Abigor is an amazing black metal band from Austria. Their run of albums from Verwüstung / Invoke the Dark Age to Channeling the Quintessence of Satan is one of the best run of albums in black metal. They have a unique songwriting approach to black metal that incorporates symphonic and melodic elements but are able to balance that out with a visceral and fast black metal sound.
Abigor is one of those few truly great bands that has managed to reinvent itself throughout the 30 years of their career, with uttermost integrity and musicianship that few can parry.
I love the content Wyatt. Funny enough out of all videos i started with on your channel, the first i saw was your explination on gorenoise. Needless to say, ever since then i have never been disappointed
Also, the musicianship is so impressive! I feel a loss for words to describe how great they are and the fact that there is no footage or live performances of them only adds to their awesomeness!!
@@paveantelic7876 I cannot wait for the physical album to land in my hands, since that is the only version available to listeners at this time! Digital TBD
Abigor are my favourite black metal band and have been since I found Verwustung in a used bin in the late 90s. I celebrate the whole catalogue - hell even Satanized which I even bought and still own the longsleeve of from release - though I too acknowledge as their least good (Repulsor is great though). Worth including the rerecording of Channelling made in 2012 simply called Quintessence: it's very different to the original as the band were never happy with it (though unsurprisingly I was). You were correct in believing the band wanted the new album to have an old school release as they announced as much on their Facebook, stating that there will be no digital previews. I'm looking forward to my LP to arrive, but it will as always be hard to top Verwustung for me.
I like Abigor. I first got introduced to them when I was about 16 years old. A guy who worked at my local record shop recommended I listen to the “Nachthymnen” album from 1995. From the eerie looking cover to the music itself, it’s total killer! Their best album.
Man I think you should start a podcast. I really dig your videos and their isn’t to many good metal podcasts. If there is the usually cover bands I could care less about or everyone else has already covered. Plus you could do both RU-vid and podcasts at the same time. Granted I know shit about the process you would have to go through to start a podcast either way I’m gonna always be tuning in🤘🏼
Abigor is such an underrated band, CTQOS will always be my favorite from them, Opus IV second. These dudes were really talented, and they somehow still are. Can you do "Explaining Ildjarn" next? Very interesting Raw BM band, maybe the rawest ever?
Underrated by what metric? They aren't Behemoth big (hell, Abigor is way more respected), but nearly all the diehards dig them, at least 1 or 2 albums, typically Nacthymnen Channeling or Verwustung. And a lot of people love all of their output, no matter the experimentation. I've talked to so many BM diehards that rave over the post 2000s output, including myself.
@@TheSlayer3628 Abigor for some reason to me still seems very "underground, obscure, cvlt", they are one of those BM that if you listen to, you are on an "intermediate level" of BM knowledge. Summoning on the other hand is a bit overrated, and so much more since more exposure through YT, and Social media etc., today not alot of people acknowledged how great Abigor was in the 90s, bands like "Lunar Aurora"(which have an immense and powerful discography but yet are overlooked to this day), "Setherial", "Dawn" etc., these bands are not entry level like your "Emperor, Mayhem, Behemoth " etc. The worst part is, Abigor's greatest albums are very, very hard to find online, Ive been waiting years to get my hands on a Nachthymen or Channeling, this tells you how obscure and cvlt they are, so "no", they are by no means even close to an "overrated " band.
Great shirt!!!! Have u done an episode about Mexican Metal scene from the 80s!? Besides Shub Niggurath, Blackthorn, Cenotaph, Anrachus! Great channel keep up the good hard work !!!!
The 90s, best time to be around as a fan of extreme music. I think for me Orkblut is my favorite from Abigor. Tho the most underrated Band from Austria is definitely Pervertum, simply the most appealing to me from composition, lyrics and production, its just perfection.
