Abruptum
| Company type | Solo music project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | IT (Tony Särkkä) |
| Headquarters | Sweden |
Key people | Evil (Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson) |
| Products | Ambient black metal music |
| Parent | Blooddawn Productions (later years) |
Abruptum is a solo ambient black metal project from Sweden, led by Evil (Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson) of the band Marduk. The group was initiated in 1989 by IT (Tony Särkkä), and later incorporated members All (Jim Berger) and Ext. IT played a significant role in the Swedish black metal movement and was affiliated with the True Satanist Horde. Euronymous, co-founder of Mayhem and founder of Deathlike Silence Productions, once characterized Abruptum as "the audial essence of pure black evil."
History
Although IT conceived Abruptum in 1987, the band officially formed with its lineup in 1990, releasing two demo tapes that same year. After their initial demo, bassist Ext was removed from the group. Following the release of the 1991 7-inch EP Evil—which was later reissued by Psychoslaughter—All departed due to excessive alcohol consumption. Subsequently, IT brought Evil into the lineup. During this period, IT and All also collaborated on the side project Vondur.
Abruptum signed to Euronymous's label Deathlike Silence Productions, through which they issued two full-length albums. IT regarded Euronymous as a close ally. After Euronymous’s death, Abruptum participated in the tribute album Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous. The band’s association with Euronymous sparked controversy; Varg Vikernes referenced Abruptum when explaining motives behind Euronymous’s murder, alleging that Euronymous sought to kill him partly because he abandoned his label, which then featured poorly performing acts such as Abruptum.
Contradicting rumors, IT did not leave the black metal scene in 1996 due to external threats but chose to exit on his own accord. Evil maintained Abruptum under his Blooddawn Productions imprint until declaring its conclusion in 2005.
Following Abruptum’s initial end, IT joined the industrial group 8th Sin and briefly collaborated with (Total) War alongside All; both projects eventually dissolved. IT passed away on 8 February 2017 at age 44. Evil remains active with Marduk and Death Wolf (formerly Devil's Whorehouse), reviving Abruptum in 2008 with releases including the EP Malediction and the full-length album Potestates Apocalypsis in 2011 through Blooddawn Productions.
Music themes and style
Abruptum is recognized as a black metal and dark ambient act that embraced an unorthodox style emphasizing noise over traditional song structures. Early recordings featured shorter compositions, whereas later works often consisted of one or two extended tracks surpassing forty minutes each. Their instrumentation spanned drums, guitars, bass, keyboards, and additional elements, accompanied by intense vocal screams—rumored to involve self-inflicted pain during sessions, although this remains unconfirmed but has contributed to their mystique. Euronymous famously labeled Abruptum as "The Audial Essence of Pure Black Evil." After IT’s departure, Evil shifted the project’s focus toward dark ambient and noise genres, significantly reducing metal influences.
Current member
- Evil (Patrik Niclas Morgan Håkansson) – Piano, Vocals, Programming (1993–1995, 2000–2005, 2008–present)
Former members
- It – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Violin (1989–1997)
- All – Vocals (1990–1991)
- Ext – Bass (1990)
Discography
- Abruptum (Demo, 1990)
- The Satanist Tunes (Demo, 1990)
- Evil (7-inch EP, 1991)
- Orchestra of Dark (Re-release of 'The Satanist Tunes' featuring an additional 'Outro', 1991)
- Obscuritatem Advoco Amplectere Me (Released by Deathlike Silence Productions, March 15, 1993)
- In Umbra Malitae Ambulabo, in Aeternum in Triumpho Tenebrarum (Issued through Deathlike Silence Productions, April 1, 1994)
- Evil Genius (Compilation containing early demos and EP; initially released by Hellspawn Records in 1995; remastered with bonus content by Black Lodge and Southern Lord Records in 2007)
- Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous (Contribution: 'De Profundis Mors Vas Consumet', 1995)
- Vi Sonas Veris Nigrae Malitiaes (Distributed by Full Moon Productions, 1997)
- De Profundis mors vas Consumet (Includes the Nordic Metal track plus two previously unreleased songs; released via Blooddawn Productions, 2000)
- Casus Luciferi (Issued by Blooddawn Productions, March 15, 2004)
- Maledictum (EP) (Published through Blooddawn Productions, 2008)
- Potestates Apocalypsis (Released by Blooddawn Productions, June 2011)