Sal Abruscato - A Pale Horse Named Death
Creating a real metal record these days seems to be a lost art so when something this powerful comes along it must make everybody take notice. A Pale Horse Named Death is the creation of Sal Abruscato, original member of Type O Negative and Life Of Agony, and this is his best outing yet. And Hell Will Follow Me is the debut record from A Pale Horse Named Death and it is an unbelievable dive into the dark psyche so please join us as the discussion with Sal about his new project and how he came to be who he is now unfolds before you.
An interview with Sal Abruscato of A Pale Horse Named Death
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: When were the seeds for A Pale Horse first planted?
Sal Abruscato: It was planted back in January 2009. I was frustrated with a lot of things musically and I wanted to make an album on my terms, my way, what I heard in my head. We started then and within four months I was going through a divorce so that fueled a bit of the darkness and angst on the record and it just propelled from that. We did some preproduction and began recording in November 2009 with Matt Brown and we finished in June of 2010. We were not in a rush, there were no labels breathing down our neck, nobody bothering us nor were we contrived that we were going to make a record that was going to “blow up or make it”. I did not care about anything except getting across what I heard, what I felt and the composure that I wanted to put together. It turned out to be a dark record because I am a dark person by nature but one thing led to another, we put some songs up, people started liking them, labels started wanting to negotiate with us and we settled with SPV. It is nice to be with a label that is excited about the record and loves the darkness of it, that there is nothing else like it out right now. Unfortunately it coincides with the timing of when Peter passed away last year; I was starting to lay down the vocals. His passing also fueled some of the dark moments that are happening on the record. It seems like a lot of the fans of Peter and Type O Negative have grasped onto this because it is a record in mourning and they seemed to gravitate to this but it seems to be a stepping stone from what Type O was doing and now there is this whole new thing going on and they can feel like there is some kind of continuation.
Metal Exiles: Well you do have two former members in your band so it helps. There are a few songs on And Hell Will Follow Me where I could picture Peter singing the song.
Sal: I was talking to Peter up until about three weeks before he died, I mentioned that it would be cool if you could do a background vocal on the record. I learned a lot of my music theory from Peter and he is the one that got me into playing guitar 20 years ago.
Metal Exiles: Is this the first time you have wanted to play guitar and front a band or have you wanted to do this in the past?
Sal: I have always pondered this idea, for over 10 years and I finally got balls to do it. It takes a lot of guts to do it and I give mad respect to any frontman that gets up there and does it it. There is always that fear of rejection, not singing 100% on point the whole time. People are so quick to criticize someone on stage because they are not the ones wearing their heart on their sleeve and when you do that on stage you are exposing yourself. For me it was a culmination of me getting fed up musically because Life Of Agony is not very active and I said I have to do something so either I make a move and create something and rejuvenate my career or just get a day job. With this band I had no idea what to expect, I felt like I was on to something because in my heart I loved what I was doing but I did not know if the rest of the world was going to perceive it that and I did not know if the rest of the world was ready for more depressing music. I am pretty fortunate it is going the way it is going and that people are vibing out to the tunes.
Metal Exiles: Well you are putting And Hell Will Follow Me out to a pretty dark world so I feel as though you are creating the soundtrack for 2011.
Sal: Yeah, there are a lot of bad things going on and possibly people can relate to listening to something depressing because they are depressed.
Metal Exiles: I am not really a depressing person , I do get pissed off about something’s but I just latched onto this album and it reminds me of Dirt (Editor’s note: it’s an Alice In Chains record, if you did not know but I hope you did.) which was one of the first albums that really knocked me over with how expressive a band could be and to me this album is the next one. Now, with your band, did Johnny Kelly play on the record or is the drums all yours as well?
Sal: The drums are all me on this album. On this record I played every instrument. Matt Brown did play some leads on the record as well as Bobby Hambel when he was still just a guest in the band. I played bass, some melodic leads, rhythm guitars, harmony guitars as well. You know what I called it? I called it “Going Trent”. I am sick of being in a room not agreeing on a vision and if you do not like it, piss off. Basically that was my attitude, I have a feeling that I am not that crazy that I do not know what I am doing and after being in music for 30 years I have to put it on myself and not playing someone else’s ideas. It is hard being in a band situation where nobody agrees on anything. I do not know if I will do the same thing for the second record it got the complete vision and story out the way I wanted it and I am seeing the results that tell me it worked.
Metal Exiles: Emotion is a big thing on this And Hell Will Follow Me. What were you tapping into to make this record happen?
