Interview with ABADIR

Welcome to the FILTHY DOGS OF METAL Webzine.

Tell us a few things about ABADIR (Members, Starting Year etc).
Abadir is me, Askios and the Vocalist Δ teaming up in 2024, with the intent of making our favourite classic sounding black metal, with italian lyrics. I made the first demo tracks in 2023, but it wasn't until Δ  joined that it came to life.

You have recently released your album ''Antikosmos''. What is the feedback from your audience as well as from the press?
The feedback has been very positive! We are surprised by the connections we made and all the appreciations that we received!

The cover photo has a killer atmosphere! Tell us a few things about the photo shooting.
The photo was taken in a rather unusual location: the Monumento dei Caduti della Prima Guerra Mondiale in the city of Erba, Como. We were completely alone there, and Δ hadn’t brought the tripod, so we asked a friend to take the picture. He wasn’t a photographer, so Δ later did extensive editing and added the ornamental frame design. Despite the difficulties and the long walk from the car to the site, I think the photo perfectly captures our passion for this music and our overall vision. In the shot, Δ holds a sword while I hold a chalice.

And what about the lyrics?
Δ: The lyrics draw inspiration from Greek mythology, pagan philosophy, and esoteric thought. Each track is dedicated to a Greek deity, for example, the opening track Thymos takes its name from the ancient Greek word meaning “emotional soul.” It speaks of honor, respect, and how modern man has abandoned these values. Let us remember who we are: children of battles and conquests, not beings softened by the modern age. The track Mneme revolves around the muse of memory, once again playing with the theme of detachment from the modern world, yet with a “reminder”: we must remember where we come from. Antikosmos does not simply mean “anti-world.” More precisely, all the lyrics explore ancient deities, myths, and concepts, seen in an antagonistic light toward modern man, making Antikosmos almost a declaration of spiritual war against the present age.

What do you prefer, Label or DIY and why?
DIY. Total control over the music, image, and message. For Antikosmos we preferred to do everything ourselves. We asked only to Unholy Dungeon Tapes to make the physical cassettes, but for the next works we are certainly aiming for a great label!

Is there any funny or weird story from the recordings or from your live shows that you would like to share with us?
Askios: A curious anecdote from the recording sessions is that I ended up tracking the guitars by candlelight. Since we were in an underground space with little light, candles were the only illumination!

Do you prefer Vinyl, Tape, CD or Digital Format and why is that?
We love physical, CDs, Cassettes, Vinyl.
Δ: One of my favourite things ever is to go to live shows to see underground/local bands and discover music throught physical copies!

Your music style is Black Metal. Which are your main influences (Favourite Artists / Bands etc.)
Our main influences come from the second wave from black metal and Finnish black metal, the main influences come from bands like Satanic Warmaster, Goatmoon, Emperor etc...

Which things do you think a band should sacrifice in order to succeed? Have you ever sacrificed anything in your life for a better future for your band?
Askios: Music is something I love and it's something that is part of my life. I have never sacrificed anything because music is a priority.
Δ: I invest so much time and money in music, but it's so important for me that I don't see it as a "sacrifice".

Describe your ideal live show as a performance band. Have you already experienced that?
No, we are currently a studio band. Maybe in the future we'll find someone to make a lineup to play live.

What do you think about the rise of AI in music production?
We are definitely against the improper use of artificial intelligence in music and art in general. Our project is entirely conceived and created by us without any help from AI tools. That said, we are not opposed to their use if done in moderation. Does the increasingly frequent use, which in some cases even leads to the complete replacement of human creativity, scare us? Absolutely yes. But we believe, and hope, that the audience can still recognize what is genuine, even if imperfect, as the product of human work born from passion and love for this music.

What attributes do you think that a new Black Metal Band should have in order to gain identity and be unique?
I think the first thing is to absolutely avoid becoming a replica of other bands. Nowadays, people often tend to aim for perfection, but in doing so they lose personality and raw authenticity, which are essential for identity in Black Metal.

Do you believe that Digital Platforms help the new Black Metal Bands? Which, do you think, is the ideal way for a band to promote its work?
We believe digital platforms are vital today, especially for bands in more extreme genres. We personally use social media a lot, especially Instagram and YouTube, to spread our music. While we both love old-school formats, digital is essential for any band wanting to enter the Black Metal scene and start playing live. Our favorite streaming platform is Bandcamp because it makes it easy to discover similar bands and fairly supports smaller artists without relying on big platforms that pay only a few cents per stream. (Fuck Spotify)

From your experience in the music industry, what would you tell to a new Black Metal band to avoid or what to do?
From our limited experience in the music industry, we’d say avoid collaborations or live shows that don’t align with your artistic vision. It’s important to get your name out there, but keeping your identity intact and staying true to your passion is crucial. When you have something to say and real dedication, things will happen, even if it takes longer. Also, avoid investing large amounts right away in merch or physical formats (wait until there’s actual demand to avoid wasting resources!). As for what to do, make smart use of social media and targeted promotion. Reach out to YouTube channels and zines that cater to the audience you want to reach, it’s really the key for emerging bands.

Tell us a few things about the New Underground Metal Scene in Italy (Bands, Fanzines, Webzines, Metal Clubs etc.)
The underground black metal scene in Italy is fortunately very much alive. Living in Lombardy, specifically in Milan and Como, we’re lucky to attend many shows, from bigger bands to the most underground projects. There are plenty of clubs and venues, and just as many events. We believe it’s extremely important to support your local scene, not only by buying merch but, above all, by going to live shows. With Abadir, we’ve connected with many underground platforms online that share news and curiosities about the new scene through YouTube videos and articles. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the dense network of Italian channels doing a great job spreading information.

What does Metal means to you? And give us 10 metal albums that run in your veins.
For us, metal is not just music – it is part of our lives. It represents our soul, our identity, and our way of seeing the world. As for the albums that run in our veins:
Askios:
Finnish Steel Storm - Goatmoon
Galloping Trough The Battle Ruins - Arghoslent
Soknardalr - Windir
Fimbulwinter Spell's - Satanic Warmaster
Opus Nocturne - Marduk

Δ:
Let the devil in - Sargeist
Exercises in futility - MGLA
Storm of the light's bane - Dissection
La Sanie des siècles - Panégyrique de la dégénérescence - Peste Noire
Murmuüre - Murmuüre

Do you know anything about the Hellenic Metal Scene?
Yeah, we know the Hellenic black metal scene well, we love bands like Winter Eternal and Akantha.

What are your future plans?
We are planning to record our third album! It's already written, no spoilers whatsoever. Then we will start (maybe?) doing live concerts!

Thank you very much for your time & keep up the good work! The closure is yours.
Thanks to all who keep the flame alive. Hail the cult!

By Steve the Filthy Dog.

ABADIR CONTACT:

https://www.instagram.com/abadir._/

https://abadir1.bandcamp.com/music