Interview with Colin H. van Eeckhout (Absent in Body, Amenra)

collage by sven harambasic

1.Hello Colin and first of all thank you for accepting my invitation to do this interview.

My pleasure.

2.Many people know you from Amenra but you started a new interesting project, can you please tell us more about Absent in Body and how it was born?

In 2017 Mathieu and Scott were asked to do a split 12″ together on Hypertension records, and there the idea came to do something together. They started writing and asked me to do vocals. After the release Mathieu continued writing as we all saw the potential there.

As the blueprint of Plague god started forming itself recording was done through the years that followed. Every time Scott did a EU tour he’d stick around to record some guitar parts.

Iggor came in from London, and laid his massive drums on the electronic beats and sounds Mathieu programmed.

Photography by Bobby Cochran

3. What does the name of the band signify? 

That you’d have to ask Scott cause he came up with that one in 2016. I think „Absent” of „Absence” was a song Mathieu was working on in the eary days and Scott went from there.

Its derived from this song, and a bible quote „Absent from the body, present with the Lord”2 Corinthians 5:6–8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

4. How did you begin your collaboration with Igorr Cavalera?

Iggor spends a lot of time here in my city, Gent Belgium. His wife is on a Label that is based here and Iggor plays with their band, Soulwax. We have mutual friends, and met once at an award show here.

There was always a „we should do something together some day”. And this was „the day”. I messaged him up and asked him if he was interested to join us in this.

5. Regarding the past/current situation, how did the Corona virus affect you regarding music ?

It gave me the time to record the AIB visuals, that had been laying there in a dark corner waiting to be addressed. I was reluctant to start as it was an unknown territory for me too.

We wrote a lot of music, and were able to focus on the family and all the different projects we all had going. Mathieu threw himself on photography, Igor released Petbrick stuff, started” beneath the drums”amongst other things. Scott pulled back to focus on his essence, his family.

6. Who writes the lyrics?

I do.

7. What can you tell us about the artwork? Who is the artist?

I had the idea to create or visualise the „beast” you hear on the album. And then reached out to my friend Tom Godts, who sculpts real human skulls under his moniker, Dolen Carag.

I believe we really succeeded in giving the creature a familiar yet unknown feel, a sense of unease, threat even. Same goes for the vocal tone, with the sound of the vocals.

8. Do you plan a touring in the next future? Romania will be on the list as well?

No.

9. Thank you again for doing this ! It was a nice talk

Thank you !