Immortal is one band that likes to be edgy. In every interview they give, they always try to say something provocative - see when Abbath claimed that Immortal was inspired by "Euronymous and Elvis Presley" (something he reiterates later on).
Or, more recently, when he called out his former partner Demonaz as being a "clown", who turned Immortal "into [an] Abbath cover band" that could barely play live anymore.
It's a band that you either love, or hate - like Euronymous, who tried to prevent Immortal from calling their music "Black Metal", which is why they called it "Holocaust Metal" instead -, but no one is indifferent to them.
The Earliest Immortal Interview Ever (1993)
So the question I asked myself... were they always like this?
And I sent out to try and find the very first Immortal interview. It was a March 1993 interview from the Morsay Zine. It's not exactly "old" per se, you can find plenty of Euronymous, Necrobutcher, Dead, Varg and even Fenriz and Nocturno Culto interviews from 1990, 1991, etc... but still, it's the first time Abbath spoke in public.
This interview was compiled in the book "Real Satanic Black Metal" btw, which is how I found it eventually.
"We believe in all the evil..."
So what exactly did he have to say?
First, he complained loudly about the incompetence of most black metal musicians, having had to "kick out" two members since autumn 1990.
Abbath: Since autumn, 1990, we have kicked out two of our members. The line up is now Abbath Occulta (bass and vocals), Demonaz Occulta (guitars), Kolquim (drums).
He also talks about the creative process behind record Immortal music.
Abbath: We write down our fantasies about the world and how the Northlands should have be [sic]. Cold, dark, fullmoon, and demonic winters in Thule/Bloshyk [sic].
When asked what inspired him to write his material, Abbath's answer was straightforward.
Abbath: I'm inspired by the Northern landscape. Only the North is true. In the woods or the Northern demonic mountains at wintertime. If there's a fullmoon in the winter nights, then we get totally possessed and write our material.
Abbath is also questioned about which bands are "true" black metal. Besides Immortal of course.
Abbath: Mayhem, Dark Throne [sic], Burzum and Phantom are the only true Nordic bands. I've been listening to Bathory (old) as well. Bathory is also a Nordic band.
Finally, he is asked whether he himself or his band mates are Satanists. This was a rumour launched by a Bergen journalist according to Satyr, and Abbath confirms that no one believes in the Satan nonsense (except the Gorgoroth posers, but that's another story).
Abbath: We believe in all the evil we have seen and we know everything about it. But we don't believe in "Satan". I have never seen him and I don't think anyone ever has. The only thing I know is that I believe in the sign of evil: the fullmoon and the Northern winter nights.
Despite their reputation for being "cringe black metal", Immortal is still one of the most prolific and well known bands to this day. Their sophomore album "Pure Holocaust" is widely regarded as their best work, and they have participated both on the Mayhem tribute (track "From the Dark Past") and the Sewer tribute (track "Ancient Shrine").
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