Doomed Confessionary: Yhon Montes (Azagoth)
Azagoth is a doom/death metal band formed in 1992 in Manizales, Colombia. After two demos (»La Muerte es Real« and »Caminos de Tristeza«) and a few lineup changes, the band dissolved in 1998.
In 2022, Azagoth reformed with Andrés Pérez B. (vocals) and Yhon Montes (guitar, bass) as the band’s only permanent members.
They released their debut album »From The Deep« on digital platforms on January 23rd, 2024 through Nephula Productions and Oráculo Magazine. Their second full-length »Desde lo profundo« and »Esperando el sueño eterno (La carta)« EP followed in the same year.
Azagoth currently consists of Andrés Pérez B. on vocals, Yhon Montes on guitar, Eddie Granados on bass, Jhonatan López on keyboards and Leonardo Gutiérrez on drums.
Can you say a few words about your band?
First of all, thanks a lot Bojan for taking us into account for your magazine, we are very pleased and surprised to know our music has traveled so far!
Azagoth is a doom death metal band from Manizales, Colombia. We reunited after 25 years but only Andrés (vocals) and I (Yhon – guitar) continued with the band, we met three great musicians who joined us to complete and give shape to what we are so far, they are Eddy (bass), Leo (drums) and Stiven (keyboards). Our lyrics are about human sorrow and desperation, the anguish of existence and death, our music is dark and dense focused in the old school doom.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
I would say there are two major challenges: to write a second album completely different from the first one, yet connected to it since our production is conceptual; all the lyrics are connected to the others making a whole story and secondly, to work very hard so we can play live outside our country in a couple of years or less.
What can you be most proud of so far?
To have released our first album in physical and digital formats, being such a recent band to have been selected to be part in the compilation: »In Colombia… Sometimes Doom Is Better Vol. 4« and to be part of Viuda Negra Metal Fest where we will open for Sacramentum (SWE) and Yoth Iria (Greece).
What was your biggest regret?
Not to have reunited the band before.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Since we rejoined and reformed the band only a few time ago we have not played live yet, but we are already scheduled to do so, we have 2 dates on February 7th and 8th and one on March 15th at Viuda Negra Metal Fest.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
To have discovered there were more doom metal bands in Colombia, I thought there were only a couple but in fact there are many.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Mostly doom metal bands, I also listen to a lot of thrash and death metal and some heavy.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
To never give up my dreams and to use a metronome. LOL
What are your guilty pleasures?
The Hillbilly Moon Explosion and Amy Whinehouse.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Colombia?
In my city the scene had been quite death for some years but recently there is a boom of great metal bands coming out, in general the strongest scenes in my country are in Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, some of the most outstanding bands in different metal styles in Colombia are from those cities.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
February 7th in Pereira, COL, at Shuffle Live Music Bar.
February 8th in Manizales, COL, at Plug n Play Bar.
March 15th in Bogotá, COL, at Viuda Negra Metal Fest at Ace of Spades Club.
More dates TBA.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
To have the second album ready for the end of this year, to continue touring our country and to look for dates abroad.
How can people best support your band?
Buying our CD, going to our shows and showing our music to those who have not heard about us.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
We really appreciate the time you take to listen to our music, also, your feedback helps us improve as musicians and as persons. Thanks for the support and for being part of this dark dream, follow us in our social networks and digital platforms.
Staydoomed!
Links:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube | Nephula Prod
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well