Feature: Lament Band Interview
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: few bands in death metal history can make the claim to being as unique as Mexico’s Lament. Formed all the way back in 1993 under the name Beheaded, Lament (along with bands like Crimson Thorn and Metanoia) immediately established themselves as a band taking Christian death metal in an even heavier direction than before. However, Lament not only upped the brutality, but also emphasized a whole new way of approaching death metal, emphasizing thoughtful and dynamic song structures loaded with acoustic guitar passages and the use of the bass guitar as a leading instrument in the foreground. While their debut album, Tears of a Leper, remains a classic of the death metal genre, each Lament record is worth checking out simply due to the fact that the band refuses to put out the same-sounding record twice.
With a retrospective covering their 32 years (as I write this) as a band in the works, Lament have no intention of slowing down even after all these years. Recently, I had the chance and the privilege to interview Abel of Lament to unpack some of the band’s history, sound and mission.
Lament has been around now since 1993 – what has kept you and the band going all of these years?
I am definitely not in this for pleasure, entertainment, or to have a good time. Not after 32 years of resilience facing many adversities along the way, so many that you cannot imagine.
Am I still in this because of a personal calling, and how can I confirm it? Well, GOD has provided everything so that I can do my work. The example is that we have made many recordings and continue to do live performances, and nothing has ever been lacking.
Truly, when GOD calls you, He never abandons you to your fate. Christian metal is more like missionary metal, a lifelong journey, and only the most determined and resilient finish the job.
What inspired you to start playing death metal in the first place? Were there any particular bands, Christian or secular, that drove you to create this kind of music?
As I mentioned, I’m not doing this for personal pleasure or to achieve some goal. I started with the purpose of serving GOD with my life and because there was a need for a Dead Metal band to preach the good news. Imagine, I was 16 years old, but my heart was burning with passion for my Lord, and it still is.
The bands that inspired me back then were Mortification, Tourniquet, Vengeance Rising, among others.
Tears of a Leper is an insanely brutal record, but also a beautiful one at the same time. What inspired that record’s mix of acoustic melodies and grinding noise?
I’ve never liked going with the crowd; I’ve always wanted to be myself and not try to fit in with anything or anyone, because wanting to be like someone else when you have your own personality doesn’t interest me. I’ve always sought to sound as different as possible, even though it’s impossible, and I really like melody and emotional acoustic parts. Mixing that with brutality has always fascinated me, so I got to work and I think it turned out pretty well. Experimenting is exciting and surprising things always come out of it, like that album did.
It’s still crazy to me to think that Tears of a Leper’s cover art was censored back in the day – was there a specific reason for this?
To this question, I will only answer the following: Religiosity at its highest level.
Breathless presents, to my mind, a distinct shift in sound for the band, away from its death metal roots and into more classic heavy metal territory. Was there a reason for the switch in style, or did it just come naturally?
At Cornerstone 2001, we met Jimmy P. Brown II from Deliverance, and he offered to produce our third album, but God had other plans, so he took us to Detroit, Michigan, where Kevin Reynolds, drummer for the band Blood and Fire, produced our third album. As a producer with ideas more oriented toward heavy metal, he guided us as a producer toward this fresher and even more melodic sound.
What’s the story behind the crazy cover art on Renaissance?
That’s one of the best covers we’ve had in our entire career. The great artist Mike Hrubovcak was the one who gave us the opportunity to work with him.
In fact, he contacted me when I was just starting out, and we became friends. Years later, I contacted him again, but by then he was already a big name in the global metal scene, and I asked him to do something for us, which he gladly accepted. Thank God for always providing us with what we need to release our albums.
To me, The Ancient Battle of the Saints has a lot in common stylistically with a lot of the new wave of old-school death metal bands of the late 2010’s. Would you say any of the modern old-school death metal bands around that time were an influence?
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t get carried away by trends or whatever is popular at the moment. I just pick up my guitar and start imagining the song the way I like it, melodic, rhythmic, and powerful. Following trends is absurd. I just be myself when I compose my songs, and thanks to that, I’ve managed to position myself within the scene. I remember when everything was Black Metal in the late 90s and we made Through the Reflection. Many of those bands no longer exist, but we are still standing and making albums, thank God.
Personally, I keep going back to Through the Reflection; it’s my personal favourite of the band’s discography, a very singular record. What would you say is your favourite Lament record to date, and why?
My albums are like my children; I don’t have a favorite. Through the Reflection is undoubtedly an extraordinary album, quite original and breaking all the rules. Something I appreciate is that I really like the melody, and that combined with metal is fabulous, extraordinary. But if I can tell you one song that I currently love a lot, it’s Religion Zombie from the new album.