Sal: The Emotion of depression, wanting to get high and away from reality, betrayal with someone fucking you over and dragging you through the mud. The emotion of feeling so depressed that you want to kill yourself. There are a lot of mixed emotions on this record and some songs are in relations to people I know as well as myself. There were a lot of moments of staring at the wall thinking of crazy stuff and just letting it come out through the music.
Metal Exiles: That being said there is not a single ray of sunshine on this album. Give us some insight on the writing sessions for this album.
Sal: I was going through self doubt, fear of failure, anger. I had a person that I was supposedly married to turn around, betray me and leave me. There were days that I would wake up and feel so hopeless, like where am I going, what am I doing, the “clock is ticking” kind of feeling. Always that constant fear, just “being productive to justify my existence every day” because if I do nothing I become very depressed and I get down on myself, I am my own worst enemy. I would just be abusive on myself mentally and I would just be fucked up in the head mentally.
Metal Exiles: Not everybody has a beautiful past, I can totally agree with those feelings.
Sal: When I was writing this record, I was turning 40 and I was thinking “is this a joke, am I crazy, am I living a pipe dream here, am I on to something?” There is that fine line between intelligence and insanity or genius vs. insanity, am I on to something here or am I making an ass out of myself?
Metal Exiles: You are onto something, this album will tap into some emotions your fans are feeling and you will make a true connection. I know the songs on the album are very personal in nature and I know you left Life Of Agony the first time for personal reasons. Did any of these songs come from that period in your life or are they recent?
Sal: No. Well.. Maybe.. Some of the songs might subconsciously come from that period. “Heroin Train” is about people I knew that I knew that either passed away or had issues with that drug. It was my exposure to folks that were all junked up, walking around Alphabet City on the Lower East Side in Thompson Square Park which was all cardboard houses full of teenage junkies. They were living in cardboard boxes, worried about their next fix instead of a decent meal, totally isolating themselves from any help from family or friends. I would see that when we would hang out in the city when it was cool. Some people think those lyrics in “Heroin Train” are a joke but I saw people living in the cardboard boxes, eating cans of cat food all junked up forcing their girlfriends to make money to get a fix. That stuff all happens, that was in my subconscious and it also goes back to a project that Matt and I had back in 2002 where the singer died from a heroin overdose. Even guys like Layne Staley, great guys like that passing away from this shit. “Cracks In The Walls” is about what I said before, sitting on the floor for eight hours, in the dark, staring at the walls with no TV on, smoking my brains out in total darkness and depression. When I wrote those lyrics I envisioned cracks appearing and opening up, sucking my soul in. Then there was the realization that it was all in my head and I was going crazy and in the end it will just drive you crazy. Die Alone is a depressing song with the view of mine that you are born alone and when you die it is just you dying and even though you might have people at your bedside it is just you going through that lonely process that every person will face. It’s another depressing song with suicidal thoughts about death.
Metal Exiles: Now I am depressed.
Sal: Sorry..
Metal Exiles: You do paint a bleak picture which to me is a good artist. I do understand the lyrics to Heroin Train as I do have a relative that did , and probably still does, have a drug problem ( said person will go unnamed because said person is libel to sue) and the things that were pulled as far as drugs was crazy.
Sal: You can hear stories or see it on the news or know people that go through drug issues and you are basically writing a story about them and how their experiences affected you. The way I approach my lyrics is that I am writing a short story and I am not worried about having a jingle like chorus. It is just a story and anyone with an imagination can picture that scene. Some people are too dense to imagination it that way but if you do you can see the whole movie which is how I see the songs. I see the whole movie and then I have to put it down verbally and have it make sense.
Metal Exiles: This album runs from a heavy Alice in Chains type of grunge sound hybriding with an overtly dark gothic feel. Is this how you wanted it to come out sounding or is this where your writing took you?
Sal: I just like writing that stuff. I like combining a dark heavy mode of music while combining a sweet but not so sweet melody. I was an active musician when that grunge thing was going on in Seattle. I loved the guitar tones that Alice In Chains had, the tones from Soundgarden as well. It was a combination of that and growing up listening to Black Sabbath and of course being exposed to Peter Steele who was a Sabbath fan as well. That is my era and I know people may say it has a 90s tone but this is who I am. That is where my writing goes, I will just pick up my guitar and play something and it may be simple or complicated but it is still my sound.
Metal Exiles: Well the album has balls to come out sounding like it did and it does not follow any trend that is going on today.
