KABBALAH
SPANISH TRIO DEPART FROM THE PARTYING
“We don’t understand why everybody has to be happy all the time,” broods Kabbalah drummer Carmen, explaining how the mystical doom trio emerged out of party-hard rock’n’roll outfit Las Culebras. For Carmen and bassist/singer Marga, having a good time all the time started to get boring. “Marga and I wanted to make our own music with no restrictions. It resulted in us forming Kabbalah, which brought together all the darkness we were hiding.” Their potential was clear: “Our natural way of playing music was similar to having a nightmare,” recalls Marga.
Despite their name, Kabbalah repudiate any belief system, comfortingly favouring the more traditional palette of doom metal hobbyism. “Kabbalah’s music has a lot of gloomy ambience that comes from watching horror films or reading books to do with mania, darkness or general desolation,” reflects guitarist Alba. Asked which works influenced their debut album, Spectral Ascent, Marga specifies a documentary about sleep paralysis, while Alba confesses “I’m a bit obsessed with The Lord Of The Rings soundtrack.”
Spectral Ascent follows three beguiling self-released EPs since 2013; these experiences have gradually sharpened Kabbalah’s instincts, all three women agreeing that crafting a long-player has focused their chemistry and expanded their horizons. “It was the first time Alba was involved in the songwriting, and we all worked together as a coven,” explains Marga. “It was the best moment since Kabbalah was created. We had a clear idea about the direction we wanted to follow.”
“Everything is more thought out,” reckons Alba. “With each release, we are getting closer to reaching a ‘Kabbalah sound’.”
Finally, with music so suffused in spooky goings-on, it’d be remiss not to ask: have Kabbalah ever seen a ghost? “Yeah. We have one in our rehearsal room,” confirms Carmen. “It makes noises from time to time, and throws things.” Alba concurs:
“It sends spiders to Marga.”