INTERVIEW WITH BARON VON ABADDON FOR KILLYOURSELF!!! ZINE 94

HAIL, BARON VON ABADDON! HOW IT’S GOING WITH THE BAND? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WITH BLACK FUNERAL LATELY?
BARON VON ABADDON: We are currently preparing in deep solitude our hymns for the EP, “Spells Of The Darkness And Death”. We work best when we have no outside contact, so the mail has been quite backed up. Await the new hymns from BLACK FUNERAL. Slow death, blood, hate, depression.. Upon the wings of the bat.

BLACK FUNERAL IS SIGNED TO POLISH PAGAN RECORDS FOR CASSETTE EP, SO NOW I WOULD LIKE BARON VON ABADDON TO TELL SOME MORE ABOUT THIS UPCOMING RELEASE. HOW WOULD HE COMPARE MATERIAL OF THIS CASS. EP TO OLDER MATERIAL?
BARON VON ABADDON: The EP will contain four new hymns of Grim Medieval Vampiric Black metal, plus two dark synthesizer pieces… Title of this EP is “Spells Of The Darkness And Death” and the hymns are: “The Floating Blue Witchlight”, “Rising From An Dishonoured Grave”, “Spectral Agony Of Pain And Loneliness”, “Blood Coursing Through The Veins Of Fire”, not to mention two synthesizer tracks, “Echo Of The Voice Long Vanished” and “Into The Spirit Of The Werewolf”. Our new material totally destroys the demo tracks, even though the demo is quite good being our debut.. New material got more feeling, more musical ability, faster and at the same time it contains some cold and melodic slow changes… A lot of atmosphere that gives off a very medieval feel within the riffs, drumming, vocals, synths. My vocals are nowadays a bit different too, they are much better and varied. We will take about three weeks in the studio, so it will be the way we want it.

THEN ABOUT THE DEAL ITSELF- HOW BLACK FUNERAL MANAGED TO GET THIS CONTRACT AND DID THEY RECEIVED OTHER OFFERS FROM SOME OTHER LABELS? WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LABEL FOR BARON VON ABADDON? HOW MUCH MONEY AND BIG DISTRIBUTION COUNTS? DOES OUR FRIEND THINK THEY REALLY DESERVED THIS DEAL?
BARON VON ABADDON: I sent a copy of the demo to Pagan Records with a general promo pack, and they wrote back and offered us a deal for a cassette EP and later T-shirts. They knew about my old SS Death squad, SORATH and my one spirit band DARKNESS ENSHROUD so I quess we were not so unknown for them. This label seems to be a very underground based label and they do not fuck around. It is great to see that there still are labels which release only underground stuff. I think I “trust” in this label and I have known of Tomasz for a few years because of his ‘zine (which is one of the best I know). Only bad thing in PAGAN RECORDS is that they are quite slow, but then again I’ m also slow with my mail and such, so it is no problem. The deal is for 100 tapes from the first press of 500 or 1000 (I don’ t have the contract in front of me right now). Let me tell you something. I have put 90% of my money into our black art since early 1992 when SORATH really got a line up, because in ‘91 I had a lot of problems. Now I practice this form of black art for one reason, because of the underground which is big part of my life even though Occultism and Black magick come first. I don’t make that much money from the ug and I don’t care about it because my money comes from other places…Of course we deserve this deal! We take pride in what we do, as I know I stand by what I represent and am 100%!

NEXT WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE DEBUT DEMO OF BLACK FUNERAL, “A JOURNEY INTO HORIZONS LOST”. WHAT OUR FRIEND THINKS ABOUT THIS RELEASE NOW WHEN IT HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE TIMES?
BARON VON ABADDON: “Journeys Into Horizons Lost” demo does not even compare for our new material which is far better, but I still like this tape as I have said before. It is quality Black metal art that was great representation of American Black Metal at its time. I do not look back much at all on what we could have done better back then, because we did our best and thats enough for us. The demo is still not spread as much as it could be, which will change of course. However, the response has been great and only a few negative words, but I don’ t care about it because there are always people (humans) who don’ t like something anyway. We look at negative critism as some possible improvement points but not too much, because we play from our souls, our hearts and not our wallets, you know.. Besides we play what we will and do EXATLY what WE want.

