EIBON (Singapore)

Darkest salutation to Onie!! What are you and the band members currently doing there? What’s the band latest info? Who is the present line-up of the band?
 

On behalf of the Ineffable Prodigious Sons, I am much honored to respond this interview. Grim salutations to you, Amin. Currently, we just finished our Kings of Massacre gig held here at Mad Monks, Singapore on Oct 4th. Given such a short notice of 2 weeks we just rehearsed twice. Overall, the gig went satisfactorily and Eibon evades. Latest info will be our next upcoming abominations, “Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey” MCD and also we are preparing another appearance on Nov 29th, supporting Azra-el’s album launch at Europe, Singapore. If you read the latest news from our website, you’ll notice our Beylial left the band due to some personal matters. However, we called forth Sithrawll in replace of our forlorn brother. So, now the order of pseudonym would consist of : Shalwend Soraths - Cryptic Suppurate of Grimness ; Prodigal - Gloomy Kismet of Calamity ; Tyrannous - Mass Lithospheric Of Repulsion ; Sithrawll - Enigmatic Implosion of Obscurity ; Xennoz - Obfuscate Firmament of Ambiance and Vociferous - Boisterous Pulsating Pulverizer. I just hope that this brotherhood will continue prevailing coz we’ve been changing line up so often that I myself lost count of how many actual individuals had been playing with Eibon.

Let’s talk about the upcoming Eibon’s EP, Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey, how was the progression of that EP until these days? How was the recording & when it’ll expect to hit the scene?
 

“Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey”, was recorded in year 2000, financed by Dark Artz Releases. It was meant to be a split LP with another of our local act, Gematria. However, I really couldn’t lay to you what reasons is pulling Dark Artz back from releasing this. For what I know is I’m just sick of waiting, it took me 3 years of persuading Dark Artz to release this, until I decided that this 4 songs got to be publish or it will become too old for the listeners in the future. Coincidentally, I bumped into Bob Agigi and we discussed the matter. He said why not release the tracks as MCD? I said yeah, why not? So, Orgasmatron Productions will be laying the contract for us to sign and for that we pass over the 4 tracks to Bob for the productions of the MCD.

This long awaited materials only release as 4 hymns EP, although it has been a really long time Eibon didn’t come with any new effort. Why just the band only releases the 4 hymns EP, why don’t a full-length album as the second strike of Eibon?
 

Firstly, we just wouldn’t want to waste that 4 dark hymns we’ve recorded in 2000, secondly it might have been an LP if not for Aleeve Studio closing down. Coz, if we enter a different studio, sound would be totally different from the 4 hymns. We know that friends and fans alike would expect more for the 2nd strike. But we just would want them to have a taste of what to come. At the mean time, we have 14 new materials, which we’ll be considering for the next full length.

This EP entitled Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey, something weird for me about this title, what it really means? This EP also features the song as the same title of that EP, what the song really about? Also, what are the other 3 hymns, Of Sorrow and Torment (The Felon’s Lament); Wings of Nightmare & Blind Black Obsession are all about? Would you describe all the songs?
 

Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey or another meaning for it, Dark Mystical Journey is an intro about a superfluous journey of obsolete life-force, occurs usually in the hereafter incidence and finally the voice of reincarnation. Straight from the lyrics, you’ll notice, Of Sorrow and Torment (The Felon’s Lament), enlightens us the complexity of confronting death and the dying experience which universally known to us as nazak. What would you do if death is just foot span away from your door? In the case of, Wings of Nightmare, which tells us the iniquity of the angel of death’s works, greeting death out of the nominated dying individuals, while evil on the other side tempts the dying to follow his path. Blind is a word when you see nothing, Black is utter darkness, Obsession brought forth fascination... but what am I trying to prove here? Do you know what happened after those 7 steps you take leaving graves of newly dead? And what awaits the deceased? Here’s a little mystery scope on what might be distinguished events in Blind Black Obsession. I hope all will get pleasure from these 4 numinous obscure hymns.

