a similar
'pushing the boundaries' in Metal. Also, there is not going to be
any other support band like in the old days; it will be only them
and us.
Marie RavenSoul: How do you feel about that?
Agamoth: It is a good thing as it will be Viking Metal meets
Black Metal. It is super well organized to the bones and
musically people will have a chance to enjoy more styles than
the usual only black or epic. Plus, the venues are already well
filled; 5 shows are sold out. I am keen to play, so this tour is
going to be a unique event. We are going to give Abgott at its
Black Metal. It is super well organized to the bones and
musically people will have a chance to enjoy more styles than
the usual only black or epic. Plus, the venues are already well
filled; 5 shows are sold out. I am keen to play, so this tour is
going to be a unique event. We are going to give Abgott at its
best and we are finally touring the UK at once from north to south, giving the chance for more people to
see us in cities we never went to before; so I can say I feel fulfilled. For the moment, the next step will be
going back to EU for several weeks.
see us in cities we never went to before; so I can say I feel fulfilled. For the moment, the next step will be
going back to EU for several weeks.
Marie RavenSoul: You also toured Italy back in May of this year, how did that go? What is the black
metal scene like in Italy?
metal scene like in Italy?
Agamoth: Italy............ well, it was fantastic but we had priests blocking the venues entrance and police
trying to stop us… hahahahaha… but we did our shows and gave the audience what they wanted- pure
evil uncompromised Black Metal. We did lose the last show as the promoters can be really lame down
there and the last show at the 'Tana Delle Tigri' organized by a man into Metal... (poser), was cancelled
a few hours from its start. We did a meet and greet with people in a local bar and it turned out to be
awesome. The scene there is a great scene and people follow Black Metal as fanatics, but the structure
sucks.
trying to stop us… hahahahaha… but we did our shows and gave the audience what they wanted- pure
evil uncompromised Black Metal. We did lose the last show as the promoters can be really lame down
there and the last show at the 'Tana Delle Tigri' organized by a man into Metal... (poser), was cancelled
a few hours from its start. We did a meet and greet with people in a local bar and it turned out to be
awesome. The scene there is a great scene and people follow Black Metal as fanatics, but the structure
sucks.
Marie RavenSoul: How did you handle the priests?
Agamoth: The priests were really aggressive and abusive and started to threaten kids, so we faced
them and told them how we were not evil like they were, by doing what they were doing, right at that
moment. There is no law to stop music but actually we said the devil doesn’t like Metal…hahahahahaha.
Well, the promoters did chill them down, but I am sure they gave lots of trouble to the venues later. It
was the reason why I left that country back in 2000.
them and told them how we were not evil like they were, by doing what they were doing, right at that
moment. There is no law to stop music but actually we said the devil doesn’t like Metal…hahahahahaha.
Well, the promoters did chill them down, but I am sure they gave lots of trouble to the venues later. It
was the reason why I left that country back in 2000.
Marie RavenSoul: That is a real shame that they think they can do things like that. I admire you for
standing firm.
standing firm.
Agamoth: Well, I am a human being and I am free from their chains! Unfortunately, in that nation,
religion is terribly strong; but nothing can stop me from expressing Metal to the kids.
religion is terribly strong; but nothing can stop me from expressing Metal to the kids.
Marie RavenSoul: Now, your new album, ‘The Artefact of
Madness’ that came out in the fall of 2006 was signed with the
label Helvete and Hate. Has the partnership been working out
well?
Madness’ that came out in the fall of 2006 was signed with the
label Helvete and Hate. Has the partnership been working out
well?
Agamoth: That partnership is excellent to be honest. Helvete
and Hate is a duo- a man and a woman and they are strongly
satanic in their act and so rebellious that they believed in us.
They are doing all they can for Abgott- non stop 110%
commitment. I don’t want a big label, I want some one that
takes care of my music and they are perfect. They also are a
management company for us and they take care of promoting
Abgott anywhere they can. You can see the tour they put on...
you see, most of the labels nowadays don’t care about new
acts; well, Helvete and Hate does.
and Hate is a duo- a man and a woman and they are strongly
satanic in their act and so rebellious that they believed in us.
They are doing all they can for Abgott- non stop 110%
commitment. I don’t want a big label, I want some one that
takes care of my music and they are perfect. They also are a
management company for us and they take care of promoting
Abgott anywhere they can. You can see the tour they put on...
you see, most of the labels nowadays don’t care about new
acts; well, Helvete and Hate does.
Marie RavenSoul: I can tell that you really believe in your music to the core and Helvete and Hate
seem like a very honorable label. On your website it says that they had arranged for distribution of ‘The
Artefact of Madness’ throughout the UK and Europe, how have sales been and is there plans for
distribution in other parts of the world, such as North America?
seem like a very honorable label. On your website it says that they had arranged for distribution of ‘The
Artefact of Madness’ throughout the UK and Europe, how have sales been and is there plans for
distribution in other parts of the world, such as North America?
