Conducted on 3/25/99; Live pictures and interview by Mike Coles

This is unfortunately going to be a short interview, due to the fact I lost the tape that I had the interview on when I met and interviewed them at last year’s Cornerstone music festival. Luckily, I was able to chat with Abel, founder of the band through e-mail. I have included both the English and the Spanish versions, something I am hoping to do with The Outcast in the months to come (translating it).

The last time I saw them practice (2 years ago in Mexico) they pretty much reminded me of a Mexican In Flames, but Abel, drummer and vocalist (Another King F.) screams in English, so.... There isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t check these guys out if you like serious melodic metal!

The Outcast: Cuando acceptaste ser Christiano, y como sabes que es el camino en esta vida?

Abel: Yo creci en un hogar Cristiano. Mi madre siempre me inculco la palabra del Senor, pero fue a los 16 anos que acepte veraderamente al senor Jesus. Estoy seguro de que Jesus es el unico camino, pues lo he sentido en mi Corazon y reflejado en tantos hechos y testimonios en mi vida. Solo el pudo cambiarme de mi cida de pecado para transformarme en una nueva persona, lo siento en mi. Es como el viento, no lo vemos pero lo sentimos, sabemos que esta ahi, asi es Jesus.

The Outcast: When did you become a Christian and how do you know that this is the path to walk in life?

Abel: I grew up in a Christian household where my mom always included the word of God, but it wasn’t until I was 16 years old when I truly accepted Jesus Christ. I am certain that this is the only path, because I have felt it in my heart and all the things that have happened are a reflection of his grace. He was the only one that was able to change my life of sin into the new person that I became, I feel it inside. It’s like the wind, we don’t see it, but we feel it, we know it is there, that is how Jesus works.

The Outcast: Hay muchos grupos que tocan metal que son Cristianos en donde viven?

Abel: Lamentablemente en Mexico existen solo dos grupos de metal en Mexico que yo conozo; Tabernaculo y Entelequia. Solo estos dos se que tienen grabacion y que tocan actualmente.

The Outcast: Are there many Christian metal bands where you are from?

Abel: Unfortunately, only two groups that play metal in Mexico that I know of, Tabernaculo and Entelequia. As far as I know, these are the only two bands with a recording and that actually play out.

The Outcast: Como los tratan cuando tocan?

Abel: Actualmente ya no tocamos en vivo, pues en Mexico no existen promotores, y los pocos que hay solo llaman a bandas que ellos conocen. La envidia en Mexico es muy grande entre musicos. Cuando hemos tocado en vivo, la gente nos insulta, pero DIOS siempre sale victorioso. Eso es en Mexico, en los U.S.A. es bonito lugar para tocar.

The Outcast: How does the crowd react when you perform?

Abel: Actually, we don’t play live anymore. In Mexico, promoters don’t really exist, and the ones that do exist just call bands that they know. The selfishness in Mexico is very big amongst the musicians. When we have played live, the crowd insults us, but God always comes out victorious. That’s in Mexico, but in the U.S.A., the crowd is very kind, and the promoters are very professional. The U.S.A. is a very nice place to play.

The Outcast: Hablas de Dios en sus conciertos? Que te dice la gente sobre de lo que dicen?

Abel: Nosotros solo hablamos de DIOS en cada presentacion que damos. No estamos aqui para jugar, Dios nos puso aqui para predicar y no mas. Las personas aceptan la palabra y gracias a DIOS hemos logrado nuestro objetivo, atraer su atencion y despues hablarles del senor.

The Outcast: Do you speak about God during your concerts? How does the crowd react?

Abel: We only talk about God during each presentation that we give. We are not here to play, God put us here to preach His word and nothing else. The crowd accepts the word, and thank God we have met our objective, to attract their attention and then tell them about God.

The Outcast: Que piensan de la religion?

Abel: La religion no la creo DIOS, la crearon los hombres mismos para someter a los demas. En mi pais los espanoles en la conquista en 1492 se valieron de la religion para quitarles sus tierras a los indigenes y ahora la religion se ocupa solo de crear negocios atravez de la fe. DIOS nos dice que nos amemos unos a otros y ahora se matan por defender su religion, eso es amor? No creo que Dios este ahi.

The Outcast: What is your opinion on religion?

Abel: Religion wasn’t created by God, man created religion themselves to oppress the rest. In my country, the Spanish Conquistadors used religion in 1492 so they could take the land away from the Indians, and now religion is used to make business, not for faithful purposes. God says to love one another, and now we see people killing each other defending their religion, is this love? I don’t think God is there.

The Outcast: Has sentido como hypocrito?

Abel: Lo primero que buscamos es la perfeccion ser ejemplo para los demas y en algunos casos caemos en pecado y en hipocresia. Mentiria si te dijiera que no pecamos. Todos somos pecadores, por eso Jesus murio por nosotros. Lo importante no es sentirse un hipocrita, sino cambiar cada dia, dejar lo malo cada manana, y ser un mejor Cristiano.