If I compare of Ineffable... to the debut The Garden Of Theophrastus, how would you describe this forthcoming EP in detailed since the distance between both of them is really far, 8 years!!! For sure that there will be a lot of improvement in this new effort right, is it still in the vein of dark metal?
 

5 years to be exact. Coz we recorded this on August 2000. But only manage to release it in 2003 (I hope). So in total yeah we wasted 8 fucken long years. It improves musically; however, I’ve been asking around for a bit of reviews on the mcd... And the response seems inevitable, some says it’s more brutal, some review it as being Black Death; others say it still got the dark trademark of Eibon. But I guess everybody got a different view of their own, might be due to the music they are listening and might be the way they review music. But all I can say is that Eibon will always be Eibon!!!

This EP will release under Orgasmatron Release, Malaysian label own by Agigi of Damokis/Firestarter, do you really get any deal with OR? How about the labels all around Singapore? Will this EP release overseas & what will you expect by releasing this EP soon?
 

Yeah, Bob is a great guy!!! I actually bumped into him when he invited us to play on his Untuk Apa Erti Berkawan Part 3 gig in JB, during which the topics of our stuffs came out and we ask him to release “Ineffable...” We will sign the contracts soon. And maybe decide on all our future releases to be under Orgasmatron. I don’t know what is happening with the labels in Singapore. For certain, Dark Artz is R.I.P. I’ve heard new labels being born like Ignite Records and Mind’s Eye Production. But still unknown bout their capabilities. Dies Irae is still on. But doing distributions only. I don’t know what happened to the rest. But I know there’s more. This MCD will be release worldwide, but if you ask me expectations, well, we could never get rich being underground, can we? No doubt, Eibon will continue our mysterious ways and spreading it over on our capabilities. And we’ll just sit and wait to see what opportunity lies for us!!!

The band have already released 3 materials previously, ‘The Garden Of Theophrastus’ as Eibon’s debut album & also back to the days when the band still known as ‘Cemetery’, ‘Immortal Bestiality’ demo released in 1990 if I’m not mistaken and also ‘Spirit Of Barbuelis’ released by Debauchery. What can you story about these releases, how was the response to them? How about plans to re-release these materials?
 

I think you left out one more demo, which is Cemetery - “The Death of the Living Corpse”. “Immortal Bestiality” is actually the band studio rehearsal tape, which, Sufferer who actually made the cassette covers and spread it only to friends. Little did we realize it to be aired on a Dutch radio station in Holland? Then we recorded “The Death...” in a studio somewhere in West Coast of Singapore. I can’t really remember how many was produced... but we managed to send some overseas. Then we finally recorded “Spirit of Barbuelis”. Engineered by a female sound engineer, we called some guest vocals and musicians and perform that desecration. It’s strange that you brought up this topic about re-releasing these old stuffs. Coz coincidentally, me and Bob have discussed this earlier. Yes, we will be releasing all old stuffs, but date of launched is yet to be announce. Just wait. I think you might be a mind-reader, or else how would you ask this question? Or did Bob tell you this? Ha ha ha ha…

A few moments after the successful release of ‘The Garden Of Theophrastus’, Eibon separated away & that’s so sad story. Then in late 90s the band reunited & performed in one of the earliest gig after the reincarnation, in Ipoh Loudblast Anthems 2. Can you tell me, why did Eibon separated away before & also what actually caused the band to reunite?
 