BUT HOW THE TRACKS OF BLACK FUNERAL BORN. WHO IS THE MAIN WRITER? DOES BAND SEE HARD WORK FOR EACH SONG OR IS THIS PROCESS EASY FOR THE BAND? DOES BARON VON ABADDON BELIEVE THER MUSIC HAS SOMETHING NEW TO OFFER WHICH OTHER BANDS HAVENT?
BARON VON ABADDON: The composition of the hymns is written by myself and the guitarist Nocturnal Sorcerer. I write all the poems and we collaborate the music. Asmoderic (drummer) writes some riffs here and there. It’ s very hard work for us to finish one hymn and we have thrown away many songs because we accept only the BEST. Yes, we do have something new to offer, we make quality Black metal music with lot of different feelings, very moody and dark music, quality poems which are based on dark and real subjects.
Most of the underground bands do not have the quality we have… I remember in ‘91- ‘92 there were very few Black metal bands, now Black metal of fake Black metal is as crowded as stupid grindcore “life- metal” was few years ago. We offer HONESTY, not TRENDS!!! The bands that influence us musically are BATHORY, MAYHEM, TORMENTOR, CELTIC FROST, THORNS and HELLHAMMER. No bands influence me lyrically at all!

THE LYRICS OF BLACK FUNERAL SEEM TO BE VERY INTERESTING MYSTIC TALES, SO NOW OUR GUEST COULD TELL HOW THESE POEMS ACTUALLY BORN AND DOES HE THINK LYRICS ARE IMPORTANT FOR BLACK FUNERAL? I ALSO ASKED HIM TO CHOOSE FOUR SONGS OF THEIRS AND TO TELL SOME MORE ABOUT THEIR LYRICAL APPROACH…
BARON VON ABADDON: The poems are very personal to me because they are deeply from my personal beliefs in Vampirism. Vampirism is in essence two different forms. Essence draining through astral contact, and blood draining… There is much spiritual powers within this form of the occult… Through astral body contact you can drain essence, as well as control your dreams, increase telepathy, and through Magick you can achieve spiritual immortality and join these who have risen. Satanism as far as Magick and ritual associated with Satanism and what rites I perform and study. Satanism is different from occultism as I’m sure every idiot knows. So there are many things which make up what is BLACK FUNERAL poetically. “The Floating Blue Witchlight” deals with spiritual ghostlike light that rises from tombs and leads humans into the cold dungeon. “Journeys into Horizons Lost” is about dreams, the nightside of my mind, changing my shape, my form, hunting human flesh, being in a different reality or realm in which the land is closely connected to darkness and death.. “Into the Stars of the Blazing Past” is about being in a cold forest at night, the night of fullmoon before or after the ritual… Performing lycanthropic rites, entering the state of being mental werewolf. Also about embracing the atmosphere of the night, the powers within it and my soul To become as one with the powers of Satan.. To ride the wings of the bats. “Rising From A Dishonoured Grave” is about after humanly dying of the flesh, from the essence and blessing of the Dragon, Tiamat, rising in spirit to once again haunt the human race, to become at one with Darkness eternal..