Sal: I do not listen to anything new, I have no idea what’s new, all I know is that when I see the kids with their stupid haircuts, scarves around their necks, the emo nu metal bull shit I avoid it. I do not know who the hot thing is, who is current I just listen to the stuff I grew up with in the 70’s as I am a fan of those tones.
Metal Exiles: Going back to the emotional thing are you comfortable singing this material up front?
Sal: I do feel comfortable but it is a process. The more I do it the more confidence I gain because it is a new ballgame for me. I like going to the studio, playing my guitar and singing on the mic, getting stronger and stronger because doing it live is demanding. I have no choice because I have to make it fly. It’s not like I do not feel like singing this week, now it is a commitment, I hand the record to people and I know they will want more.
Metal Exiles: Considering all of the stuff I have read people are going to want you to tour so yes you are committed.
Sal: I know and I am excited. I was considering Europe to being my stomping ground but to have a chance to have a whole new career in the U.S. is great for me. I know when the record comes out in June I am sure there will be a demand for us live and good opportunities to tour the United States and in a perfect world the album with huge everywhere.
Metal Exiles: The artwork for the record is amazing. Did you give Sam Shearon free reign?
Sal: We went back and forth, I gave him about 80% freedom. We conceptualized on the phone, he gave me his ideas and I would say yea or ney but he pretty much nailed it on the head. He is so devoted to the band I think we have created a theme for the band. Maiden had the same artist on every record so we kicked off the theme where we will have continue this type of art with how he does it because it is part of the package. Back in the day we would buy vinyl many times because the artwork was incredible. A lot of bands slap an abstract picture on the cover now, no real artwork or a theme of every song on every page to define the song. When Sam was doing the art I was sending him tracks and lyrics to get him in the mood and I already told him he is doing the second record, no ifs ands or buts. The second album is not going to be some stupid picture, we have to match or exceed the artwork of the first record.
Metal Exiles: To close this out, your debut is coming out on vinyl. Do you think it is important to have it released on vinyl to make that connection with true fans?
Sal: It was something I was thinking about all along. My fiancée collects vinyl and she thought that it would look so good on vinyl so when SPV came to me and said they wanted to put this on vinyl as a double LP and putting a bonus song on there I was blown away. I think if more bands would do that I think we would see a resurgence in sales especially when you put a bonus track on the vinyl because that is not as easily downloaded or pirated. I know there are record players that can be attached to computers but it is not as convenient and not likely to happen. To me vinyl just seems to be more valuable and it is just more of a collectible.
A dark ride into the spirals of your mind is what this album has become and I like what I feel.
Official A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH SITE!
An interview with Sal Abruscato of A Pale Horse Named Death
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: When were the seeds for A Pale Horse first planted?
Sal Abruscato: It was planted back in January 2009. I was frustrated with a lot of things musically and I wanted to make an album on my terms, my way, what I heard in my head. We started then and within four months I was going through a divorce so that fueled a bit of the darkness and angst on the record and it just propelled from that. We did some preproduction and began recording in November 2009 with Matt Brown and we finished in June of 2010. We were not in a rush, there were no labels breathing down our neck, nobody bothering us nor were we contrived that we were going to make a record that was going to “blow up or make it”. I did not care about anything except getting across what I heard, what I felt and the composure that I wanted to put together. It turned out to be a dark record because I am a dark person by nature but one thing led to another, we put some songs up, people started liking them, labels started wanting to negotiate with us and we settled with SPV. It is nice to be with a label that is excited about the record and loves the darkness of it, that there is nothing else like it out right now. Unfortunately it coincides with the timing of when Peter passed away last year; I was starting to lay down the vocals. His passing also fueled some of the dark moments that are happening on the record. It seems like a lot of the fans of Peter and Type O Negative have grasped onto this because it is a record in mourning and they seemed to gravitate to this but it seems to be a stepping stone from what Type O was doing and now there is this whole new thing going on and they can feel like there is some kind of continuation.
Metal Exiles: Well you do have two former members in your band so it helps. There are a few songs on And Hell Will Follow Me where I could picture Peter singing the song.
Sal: I was talking to Peter up until about three weeks before he died, I mentioned that it would be cool if you could do a background vocal on the record. I learned a lot of my music theory from Peter and he is the one that got me into playing guitar 20 years ago.
Metal Exiles: Is this the first time you have wanted to play guitar and front a band or have you wanted to do this in the past?
