AD HOMINEM has always been a band surrounded by controversy since its creation in 1998 by the iconic KaiserWodhanaz, with six full lengths in its discography the band has remained silent since its last album “Napalm for All” released in 2018. But, apparently, the period of silence will be broken soon……
Bearing in mind the context of some Ad Hominem lyrics I imagined the band was going to release something new during the world pandemic but you have remained silent since the album “Napalm for All” from 2018. What happened¿¿
Well. First, I needed a break from Ad Hominem, considering this project requires much energy and involvement (I do everything on my fucking own, and this is not my living work).
Then, dedicating an album to this lame and political pandemic would be cheesy.
But when you think about it, I announced it through the “Napalm for all” album. Just replace “napalm” with “covid” and you got it.
We are living in a moment in history when people’s opinions on most subjects are increasingly polarized and clashing with each other, including within Extreme Metal, which is experiencing a moment when political correctness begins to rise in places where previously it would have been unimaginable like Black Metal. In your opinion, what does the future hold for us both within Extreme Metal and in the world?
Man, I believe black metal will end up the way it was supposed to be: prohibited music for extreme-minded people.
You know, this world is filled with hypocrisy (nothing new so far), and some topics tend to be banned rather than (often most edgy) ones.
And the funny part of it is that I guess I already dealt with them all with Ad Hominem. For sure I won’t have my biopic on Netflix…how sad.
In the end, this world is turning out to be a fucking joke. More than it has ever been.
In the track “Impaled Muhammad” from the album “Antitheist” you distil your hatred against Islam, a religion that grows like a cancer around the world and that is perhaps the most toxic of the three Abrahamic religions, although it is spared by most of Black Metal bands who are afraid of their fanatical followers and their need to defend their “almighty god”. What will be the future of this rampant growth of Islam? ?Aren’t you afraid of these madmen hunting you for your music? ?
That’s a good point. We actually made fun of that with my musicians, wondering if someday the goatfuckers fanatics would bomb our stage LOL.
Honestly, I believe they have more important enemies to fight. And whatever happens, I would have lived and died as a free man, unlike them.
As it comes to the future of Islam, well…Let’s be honest. They’re gangrening the world, having 3-4 children when you’re having one. Defying the laws of countries they live in.
The Charia is the new Inquisition, if you want my opinion.
And if you still believe there are some moderate muslims, think of their prophet who was a pedophile and a murderer.
The band’s last two albums have highlighted some elements that were not very apparent in the band’s previous discography, such as a more rock n roll sound (mainly on the album “Antitheist”) and a greater vocal variety, including some sung vocals and some very dark ones that actually reminded me a bit of Laibach (am I going crazy? ?). Tell us where these ideas came from and will we continue to hear them in the band’s future? ?
I don’t believe that anything was actually planned. Why the black’n’roll touch? Probably I wanted to experience something different from the usual Ad Hominem stuff. I possibly listened to more rock than metal by the time. I really couldn’t say. I just felt like doing it, so did I.
Regarding my vocals, well I reckon it’s part of one musician/singer’s evolution. Trying new things, going outside the comfort zone. And fuck, I have that deep voice, it’d be a pity not to use it.
You will keep on hearing such vocals in the future (I actually started them on Dictator album), but I can’t tell whether I’ll use rock’n’roll riffs anymore.
While writing these lines, I feel like composing more brutal songs.
Ad Hominem covered Mysticum’s track “Crypt of Fear” on the album “Climax of Hatred” and also released the MCD “Slaves of God to the Gallows” in partnership with Preemptive Strike 0.1 in addition in 2015 you released the sensational MCD “Neo Punishment Systems” with your project called Punishment Systems2 . All this shows us that there is a side of you that has always been inspired by the industrial sound and its more “mechanical” elements.
-What attracts you to this style, how did you discover it and how did you come up with the idea of bringing these influences to the Extreme Metal that you play ¿¿
When I was a teen and first listened to Mysticum, I was amazed by the coldness of their music. But I felt frustrated because the industrial aspect of it wasn’t pushed at its max.
I couldn’t really explain how and why I got into these indus sounds.
But when you think a minute about it, you realise how inhuman it is… Despite the fact that it’s made by humans.
And believe me, it is pretty tough to mix such sounds with extreme metal, as frequencies don’t really match and you can easily end up with unbearable music.
I dig the indus samples I made on the “Dictator” album, but they’re not 100% exploited, since guitars cover them up quite a lot.
We will still see some more material released with Punishment Systems2 ?
I fucking love this project, really. The drum machine gives another dimension to the indus side of the compositions. Unfortunately, nothing is planned with Jim, beyond this first EP.
I would need several lives to go further with any side project I made, besides Ad Hominem.
You’ve always been involved in several side projects. What is the role of music in your life? What do you seek to express in so many projects?
Oh well…You know, besides my passion for music, I guess I have a need for creating things. I’m the kind of person who can’t stay a month without putting something new out. I mean, globally, not only in music. I love to have several projects going on, until I can’t handle and stop them in the middle.
And well, coming back to music, I see it like a sphere. It has no end. So everytime you do something, it is new. It for sure has many points in common with other things, but still, it brings something new. And that’s what I like with side projects. They allow me to do things I couldn’t have done with Ad Hominem.
Talking about that, I recently joined Wrath of the Apostate (wrathoftheapostate.bandcamp.com) as lead vocalist. Because I needed to do something new. And this one is fucking good, if you’re into old school black metal classics.
Talking about this new project“Wrath of the Apostate”, what musical references would you give as an example to try to describe the music you make for someone who has never heard the band? ?
I joined Wrath of the Apostate back in spring 2022 as lead vocalist. Several songs were already composed and arranged. The project deals with old norwegian-like black metal, such as former albums/demos from Mayhem, Emperor, Marduk etc.
First song In Verecundiam is online both on YouTube and Bandcamp.
One can follow the band: https://www.facebook.com/wrathoftheapostate
Between 2002 and 2004 Ad Hominem released several splits, a material that is very difficult to find nowadays. Is there any possibility that these rare tracks will be released on a compilation album someday? ?
I can’t promise anything regarding those splits, but something is going on and I can’t tell much more about this right now.
Time will tell…
And with Ad Hominem, anything new coming around? ?
After 4 years of nothingness, I decided to work on new material. I already spoke with Hervé from Osmose regarding this, so you should have some news quite soon.
You created Ad Hominem in 1998 almost two and a half decades ago. In your opinion what has changed most about the band and you as an individual in all these years and what remains the same?
Holy shit, almost 25 years. I’m an old fuck now. Thanks for reminding me of this!
That’s a tough question, though. Let me think… Well, so many things have changed, and at the same time it all remained the same. Know what I mean?
I’m still the same person, doing the same music, shocking the world and sending people to fuck off. All of this, but in a slightly different way.
With the passing years, I look at my past, observing my mistakes and what I have accomplished. All that now matters is: would I do this again? And fuck yeah, I’ll die with pride and Ad Hominem will forever remain the band that generated so much love and hate.