HORDES OF THY BLACK FUNERAL ARE ARRIVING FROM USA. SO I ASKED BARON VON ABADDON WHAT HE THINK’ S ABOUT THOSE NORSEMEN WHO CLAIMS THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE NORTH SHOULD NOT DEAL WITH BLACK METAL. LIKE VARG VIKERNES (BURZUM) SAYS: “HAIL THE NORSEMEN, FUCK THE REST!!!”.. AND WHAT BANDS WOULD HE RECOMMEND US FROM THE STATES?
BARON VON ABADDON: Do you think it always hot here or something? The winters here are long and brutal, full of cold, snow, freezing rain, winds, gloom and so on.. Now I am German of descent, and to answer your question about “if you don’t live in the North you can not play Black metal”… My answer to that is: To play BLACK metal you or at least one member of the band must be practising Satanism. Now if you go down to it, I am sure most or 98% of the bands there would not be a true Black metal band, period! You cant tell me different either. Of course you have to be white to play Black metal, but I notice you quoted Varg Vikernes Did you know I am the America leader of CYMOPHANE? Cymophane Is a Wotan brother/ sisterhood dedicated to destruction and death of Christianity, subhumans, weak and feeble and the rise of the North. I am of Northern descent.
Varg started CYMOPHANE, and guess what? He and my war brother Wiking Herske asked ME to join their wolf horde. I agreed with lot of ideas so I joined them. So just because I live here doesn’t stop me playing what I want. Now, those who say such shit have “just” discovered re- Odinism (more like they saw someone else doing it so they decided to get in also. I have nothing against Norwegians because I have lot of friends and allies from there, Sweden and so on… Not to mention I am not too much into America as you can probably guess. Is POSSESSED not Black metal because they are from USA, what about VENOM who are from some fuckin England? I don’t want to hear this kind of bullshit anymore!!! What about VON (USA) or DEMONCY (USA), what about DESTRUCTION? Germans are closely connected to the lands of Norway, so… Fenriz of DARKTHRONE used to wear a fuckin’ AUTOPSY (who fucking rule Death metal) T- shirt in the “Soulside…” days, which is not bad at all. I think I have make my point clear here. Anyway, the Norwegian scene is definitely the best now.

ALSO BLACK FUNERAL IS USING CORPSE PAINTINGS, BLACK CLOTHES, SWORDS AND CHAINS IN THEIR PHOTOS, SO NATURALLY I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT ALL THESE MEAN TO THIS BAND AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE FOR THEM? DOES BLACK FUNERAL PAY MUCH ATTENTION ALSO FOR THE VISUAL SIDE?
BARON VON ABADDON: For me Black metal is closely connected with my rites, my obsession, because Black metal is a medium for Satanism and it’ s another form of magick. I wear corpsepaint, warpaint, what ever you want to call it in my Satanic magick, it is to enter my mind and soul and powers as one. The spirit of the wolf, the spirit of the night. My name, Baron Von Abaddon is my ritual of Magickian name, use it within all my rites, from various Wotan based rituals, to vampiric rituals, from Satanic werewolf rituals.. These things are all a close thing to me, a cult if you will The visual side is part of me, so yes it is important I got the idea a long time ago for wearing Wolfpaint by several occult books, like around ‘90-’91. I have been into Satanism/Occult way before I was ever into Black metal or Death metal. My first band, DEMONOLATER (in 1989) was Black metal, so…

BARON VON ABADDON HAS TOLD TO BE SATANIST, SO OF COURSE I’ M FORCED TO ASK SOME MORE ABOUT HIS BELIEFS. A TRUE LIFE STYLE OR JUST A TRICK TO GET SOME MORE RECORDS SOLD? IS HE MEMBER OF ANY SATANIC ORGANIZATION?
BARON VON ABADDON: Satanism is my lifestyle and more. The occult is that too and my goals with “life” are to achieve immortality spiritually and on earth become a Magus. Outside religions mean NOTHING to me personally, I am a misanthrope. I am a member of: The Temple Of The Vampire, Cymophane, The Black Order Of The Dragon, so…I consider Satan as a force of nature, within me, a part of the cosmos. This I have come to understand through rituals, Magick and close study. I will not go into that any deeper, you can get something of the idea in my journal CRIMSON ARCANIUM which is available now.