Sal: I have always pondered this idea, for over 10 years and I finally got balls to do it. It takes a lot of guts to do it and I give mad respect to any frontman that gets up there and does it it. There is always that fear of rejection, not singing 100% on point the whole time. People are so quick to criticize someone on stage because they are not the ones wearing their heart on their sleeve and when you do that on stage you are exposing yourself. For me it was a culmination of me getting fed up musically because Life Of Agony is not very active and I said I have to do something so either I make a move and create something and rejuvenate my career or just get a day job. With this band I had no idea what to expect, I felt like I was on to something because in my heart I loved what I was doing but I did not know if the rest of the world was going to perceive it that and I did not know if the rest of the world was ready for more depressing music. I am pretty fortunate it is going the way it is going and that people are vibing out to the tunes.
Metal Exiles: Well you are putting And Hell Will Follow Me out to a pretty dark world so I feel as though you are creating the soundtrack for 2011.
Sal: Yeah, there are a lot of bad things going on and possibly people can relate to listening to something depressing because they are depressed.
Metal Exiles: I am not really a depressing person , I do get pissed off about something’s but I just latched onto this album and it reminds me of Dirt (Editor’s note: it’s an Alice In Chains record, if you did not know but I hope you did.) which was one of the first albums that really knocked me over with how expressive a band could be and to me this album is the next one. Now, with your band, did Johnny Kelly play on the record or is the drums all yours as well?
Sal: The drums are all me on this album. On this record I played every instrument. Matt Brown did play some leads on the record as well as Bobby Hambel when he was still just a guest in the band. I played bass, some melodic leads, rhythm guitars, harmony guitars as well. You know what I called it? I called it “Going Trent”. I am sick of being in a room not agreeing on a vision and if you do not like it, piss off. Basically that was my attitude, I have a feeling that I am not that crazy that I do not know what I am doing and after being in music for 30 years I have to put it on myself and not playing someone else’s ideas. It is hard being in a band situation where nobody agrees on anything. I do not know if I will do the same thing for the second record it got the complete vision and story out the way I wanted it and I am seeing the results that tell me it worked.
Metal Exiles: Emotion is a big thing on this And Hell Will Follow Me. What were you tapping into to make this record happen?
Sal: The Emotion of depression, wanting to get high and away from reality, betrayal with someone fucking you over and dragging you through the mud. The emotion of feeling so depressed that you want to kill yourself. There are a lot of mixed emotions on this record and some songs are in relations to people I know as well as myself. There were a lot of moments of staring at the wall thinking of crazy stuff and just letting it come out through the music.
Metal Exiles: That being said there is not a single ray of sunshine on this album. Give us some insight on the writing sessions for this album.
Sal: I was going through self doubt, fear of failure, anger. I had a person that I was supposedly married to turn around, betray me and leave me. There were days that I would wake up and feel so hopeless, like where am I going, what am I doing, the “clock is ticking” kind of feeling. Always that constant fear, just “being productive to justify my existence every day” because if I do nothing I become very depressed and I get down on myself, I am my own worst enemy. I would just be abusive on myself mentally and I would just be fucked up in the head mentally.
Metal Exiles: Not everybody has a beautiful past, I can totally agree with those feelings.
Sal: When I was writing this record, I was turning 40 and I was thinking “is this a joke, am I crazy, am I living a pipe dream here, am I on to something?” There is that fine line between intelligence and insanity or genius vs. insanity, am I on to something here or am I making an ass out of myself?
Metal Exiles: You are onto something, this album will tap into some emotions your fans are feeling and you will make a true connection. I know the songs on the album are very personal in nature and I know you left Life Of Agony the first time for personal reasons. Did any of these songs come from that period in your life or are they recent?
Sal: No. Well.. Maybe.. Some of the songs might subconsciously come from that period. “Heroin Train” is about people I knew that I knew that either passed away or had issues with that drug. It was my exposure to folks that were all junked up, walking around Alphabet City on the Lower East Side in Thompson Square Park which was all cardboard houses full of teenage junkies. They were living in cardboard boxes, worried about their next fix instead of a decent meal, totally isolating themselves from any help from family or friends. I would see that when we would hang out in the city when it was cool. Some people think those lyrics in “Heroin Train” are a joke but I saw people living in the cardboard boxes, eating cans of cat food all junked up forcing their girlfriends to make money to get a fix. That stuff all happens, that was in my subconscious and it also goes back to a project that Matt and I had back in 2002 where the singer died from a heroin overdose. Even guys like Layne Staley, great guys like that passing away from this shit. “Cracks In The Walls” is about what I said before, sitting on the floor for eight hours, in the dark, staring at the walls with no TV on, smoking my brains out in total darkness and depression. When I wrote those lyrics I envisioned cracks appearing and opening up, sucking my soul in. Then there was the realization that it was all in my head and I was going crazy and in the end it will just drive you crazy. Die Alone is a depressing song with the view of mine that you are born alone and when you die it is just you dying and even though you might have people at your bedside it is just you going through that lonely process that every person will face. It’s another depressing song with suicidal thoughts about death.