For the upcoming compilation record, how did you go about choosing which tracks go on it?
After 32 years of experience and many albums recorded, I believe it was necessary to release a compilation album of all our work from 2007 to date. It will also include a new song called Resiliencia. All the songs were carefully chosen, songs that we believe perfectly mark our history and the taste of our fans. Completely remastered in New York, it will be a great album.
During much of the band’s history, you were the drummer and the vocalist. Did you find it very difficult to do both? Do you prefer playing guitar now or do you want to go back to drumming?
It is very difficult to sing and play the drums at the same time, but no one else can do it, so I took charge of the situation. Now that my son is a drummer, it is obvious that I gave him my place, and now I play the guitar and sing. It was a natural change that GOD led us to make, and we are very happy with the result because, despite only having played for a year, my son already does it perfectly.
What can you tell fans about the new album you guys have in the works?
It is very difficult to know if we will make another album, since CDs no longer sell and it is the only way to support our ministry. The future is quite uncertain; it takes a lot of work and money to release an album, and we don’t receive any compensation for our work. Nobody works for free. Now, GOD is in control of our lives, so the only thing we can be sure of is the present. We don’t know where the band is headed. Times and technology have changed a lot, and White Metal fans no longer support it as they did before.
The band has been through multiple line-up changes in its history; how is the newest line-up working out? Was there ever a time in the band’s history where you felt like giving up on Lament as a project in general?
Imagine 32 years of resilience. Changes in the lineup are part of a band’s journey. Maturity consolidates over the years, and human relationships are very difficult, but in the end, those who should stay stay, and those who should leave leave. The mission must continue no matter what because God’s call is irrevocable. The fruit and circumstances have always shown me that I must continue. That does not make me a superman at all, but quite the opposite. I depend absolutely on God, and He is the one who has sustained me. I have only managed to walk the path that has been laid out for me, and I know it is the right one.
Are there any plans on the band doing any tours outside of Mexico? I know Antidemon from Brazil tour all over the world – it would be awesome to see the two of you tour together!
At this moment, the future of the band is uncertain. Today I may be answering this interview, and tomorrow I may be traveling to Russia. We are under God’s command. Only He decides what step we should take the next day, because He is the one who sustains us. Maybe, just maybe, we can travel the world, but even if we don’t, I firmly believe that our mission is being fulfilled because every note, every riff, every lyric is heading in the right direction because that is God’s will.
What’s it been like for you and the band being a Christian heavy metal band? Have you encountered negativity from the secular scene, or from other Christians?
All the time, no matter how good you are, you will always encounter opposition because this kingdom belongs to the evil one. I have learned that it is not with the sword that one wins, but with the help of GOD. What I think is best for the band is not, and so on. We do not seek fame or glory; I have learned that perhaps I only write music for the very few people that GOD wants to reach, and if that is my mission, I accept it. The flesh wants success, but knowing that I am doing GOD’s will gives me joy, and if GOD wants, maybe, just maybe, someday I will achieve my dreams, but if not, I am already doing the most important thing: being part of GOD’s army and contributing my small grain of sand.
How has God influenced your path in music and your ministry with Lament? Have you seen many lives changed through the message in your music?
That was the goal in creating LAMENT. GOD has touched many lives over the past 32 years, and that is very satisfying because it shows us GOD’s support in our musical career, which I would call a mission. We have never wasted time or missed opportunities; on the contrary, we have been investing in the best business of our lives since 1993, or even long before that. Countless times, so many that I can’t even remember them all, we have witnessed souls being reached and finding their direct path to GOD.
Who is Jesus Christ to you? How has God changed your life?
Although I was raised from birth in the gospel, my personal experience with Jesus has been very tangible. I have had very impressive experiences, including miracles, which have strengthened my faith with a full, happy life full of great emotions. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, but not from a religious or dogmatic perspective, but rather from a living, organic relationship that leaves me in no doubt of his existence, his love, and his mercy. I invite everyone who wants to seek Him and know Him to do so. How? Just call on Him, and He will draw near to you and respond. Faith is very important.
What’s the best way for fans to support Lament? Where can people find merch for the band?
Dear friends,
We kindly invite you to support our ministry by purchasing our merchandise or making a donation. Your contributions are incredibly important and will help us continue our work and mission. Thank you so much for your support and generosity.
We do not have an official website at the moment because maintaining one is quite expensive, and we currently don’t have anyone to manage it.
You can reach me at:
E-mail: abelardo120876@hotmail.com
WhatsApp: +52 55 6911 6674
For donations our Paypal: aranerhue2016@gmail.com
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