IF SOMEBODY IS INTERESTED IN ORDERING CRIMSON ARCANIUM JUST CHECK OUT THE PRICES AND ADRESS FROM THE END OF THIS INTERVIEW.. WHAT IS BLACK FUNERAL’ S GOAL AS A BLACK METAL BAND AND WHAT THEY ARE READY TO SACRIFICE FOR IT? WHAT BARON VON ABADDON WANT S TO EXPRESS WITH HIS BLACK MUSIC? HOW IMPORTANT THIS BAND IS TO HIM AFTER ALL?
BARON VON ABADDON: Our primary goal is to create quality Grim Medieval Vampiric Black metal that is suiting to out standards, period. With our music we stand close to our foundations as a band. BLACK FUNERAL is the nightside of the dream, riding the wings of the dark bat-demon, searing within the frosty nightsky searching for the living blood, death and hate…True occult powers within the forces of the nature. Hail the Werewolf!!! Within BLACK FUNERAL, the feeling we demand to create and continue to create is based upon gaining immortality, blessed by the Vampire-Dragon Tiamat, the one who “physical” form is a seething black dracul, dragon blood…Blessed in the black oceans of blood and death. From this, the essence which is BLACK FUNERAL is raised upon and below the circling black ravens, lusting for death and eternally suffering.. Slow, painful torturing and death. Impalement within dreams. The son of Wlad Tepes dracula lives eternally in BLACK FUNERAL. Hail the prince of vampires. Hunting the dreams of the mortal kind. The worshippers of light shall perish amidst plenty. BLACK FUNERAL is basically the most important thing at this time, but you must understand my dedication to the practice and lifestyle of what is to me Satanism. The occult vampirism, study, reading, wandering semi- forgotten cemeteries at night under the sign of the cold frosty fullmoon means more to me, the taste of the womens blood, her life means more to me. Nazi- Occultism is also very important for me. It is part of my Germanic blood, past and spirit I cannot tell you what we are going to do in future, but I have been doing this since 1991 and even before that in ‘ 89, so.

HOW ABOUT THE PROMOTION THEN, HOW MUCH THIS BAND CARES FOR n? WHAT IS THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROMOTE BAND LIKE BLACK FUNERAL, ARE FLYERS WORTH IN THESE TIMES WHEN WE ARE ALREADY SWIMMING IN ALL KIND OF FLYERS? HOW MANY PROMOPACKAGES HAVE BEEN SENT AND HOW MUCH INTERVIEWS LIKE THIS HELP BAND TO GET MORE KNOWN?
BARON VON ABADDON: I pay a lot of attention with promotion, because the underground (Black metal) is so crowded that I honestly have no choice. The best way to promote band is the way you make the band before you promote. You could have a total shit band claiming to be Black metal, yelling how evil, etc you are and take so… evil photos and then record a demo with poor quality, music being total shit, promoting yourself but the band wouldn’t still go nowhere. First you must make quality music, do what is in your heart and soul, practise what you preach, record quality music and THEN promote heavily. At least that is what we do. Euronymous once told me in a letter back in ‘92-’93 that you should accept no music if it doesn’t make your back freeze. Top quality! Those are the words of truth In the past I have sent so many promo packages that I cannot keep count, and I no longer do that In 1993 I did over 50 interviews, and out of those I have received six (6) back. Unfortunately there are tons of rip offs, not as many as in ‘93 but still many. Interviews help alot though. I have refused a pile of all. kind of shit interviews that it’ s a big fucking joke! I am very picky with interviews these nights, some go right to the trash can. If zine editor asks me stupid and uninteresting questions, then he/ she gets stupid and uninteresting answers. I will continue to be very picky with the interviews about BUCK FUNERAL or anything I do. Period.

NEXT SUBJECT WILL BE GIGS.. HOW MUCH BLACK FUNERAL HAVE PLAYED THEM AND HOW THEY HAVE USUALLY WENT? ARE CORPSEPAINTINGS, CHAINS AND SUCH MUST FOR GIGS? AND WHAT OUR FRIEND THINK’ S ABOUT IDEA LIKE BLACK FUNERAL PLAYING A CONCERT COLLECTING MONEY FOR SICK CHILDREN AND VICTIMS OF WAR? OR HOW ABOUT PLAYING IN THE SAME CONCERT WITH WHITE METAL BAND MORTIFICATION? LETS SEE..
BARON VON ABADDON: We do not play gigs at this time, I doubt we ever will… No, we would never play for children, I simply hate kids. Let them play with guns more. And we would never play gig near MORTIFICATION because they are wimps!!! This light worshipper wrote me a letter because I told them if they play in our area, they won’ t make it to the end of that gig. Hell, they would not survive to the stage at all…Anyway, he wrote back and said: “We do not want any problems, we always seek for peace and harmony. As Christians it’ s not our nature to fight, that’ s why we do not play death style of music anymore because so many people hate us because of that. Now we play power Thrash!”- Go figure. MASSACRE!!! HATE!!! WAR!