Metal Exiles: Now I am depressed.
Sal: Sorry..
Metal Exiles: You do paint a bleak picture which to me is a good artist. I do understand the lyrics to Heroin Train as I do have a relative that did , and probably still does, have a drug problem ( said person will go unnamed because said person is libel to sue) and the things that were pulled as far as drugs was crazy.
Sal: You can hear stories or see it on the news or know people that go through drug issues and you are basically writing a story about them and how their experiences affected you. The way I approach my lyrics is that I am writing a short story and I am not worried about having a jingle like chorus. It is just a story and anyone with an imagination can picture that scene. Some people are too dense to imagination it that way but if you do you can see the whole movie which is how I see the songs. I see the whole movie and then I have to put it down verbally and have it make sense.
Metal Exiles: This album runs from a heavy Alice in Chains type of grunge sound hybriding with an overtly dark gothic feel. Is this how you wanted it to come out sounding or is this where your writing took you?
Sal: I just like writing that stuff. I like combining a dark heavy mode of music while combining a sweet but not so sweet melody. I was an active musician when that grunge thing was going on in Seattle. I loved the guitar tones that Alice In Chains had, the tones from Soundgarden as well. It was a combination of that and growing up listening to Black Sabbath and of course being exposed to Peter Steele who was a Sabbath fan as well. That is my era and I know people may say it has a 90s tone but this is who I am. That is where my writing goes, I will just pick up my guitar and play something and it may be simple or complicated but it is still my sound.
Metal Exiles: Well the album has balls to come out sounding like it did and it does not follow any trend that is going on today.
Sal: I do not listen to anything new, I have no idea what’s new, all I know is that when I see the kids with their stupid haircuts, scarves around their necks, the emo nu metal bull shit I avoid it. I do not know who the hot thing is, who is current I just listen to the stuff I grew up with in the 70’s as I am a fan of those tones.
Metal Exiles: Going back to the emotional thing are you comfortable singing this material up front?
Sal: I do feel comfortable but it is a process. The more I do it the more confidence I gain because it is a new ballgame for me. I like going to the studio, playing my guitar and singing on the mic, getting stronger and stronger because doing it live is demanding. I have no choice because I have to make it fly. It’s not like I do not feel like singing this week, now it is a commitment, I hand the record to people and I know they will want more.
Metal Exiles: Considering all of the stuff I have read people are going to want you to tour so yes you are committed.
Sal: I know and I am excited. I was considering Europe to being my stomping ground but to have a chance to have a whole new career in the U.S. is great for me. I know when the record comes out in June I am sure there will be a demand for us live and good opportunities to tour the United States and in a perfect world the album with huge everywhere.
Metal Exiles: The artwork for the record is amazing. Did you give Sam Shearon free reign?
Sal: We went back and forth, I gave him about 80% freedom. We conceptualized on the phone, he gave me his ideas and I would say yea or ney but he pretty much nailed it on the head. He is so devoted to the band I think we have created a theme for the band. Maiden had the same artist on every record so we kicked off the theme where we will have continue this type of art with how he does it because it is part of the package. Back in the day we would buy vinyl many times because the artwork was incredible. A lot of bands slap an abstract picture on the cover now, no real artwork or a theme of every song on every page to define the song. When Sam was doing the art I was sending him tracks and lyrics to get him in the mood and I already told him he is doing the second record, no ifs ands or buts. The second album is not going to be some stupid picture, we have to match or exceed the artwork of the first record.
Metal Exiles: To close this out, your debut is coming out on vinyl. Do you think it is important to have it released on vinyl to make that connection with true fans?
Sal: It was something I was thinking about all along. My fiancée collects vinyl and she thought that it would look so good on vinyl so when SPV came to me and said they wanted to put this on vinyl as a double LP and putting a bonus song on there I was blown away. I think if more bands would do that I think we would see a resurgence in sales especially when you put a bonus track on the vinyl because that is not as easily downloaded or pirated. I know there are record players that can be attached to computers but it is not as convenient and not likely to happen. To me vinyl just seems to be more valuable and it is just more of a collectible.
A dark ride into the spirals of your mind is what this album has become and I like what I feel.
Official A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH SITE!