@@SechsGrammCaratillo Yea, the sheer amount of creativity was insane, specialy with black metal started something i have no words for. so many bands tryed so many different things, be it going symphonical (samael) or orchestral (satyricon) or even progressive (katatonia). Before black metal there was only death metal. now everything thats left is some kind of whatever-core :P haha Also the digitalisation of recording and mastering did really hurt production, everything tends to be overproduced compared to the golden era
Abigor is my favorite band! They really do such an incredible job at making each album unique to itself. It really reminds me of Pink Floyd and the Beatles. Yes, i know that's a strange comparison, but that's how I feel.
The singer for my deathgrind band did distro back then and always had new underground shit coming in. I remember seeing Verwüstung and Nachthymnen in his pile and being intrigued by their logo. I snatched those up and still have the original copies to this day. Even back then they were super underrated. I liked it because even though I could appreciate “necro” productions, Abigor’s were always a step up while still maintaining some rawness. Great band
Hey man, it would be awesome if you did a video on the kentucky based atmospheric BM band Panopticon, they have such an amazing discography and so much to talk about
I don't think the ABMS wasn't really much of a thing or movement anyway, was really just a handful of dudes hanging out at Ray's (aka Pazuzu's) apartment.
One of those bands (like DSO for example) that developed a way more advanced and complex sound throught the years, even in their earliest albums they already had that Avant-Garde-ish spirit that influenced the most interesting currents of modern Extreme Metal as whole.
To add-on, the new album is supposed to be very different from past works, which could mean anything based on the band's varied discography as you've discussed in this video. I'm still eagerly awaiting my copy in the mail....and there's only one review so far posted on Metal Archives LOL.
Wyatt, your videos are always brilliant :D Keep it up! I wanted to ask you: what are your thoughts about Paysage D'Hiver? Is this project something you are interested in and that maybe could be the subject of a future video?
Bought a cd Nachthymnen in 95. And still have it. I was 17 years old back then. I remember that I also bought a longsleeve with that album cover. Great album. BTW band Pervertum were also a black metal from Austria from that era.
I just thought Fractal Possession was the slickest production they ever had, and that turned me off. they had lost me for a bit, but I happened to hear Hollenzwang the day it came out and was shocked how much I liked it. I gotta listen to Leitmotif Luzifer, from the description you gave.
I have to agree with every point. I prefer them to a lot of other bands because they're so much talented with what they're doing. Their 90's stuff is outstanding, but you did not enough fangirling about Channeling the Quintessence of Satan. Satanized is enjoyable. Fractal Possession is underrated. Time Is the Sulphur in the Veins of the Saint is very difficult to listen to but it gives that disturbed feeling (don't listen to it loud on headphones). Totschläger and Leytmotif Luzifer are outstanding again. The only album I can't enjoy this much is Höllenzwang. Just too slow sometimes. Overall they're purest black metal. I love that you tried speaking german. ) great video.
Personally I've just never been able to get into abigor, the layered guitars are always interesting to me but don't get into anything that keeps me interested. Really great video though! And I'm always happy to hear people appreciate music I can't, I don't deny their talent or being a great band, just don't enjoy them personally.
TT was helping out on drums in Amestigon since 1995 and both PK and TT played on the debut. That's the connection with Thurisaz. Heidenreich came later. Amestigon's Hollentanz is very similar to Abigor's first albums because of this and greatly recommended.
Wyatt, thanks for this video ablut this allmighty band. I would suggest an explaining Satyricon, Darkthrone or Immortal for the next episodes....or Judas Iscariot
Yo Wyattxhim hope all is well bro I got a band suggestion I guess you could say? The name of the band is Ofdrykkja or Icelandic for "Excessive Drinking" or "Binge Drinking" I am curious on what you think of their music and so forth. But if you don't that's cool too I love your videos as they are given you're kinda like an encyclopedia for metal music.
I'm curious to listen to the new album. Mostly to find out if I like it or not, because out of all of their work, I only like Fractal Possession and Leytmotif Luzifer.
According to their FB, they insisted on physical form only at this point (and shipping delays forced a very late Dec 2023 delivery). And digital availability to come when the band decides.
About your comment of TT just playing the drums (about Satanized): TT was playing Drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, writing songs and lyrics on all previous records. I think the album has it's moments. I appreciate it but just don't consider it an Abigor album.
