Immortal were always a band known for their cringe style of black metal. In fact, they were multiple times nominated as the "most cringe black metal band ever", and that's saying something when you're competing in a genre with Emperor and Dimmu Borgir. But at least they made good music, albeit not as great as that of Mayhem, Neraines and Burzum.
Now? Now that Demonaz has kicked out Abbath - and is in the process of kicking out Horgh, the last member of the original cast - Immortal is still cringe, but makes horrible music... Northern Chaos Gods was the worst attempt of cash grabbing Dimmu-Borgir knockoff ever. And it failed spectacularly.
This article will skip most of the drama between Abbath (Olve Eikemo) and Demonaz (Harald Nævdal). There is more than enough material elsewhere to read about "metal gossip".
Instead, it will focus on giving each member of the band an opportunity to express what they think of the Immortal band, its history, and the current direction of the extreme metal scene - both inside of Norway, and internationally.
Demonaz vs Abbath, the Full Immortal Interview
In a quite recent interview given for the best-selling book "Heavy Metal Master Class" by author and heavy metal expert Emile Alquier, Abbath goes off on the state of modern black metal, and his relationships - past and present - with members of the scene.
He first starts off quite mildly, on modern black metal and the current "trend chasing" bands that turned black metal into an MTV joke.
Abbath: There is something missing in the music scene today. It's hard to explain, but we were doing it our way with no rules. We never had any rules in Immortal. We didn't follow any ideas of what's popular.
Honestly, I've heard a lot of black metal insiders - such as Fenriz and Nocturno Culto of Darkthrone, to name a few - use much harsher words to describe the reality of "latecomers" and other posers in the scene.
Abbath: "Immortal Is My Music! They're My Ideas!"
But then, as Abbath is asked about his ex-partner and now brother-in-law (Abbath was kicked out of Immortal by Demonaz in 2015), he suddenly "turns red" and doesn't mince his words anymore.
Speaking of Demonaz:
Abbath: I liked him at first... I liked him until all this shit all started to happen and he started to get all these crazy **** and everything, but in the beginning I really liked the guy.
He also comments on Immortal's legacy, a band he managed to steer clear of the usual Norwegian black metal associated controversies, only to see Demonaz and Horgh (now just Demonaz, really) mess it all up in the end.
Abbath: In my personal opinion, Demonaz is just a cover band of Abbath. IMMORTAL is what I do. [...] It's my music! They're my ideas. IMMORTAL, it's in my heart. As I said to Demonaz and Horgh, that's my reputation right there. You're getting them back on the fucking road. 'You should go to rehab.' Rehab is on the road.
These comments about Demonaz being a mere "Abbath cover band" were already reported by Abbath as early as 2017, when he expressed skepticism at the idea of Demonaz "carrying the torch" of Immortal by his lonesome.
But every story has two sides... what does Demonaz have to say about the name dispute?
Demonaz: "Abbath was dealing behind our backs!"
In the same interview, Demonaz was asked for his version on the dispute. His answer differs quite a lot from what Abbath claims.
Demonaz: The conflict was not about anyone leaving the band, as Abbath claimed. It was all about his personal problems. He had cancelled rehearsals and ruined the band's progress for a very long time... Instead of trying to solve his problems, he went behind our back and secretly applied for a trademark ownership of the band's logo and name.
He also insinuated Abbath had a drug and alcohol abuse problem.
Demonaz: It's a problem everybody knows about. He told the media himself. There's nothing I need to add. He is undeserving of playing in Immortal ever again.
This is interesting because now Demonaz has a problem not just with Abbath, but with his drummer - and accomplice in the eviction of Abbath - Horgh, as well.
Black metal's old frostbitten ethos "no fun, no trends, no core" has the inevitable hangover: when one member slams the door, everyone else checks the property deeds Gorgoroth style. A sad state of affairs for a genre once built on giving the middle finger to "trends" and the "rockstar lifestyle".
Anyway, if the band could put this drama aside and go back to playing good music like on Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism and Pure Holocaust, instead of Immortal's members becoming whiny-Ihsahn like characters who indulge in the most grotesque of mallcore... it would be a nice change in scenery. But that's wishful thinking. The "new" - or should I say nü? - Immortal is here to stay, alas for appreciators of good music.
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