BARON VON ABADDON HAS ALSO PLAYED IN ANOTHER US- BLACK METAL BAND, SORATH, WHICH SPLITTED UP SOME THE AGO. BUT WHY THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND WHAT OUR GUEST THINK’ S ABOUT SORATH’S 7″EP “HORNS OF THE GOAT” WHICH I SEE AS QUITE AN PIECE OF CRAP WITH VERY UNPROFESSIONAL SOUNDS FOR VINYL RELEASE.
BARON VON ABADDON: SORATH has been in existence since 1991, after I and the early guitar player left our first band, DEMONLATER, which formed in 1989 and was in the vein of POSSESSED, VENOM, DEATH (”Scream Bloody Gore”) and BATHORY. This band was not too good, but we played some shows in this area with spikes, etc, and I was heavily into self- mutilation as well. In ‘ 91 we decided to form SORATH, actually the guitarist then just followed everything I said, so… Anyway in 1993 three new members joined, they are all dark and hateful brothers dedicated to the cult of Black metal. Then we rehearsed after a long time of line- up problems and recorded the “Horns Of The Goat” 7″ EP and “Ancient Dead” reh. tape. Shortly after SORATH split up and some members joined BLACK FUNERAL and the others play now in dark Death metal band, PROPHECIES ET SANCTUS. I do not like nor dislike that 7″ EP! SORATH is rotting in a cold and lonely coffin covered in worms and dirt awaiting the chance to once again rise and taste the blood of the pure and light. Maybe SORATH will do something again, maybe it wont. I care not really.

BARON VON ABADDON IS WORKING WITH ANOTHER BAND, DARKNESS ENSHROUD TOO, SO I ASKED HIM TO TELL SOME MORE ABOUT MUSICAL AND LYRICAL SIDE OF THIS BAND- HAS OTHER OF THESE BANDS BECAME MORE IMPORTANT THAN OTHER, AND WHAT OUR GUEST HAVE TO SAY ABOUT “ANCIENT KINGDOMS”, THE DEBUT LP OF DARKNESS ENSHROUD
BARON VON ABADDON: DARKNESS ENSHROUD is the darkside of my mind. The musical approach of this one one wolf project is synthesizer based. It is moody, depressive, dark, morbid, sick and atmospheric. DARKNESS ENSHROUD lives in dark dreams and nightmares within frozen snow covered forests, mountains and graveyards. This project reflects the essence of the wolf, the night shadows, the Dragon. Undeath, spiritual rising. The album, “Ancient Kingdoms” features 40 minutes of Black epic occult synthesizer music. Very original and ambient I think. Each band is different and very personal in if s own way. I have no favourite or preferred.

UNDERGROUND SCENE HAS REALLY GROWED BIG M FEW YEARS AND ALSO THESE DAMN “BLACK CHCLES” HAVE BEEN FORMED EVERYWHERE AFTER THE MASSIVE EXPLOSION OF NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL- BUT WHAT ARE OUR GUESTS VEWS ABOUT TODAYS UNDERGROUND SCENE? WHAT THMGS SHOULD BE IN DIFFERENT WAY AND WHICH BANDS SHOULD BE TOTALLY DESTROYED? WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THIS KIND OF EXTREME MUSIC AND HOW KNOWN BLACK METAL IS IN USA?
BARON VON ABADDON: If a circle causes hate, suffering, fear and death then if s positive, if it is just talk and boredom, then if s useless and should be destroyed. I can tell you in 1992 there were very few Black metal bands, in 1991 even less. I have been doing this for long time and I must tell you this trend is pathetic. I think the UG is mostly dead, nothing is very special anymore, too much competition and everybody copies each other. That why I choose to separate myself from major contact these nights, I would rather be in solitude.