Agamoth: The sales have been excellent all over the UK and also good in EU. And to be honest we
have sold also in US through the internet through play.com, Amazon and Ebay. In the past, with the
‘Fizala’ album, we did get a deal with Oracle Music from Los Angeles, so we had some attention from the
US back then and the results are coming now. We are really working hard on making sure all works
perfect and with the distro deal, H&H has scored in EU. It is surely a short time to wait till we approach
the US. Code 7 and Plastic Head are a good deal for new comer bands.
have sold also in US through the internet through play.com, Amazon and Ebay. In the past, with the
‘Fizala’ album, we did get a deal with Oracle Music from Los Angeles, so we had some attention from the
US back then and the results are coming now. We are really working hard on making sure all works
perfect and with the distro deal, H&H has scored in EU. It is surely a short time to wait till we approach
the US. Code 7 and Plastic Head are a good deal for new comer bands.
Marie RavenSoul: How do you think that your sound has changed since Abgott’s self-titled album?
Agamoth: When Abgott first came to see the light of day, I was terribly involved in black old school and
Scandinavian metal, but I created my own view of it and never liked to copy any one; yet I was influenced
in the back of my mind, so the sound of the album reflected that. But with ‘Fizala,’ our second release, I
stepped into a more personal approach and sound wise I stepped into a different land where I cared
more for the atmosphere- sulfurous and evil, which was quite far from Norwegian black but still sounded
rough. With ‘Artefact’ I wanted black with the element of quality that can be created with a proper
recording, so it was tough to recreate a proper black metal sound with a more definite approach and
composition as that required more clean sounds than fuzz guitars. But I made it and thanks to Alex the
producer, we recreated an even more personal sound quite far from the usual standard. My goal is to
be myself, maybe it’s arrogant, but I don’t want to be a clone... I guess I am on the right way.
Scandinavian metal, but I created my own view of it and never liked to copy any one; yet I was influenced
in the back of my mind, so the sound of the album reflected that. But with ‘Fizala,’ our second release, I
stepped into a more personal approach and sound wise I stepped into a different land where I cared
more for the atmosphere- sulfurous and evil, which was quite far from Norwegian black but still sounded
rough. With ‘Artefact’ I wanted black with the element of quality that can be created with a proper
recording, so it was tough to recreate a proper black metal sound with a more definite approach and
composition as that required more clean sounds than fuzz guitars. But I made it and thanks to Alex the
producer, we recreated an even more personal sound quite far from the usual standard. My goal is to
be myself, maybe it’s arrogant, but I don’t want to be a clone... I guess I am on the right way.
Marie RavenSoul: What are some of your influences?
Agamoth: Too many when I am not writing… hahahahahahahaha. When I write music I close myself off
from outside music and any specific band, as I want to be myself to the extreme as possible.
from outside music and any specific band, as I want to be myself to the extreme as possible.
Marie RavenSoul: I admire that you want to
be yourself. Too many bands seem to be
similar without any uniqueness to them. You
are bringing something new to the table of
black metal. On the cover of ‘Fizala,’ your 2003
release, there is a pentagram. What does that
mean to you?
be yourself. Too many bands seem to be
similar without any uniqueness to them. You
are bringing something new to the table of
black metal. On the cover of ‘Fizala,’ your 2003
release, there is a pentagram. What does that
mean to you?
Agamoth: That design for me is representing
the evilness spawned from beyond in your
mind and in your body. The pentagram points
down as it is a more material representation of
will power and the image is feminine to
represent the inner desire which we all have,
but no one leaves it free to be so. I actually
the evilness spawned from beyond in your
mind and in your body. The pentagram points
down as it is a more material representation of
will power and the image is feminine to
represent the inner desire which we all have,
but no one leaves it free to be so. I actually
Marie RavenSoul: What kinds of things do you like to write about in your lyrics?
found something similar on one of my all time favorite comics- purgatory, which has a similar pentagram.
The feminine figure is a lady from a porn magazine and she was perfect, so there on that cover she
represented inner darkness and desire. Pentagrams and ladies are the materialization and
symbolization of such a will power.
The feminine figure is a lady from a porn magazine and she was perfect, so there on that cover she
represented inner darkness and desire. Pentagrams and ladies are the materialization and
symbolization of such a will power.
