ABDULLAH
|
Maybe Abdullah isn't very known till know but I'm sure that if you listen to their new album "Graveyard Poetry" you will sure like them. We thought that an interview with the frontman of the band Jeff Shirilla would be very interesting. So, keep on reading... |
|
S:
Hey...
we’re Abdullah. Nice to meet you. We’ve been around since 1998 and
started off playing sludge core music in the vein of Eye Hate God and
Cavity. Tiring of the limited creative scope of that genre, we forged
ahead and began to incorporate more melody into the quagmire of sludge
and doom. By our s/t release we were a full-fledge doom band akin to the
Obsessed and Trouble, but began to add more NWOBHM and thrash metal
influences into our sound by the second album. So here we are. It’s an
ever growing and evolving process. Stagnation = death. “Graveyard
Poetry” is your second official release. How do you feel about that?
Do you think that this album is a step forward for Abdullah? S:
Yes...
we’re very proud of this record and really feel that it a progression
of the Abdullah sound, if not the entire doom genre as a whole. Instead
of doing a paint-by-numbers follow up to our self-titled record, we
wanted to experiment more and evolve the sound. I feel that too many
stoner and doom bands paint themselves into corners by strictly adhering
to the unspoken rules of the genre. We don’t care about that. We just
want to make the music we’re inspired to make and be true to
ourselves. I
want you to explain me the name of the band? Why did you choose such a
name (as far as I know you’re from America). Aren’t you afraid that
maybe the Americans will turn their back to Abdullah due to your name?
You know that names like Abdullah, Osama and Saddam are not liked from
Americans. S:
We
originally named the band in homage to the pro wrestler Abdullah the
Butcher... back in our sludge core days. We thought it was cool because
it really didn’t *mean* anything, and therefore was up to individual
interpretation. Before 9/11, I had some angry emails from Muslims who
claimed it was defamation to their god because it roughly translates to
Servant of Allah. Someone else told me it also means Slave of God, which
I thought, was pretty funny. In light of the terrorist attacks some
people get a confused look on their face when we mention the name, but
what are you going to do? I think it’s a pretty racist notion that
people would disagree with our name just because it has an Arabic
inflection. If people have a problem with our name for that specific
reason we probably wouldn’t want them listening to our music anyway. Tell
us some things about the lyrics of the album. S:
Basically,
they are a continuation of the esoteric/personal themes I’ve written
about before: mixing human emotion with ethereal phenomena.... again
leaving the door open to individual interpretation. I think it’s a
pretty important aspect of art and music that the listener/viewer takes
away from it what they want to. Nothing’s worse then being preached to
or having things laid out stoically in black and white. What
kind of poetry is that? Explain the title of the album if you can. S:
Graveyard
Poetry was a literary movement that prefigured the gothic novel in
England during the first half of the 18th century. Darkness plays a
prominent role in shaping both the mood and symbolism of the text, just
as it does for our music. I felt that title appropriately summed up the
vibe of the record so went ahead and lent the name to the album. Did
you intend to make some songs faster in your new album in comparison to
your previous one? S:
It
wasn’t necessarily a conscience decision, more of a channelling of
some of our other musical influences and interests rather than pillaging
the grave of Black Sabbath again. When we started Abdullah we wanted it
to be a vehicle that moved forward and in different directions rather
than stand still and regurgitate the same themes and sounds over and
over again. I
believe that you have a 70’s feeling in your songs and a 70’s sound.
Do you agree that your biggest influence of Abdullah seems to be Black
Sabbath? S:
Probably...
but we’re all big fans of the NWOBHM movement as well as death metal,
thrash, etc. and I think these sounds sneak into our music as well. What
are your next plans??? Maybe
a tour? And
if yes, in which countries? S:
We’d
love to do a proper US and overseas tour, but we’re waiting for the
right offer. Our label is not in a position to support us financially on
tour or hook us up with a bigger named act to support, so until then
we’ll have to remain content playing the odd regional and out-of-town
gig. I hear too many horror stories of underground bands losing it all
because they strike out on these long tours on their own and come back
dejected and demoralized. I don’t want that to happen to us. And
now were going to the “Weird Questions”. Imagine that your
wife/girlfriend is selling your whole album-collection just to buy for
her an expensive, good ring. How would you react? S:
I’d
cut her head off. Luckily, she’s the sweetest, most supportive girl in
the world so it’d never come to that gory conclusion. With
whom would you like to be on stage someday? S:
We
played a festival with Diamond Head, but it’d be an honour to play a
proper show with them some day. They’re one of my favorite bands of
all time. (interviewers note: Mine too!) What
do you think about the war that you country is doing against the Arabian
nation generally and specially in Iraq? S:
I
have mixed emotions. On one hand, I want revenge for the attack on the
Word Trade Centers and all of the other cowardly terrorism that goes on
around the world, but that just begs the question “revenge against
who?” It’s not like an entire race of people or specific country is
responsible for these acts. So if you do invade Afghanistan and Iraq,
innocent people are going to die again and the vicious cycle goes on and
on. So who knows how I feel. Depends on my mood, I guess. Where
would you never go? And why? S:
To
church. For obvious reasons. Ok,
Jeff I wish you the best for that album. The last words of this
interview belong to you. S:
I
just want to thank you for the opportunity. Our band seems to get a lot
of support from your country and I think that rules. The best part about
being in this band is the eclectic mix of people from all over the world
who I get to be in contact with. It’s a great thing. |
