Abigail – Black Thrash Metal Samurais

I truly respect those bands that stick to their beliefs throughout their whole career. It is hard to sustain a certain level of aggressiveness and disgust for all that surrounds you, I guess. Harsh adjectives, I reckon, and in no way my intention is to imply that band A or B is this and that, but quite the opposite! A band like Abigail, an artist like Yasuyuki, that started way back in the 90s, that keeps on delivering this Black / Thrash Metal so "Abigailish", deserves all our respect. Bands grow, and evolve; some lose their strength, their reasons to revolt, ending up crafting softer music; but not this man, nooo! He is still angry and with a sickening desire for destruction… and beer.

Allow me to remind you that this is an old interview, from 2020 if I am not mistaken, but Abigail is Abigail... 

Abigail released a split with Taiwanese Black Metal entity (it came out January the 3rd, on cassette, through Death Kvlt Productions) Inferno Requiem – “Conqueror of the Golden Horde/Metal Bitch Violator” – and we immediately took the opportunity to ask the man that has been behind Abigail since 1992, as well as Barbatos, Tiger Junkies (with Joel Grind from Toxic Holocaust) and the defunct Cut Throat, a few questions concerning the Past and the Future of Abigail and how he sees Black Metal, today: Mr. Yasuyuki Suzuki:

First and foremost: thank you very much for taking time to answer our question, it is an honour. How did Heavy Metal grow on you? How was Japan’s Extreme Metal Scene in the late 80s early 90s?

Hails! Thanks for the interview. Japanese heavy metal scene is really big now. Especially Melodic death metal, German heavy metal, Technical heavy metal are very popular. But It’s doesn’t matter black thrash metal bands like us. Ha ha. 80’s big heavy metal magazine was rip offed black metal, death metal. But it’s posted normally this music style. It’s trend. 

How do you see today’s Black Metal scene? By your standards, is it alive and well? 

I think Black metal is still alive. But I don’t accept without primitive sounds black metal. I like raw sounds black metal. It’s true. 

Do you sometimes look back and think that the Past was much better? 

No. The past has no regrets. Don’t look back. I’m thinking about next album, next shows. 

Abigail has lived in the Black/Thrash scene for many, many years. You still release music, so there is still motivation. What motivates you, today, to play the music you play? 

I’m thinking sometimes about quite the bands. Sometime lost motivation. But I don’t stop the bands now. Because the world tour is fun. I want to meet all fans in this world. 

We have seen, in the last years, many deviations from the so called “roots of the genre” (the likes of Bathory, Celtic Frost, etc). Do you feel that the genre has lost contact with said roots? 

If you are playing black metal, you should be influenced from 80’s thrash metal like Bathory, Venom, Celtic Frost, Sodom, etc. You have to study your roots. 

Do you accept the genre as one that should evolve towards different settings, or quite the opposite, it should have never deviated from that original structure? 

Sure I’m accept evolution. New generation musicians should do it. However, I like primitive black metal. I will be purse degeneration. 

What bands have you been following in the past years? Is there any band or project that has actually given you some “hope” for the future of the genre? 

Yes, I’m checking new bands always. Orlok, Draconic Infernum, Gestapo 666 albums are great. Black thrash bands are Blackknife, Terro Cross, Sordid dogs, Arma, Lustrum, etc. They are cool. 

Where do Barbatos and Tiger Junkies stand, at this moment? Your last release dates back to 2018, can we expect more from both in a near future?

Barbatos will release some split 7’ep’s. I finished all recording already. Now waiting out it 3 years. Ha ha. Tiger Junkies is recording new tracks now. I think new songs will out 5 years later ? 

Both bands – Tiger Junkie and Barbatos – are more into that harsh and aggressive side of Thrash and Punk. What are you influences for these two?

Yes both bands are influenced from punk rock. Discharge, GBH, The Exploited, Bloods, Motorhead, The Hellacpoters, Nobodies, Supercharger, Misfits, etc. 

You have ended 2019 with several Splits, and 2020 has begun the same way: new music. Can we expect a full year, in terms of music? 

Yes, I’m planning Abigail and Barbatos new splits on 2020. Also I started new bands last year. Bitcheater is slow groove black metal. It’s influenced from Necro schizma, Hellhammer, Heretic, Venom, Dream Death, Lead guitars by Mutsuaki of Gorgon, Debit album “Worship of satan” will out soon. Volcanic of war is raw primitive black metal band. It’s influenced from Bathory, old Darkthrone. This band is playing with young musicians. I’ll be record demo tracks very soon. 

This most recent Split with Inferno Requiem, how did that come about? Inferno Requiem is quite a special entity, if I may say.

I got split album offer from Inferno Requiem. He has a record label. So we could release the split CD very soon. I am very satisfied this release! 

I would like to thank you for your time and your words. Hope 2020 gives us much more music from Abigail! 

Thanks for the interview! We are planning many tours this year. See you at the venues. If possible, I want to record new Abigail album soon. Please check my solo project bands too. Beer! Metal! Sex!

Yasuyuki

NWN! Official Bandcamp: Abigail - "Intercourse and Lust"