Abstract



ABSTRACT is coming from Slovakia, from Banska Bystrica.
The music of ABSTRACT is purely instrumental dark metal. Band has been founded by two present guitarists Peter and Paul. In 1996 was recorded first demo called Instrumental emotions. After several personal changes and two years of searching the inspiration was released out second demo ’Aestuum II’, which put band forward in UG scene in Czech and Slovak region. After another two years in the begining of 2001 was ABSTRACT`s first album released out in Slovak label ABSINT recs. It`s name is ’Fraghmenthea’ and it was recorded in EXPONENT studio in Slovakia. During it`s existence the band has played several gigs in Slovakia and Czech republic. ABSTRACT played as a straight fore runners on gigs with bands like AMORPHIS, APOCALYPTICA, MASFEL, AGATHODAIMON, VADER, DARKSIDE... And also some festivals, lots of gigs with purely underground performers.
Right now, in fall of 2002 is new MCD ’Symmetry’ about to release as a limited edition of 500 pcs.

interview with Peter on 9-9-2002

Please give us a short introduction of yourself?
My name is Peter Lengsfeld, I'm 25 years old and play guitar in Abstract. I live in a beautiful city in centre of Slovakia, the latin name of which is Neosolium.

Tell us something more about the band in three lines?
Abstract is instrumental dark band consisting of 5 members.

How would you describe your music?
We really play instrumental dark metal and we are trying to mix it with other styles. We're trying to create interesting instrumental metal music. Some compositions are very atmospheric and some are depressive.

Why is it instrumental? Hard to find a vocalist? Or is your english not good enough to wirte lyrics?
Do you know, that this is a frequently asked question? The truth is, that even when we started the group with guitarist Paul, we knew, that it's gonna be only instrumental. We wanted to be a little different from other bands. Even if we find a best-ever vocalist, he will be useless for Abstract. Simply, we have decide to present our ideas in instrumental form. And it's not much about the lyrics, because I can't imagine a thing to write about, only the well-known and frequently used topics like politics, love, hate, death...You know what I mean.

Did you always played instrumental music? More expression possible?
Yes, we have always played instrumental music. Our first demos INSTRUMENTAL EMOTION in year 1996 and AESTUUM II (MCMXCVIII) in year 1998 were clearly instrumental already. And is there more expression possible with instrumental music? For us certainly. It's better for us to work in this form. Well, it's questionable, because bands with vocalist can oppose me. But as I said it's better for us to work in instrumental position. We take lyrics as a limitation. Now it's up to listener, what to imagine. Their minds could follow our music, our way of thinking. Sometimes you could tell more without words...Language is just one way how to comunicate. Music is the other way. A lot wider one...

Is this the reason you choose the bandname Abstract?
Yes. I think that our name is in many ways similar to our music. I can't imagine some kind of brutal name which hasn't got much to do with our music.

What do you wanna express with your music? What sort of emotions?
We want to express our feelings, moods, life experience. There are really many things we want to express. Every composition is about something. Each name of the song can prompt you to its basis. Some of our songs' topics are wide ranged, some are very specified to certain thing. But we leave some space for our listeners. They can feel something different from our compositions. It depends much on the fantasy.

How do people react when you perform? Can you hold their attention the whole time?
Well, that's different. Some of them take it as fun and act from the heart, but other only stand and listen because they hear us for the first time. They watch what kind of music we play. It never happened, that we were not able to hold their attention the whole time. Greetings to all of our fans, they're great!

What were your main gigs you have done? With well known bands?
We played many gigs with various bands of various styles and we respect many of them. But if you would like to hear the greatest we played as straight fore runners before bands like AMORPHIS, APOCALYPTICA, AGATHODAIMON, DARKSIDE, VADER and we also played bigger gigs, where were of course many bands, some of them were clearly underground performers, some of them well-known from Slovakia or Czech republic.

What did you decided to play music? And metal in general?
As I said before I unambigously adore metal music. So metal means very much to me. This was the reason, why I started the band. Its simply magnifique!

Did you learn the instrument by yourself or took musical training?
I mainly learned to play myself. I never attended some kind of musical school. I learned from friends of mine, who played before. Then I only improved and I'm still improving. Maybe a guitar school will help me to learn more, but now I don't think about it as a necessity. Maybe later.

Do you practice a lot to improve your techniques?
It will sound strange but I don't practice much. I know I should, but my job doesn't leave me much time for it. Solo guitarist Paul practices each day, he improves a lot and I must rush so I'm not stunded compared to him. I practice mainly on our rehearsals, which we have four times a week.

Think you can discover a technique that is unique?
I don't know. There are so many great guitarists, who play absolutely marvellous and they discovered different kinds of techniques, which are still in use so my IQ must be ranked at least 500 to let me discover technique, which is unique. So, I think no.

Who are your inspirators?
There are many of them. I name only 1% of 100% of my inspirators. So guitarists like Vai, Satriani, Van Halen, Schuldiner, Jeff Waters, Peter Tagtren and groups like Carcass, Samael, Paradise Lost, Emperor, Sisters of mercy or My dying bride.

Do you write down your music or just play and remember?
I don't write down my music, I just play and remember it as you said. I don't need to write it down for the time being.

Is it difficult to let others play your melodies? Do you have patience by telling your ideas?
I don't think it is difficult. I'm surrounded with quite good musicians in our band so this is not a problem. I mostly do the base of the song and then we all create the composition to its final form. I let them free hands so they can bring their own ideas to it. I tell you, that I absolutely don't take care of the guitar solos. That's only Paul's job. I only direct him, how I imagine it.

How will the next album sound like? Another direction?
In the half of November our MCD named SYMMETRY will be released out. It will contain 4 songs and it will be issued in limited version of 500 pcs. It's gonna be a little heavier stuff compared to our first album FRAGMENTHEA and it will also contain some violin. So a little change. But it is still clearly instrumental material. Let yourselves be surprised. I hope you'll like it.

What kind of metal fans can contact you?
You'll be maybe surprised but, we have fans from almost every type of metal listeners and their also visit our concerts. It doesn't matter whether black metal or heavy metal fan, our music is mix of everything so we have wide range of fans. That is very good and we are very comfortable with it.

So give the best promotional words you can imagine?
Our first album FRAGMENTHEA consists of 10 songs in style instrumental dark metal an was issued in 2001. Songs tell about different emotions and moods. Those, who haven't heard this material, should do so and create their own opinion. That's briefly everything.

Last rites?
Twan, thank you for given space in your BRUTALISM. I was glad to talk to you. I greet all of our fans and hope that we will meet somewhere on concerts. Look up for our album FRAGMENTHEA an be prepared for our MCD SYMMETRY.
INSTRUMENTAL METAL RULES!!!
Band:
Interviewer: twansibon
Sep 9, 2002
Next interview: Abiura

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