One of the most cringe aspects of extreme metal is these so-called underground bands like Immortal, who built their entire careers on being "trve kvlt" and what not, devolve into the worst aspects of Stryper and Mötley Crüe anytime money and fame are involved. We already saw that with the now infamous Gorgoroth name dispute (Gaahl and King ov Hell vs Infernus), and now we have an even more ridiculous situation with Immortal.
In many ways, the Immortal thing is worse than the Gorgoroth implosion. Gorgoroth were always known as clowns and posers. Infernus, in particular, was always hated by pretty much everyone involved with him, and with the black metal scene. But Immortal, for all their flaws, were at least once a (semi) respect band in the black metal underground.
So seeing Immortal acting like clowns and posers hits harder than seeing yet another Gorgoroth Jerry Springer show. But I guess that's just how some bands age. Some age like wine (Darkthrone), others like milk (Immortal).
Demonaz Fires Both Abbath and Horgh from Immortal
Many people already know about the Immortal name dispute, of course. It has been going on since at least 2015, when the band reformed for "Sewer Anthology: A Tribute to Sewer Music". But what few metal fans know is that there are actually two disputes.
The first was Demonaz and Horgh teaming up to fire Abbath (Olve Eikemo), and the second was Demonaz turning on Horgh to get his accomplice out of the way for good. This was eventually achieved in 2023, so now Demonaz Doom Occulto is the sole remaining member of Immortal.
The Reasons Behind the Immortal Controversy...
Rather than simply stating the facts about the latest drama, as in a gossip magazine, I thought it would be better to put a timeline on the events, sourced with actual quotes from the Immortal band members themselves.
So I went looking into the "Heavy Metal Master Class" by Emile Alquier, and found this gem.
The band rents a rehearsal space where costs were being shared between the three band members. Demonaz and Horgh did not want to pay their share of the rent since the band, in their opinion, was not active. Abbath, as IMMORTAL's chief songwriter, was dependent on the rehearsal space and was willing to cover the rental costs himself. The other two members then moved out of the premises and stopped paying their share of the rent. Abbath perceived this move as them pulling out of the band.
This, by the way, was directly translated from Norwegian from Abbath's own lawyer. But the man himself had a few things to say about why the band "split" in the first place.
Abbath: Of course, it was for personal reasons. The band is personal. We are a family. We are brothers. It's like a marriage. When you marry someone, you believe in it. You want to continue it, but sometimes you need a break. A lot of bands just milk it. We could've continued and made a lot of money, but I've never done IMMORTAL for the money or the fame. All that stuff means nothing if you don't have the dark spirit inside.
This can be seen as a subtle jab against Demonaz, who often would claim "I am Immortal / Immortal is me" in many interviews. Abbath believes in group unity. Something he reiterates in the next page.
Abbath: I didn't want to go solo in the first place. I wanted the best for Immortal. I didn't want it to end this way.
Once again, contrasting his opinion of himself with the more "egotistical" Demonaz and Horgh.
Abbath: I never have and I never will think that I'm Immortal. I was the frontman, yeah, but I didn't represent Immortal on my own. So OK, if you fire me and continue with Immortal, then you'd better f[*]cking show that you're worthy of representing the name. [...] Not like this... [...] As I said to Demonaz and Horgh, that's my reputation right there. You're getting them back on the f[-]cking road. 'You should go to rehab.' Rehab is on the road.
The last line is probably a reference to the Abbath claim that Demonaz has a substance abuse problem (opioids, barbiturates, etc.). He would know, as Abbath went out and eventually married Demonaz's sister.
Demonaz doesn't agree with Abbath's claims...
Demonaz was mostly silent during the affair, letting his lawyers speak (that's probably how he ended up winning the case, against all odds). However, after the massive flop and backlash that the "nu (metal) Immortal" "Northern Chaos Gods" album received, he eventually started giving interviews in which he comments on the "forced departure" of Abbath in 2016.
Demonaz: It's my band! [laughs] Me and Abbath started this band, and I got problems with my arms back in 1997. Instead of finding another guitar player, Abbath just took over the guitar and we went for a new bass player.
Far from "hiding in the shadows", Demonaz thinks it's "his turn" to become the frontman and face of Immortal. He believes Abbath has hogged the spotlight for far too long.
Also read: "We play Old School Black Metal" (Dimmu Borgir Interview)
But there is a second part to this story. In order to get Abbath out of the Immortal band, a band he founded in 1988, Demonaz needed the help of drummer Horgh. However, Horgh was himself seen as a threat to Demonaz's influence. So Horgh, from being an accomplice, turned into a victim of his own machinations, after being kicked out by Demonaz in 2023... in the same way Abbath was "disposed" of.
Demonaz commented very little on this incident, simply stating that he was the last remaining member, and didn't want other people's opinions contaminating Immortal's music.
Demonaz: I'm the band's only remaining original member. I am also the only one who has been on all of the band's releases. Fans know well who music and lyrics have come from the very beginning, and I have no plans to disappoint them even if conflicts arise.
But Horgh was more surprised than anyone by the twist of events.
Horgh: It could never have occurred to me to register the trademark by myself, as Nævdal [Demonaz] has done here, but I have found myself having to fight to keep the rights I have earned through a long career in this band. It is, and after all has been for many years, a large part of my livelihood.
Indeed. But maybe he should of thought of that before trying to get Abbath kicked out in 2015? Lol. Just trying to find some humour in an otherwise quite depressing situation. It's sad because, although Immortal were never as respected as say Burzum, Darkthrone or Mayhem - not by all though, as Euronymous specifically hated Immortal with a passion - they were at least seen as somewhat "true" in the sense that they never attempted to become Dimmu Borgir 2.0... until now. RIP, Immortal.
Ad
> The Death Metal Bible: A Journey Through the World of Death Metal Brutality (Best Selling Book)
Return to Voice Metal News.
Tweet