Interview by FORLORN SOUL

Heil ! Which are the latest news in Abyssic Hate world ?
Quite a lot has been happening as of late. There has been a relocation to Europe and there are preparations being made for the next album. The next weeks shall prove to be extremely busy.

The release of your debut-cd was very troubled : recorded in September 1999, out in December 2000 ! What did it happen to cause such a delay ? Are the tracks included in “Suicidal Emotions” still representative about your personality and your mood today ?
There is always delays in recording between mixing and release. The reason for this is that recording is a very strenuous ordeal and by the time it is completed, I am literally exhausted and do not wish to hear the recording for some months. During this time the music will sit there until the right mindframe is reached again and then the music can be completed with the same conviction that it was recorded with. There is also a delay with how my mind is thinking compared to the message to being delivered via sound. The albums are telling a story of my past as opposed to my current thoughts of the time. The "Suicidal Emotions" album is just one part in a story which will span at least 3 albums.

The immediate comparison one builds when listening to your cd is of course that with “Filosofem”, even if you’re able to mantain your own touch and personality. How did you get fascinated by this album ? Your past releases, expecially the demos, sounded more in a Traditional Black Metal-way (Darkthrone docet), what did lead you into this drastic change of style ?
Without a doubt, "Filosofem" was the most fascinating album I have ever heard. When I got the promo, my ears were in total shock and it seemed pointless to even keep creating music when such a brilliant album had been created. None theless, after extensive listening, there was the possibility to venture further into that style and progress in a direction which was remarkably different to that which Burzum took. The early music was indeed based on speed and a strong Darkthrone influence, possibly cause of my age. At the time of the demo (7 years ago) my age was 21 and a lot less focussed, and a lot more aggressive. This was reflected in the music at the time! However, as one tends to age, so does their personality, and again this is reflected in the music. Although "Suicidal Emotions" is based upon depression and solitude, this will not always be the way (even though musically, a definite strong direction has now been established).

“Suicidal Emotions” is a piece of music characterized by depressive and melancholic strong feelings. Art is said to be in some way the mirror of his Creator, so in order to fully understand it, it is necessary to explore the artist's mind too. Many things can be guessed from the cd itself but, anyway, can you tell us something more about your personality, your inner beliefs and thoughts ?
That’s something that will come out in the course of time I suppose. My personality? Well something that would be better asked to somebody else but myself. Your own being is not the best judge of character when you need to analyse yourself - there is always a certain amount of bias.

In “Depression pt. II” you state that the causes of your sickness are to be found in the unworthy beings surrounding you (“I hate this fucking human race for what they have all done to me/Driven to this destructive state, guided by insanity”). How can they affect so deeply your life ? Wouldn’t it be wiser to reach a state of cynism and indifference towards the external world, instead of suffering even for “their” ignorance and blindness ? Have you ever thought about leaving this society and choosing an isolated, hermit-like life ?
Well, as mentioned before, what you read in those lyrics are not a reflection of the current times, and I would agree with you with the concept that if humans are to cause problems to you in such a way, then something should be done about it - whether it be running away from society in a hermit like way, killing yourself, fixing the problem, etc etc etc. As for myself contemplating about running away from the problems, of course! I think everybody has reached a stress level in which they just wish to escape and dissolve all their problems by running away. Somehow its one of those solutions which does not suit my personality and it’s more appropriate to tackle the problems and dissolve them in a way which leaves me satisfied and undefeated.

The front-cover of the album is very impressive and fascinating. Are you favourable to self-mutilations and injuries, and do you yourself are involved in these practices ? What are the inputs that lead you to cut yourself, and which are the sensations and thoughts you go through while doing it ?
The cover does not show me, but in answer to your question yes, I have practised these things before and do occasionally from time to time. Personally, its an outlet of aggression to me and it saves me a lengthy jail sentence when the rage becomes all too much, heheh. It’s an impulsive action and nothing really goes through your mind when doing, or at least mine. More often than not, some regret comes into it at some stage but one must do what is best for themselves at the time, and if that did not happen, then who knows what could happen?

