Interview with Karloff

NAMED AFTER THE classic English horror actor, KARLOFF is the one-man side project of TOM HORRIFIED, drummer and vocalist in death metal trio GRAVEYARD GHOUL. KARLOFF released their first demo – a three song masterpiece of HELLHAMMER-style metalpunk – in 2018, followed in October last year by the more polished E.P ‘Raw Nights’. This latter saw them described by salivating critics as ‘Fucking riff machine’*. Then in May this year they put out a split 7” with their countrymen KHAOS through Hieb Stich Records, and now they are preparing their first full-length album. I caught up with the man himself for a quick Q&A:

 

How did Karloff start and what were your main inspirations? 

At the beginning KARLOFF was a side project cause death metal was my first love but punk like DISCHARGE and POISON IDEA will always be my second love. And since GRAVEYARD GHOUL was clearly not the right one, I had to start a new band. I still write the music and lyrics by myself, but I have great live musicians by my side with whom this band would not be what it is today. Thank you guys! 

 

Why did you choose the name Karloff, and what are your favourite films with him in them?

I wanted an independent name that does not immediately reveal what kind the music behind is. I don't want to commit myself to anything, I want to be free in creating music. My favourite film with Boris is very clear, "Frankenstein", but I also like 'The Mummy' and such films with him. He was a great actor. 

 

The 2018 demo sounds a lot like Hellhammer, but 'Raw Nights' not so much. Was it a conscious decision to move away from the Hellhammer sound?

It was not planned to copy a special sound. I didn't want to sound like HELLHAMMER. I don't think the world needs something like this again. Therefore the sound on the "RAW NIGHTS" developed more towards the "Karloff Sound" as I imagined it. I wanted my own.

 

Do you prefer the old-school bands with their 'rugged' sound, or the more modern ones?

I prefer the raw sound in almost every genre. A load of dirt has never hurt. I always find it a little more "real". Nobody can bring this smoothly polished 8 track guitar sound live. This always sounds boring to my ears. I need dirt, give me dirt!

 

Which specific albums have influenced you most as a musician?

Well, I can give you five: 1. AUTOPSY - Mental Funeral, 2.TURBONEGRO - Ass Cobra, 3. DISCHARGE - Hear nothing see nothing say nothing, 4. DARKTHRONE - Blaze in the northern sky, 5. THE VICIOUS - Alienated

 

German fans stayed loyal to true metal and punk in the 90s, when it was becoming 'unfashionable' elsewhere. Why is that?

The German scene is really something special. You often hold together and it feels like family in the underground scene. But I'm not really interested in it either, I mostly look at the music scene from the outside and only follow bands that really impress and inspire me.

 

 

Do you prefer writing and recording, or playing live?

Live! I think all the processes in a band like studio, rehearsals and songwriting are clearly work. But playing live is the reward for that. An experience that is always different and always great!

 

Where do you get your lyrical inspiration?

Differently. Life & Death, Hate & Fear but very often it is things that hide me in my head. Dark thoughts. "What if" - it is often negative, somber and depressing for people outside. But that's not always the case.

How does Karloff compare with Graveyard Ghoul?

KARLOFF is Raw Punk, GRAVEYARD GHOUL is Death Metal, that's it! 

 

Which instrument do you prefer playing?

Difficult to choose but if I have to I would say drums! It's fun to hit the shit out of this thing (haha)

 

How do the punk and metal scenes compare politically, and where do you stand?

There are few things I really hate, one of them is clearly racism! I always remember a saying by Charles Bukowski: "We'll all die, each of us what a circus! That alone should make us love each other, but it doesn't. We are terrorized by trifles, eaten up from nothing."

 

What is the best experience you've had with Karloff?

The best thing we experienced in our short time as a band was the weekend in Linz at the Steel City Sorcery. An incredible festival with great people and great atmosphere!!

 

How did Covid19 affect the band, and what are your plans for the future?

We had actually planned a small tour this year, which we unfortunately had to cancel. We are currently using the time to work on the first album. The tour will be rescheduled in 2021.

 

What new bands from Germany would you recommend?

It's hard to say. Not really new but fresh I suddenly think of MINEFIELD, WAYWARD, KHAOS (check out our split 7" with these guys) and NEKROPULSE.

 

Any further comments?

Fuck your life loving attitude!

       

 

J.Cooper

Copyright Metal Punk Inferno (2020)

 *No Clean Singing 

Interview with Abigail

WHEN LEGENDARY BLACK thrashers ABIGAIL (named after the second KING DIAMOND album) first appeared on the Tokyo metal scene in 1992 they were awarded the flattering title of ‘most evil band in Japan’. They released their first full-length album ‘Intercourse & Lust’ in 1996 (which is still regarded as a black thrash classic) followed by ‘Forever Street Metal Bitch’ (featuring SHINICHI from SIGH on guitar), ‘Fucking Louder Than Hell’, ‘Ultimate Unholy Death’, ‘Sweet Baby Metal Slut’ and 2016’s ‘The Final Damnation’. They have also released numerous live albums, and have done split releases with NUNSLAUGHTER, BLACK KNIFE, SYPHILITIC VAGINAS, IRONFIST, LUSTRUM, SABBAT, CUTTHROAT, SIGH, FASTKILL, WITCHBURNER, MIDNIGHT, Scotland’s VUIL and many others. They are also well known for the kind of album covers that are guaranteed to violate Facebook’s community standards. I spoke to bass player/vocalist and founder YASUYUKI about ABIGAIL’s beginnings, the Tokyo metal and punk scenes, and the possibility of a new album:

What made you start Abigail? What were your main inspirations both musically and conceptually?