Opus IV was recorded in the same studio. Back then they didn´t use any other facilities to record as they said that the owner totally understood what Abigor was all about.
23:00 I appreciate the juxtaposition of the 'best' riff from the 'best' album playing coolly in the background while we discuss their 'worst' album in the foreground (--just my opinion)😁
This might be a giga hot take, but I'm pretty fucking sure P.K has worked on some DSO albums such as Paracletus and FAS, Fractal Possession and Time is the sulphir in the veins of the saint came out in the same time span and there are some UNCANNY similarities in the guitars of both DSO and Abigor
Hey, I have a recommendation for you. It's a hiphop album from the polish hardcore, psycho-rap group "Kaliber 44". One of the singers (Magik - polish for magician) commited suicide a few years later. He had schizophrenia and other psychiatric problems. The album captures some very interesting psychiatric phenomena (Psychoza - a psychotic experience), (Plus i minus - being diagnosed). Other songs feature some more generic topics like sex (Bierz mój miecz i masz) - but in a very strange way. I recommend you to check the album out, I can also translate it if you'd need it. Let me know.
According to their FB, they insisted on physical form only at this point (and shipping delays forced a very late Dec 2023 delivery). And digital availability to come when the band decides.
WTC and I think Ván have it for EU areas. Probably some others as well by now. As for NA, NWN just got it a few days ago, which is where I grabbed it. Wouldn't be surprised if some other distros pick it up soon as well.
The album officially came out on 21 Dec, later than they wished as there were manufacturing and shipping delays. It was originally due from WTC on 5 Dec. And as of now, the band insists on fans listening to the physical product via WTC, with digital version not yet announced.
The band's statement on the new album confirms your conclusion - they released it only physically precisely for it to be listened like in the old days, from a physical record; and for it to be bought, so that you have an emotional connection to it instead of just stumbling upon it on the oversaturated streaming services.
NEDXXX is also clearly these guys co-conspiring with other NED musician(s). The drumming and guitarwork is straight outta Leitmotif and some of their other post-reunion work. Could I be wrong yes but it would have to be someone who dedicated many years to Abigor worship.
For years, the only Abigor album I'd heard was Satanized because I just knew the band was a big deal and I found the album for like $5 used at a record store. I didn't hate it or anything, but I guess I know why it was so cheap. I eventually listened to the debut and the 2020 album and thought they were excellent. Sounds like I've been missing out with all of the stuff in between.
Don't take it badly, but I didn't find this characterisation to be very precise. Not knowing about this band, all I got was that their albums had tremolo picking and blasts beats in them, with some keyboards. I mean, yeah, okay. The part about classical influences was interesting, but I'm not sure how that works. I also fired up "Channelling the quintessence of Satan" expecting incredible speed and total chaos, as you say, but there wasn't especially any of that, at least in the first 10 minutes. There's much harsher and faster stuff out there. In the end you characterise them as very ambitious and talented, but also as kind of the quintessential trad black metal band, so I don't know what's what (I guess for me these two things are mostly opposed).
The classical influence was stated because of an interview with a member claiming such influence. Plus I did say the album “Supreme Immortal Art “ had such influence. I stated Channeling the Quintessence of Satan is Abigor at their fastest. It was apart of the “Norsecore” trend that was happening around late 90’s. Being a “traditional “ Black Metal band still means you can have talent and creative , experimental and ambitious ideas .
Great video! Interesting to learn how both summoning and abigor were once part of the "Australian black metal syndicate" strangely enough I only see these types of groups in black metal. Maybe it's something to do with bm being a rebellion against death metal and bm aiming to keep metal underground and scare away outsiders. Black metal established itself as a cult basically so it makes sense for it to have cults within itself, I think this would make for an interesting video topic. Maybe an explaining video on Circle of the 4444 Reich, Helvetic Underground Committee, Les Legions Noires or the Black Plague Circle. I know you plan to do non metal related videos but still thought this was interesting.