NOWADAYS EVERYBODY CLAIM TO BE SO GOD DAMN “TRUE” AND ALL THIS STUPID “TRUE” BABLING IS MAKING ME FEEL SICK! BUT HOW WOULD OUR GUEST CLASSIFY “TRUE” BAND/ PERSON, AND HOW MUCH ALL THIS EVEN MATTERS? SHOULDN’T THE MUSIC FTSELF BE THE MAIN THING WHICH COUNTS THE MOST?
BARON VON ABADDON: I consider a person “true” when they live and act by what they represent and believe. If the band calls themselves a BLACK Metal band then atleast one member should be a Satanist and live the life style they so portray in their music, if not they are generally a fake band. Same with Death metal, you must worship death and hate.. Murder, torture, dark occultism/ Satanism.. Now, when I look at a Black or Death metal band, I look for an EQUAL balance of music and lyrics, if either one disrupts the balance, then it s shit!

HERE IN NORTHERN COUNTRIES WE HAVE HAD QUITE A LOT SO CALLED “SATANIC CRIMES”: LOT OF GRAVEDESECRATTON, CHURCH BURNINGS AND EVEN KILLINGS.. HAVE THERE BEEN ANY THIS KIND OF SATANIC ACTIVITY IN USA, AND WOULD OUR INTERVEE BE READY FOR THIS KIND OF ACTIONS? AND HOW “NORMAL” PEOPLE ACTS AGAINST LONG HAIRED AND BLACK DRESSED PEOPLE IN THERE AND DOES MANY PEOPLE NOW WHAT BLACK METAL- MUSIC IS REALLY ABOUT?
BARON VON ABADDON: Churches have always burned here in USA. Actually churches have been burned and desecrated a way before the Norway- explosion-People do know what Black metal is I think, but I hope alot will just fuck off and commit suicide. The USA would be impossible to destroy as far as religion, churches and so on… The war continues though. I choose not to burn churches and desecrate much anymore because I will not let prison get in the way of my goals. I do however have a tombstone resting upon my altar…

FOR WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE/ PERSONS AMONG THEMSELVES (OF COURSE!) BLACK FUNERAL IS MAKING THEIR MUSIC? DOES IT BOTHER BARON VON ABADDON WHEN HE KNOWS SOME 15-YEAR OLD KIDS ARE BUYING THEIR RECORDS AND WEARING BLACK FUNERAL T- SHIRTS? SHOULD THIS KIND OF EXTREME FORM OF MUSIC BE SPREADS AMONG THE MAINSTREAM AND KIDS? HOW MUCH DOES OUR INTERWEE CARE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEIR MUSIC AND ATTITUDES?
BARON VON ABADDON: I will only say this: Black metal is a cult and nothing more… At least for me anyway.

WHAT ABOUT MONEY THEN? IS BLACK METAL BAND “ALLOWED” TO EARN SOME MONEY WITH THEIR MUSIC? IS MONEY REALLY FOR BAD LIKE SOME BLACK METAL BANDS CLAIM? WOULD BARON VON ABADDON BE READY TO EARN SOME SERIOUS MONEY WITH THER MUSIC? AND IF YOU ASWER ME THIS “NO MONEY, IT S FOR BAD”- THING IS JUST MADE BY BANDS WHO THEMSELVES ARE SO LOUSY THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO EARN MONEY WITH THEIR MUSIC- OPINIONS!
BARON VON ABADDON: I think alot of those “no money” attitudes are stupid. I make some money here and there, but I put a WAY more into the UG than I get back. I do not care what other bands do, we care about what we do and that is it really.

THIS IS THE END OF THIS STORY. THANK YOU, BARON VON ABADDON, IT WAS PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU! AND THANKS FOR YOUR GREAT ANSWERS!
BARON VON ABADDON: Parttake in the shadow of Winter. Worship darkness. Thank you for the interesting interview, I don’ t get many of these anymore. The pleasure was all mine…