The Outcast: Have you ever felt like a hypocrite?

Abel: The first thing we look for is the perfect example for others to follow, but in some cases we have fallen to sin and hypocrisy. It would be a lie to say that we don’t sin. We are all sinners, that is why Jesus Christ died for us. The important thing is not to feel hypocritical, but to change everyday, and to better oneself as a Christian.

The Outcast: Piensan que lo bueno en este mundo se pueda usar en maldad, y lo maldad se pueda usar en cosas buenas?

Abel: Existen cosas que benefician a el hombre como la television. Esto se puede usar para informar, cultivar, o recrear. Pero tambien se puede usar para enganar, para presenter cosas que no nos benefician como la pornografia. La maldad siempre sera maldad y su fin es destruccion.

The Outcast: Do you believe "evil" can be used for "good" and "good" for "evil"?

Abel: There are things that exist that are beneficial to mankind, like television. This can be used for information, recreational purposes, etc.. but it can also be used to trick us, to present us with things that are not beneficial, like pornography. Evil will always be evil, and its end is destruction.

The Outcast: Que es tu definicion de ser Cristiano?

Abel: Ser Cristiano es algo muy hermoso pero a la vez es una vida llena de responsabilidades con tu creador. Debes ser ejemplo y practicar lo que predicas, ademas de seguir los mandamientos que DIOS nos ensena en la Biblia y ser un instrumento de paz y amor. Jesus siempre dio ejemplo de bondad, paciencia, amor, fe, etc.. Por eso debemos ser como Jesus y no ser Cristiano de vez en cuando o por conveniencia.

The Outcast: What is your definition of a Christian?

Abel: Being a Christian is very beautiful, but at the same time it’s a life with great responsibilities with your creator. You must be an example and practice what you preach, besides following the Ten Commandments that God taught us in the Bible, we must be an instrument of peace and love. Jesus is an excellent example of peace, patience, love, faith, etc.. That is why we must be like Jesus and not be a Christian just once in a while or for convenience.

The Outcast: Cres que escuchando musica de death y black metal es malo?

Abel: Lo malo no es escuchar la musica que es creacion de DIOS, lo malo es dejarte llevar por tus pasiones carnales. Los musicos, no Cristianos, han catalogado a esta musica como muerte, negro, perdicion, etc..Pero solo es un simple nombre, lo importante es que a traves de esta musica, muchos jovenes pueden ser tocados por Dios, puede ser un instrumento para salvacion. Tu puedes hacer lo que quieras, pero no todo te conviene. Solo prueba si es de beneficio a tu vida spiritual sino desechalo.

The Outcast: Do you think listening to death and black metal is bad?

Abel: It isn’t bad to listen to the music that was created by God, what’s bad is to be taken by your carnal pleasures. The musicians, not the Christians, are the ones who have put a category with this style of music. Such as death, blackness, being lost, etc..But it’s just a name, the important thing is that God can use this music to touch the youth; it can be used as an instrument towards salvation. You can do as you please, but not everything is convenient. Just test it to see if it is beneficial in your spiritual life, if not, get rid of it.

The Outcast: Cuales son sus bandas favoritos?

Abel: In Flames, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Paramecium, Crashdog, Frank’s Enemy, One Bad Apple, musica Celtica, David Arkenstone, etc..

The Outcast: Halguno de ustedes an querido dejar su fe en su vida?

Abel: Jamas, nunca. Jesus es nuestra razon de ser y nunca dejaremos el camino. Ni aun la misma muerte nos separa del amor de Dios. El es todo para nosotros. Lo amamos por lo que es, no por lo que nos pueda dar.

The Outcast: Have any of you ever wanted to leave your faith behind?

Abel: Never. Jesus is the reason we live and we will never leave His path. Not even death can separate God’s love. He is everything to us. We love Him for what He is, not for what He can give us.

The Outcast: Dejarias tocar a algien que no es Cristiano en Lament?

Abel: Nunca. La Biblia nos ensena que de una fuente no puede brotar agua dulce y amarga. Como seria possible que nosotros mismos que intentamos predicar la salvacion no seamos salvos. Un ciego no puede guitar a otro ciego.

The Outcast: Would you ever let a non-Christian play in Lament?

Abel: Never. The Bible teaches us that a fountain can not produce salt water and regular water at the same time. How could one preach salvation if one is not saved? The blind can not lead the blind.

The Outcast: Ultimas palabras?

Abel: Busquen al senor, mientras pueda ser hallado. Busquenlo ahora que esta cercano por que pronto ya no estara mas. Vuelvan a su primer amor y entregenle a el sus vidas por completo. No vivan un Cristianismo mediocre, vivan solo para el.

The Outcast: Closing words?

Abel: Look for God while you’re still alive. Return to your first love and give yourself to Him completely. Don’t live a mediocre Christian life, live only for Him.