Actually, we did a gig at JB after the recording of “The Garden…” it’s after that gig that every member was minding their own business. So, i myself at that time had a family to tend, and decided to place family and real career before music pleasure. But then, I realized that all was just big mistake... But shit happens! So, in ’97 I met with Xik Farc (Cardiac Necropsy), he ask me whether I’m going to evoke Eibon and could use him if I ever need a guitar player, well I said what the heck. Let’s kick ass!!! So, me and Xik Farc made some conscription. We gather up and summon Dark Artz Prods. to re-release “The Garden...” on cd and then make preparations and polish up all rusty pick ups and strings, gearing up the tarnished mind of our old damnations, and soon we arise and abhorred a gig organized by Dark Artz in 1999, called Chaos ’99. We prep some songs and recorded them in 2000, but it was not release. So we went on, and haunts Ipoh in 2001 Loudblast Anthems 2. It was a great experience playing there... And we certainly would not decline any other invitations to play there. Hail to all presence on that gig! So till then here we are!!! Still going the edges and eradicating in the name of Eibon!!!

Lift up the bands history, the band start as Extremist in 1987, then changed to Morbid Death year later, then known as Cemetery in early 90s(all these bands carried death metal, right?). Later changed again to Debauchery as black metal & finally known as Eibon till today & carrying dark metal as agenda. Why did the band change the name so many times and then al so follow by the musical changed, care to explain?
 

I was thinking the same when you ask me this question! Why didn’t I just continue when we were Cemetery or just Morbid Death? Maybe coz me and the moniker, “Eibon”, was the final answer to what all the other previous moniker cannot interpret musically!!! But whatever it might be, it got nothing to do with me being pessimistic with the line up changes. Though, I’m really upset with having to change new pseudonym all the time. But then, it’s a cruel country, how can anyone be enthusiastic about music when they got no time for pleasure? But then musically we change, when we started to get intimate to more melodic bands. Bands with synths effects, keyboards, harmonizing guitars, and so inspired us were these bands... Can’t exactly remember what bands they were now, but basically, Dissection, Samael, Sarcofago.

The band have already existed long time ago, struggled & survived with Singaporean legends like Abhorer, Panitrator, Belial, Ethos, Thartarus, Nuctemeron etc, I’m sure its great to have time with those bands!! Can you story about the memories along those years? Which bands do you salute so much?
 

I really treasured those old times, especially when demos comes with cheap ass Xerox cover cassettes. And vinyl was atop everyone’s list, not to mention imported cassettes etc... I think I know all the bands you mention except maybe Panitrator. Those were the days, when essential gear was of coz, side zips leather jackets, and not to mention metal patches and buttons were the crazed of every thrashers, tight as hell jeans which suffocate your balls, and the extra sleeveless denim jacket placed above the side zip leather one. Patches on jeans... boots were non essential at all, any Pallas or Converse shoes matched great. Hang out would be the famous Forum Galleria, where you come and see all ghouls in black and blue (denims) esp. every Saturday nights. Some with portable hi-fi tuning to all sorts of thrash music from Blood Feast to Sarcofago. And I still remember when Nuctemeron was first known as Forced Militia. Then came the reign of Abhorer. And some other great bands like Xtreme Obsession, Death Squad, Thartarus, Belial, Mumbra, Xasthur, Profancer, Ethos, Sexfago and tons more. And then rise of the conflicts, which were of coz kind of confusing to why it happens, and really pointless if I think of it now... But nevertheless all of us have grew out of it, beginning to accept one another and one thing that’s certain, is the perseverance of the metal underground music remains... Hell yeah!

As a lot of the old bands that you’ve struggled together along your journey have already separated away & missing, so you got any idea where are they now?
 

For certain, I knew what happened to some of them, but regretfully I don’t know where the rest are. Some are still active and going strong, some decided to continue listening but stop band activities, and others totally in their own quandary of time. That’s the 3 possible things that I can come up for them. Rests assure that if they really possess keen interest in metal music, they will one day reside with us once more. Just like the old times.

Since the band still known as Extremist, it has past a few line-up changes, so where are the old members of the band, Yod, Nik, Sufferer, Redeemer, Deen, Sadism, Trixx, Angra Mainyu, Azrael Ackwalandar, Dajjal Pyrannaste & Bimiaszh? There were so many of them hah!!!
 

