“We would hear many stories on the news about people getting tortured and killed for doing simple things such as certain forms of art,” recalls Atash. Born in Tehran, the musician left his country of Iran at 16, citing “religious restrictions on expression.”
This is the story of Kaaboos – Atash’s black metal project that made history through a protest performance against the Islamic regime outside an Iranian embassy.
“Iran is a country of no sense and peace, being forced to go by the Islamic rules was by no means a choice of mine, but due to the hardcore punishments and torture as a result of not doing so, I had no chance but to leave home and properly experience life elsewhere.”
Atash found temporary relief in England, where he described as “the first time I felt that I could breathe… in a sense, I felt free, just wandering around alone. I used to take walks for hours to go to the outskirts of the city and enjoy the scenery, and that resonated with me like nothing ever did,” but he eventually discovered his undeniable home – Norway (“I simply wasn’t able to consider anywhere else. I was in Norway, where everything happened, and it was either here or back to Iran…”).
“At the asylum camp, I encountered countless people that chose Norway for a good income, and luxurious summertime vacations. But Norway helped me connect with nature, and how there are way more valuable things than materialistic riches. And yet, the immigration officers assume everybody is of the same mindset when they immigrate to Norway. I don’t think they even know what my values mean to me, and what black metal really is,” insists the Kaaboos frontman.
To the uninitiated, the black metal genre’s roots grow deep in the Scandinavian land of Norway, noting pioneering acts such as Mayhem, Burzum, Darkthrone, Emperor, etc. Like electronica in France or blues music in the South, black metal is fundamental to Norway. With that in mind, it feels poetic that at one point in time, Atash’s journey as a black metal musician spanned from Iran to Norway.
The way Atash spoke about his life in Sandefjord, Norway is beyond inspiring…
“From the center of town you could walk for twenty minutes in any direction you pick, and you were suddenly surrounded by trees and in complete peace and solitude… the atmosphere and the air over here, forests, constant fog surrounding the area in Autumn… these are things that I deem as important, at least in my life.“
While living in Norway, Kaaboos released the Leviathan EP and “Wrath of Gods” single – a track that Atash claims to be “perhaps indirectly, against the regime in Iran.” While the lyrics align with the blasphemous spiritual tropes of early black metal, Atash explains there “will always be a political background to the formation of Kaaboos, especially considering all the threats that I received and how my entire life took a big turn since then.”
Atash’s passion for black metal tied with his oppression in Iran led up to the crux of his career – and arguably his entire life. On October 13, 2023, Kaaboos performed outside of the Iranian embassy, in Norway. “Black metal is a powerful weapon for rebellion and my goal with the protest show outside of the Iranian embassy in Oslo, was to give the Islamic regime a slap in the face; to show them that one can only blossom and discover one’s self in freedom.”
In addition to the aforementioned “Wrath of Gods,” Atash also performed a cover of “Nordbundet,” originally by Taake, the Bergen-based black metallers.
Atash explains, “‘Nordbundet’ is a track that I listened to a lot when I moved to Norway, along with the album Nattestid by Taake. The connection with it eventually developed, in a sense that every time I listen to it, it provokes that Norwegian essence, and feelings I felt when I first moved here. Therefore, I saw it as relevant to perform it outside of the embassy. Symbolically, this track for me sort of represents my journey in Norway and the things that have changed in my life.”
After four years, Atash’s asylum claim was rejected by the Norwegian Immigration offices (UDI & UNE). He was also issued a deportation order. It’s not clear what life will be for Atash once he returns to Iran, but there is a near-certainty of imprisonment and further persecution; Atash has even expressed concerns about facing execution.
“We have not been able to get a legal temporary stay… they rejected it every time we have tried, and the requests were not cost free.”
Even as an outsider looking at the whole situation, it’s frustrating and confusing as to why Confess (a band who also immigrated from Iran to Norway) was successfully accepted as asylum seekers, however, Kaaboos‘ claim was rejected multiple times. Atash was familiar with Confess‘ story, alleging the system of immigration as “corrupted.”
In our conversation, he acknowledges bad actors in the immigration asylum process who misuse the system, telling the story of a Kurdish-Iranian who shot up a Norwegian LGBTQ+ bar in 2022, clarifying that these events corrupt the perspectives on immigration, and how it is unfair towards himself and others who should not be assessed in relation to those who misuse asylum – “I could only wish for a better and safer system of protection for people who truly need it around the world.“
It’s clear that Atash has no ill intent through his immigration; he simply wants to be far away from a country where it is fatally illegal for him to express his art, and find home in a country, where he feels most connected and inspired to create music.
Kaaboos released the full-length album titled ‘Anti-Cosmic Rebellion’ in 2024 via Iblis Manifestations
“Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and spread mischief in the land is death” [5:33]
Atash remains critical of how Iran uses the Quran as law, referring to the verse above and explaining that “the existence of Islam is very dangerous. Both for those who believe in it, and for others,” while also using tracks such as “Qasam Be Shaytan,” to condemn the violence of Islam through Persian-dialect blackened growls:
تولد، آغاذی برای یک داستان
از اولین تپش قلب تا آخرین نفس
داستانی که جز زجر و عذاب نیست
این است سرنوشت انسان ها
از هزاران سال تحول تا اسلام
!سمی که به ذهنمان حمله کرد و ما را کور کرد
“Birth, the Beginning of a Story
From the first heartbeat to the last breath
A story that is nothing but torment and torment
This is the fate of human beings
From Thousands of Years of Evolution to Islam
The poison that attacked our minds and blinded us”
Atash explains, “as long as the regime is up and in control, there will never be such thing of accepting this genre as a form of art. It seems that these people have dedicated every breath they take to Allah and the prophets of Islam.”
“There are many ways to think about why they take it to such unimaginable extend. Do they want to remain in power, and this is their ruthless approach to harvest all the wealth of the country? Are they just trying to secure the highest of spots in heaven for themselves, by dealing with the enemies of god, and forcing everyone to follow Islam? We can only wonder,” concludes the Kaaboos frontman.
As of this interview, Atash has been legally ordered by Norway to return to Iran; his life as a refugee continues – “…it seems that Norway has closed all its doors on me now, and it will only be a matter of time until we find out what is going to happen to me.” We hope the best for Atash and the Kaaboos project.
Next… the story of sanctuary in the Turkish metal scene with Out of Nowhere.
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