Hails! ABIGAIL was formed in January 92. When I started the band, death metal was very popular in Japan. I was into DARKTHRONE, MAYHEM, BURZUM then. I decided to start a Black metal band in Tokyo. Original Drummer YOUHEI was my friend. I knew he was into SLAYER and BULLDOZER, so I asked him about forming a black metal band. He said ok. Later Guitar player YASUNORI joined the band. He was a friend of YOUHEI. Yeah, we are still the most evil band in Tokyo! We never changed the band’s attitude. Our main inspirations are VENOM, BATHORY, SODOM, BULLDOZER, NME, HELLHAMMER, CARNIVORE, MAYHEM, DARKTHRONE, SARCOFAGO and HOLOCAUSTO.

Japan is a very conservative country. What is it like to be a punk/metalhead there and start an outrageous band like Abigail? Was it harder in the 80s and early 90s?

Yes, punk and black metal weren’t good friends in early 90’s. But I knew punks who were into the bands like VENOM, HELLHAMMER, BATHORY. Sure, the attitude was different. The situation changed after we released the album ‘Ultimate Unholy Death’. I’m so surprised many punks come to our shows. Surely that album is very close punk music. Afterwards I started to build friendships within Japanese punk scene. The punk and metal scene in Tokyo is good. Sometimes punk bands and black metal bands play together in Tokyo. 

Why do you release so many split albums?

So many guys ask me the same question! Ha ha! I like Split releases. Especially 7’eps. I don’t choose the bands. I accept all offers. I want to support new age bands by doing a split with them. It’s great fun to release with different music style bands, like Punk rock, Grind core, etc.

The last studio album was 2016. When can we expect a new album, and what can you tell us about it?

Yes, I’m planning to release a new album in 2021. Maybe we will be starting recordings in early 2021. The album will come out on NUCLEAR WAR NOW! Productions. I think the next album is the most black metal feeling album. Like the 1st album! I composed few black metal tunes last album. Half the songs were metal punk tunes. The next album is all black metal tunes.

How does Japanese black thrash and punk compare to what there is in Europe and the USA?

Maybe it’s the same? I think it doesn’t change. Recently Japanese punk bands have been very popular in Europe and USA like DISCLOSE, FRAMTID, etc. Then some bands are singing in Japanese. But overseas scenes accept these bands. 30 years ago it was different. Very difficult promotion to Euro and USA scenes by Japanese bands.

There are many black thrash and metalpunk bands. What should a new band do to stand out from the crowd?

It’s very hard. Everyone is very tired of metal punk bands. Wait 10 years. It’s meant to stay underground!

Abigail is known for its pornographic cover art. What is the artistic inspiration for this?

It’s BULLDOZER! BULLDOZER influenced. The lyrics and music style. And VENOM, SODOM, MENTORS too. But I’m tired of it. I want to go back to the roots like unholy black metal.

What is your favourite Abigail album?

My fave ABIGAIL album is ‘The Final Damnation’. I think it’s well mixed black metal and thrash metal. Many guys say their fave ABIGAIL album is the 1st album. Ha ha! But I don’t care. Sure, I still love this album. My fave BARBATOS album is ‘Straight Metal War’. It’s interesting Japanese heavy metal mixed with punk music. Very fun to play these songs at the shows.

How is Barbatos different to Abigail? How is it similar?

I think Abigail is Black thrash metal. BARBATOS is metal punk. But some songs sound very similar. Ha ha!

How does the new black thrash compare to the old-school, and which do you prefer?

I love the old and new schools of all metal. VENOM, SODOM, BATHORY, SARCOFAGO, BULLDOZER, old MAYHEM, VON, BEHERIT, BLASPHEMY, EVIL, RETURN, ORLOK, etc.

How is it going with you and Joel Grind’s metalpunk project TIGER JUNKIES Any new stuff coming soon?

TIGER JUNKIES is still active. Now we are recording a new album. I think the new album will out 5 years from now? Ha ha! Joel is a busy man. We already recorded new songs without lead guitar parts. But it’s still the same sounds as the last album! Ha ha! We never change the metal punk style.

How has Covid19 affected you and your musical activities? What are your plans for when it all ends?

Corona virus was shit in Tokyo. Now lockdown is clear. But it’s very hard still to play shows again in Tokyo. Maybe impossible to play shows in Tokyo in this year? Very scary 2nd attack. We cancelled all tours and local shows this year. But I formed 2 new bands. BITCHEATER is a black doom metal band influenced by NECRO, SCHIZMA, HELLHAMMER. DOOM SNAKE CULT and VENOM. I’m playing all the instruments and vokills. Lead guitar playing by MUTSUAKI of GORGON. The debut album ‘Worship Of Satan” CD/LP will come out on BESTIAL INVASION RECORDS. VOLCANIC WAR is a primitive black metal band. It’s influenced by BATHORY, DARKTHRONE, MAYHEM, SARCOFAGO, VON. The debut album ‘Total War Holocaust” LP/MC will be out on NUCLEAR WAR NOW! Productions.

Which new metalpunk/thrash bands would you recommend?

BONEHUNTER, EVIL, BITCHEATER, VOLCANIC WAR etc…

Any further comments?

Thanks for the interview. I think the new ABIGAIL album will be out next year. If possible we want to play overseas shows again next year. Also please check my new bands BITCHEATER and VOLCANIC WAR. I think old school metal fans will love these bands. I’ll be releasing info on my personal Facebook page. Thanks! Beer! Metal! Sex!

 

J.Cooper

Copyright Metal Punk Inferno (2020)