Updated: 12/20/99

Abigor is one of the most respected Black Metal bands to come out of Austria. Although they have never performed live, Abigor has gained quite a following all over the world. We recently had a chance to do an e-mail interview with Peter, who is one of the founding members.

Highwire Daze: Introduce yourself and tell me what you do in Abigor and tell me how long the band has been together?

Peter: I am Peter, the guitarist of Abigor. I guess it’s now about 6 years since we formed Abigor in mid 1993.

HD: Where is the band from and what is the music scene like there?

Peter: We're from Austria, concerning the music scene in our country, there're only a few bands, but those are well known and they represent a high musical standard in my opinion. For example, Summoning, Hollenthon, Soulsearch, Dornenreich, or Grabesmond are from Austria.

HD: Describe the music of Abigor to someone who has never heard it before.

Peter: It's hard to describe; one can see it as extreme music, aggressive and technical. It's a vortex of rage, yet strange melancholy, still defined as Black-Metal. Abigor's music is light and shadow in manifest form.

HD: How do you think the new album compares to your earlier work?

Peter: The main difference is, that we worked with 3 guitars throughout the album, which finally creates very sonorous soundscapes that are very powerful. Also we produced the album by ourselves, so we were able to realize a main part of all ideas exactly how we wanted to be. But to sum it up, personally I think it's our most matured, simply best album so far.

HD: Where do you get the ideas for some of the lyrics?

Peter: Mainly our interest in the occult, history and culture of the ancient. Time is in some ways inspirations for the lyrics. Currently we're very into the quantum-theories, time and space, physics, and chemical research, so the new lyrics will differ a lot compared to our previous stuff, even the content will remain the same but all seen from a more personal point of view.

HD: What do you think has made Abigor stand apart from other Black Metal bands?

Peter: I don't know, maybe the point that we never cared about any trend that entered the extreme musical genres within the last years, or maybe because we're good musicians, so we've never had any real problems to put our ideas into music.

HD: Is organized religion a bad thing for everybody?

Peter: It's definitely a bad thing for individuals like us, but in some cases a good thing for all those weak-minded masses, because without all their morals, laws and guiding lines they would be not able to exist.

HD: What is your definition of Satanism?

Peter: In my opinion 'Satanism' is a quite restrictive description for the entire occult, and dark art I am into. Therefore it's hard to describe, but it is the best definition for all those who aren't into matters that describe (even just a part) my religion at it's best. Anyway, 'my' Satanism is an everlasting research in the dimensions beyond; it's not limited to any form of rite, dogma or whatever. It's based on the dark side, and I as individual will always stand above all this at least.

HD: What CD or album do you own now that someone would be very surprised to find in your collection?

Peter: Some would be surprised to find Rolling Stones Bridges To Babylon in my CD collection.

HD: What was your favorite CD of 1999 and why?

Peter: That was definitely Death’s The Sound Of Perseverance, 'cause it offers a great musical spectrum with a high technical standard. It's really strange and extreme stuff as well.

HD: Do you have any messages to Abigor fans here in the States?

Peter: Keep Abigor in your mind, and I hope that you all will grant us your support in the future too.

HD: What do you plan to be doing this New Years Eve of 1999?

Peter: I've no real plans yet, maybe I'll walk with my wife in a forest, drink some beers and watch the fall of the 90ies.