In “Despondency” you write <I'm surrounded by life-loving shapes that exist without a choice/Your fears of death are covered up by the words 'suicide is weak >. I totally agree with this point, people usually condemn suicide to hide their own weakness and fear of death, and because they would never have the guts to do it themselves. But in some interviews I read, you say on the contrary that suicide is for the unworthy, and you hope more people will do it after listening to your music... don’t you think your position sounds a bit contradictory ? So, in the end, what is your opinion about this subject : suicide = expression of weakness or courage ?
That totally depends on the reason. To give 2 examples which might show a little what I mean: presume a girl and guy have split up after a few years after a relationship, and the guy thinks "I cannot continue, all is lost" and he jumps off a bridge this is an example of total weakness and stupidity, but having such people eliminate themselves is not a bad thing saves us all the trouble of getting rid of them at a later stage! To give another example, a weak man who is suffering pain and is unable to look after himself properly ... should he decide to exit from life because he is a burden to those who he cares about most, then I find that a totally honourable thing to do and far from weak. Each individual case can be judged on its own merits and there is no real way to answer this question with a simple one paragraph answer.

What are the things worth living for, in your own view ? What are the elements in your life that give you enough strength to wake up every morning defeating the growing sickness ?
It is a pleasure to wake up each morning and know each new day will bring something exciting and be a learning experience (whether it be for the better or for the worse). Each persons destiny is in their own hands and you are only going to fix your problems and shit when you get off your ass and do something about it. Its easy to sit there and whine and worry about the worlds problems (and there are many), but it takes that extra step to work past those problems and make thebest out of a bad situation ... few people tend to do this in today’s society and it is a sign of true weakness and incompetency.

What is the role your music plays in your life ? If you couldn’t crystallize some particular moments and emotions in tunes and words, how would you give vent to them ? Is the music we hear the expression of your whole existence, or of just those temporary periods of disheartenment ?
Music is my life and partially the reason I relocated to Europe. Metal is an all consuming thing (as much as that may be unfortunate at times), but such is the case and rather than fight it, I embrace it. Metal has got me through the best and worst of times and has only let me down as much as I’ve wanted it to at particular stages. Of course there are a great deal of other styles which are interesting, but for the most part, metal has proven to be the most emotional and apt for an extreme personality (like most of us have). The music you hear is a reflection of that past ... its not really an expression of myself at the moment or a temporary stage of depression.

I totally love your cd, yet I think some particulars could have been done more carefully for what concerns the album’s general sound and production. I’m referring expecially to the drums and vocals which are recorded too low; was this your intention ? Are you fully satisfied with the final result of the album, would you change anything ?
Everything which you hear is purposely done. The drums were put far back in the mix as they are by far the least important element and it’s a very strong guitarorientated album. The vocals have a sharp distortion which again get lost within the guitars, but to sound like a broken record, the album is mainly guitars and more guitars. That’s how it was written and so that’s the intentional production which was sought. There would be no changes made to the album if it were to be re-recorded now - there is no way it would turn out with the same passion and conviction.

Has No Colours rec. planned any release on cd of your old demo-tapes ? Will you record any other split with some bands in the future ?
No, the early demo’s will not be rereleased as I do not see them fit to be released expect for maybe the 1st official demo which was released in 1994 ("Cleansing of an Ancient Race"). No Colours have expressed interest to release that recording and the sold out MCD ("Eternal Damnation") on LP in a limited amount and surely this will happen sometimes in 2002.

How do the new songs for the “Medication” album sound like ? I guess you have composed much stuff at the moment, since the songs included in “Suicidal Emotions” are quite old already... In your musical evolution, are you following a predestined path or on the contrary everything is left to momentary inspiration ?
The songs are all written for the upcoming album and they are a lot more strange and extreme. The songs could be described as following in a similar vein, but certainly with an emphasis on some weird elements and more epic tracks (compared the previous album). The musical direction follows a predestined path which has been decided years ago. Once one’s personal history is laid down, it is irreversible and that’s the basis on what A.H is about.

