From Québec, Abowth carves its path in dark, personal atmospheric black metal. With Drowning Souls, his second album released in July 2025, Dominic immerses the listener in a universe where intimate mythology, psychology, and haunted tales intertwine. We had the opportunity to ask him a few questions to learn more about his artistic approach and the future of the project.
Originally spoken in French, translated for the cult masses
Abowth was born as a solo project. Can you tell us how it started and what drove you to create this very particular universe?
Most of my creations come from a spontaneous idea that I develop and improve over time.
I initially created Abowth by writing a song that was supposed to be titled Abowth, which became Echoes of Abowth.
A friend suggested the idea that Abowth could be the city I come from but seen through my own perception of the people and environment there.
I enriched the idea with a concept, a story I wanted to tell, drawn from my personal experiences and expressed metaphorically in my songs.
Your first album (Abowth, 2024) already set a strong foundation. What has evolved or changed with Drowning Souls, released in July 2025?
I continued developing the concept; the last track of Abowth, Ibuib’s Night Train Echoes, is a story that continues and evolves with Drowning Souls.
The concept evolved both in terms of the story and also the composition and production of the music.
I remain intentionally vague in the lyrics, but I have a story that I develop and that forms the foundation of the album’s creation.
I also learned many things along the way regarding production to improve the sonic impact of the music and the overall atmosphere.
Themes and Artistic Vision
Your songs explore psychology, mythology, and philosophy. How do these themes come together in Drowning Souls?
The songs deal with difficult choices we have to make in life while mixing in the fantasy of a world I invent.
There is also my personal perception of things and reflections on existence, which unfold in the lyrics.
The narrative universe of Abowth is closely tied to this mysterious village. How much of it is real and how much is imaginary?
The story told is entirely imaginary. In Drowning Souls, a demon named “Ibuib” torments the inhabitants, drawing on weaker souls to feed a buried force hidden in the forest.
The village itself exists—it’s where I come from—and some elements are real, but I use them with a darker atmosphere.
The track “Curse”, first released as a single then included on the album, seems important. What is its particular meaning?
This song had several names before this choice and was almost entirely recomposed. It reflects despair, abandonment, and rebellion.
I decided to use a photo from a particular moment in my life for the artwork because the track was more labor-intensive for me than the others.
I feel it encapsulates the album as a whole, and I wanted it to be heard first, hence the idea to release it as a single.
Creation and Production
You handle everything independently. Can you tell us about your creative and production process?
I work by feeling, following what I want to do. The starting point is often the overall concept of the album, and then I work in parallel on composition and design.
For music composition, I often start with a mix of lead and rhythm guitars before adding the rest.
For lyrics, I compose the full story in detail, then simplify it to the extreme, bringing it back to the level of concept and atmosphere.
The design is usually a mix of painting and photography that I assemble.
Have you ever collaborated or considered collaborating with other musicians in the future?
I’ve thought about it several times, but with my schedule, it’s very difficult to set up meetings for this type of collaboration.
Influences and Inspirations
We can sense echoes of bands like Dissection in some riffs. What are your main musical or extra-musical influences?
I listen to and play a lot of songs by Dissection, Emperor, Hypocrisy, and Edge of Sanity. I really like melodic black metal and 1990s Swedish death metal.
Which artists or works (books, films, myths, personal experiences) feed your imagination the most?
I don’t have any particular inspiration consciously drawn from other artists.
Reception and Future
How has the public reacted to Drowning Souls so far?
I haven’t had a lot of feedback yet, but I think those who have listened have enjoyed it.
What projects do you have in mind for the future (new compositions, concerts, collaborations)?
I’m currently working on a new album and plan to release a single by December.
The rest of the album should be ready by next July. I do not intend to perform live.
I have two special collaborators for the intros of each track on the next album.
Finally, what experience or emotion would you like the listener to take away from Drowning Souls?
For this album, I hope the listener experiences distress followed by a rebirth toward a new truth that belongs to them.
Is there anything you’d like to add or share with your listeners that we haven’t covered in this interview?
I hope you will listen to what comes next. Thank you so much for the interview; you are extremely professional, and I wish you the greatest success.
Thanks also to everyone who took the time to listen to my music; it’s very much appreciated!
Follow Abowth on social media to stay up to date with the latest releases and news.
- Bandcamp: https://abowth.bandcamp.com/album/drowning-souls
- Official Website: https://www.abowth.com
- Facebook: Page Facebook
