Taipei Metal

Interview: Abhor - On Esoteric Winds

For the past 15 years plus, Italian self-described “Esoteric Horror Black Metal” band Abhor has gone about maniacally splicing the unexplained elements of mankind's wayward path along the astral plane, occultism, witchcraft, and esotericism with an atmospheric, depressive, and darkly beguiling musical formula that drips from the many disparate branches of the black metal family tree. Though various forces have conspired in the past couple of years to keep Abhor off the stage, the band has nevertheless continued to compose, and has just released it's fifth full length album, the thought provoking and intriguing  Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti, a record that, while low on technicality, revels in its slow, simple brand of misanthropy and broad, heady exploration through minimalist but recognizable black metal progressions and layered keyboard atmospherics. Band founder, guitarist, and composer Domine Saevum Gravem spoke to Taipei Metal about the band's history, philosophy, and new album.

Interviewer: Joe Henley

Taipei Metal: Abhor has a new album, Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti, coming out on Moribund Records. What was the band looking to express on this release?

Domine Saevum Gravem: The concept concerns the arts of witchcraft seen and interpreted through its many variations and through changes that witchcraft has undergone over the centuries. Musically, we tried to combine the classic black metal with some form of horror progressive rock of the ’70s . The result seems original and satisfies me. I hope it’ll be appreciated by our fans.

Taipei Metal: What is the main philosophy behind the music of Abhor?

Domine Saevum Gravem: The main philosophy of the band, and the reason because the project was born, is to satisfy our artistic vein and inspiration generated by the world of the occult.

Taipei Metal: Four years passed between In Nostrum Maleficium and Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti. What caused the delay?

Domine Saevum Gravem: After the creation of In Nostrum Maleficium the activities of the band has been suspended for some time. The registration of the new album has taken a long time, being done in several sessions at different times. For the composition of the songs we have invested nearly a year. Indeed  we’ve had a change in the line-up (loss Ahrin, drums) and various commitments outside the band (work, family, etc). Consider also that we live in different areas of the world and it’s difficult to organize rehearsal and consequently record.

Taipei Metal: The Abhor website describes the band's sound as “Esoteric Horror Black Metal.” What led you to this definition of your music?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Beside music developed  Abhor as a coven for the study and application of esoteric arts and the growth of the inner ego. The dark side of life, and the horrific aspect of it, is something that has always fascinated us. Thus came naturally up the label Esoteric Horror Black Metal

Taipei Metal: Abhor has existed for over 15 years. What has kept the band going for so long?

Domine Saevum Gravem: We are the demonstration of consistency, conviction, dedication and true faith. We have deeply demonstrated we are not part of the mass of unnecessary band that breaks out after the first record. Until I get the spiritual and physical strength Abhor will live.

Taipei Metal: Over the course of five full length albums, how has Abhor progressed or changed musically, lyrically, and personally?

Domine Saevum Gravem: As musicians we are much improved, not much from the technical point of view (because our music is not technical) but in terms of composition and arrangements. About the poetic level: honestly, when I read the old lyrics, I am still proud, so I do not see any significant evolution. As men, we have grown a lot, maturity over the years. Regarding your question I can add that  is our constant challenge to try achieving an upper level constantly.

Taipei Metal: Abhor's songs explore many different themes, such as occultism, folklore, Satanism, and witchcraft. What is it about these subjects that draws you to them?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Difficult to say. In my case I think it's a vocation, a natural predisposition towards the unknown. It is something that has walked with me since my childhood . This is a question I often ask myself in the everyday life, but still haven’t found a full answer. Probably an instinctive inexplicable attraction.

Taipei Metal: Abhor also delves into esotericism. Which specific areas of esotericism does Abhor draw out in its music, and what caused you to choose them?

Domine Saevum Gravem: We have never been an esoteric trend followers and we have no specific characters "myths" such as LaVey and Crowley. Our power has always been a personal position and personalized. The world of the occult is very wide and thoughts are infinite. I use to study different topics of esotericism and adapt things to my being from a philosophy to another. For this reason I speak through Abhor about different topics as Sumerian cults, Witchcraft in ancient Italy and Spiritualism.

Taipei Metal: Being from Italy, what is your assessment of the metal scene in your home country?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Unfortunately I’ve listened to many bad and boring to death black metal bands in the last period. But there’s some worthy as well. To name a few: Mortuary Drape, Opera IX, Beatrik, Altar of perversion, Abysmal grief

Taipei Metal: Describe what fans would see at a typical Abhor live performance to accompany the darkness, bleakness, and atmospherics of the music.

Domine Saevum Gravem: Our live performances are a gathering of lovers of darkness, who enjoyed and understand the depths of our intent.

Taipei Metal: Over the years, Abhor has shared the stage with many of black metal's biggest names, including Behemoth, Mayhem, Taake, and Carpathian Forest, and judging from your website, Abhor appears to play almost exclusively with black metal bands. How does Abhor go about choosing whether or not it will play a show with another band?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Sharing the stage with black metal acts means to have the same concept, invocation and purposes in a live-set. That’s why we try to keep on working this way. Open-air festivals or big audience concerts are not suitable to reach the right atmosphere a ritual needs

Taipei Metal: Does Abhor plan to do any touring in support of  Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti. If so, when and where? If not, why not?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Unfortunately we’ve stopped our live performances a couple of year ago. Our current living situation does not allow us to play gigs around easily. But we let the future decide if we’ll be back on stage

Taipei Metal: What are Abhor's plans for the future following the release of Ab Luna Lucenti, Ab Noctua Protecti?

Domine Saevum Gravem: Surely working on a new album and this will take long time. There’s a deep study beyond every Abhor release, and to find the right concentration beside an already busy everyday-life is not always easy. But we’ll be back for sure. Expect a new chapter in the Esoteric Horror Black Metal vein somewhere in the future! Thank you for interviewing!

www.legioneocculta.com