How do you spend your time besides playing music ? What are your favourite books and movies, authors and directors ? Are you interested in your cultural and spiritual development ?
At the present time, all spare time is spent travelling and discovering new places and just enveloping myself in a new culture which is extremely unfamiliar to me after living in Australia for all my years. There is not much time to read or watch films at the moment. Cultural and spiritual development are playing a lot more important role at the moment (whether it be intentional or not) - that’s the inevitable thing which will happen when one travels.

What are for you the most depressive bands on earth ?
Skepticism, Esoteric, Burzum (metal), Anathema - probably a few others but they are the first that come to mind.

Everybody has his own ideals but sometimes it is necessary (even if almost unbearable) to reach some compromise with society if you want to survive (i.e. : working). Have you ever come to some compromise ? Are you able to live out of your music ? And if not, in which way can you earn your living without being touched by society ?
Of course! Everybody at some stage must become independent an unrelient on others to become a stronger person and survive in this shitty world. There have been stages where I’ve worked and felt like a damn slave, and its necessary at stages to progress. Am I able to live out of music? That debatable although at times you can occasionally find yourself with a little extra pocket money. I don’t think its possible to live without society if you rely on things which society produces, especially when you are in a band ... without your guitar, amps, drums, electricity and studio etc, you have no ability to create music at all.

In the interviews I read you clearly affirm not to be a N.S. supporter. At the same time you are an active member of the Pagan Front organization, which evidently involves some N.S. ideologies, and you have some anti-zionist ideas . How can you conciliate these two things ? What are the creeds and ideas you share with this organization?
I don’t affiliate myself with any terms like N.S because they are a hinderance to my mind. My mind follows its own path and although many people might put my in that political category of thinking, I see no point to it personally. My ideology is certainly not bookorientated and certainly not "traditional" N.S ideology in that respect. There are many ideals I share with this ideology and some I disagree with as well ... the Pagan Front is an elite way of thinking, and not necessarily a "book Nazi" movement ... the 2 ways of thought fit together extremely well as all Pagan Front members are a pack of individual wolves, not a brainless sheep ... like a wolf, we all have a common goal at the end of the day.

What do you think about a strange feeling as love ? Is the lyric of “Betrayed” the account of a personal experience of yours ? If so, is then love, in your opinion, just a source of suffering ?
Love is a fantastic emotion, but also a destructive emotion which can spawn more hate than anything else on this earth. The lyrics to ‘Betrayed’ is not necessarily about love it’s about anything you wish it to be which related to betrayal. Love, friendship, happiness, trust, success ... all the things in life which we as humans seek, and often to not achieve. Betrayed relates more to life, rather than anything in particular although it does relate to love as well if that’s what you wish it to. Many people seek love and are betrayed by love in their search for eternal happiness.

One morning you wake up, and you realize that for some magic event you have remained the last man on earth. How do you react ?! What would you firstly do to enjoy this coveted state of total freedom ?
I don’t know. Its unlikely to happen so its something I really never really have thought about or can comprehend in this state of mind. First thing I’d do? Who knows really ... probably a shit in the toilet. Seems like that’s a common thing for most people to do in the morning when they wake up - especially after a hard night of drinking, hehehe.

Some of your intros and outro have been performed by Peter Andersson, akas Raison D’Etre/Stratum Terror… how was born the cooperation with this artist ? Does he appreciate your music ? Do you listen to much ambient/industrial/noize stuff besides metal ?
There has been a long cooperation, but to cut a long story short, there has been 2 short pieces used to date and there is one more due to be released on the next recording. He does not really like black metal but appreciates all extreme music which is based upon emotion (which black metal is) and its great to see people appreciate music in such a way, even if they do not personally like it so much themselves. Raison d’etre is one of my favourite projects in the dark ambient / industrial style and there is plenty of bands which I am very fond of in that genre. The Swedish folk have a natural talent for creating some amazing sounds in that genre. The CMI label seems to be their central base and is definitely a label which is worth checking out ... of course, including the raison d’etre catalogue.

Ok, thanx for the interview ! Last screams of Hate...
Thanks for the interview and shoot the sub-humans.
UNITED BY HEATHEN BLOOD