ABBATH is widely regarded as one of black and extreme metal’s most prominent frontmen. For nearly three decades, he helmed one of the most influential metal bands ever to emerge from Norway, IMMORTAL, helping spearhead the Norwegian trio from local clubs to the biggest festival stages in the world.
ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA hits Australia in January for the RETURN TO THE RAVEN REALMS Tour, which revisits the past and pays tribute to ABBATH’s legacy by performing a carefully selected set of old fan favourites and iconic metal anthems he co-wrote and recorded with Immortal in the period 1992-2009. It promises to be a brutal sonic escapade, with support from the hideous three-headed monstrosity that is WEREWOLVES and their unrelenting, vicious death metal barrage, along with BASTARDIZER and their filthy brand of black thrash ‘n roll that raises fists and induces a whirlwind of rabid headbanging.
With ABBATH stepping back from interviews in preference of letting his music do the talking, fans rarely get a glimpse inside the world of ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA first-hand, but in an exclusive coup, HEAVY was granted special access to the legendary frontman for a series of questions, with the results below for your reading pleasure.
HEAVY: Firstly, and most importantly, you are finally making it back to Australia! These will be your first shows here since 2015, and you are playing under the ‘Abbath Doom Occulta’ banner, a tilt of the hat to your legendary Immortal years. What can your starved Australian fans expect from the shows, and can you give away any plans as to what classic tracks will be included on the set list?
ABBATH: Well, we always do our damn best to give you a great show. But this time will be special. We will play some songs that haven’t been performed in well over a decade. The set list is a fine mix of classic Immortal songs and some rarely performed gems. I can’t give away too much, but we will, of course, pull out golden oldies like Blashyrkh, The Sun No Longer Rises, One By One and Sons of Northern Darkness.
H: Unlike Europe, metal festivals in Australia are very rare, but you have two festival appearances on the upcoming tour at Froth & Fury Fest in Perth and Adelaide. Do you prefer the large-scale ‘wow’ factor of a festival or the ‘in your face’ intimacy of a raging club show, and is there any difference in how you prepare for each?
A: We prefer both, actually. It’s great to play in front of a big audience with a full production, but playing in a club creates a whole different intensity and atmosphere. So we are happy to be able to play a mix of festivals and clubs when we return.
H: After the first Froth & Fury Fest show in Perth, you have two days off, including January 26, which is Australia Day, our national day and a public holiday. In true Australian tradition, will you be ‘throwing another shrimp on the barbie’?
A: Hehe, well, if the opportunity is there, who knows? We’re not strangers to a good barbecue session.
H: Froth & Fury Fest covers a huge array of different genres of heavy music, but you are the only black metal band playing. Do you see that as a challenge, or rather a perfect opportunity to deliver a harsh lesson in black metal music to the uninitiated?
A: We attack all the shows with the same intensity, no matter where we play. If we can win over some new fans that potentially haven’t listened to Abbath or Immortal before, that’s great. We do what we do, and I think people with different tastes in music can take something positive away from our shows.
H: If you are not aware, you will be touring Australia in the hottest part of the year, with a distinct lack of snow, and it will be a sweatfest. Is there anything you will be packing in your luggage that you think would be essential for Australia only?
A: Believe it or not, we are used to playing in scorching heat. Most of the festivals in Europe are also at the height of the summer season. Hellfest this year was hotter than hell. Sunglasses and caps are mandatory, obviously.
H: What is one item on the Abbath Doom Occulta rider that is an absolute must anywhere in the world, and why?
A: Bananas and olive oil. The olive oil is for make-up removal, hehe.
H: We have a lot of crazy animals in this country. Any wildlife or beasts in Australia, land or ocean, you are worried about encountering, or should they be more worried of you?
A: We’ve been out on a winter night before, as they say in Norway. Spiders can be sinister, though.
H: In an ideal world and given the opportunity, is there one place, one food, one person, anything at all you would like to see, try or do whilst in Australia and why?
A: The Bon Scott statue in Perth.
H: Any Australian band or artist, past or present, are you a fan of & why?
A: AC/DC, say no more.
H: Any final message to Australian Abbath/Immortal fans to convince them to come witness this special Abbath Doom Occulta show in all its glory?
A: My return is way overdue, so we are all looking forward to coming back down under and playing for all the fans there. I have many great memories from our shows with Immortal in Australia decades ago, so I’m really eager to get the engines roaring again.
ABBATH DOOM OCCULTA with guest Werewolves and Bastardizer performing at:
Jan 24th – Perth, FROTH & FURY FEST*
Jan 27th – Brisbane, The Triffid
Jan 29th – Sydney, The Metro
Jan 30th – Melbourne, The Croxton
Jan 31st – Adelaide, FROTH & FURY FEST*
*Werewolves and Bastardizer not appearing
TICKETS ON SALE NOW at:
PERTH – www.ticketmaster.com.au
BRISBANE, ADELAIDE – www.moshtix.com.au
SYDNEY – https://premier.ticketek.com.au
MELBOURNE – www.oztix.com.au