Yod, he’s very much infatuated with tattoos and it’s very poignant seeing those guitar skills lay to waste, not to mention his craftwork painting guitars. Nik, only space and time knows where the hell he is, coz the last time I saw him was our Morbid Death’s band rehearsal. Then until now I never know where he went. Sufferer faces some psychiatric problems. Been admitted to mental hospital several times. Now he’s somewhere in JB. He contacted me mid this year wanting to meet. But then never heard from him again. Redeemer is his own boss now… dealing in army stuffs, from apparel to equipments like compasses, etc. He says his reason for leaving the scene is coz it is becoming trendier than he could endure... Azrael Ackwalandar went abroad to study and seems to have lost interest and gave up music. Bimiaszh, I heard had get back on his 2 feet and currently playing with our local, Global Chaos. Angra Mainyu whereabouts is also undefined and also have no idea what happened to his act, Revile. Deen just got married this year and he’s still listening to metal music. I lost contact with Sadism right after I moved east. Dajjal Pyrannaste still active, although he have his own band and label, he’s also helping out other struggling bands to release their abominations. Trixx is in another band also, but rather silence. There’s more that I know of, but can’t really get to remember them. Vague is my memory.

In gigs lately, I saw that Eibon performed with all the members come with all-white color corpse paint without any disturbance of black or bloody-red color, its such a unique corpse paint I ever saw!!! Why did the band performed with that way? Is corpse paint so important to the band?
 

We actually came up with the idea of the face paint pattern during the Obsession gig in Singapore. It surprises everyone during our entrance. Then we carry on carrying same concept to the Johor gig. Well, image is deemed important in every performing bands, it actually merges into the music that each individual band is revealing. For Eibon, we want us to be our music. Obscure and mysterious! But please don’t misinterpret us with Satanism. Believe me, a Satanist never has time to make music nor do musicians have any time to worship Satan! Let alone it be calling a stage gimmick for the sake of entertainment. Underground entertainment straight from hell!

So far, how many gigs have Eibon play along this journey and which’s the most memorable performing? How about gigging in Malaysia, did you enjoy that?
 

Let’s see... In 1995, we played once in JB. I can’t remember what gig title and who organizes it (sorry!). Then, in 1999, we desecrate Chaos 99 in Singapore alongside some of our dark brethrens like Brutal Fear, Doxomedon, Gematria, Impiety etc. In 2000, we brutalized Panzer Holocaust 2 in Singapore. Ipoh skies saw our grim entrance blast, in Loudblast Anthems 2 in 2001. This year, we’ve already sanctified 3 gigs, one in March called “Obsession”, in July we attended a mixed gig titled “Untuk Apa Erti Berkawan Part 3” and the recent was Kings of Massacre on Oct 4th. So, it’s only a total of 7 stage desecrations for now, we are currently looking forward to another showdown this coming Nov 29th just to secure our gig schedule for the year. And hopefully more will follow next coming years ahead... Most memorable gig for us so far would be Chaos ’99, coz it’s total madness. The crowd was outrageous and the bands were ferocious. I really enjoyed Malaysia’s gig, esp. in Loudblast, where we didn’t expect the crowd to be hellishly grim, but it turned out of our expectations. They really were fiercer! Eibon salutes the Ipoh militants! No doubt, gig at JB had few crowd due to the venue, but we were surprised by the support we got there! Dark salutants JB warriors! We will be looking forward to cover more areas in Malaysia, hopefully soon!

As you’re one of the veteran men in Singahell scene to survive, what do you think about the progression there nowadays? Does it grow very well, who do you think are the greatest there, for now? How about the new bands lately?
 

Hell yeah... more bands are uprooting. But progression is as usual block by unstoppable events like national service for the younger generations and maybe financial crisis. But no doubt, we shall hear them, as the cubs grow to a mature lions’ roar... Rrrrroooaaarrrrr!!!! Greatest? You mean the new bands? I think there’s still room for improvement for the newer bands... It’s just whether they want to improve or continue their egoistical attitude to show that they’ve been somewhere. I hope the next generations will wake up and collaborate rather than trying to compete for only heaven and hell knows what. And if you ask me what bands are the greatest here, I can just say we have great bands like the infamous Impiety, Rudra, Eyesore, Doxomedon, As Sahar and more going down the list...