Agamoth: Well, I am a writer who doesn't like closed lyrics, which means you can read what you want
out of them but only a few will get the real meaning. I can talk of horror as in satanic philosophies or
carnal pleasure, but it will be there only for those that want to find it; otherwise, they are just a
completion to the music itself. With ‘Artefact,’ I did concentrate on a more material matter like the pain
anyone can give to someone else for pleasure or for hate or for sickness or just for the taste of giving
pain. Surely, in the past album I was more focused on specific matters like the Al Azif and its divinity, but
still you can read a lyric and it sounds apocalyptic, antichristian, satanic or from a fantasy world.
out of them but only a few will get the real meaning. I can talk of horror as in satanic philosophies or
carnal pleasure, but it will be there only for those that want to find it; otherwise, they are just a
completion to the music itself. With ‘Artefact,’ I did concentrate on a more material matter like the pain
anyone can give to someone else for pleasure or for hate or for sickness or just for the taste of giving
pain. Surely, in the past album I was more focused on specific matters like the Al Azif and its divinity, but
still you can read a lyric and it sounds apocalyptic, antichristian, satanic or from a fantasy world.
Marie RavenSoul: Is there something specific that you would like to cover in a future album?
Agamoth: Yes, there will be but always as an open interpretation. There is a clue to understanding the
meaning of the lyrics but I would leave the audience to find it. I do speak a lot of Satanism in my albums,
but it is hidden and more cryptic, as I am sick of spreading around a word that people misuse. So only
those that understand the 616 will get the message and unveil the secret behind.
meaning of the lyrics but I would leave the audience to find it. I do speak a lot of Satanism in my albums,
but it is hidden and more cryptic, as I am sick of spreading around a word that people misuse. So only
those that understand the 616 will get the message and unveil the secret behind.
Marie RavenSoul: How would you like to see Satanism represented in Black Metal?
Agamoth: Simple- more personal and more intelligent than simply showing it off like kids do.
Marie RavenSoul: As a Satanist myself, I thank you for that. How do you feel about how it is
represented by other bands?
represented by other bands?
Agamoth: Well, everyone represents Satanism in the free way they want; but I believe they should treat
it with more respect and with more of an ethic approach like the way you present it, for example. It makes
sense, as it should be a personal view, free from schemes and stereotypes and over used symbolism.
it with more respect and with more of an ethic approach like the way you present it, for example. It makes
sense, as it should be a personal view, free from schemes and stereotypes and over used symbolism.
Marie RavenSoul: What are some of your hopes and plans for
Abgott?
Abgott?
Agamoth: Well, the future is always difficult to predict, but lets
say that my visions are based on touring as much as possible,
preparing a new album that has been done properly and to keep
promoting ‘Artefact.’
say that my visions are based on touring as much as possible,
preparing a new album that has been done properly and to keep
promoting ‘Artefact.’
Marie RavenSoul: What do you want people to get from your
videos?
videos?
Agamoth: My videos? Well, I want them to see what they always
wanted from a music video which means not that much of the
band only playing and them being macho. I want violence, I want
scary images and why not a hint of sex. I always wanted to see a
horror video properly made- violence, blood and hot girls and of
course extreme Metal. I believe this is what most of the kids want
too and actually I receive complaints that the videos were not
aggressive and gory enough.
wanted from a music video which means not that much of the
band only playing and them being macho. I want violence, I want
scary images and why not a hint of sex. I always wanted to see a
horror video properly made- violence, blood and hot girls and of
course extreme Metal. I believe this is what most of the kids want
too and actually I receive complaints that the videos were not
aggressive and gory enough.
Marie RavenSoul: Wow. Looking back at the videos from the 80's and 90's, what do you take from
them? What is your favorite video?
them? What is your favorite video?
Agamoth: Hahahahahahahahahaha… I used to love WASP and their videos were fantastic…
Hahahahaha… Now they are pretty cheesy; but what you see out of it is a storyline, a proper film making
type of video, not just a band playing. You need to have the music well visualized and they used to do it
properly. Still, my videos must be different from the rest.
Hahahahaha… Now they are pretty cheesy; but what you see out of it is a storyline, a proper film making
type of video, not just a band playing. You need to have the music well visualized and they used to do it
properly. Still, my videos must be different from the rest.
Marie RavenSoul: What are some of the things that you like to do outside of Abgott?
Agamoth: Outside of Abgott, Agamoth likes to drink and spend time with his close friends. I like to read
and lose myself in dvds and cds. I’ve got a lot of people to deal with and so I do end up going around to
several pubs and clubs and I am very predictable when not playing.
and lose myself in dvds and cds. I’ve got a lot of people to deal with and so I do end up going around to
several pubs and clubs and I am very predictable when not playing.
Marie RavenSoul: Are there any last comments?
Agamoth: Never stop believing in and fighting to produce killer albums. Be free; be yourself.
Sincerely,
Marie RavenSoul
Marie RavenSoul