I’m sure that you’ve already noticed that Fenriz (Dark Throne), Satyr (Satyricon), Killjoy (Necrophagia) and Phil (Close Up) were ever gathering in a band also named Eibon, have you ever listen to them? What do you think about this Eibon?
 

I have not listened to this all-star band yet, but I knew they exist after we started that long rest. I don’t actually know what to think about them, but as long as they keep to their side of the line, we’ll just keep to our side. No doubt, we got this moniker initially before them and we aren’t stars, so the bottom line is to let people decide which is the Eibon, they like best. No doubt, they got their own fans, we got ours. So, let both Eibons have ways in their own music!

Can you let me know who your biggest influences starts from the beginning are till now? What’s you present current play list? Do you listen to other metal/ music or just struck on dark/ black metal?
 

I can say my great idol would be King Diamond. Some of the newer albums after ‘Conspiracy’ might be a bit different but still I can never let go of the 3 mighty albums (Fatal Portrait, Abigail and Them). Influences or rather inspirations, I would roughly say Sarcofago, Morbid Angel, Dissection, Samael, Arcturus, and old Rotting Christ etc. I don’t think any of the Ineffable Prodigious brothers stick to only dark/black metal, coz for myself I like varieties of music, I can’t deny that I like the works of Cheb Mami, esp. the old ones, his Arabic melody really keeps me unwind. Some folks songs, some rock, heavy metal stuffs. Maybe some classical when I’m totally in trauma, but my attitude towards music is universal. Without music, the world would be eccentric and senseless.

I got bonus question here, Eibon have already play here so many times, so what do you think about Malaysia metal scene? Any Malaysian band that you listen right now and who are among the great that you know from here?
 

Many I think not, for we only played three times in Malaysia. No doubt the experience we achieved seems like we’ve been howling in Malaysia’s moonlight. The scene there was much awesome back in the 90’s, now since the issue of black metal seems to be news, I supposed it seems difficult to get a decent full pledged gig. No doubt, there are great bands hailing in the Peninsular acts such as Necrotic Chaos, Sil-Khannaz, Tandus, Kharabanazak, Pyron, Hayagriva and the list seems endless... I’m also looking forward to see the legendary Silent Death (Hail Stone!) back on stage and not to mention few others which I’m dying to see them perform like Nosferiel, Mantak and some I can’t remember at this moment.

What’s Eibon future plans? When can we listen to Eibon second album? Where do you see Eibon in next decade?
 

I can’t say we have any plans for the future yet. But for us, we will try our best to do more releases and gigs, wherever it’s seemingly possible. For our 2nd album, we were hoping it not to take another few more years and waste our time waiting. We will for sure not promise but strife our best and make Eibon as aggressive as it seems now or a decade later. We shall continue thrusting forward. Through determination and magnificence shall we endlessly prevail! And we owe it a lot to our believers out there! We hope all will continue to have faith in us, as we continue our whispers of sacred tales!!!

Ok bro Onie, thanks very much for this interview!!! Thanks for your time!!! Before we close this session, what’s your last shout out to the metal heads out there?
 

Mighty salutes Amin Deathory for the superbly vociferous interviews. To all our dark brethren, awaits the upcoming MCD, “Ineffable Prodigious Odyssey”, something from us, a dark obscure death hymns for all to debauch in the midst of your grief-stricken thoughts. Don’t forget to storm us at Eibon’s Official Darksite: http://www.eibon.eyesoreonline.com (when the time you read this interview, this site was dead!!) for our latest info. and contact. Stay dark or we shall come for you! All hails!!!!

"The darkness dawn to capture
I deem it profound within
So greatly darkness all around
I encompass no consign to bury" - Onie