Time to roll things back to August for this latest Profile, and it’s one that I’m absolutely kicking myself for missing originally. I first heard Shabti at one of the many awesome Geno’s gigs some years ago. They stood out to me then, and I’m thrilled to share their latest effort, Haze, Cacophony, and White Light, today. Out now through Contemn Light, the Maine collective have delivered their most impressive work so far, proving the years leading up to their third album were absolutely worth it. Technical throughout of course, their blend of black and death metal (and so much more) has elevated in all the right ways. I can’t wait to spend more time with this the rest of the year, but for now I’ll turn it over to Rob Cook (guitars and vocals) to introduce this project and album a little further.

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How and when did you first get into playing music, or metal more specifically, and how did your band get its start? Any pushback from family/those close to you?

When I was a young kid I spent a lot of time listening to the radio when I should have been doing my homework. At the time, it was mostly 80s pop and new wave music. When I was about 12 I discovered Led Zeppelin and Metallica, and when I turned 15 or 16 I started getting into extreme metal. I got a pawn shop guitar for my 15th birthday and started teaching myself how to play. We also had a guitar class at my high school where they taught us some basics and expected us to perform live every week, but most of what I know I learned on my own.

My parents didn’t always understand my taste in music but they never forbid me from listening to it or playing it. I didn’t get into playing in any proper bands until a couple years after I moved out at 18.

How would you describe your band and what you play to someone who is completely in the dark?

I find it difficult to describe something that is so close to me. I guess to start, I am influenced by the bands that I listened to in my youth: thrash bands such as Kreator (especially their more complex mid-career albums), death metal bands such as Morbid Angel, black metal bands such as Emperor or Gorgoroth. I also enjoy bands that use unconventional chord voicings and dissonance such as Ved Buense Ende and I got into grindcore (Napalm Death, Nasum, etc) in my late teens/early 20s. I think we have some of the sense of urgency that you can hear in good grindcore bands, though I would not describe our music as grindcore. Basically, the metal that I write is an amalgamation of all of these things as they all influence me equally. It never occurred to me to make a strictly death metal band or strictly black metal band, etc, we simply do what comes naturally. We get a lot of comments describing our music as technical; I never really think of it that way as I just write riffs that I enjoy playing but looking from the outside and comparing it to other bands I think that is accurate.

Is there anything about your latest album or about your band that no one will find in any interview or review that you care to divulge?

Hmm… at this point it is hard to think of anything that has not been mentioned in an interview. I guess I would say that we have been playing music under the moniker Shabti since 2008 and I am the only original member. When I started the band my only goal was to play a couple of shows and record a demo. I wasn’t happy about how my previous band fell apart and I wanted one last shot at it, little did I know that I would still be playing nearly 20 years later. We never really cared to get signed or to find any sort of popularity, I just wrote music for my own fulfillment while focusing on my career. It seemed futile to have any aspirations greater than this, though I wish I pursued it a little more aggressively now.

We had a lot of fun reamping the guitar tracks at Acadia Sound, utilizing a JCM 800, a 30 watt Soldano SLO, a Plexi and my personal peavey XXX which I have been using since the inception of the band. The four tones are blended but almost all of them except the XXX have much less gain than I would normally use. I think the guitars are my Gibson SG faded and my Les Paul 60s tribute.

Any funny stories from playing shows / tours / festivals, etc?

The first thing that comes to mind is an underground house show years ago where the cops showed up while we were playing. We didn’t notice them so we kept at it until they eventually killed the sound and then we realized what had happened. Ultimately they left and the show continued.

What do you see as some of the great things happening in and around the metal scene (yours or just in general) and what are some of the worst things happening right now?

The only metal scene that I can really speak to is the local one in Portland, Maine. I think that we are lucky to have diverse bands and regular shows with national and international bands. On a global/national level I’d say the worst thing is that there is just too much to keep track of, too many bands that are basically carbon copies of other bands, and it distracts from the bands that I would be interested in. I don’t really pay attention to things I don’t enjoy, other people can do what they wish.

Most folks have passions for a cause or causes that are close to them. What, if any, are some of the most important issues (social/political/humorous/etc.) for you / your and and how do you insert those issues into your music?

I can’t speak for everyone else in the band but I will speak for myself. We aren’t really a political band but occasionally my politics and thoughts on social issues may come out a little if you read my lyrics closely enough. I am a staunch atheist and my lyrics reflect that pretty obviously.

Do you have day jobs or hobbies you want to share?

We absolutely have day jobs but I don’t want to share too much. My day job has definitely taken precedence over music the last couple years. I work remotely. We all like to read. As for myself, I am very interested in strategic board games, dogs, camping, running and hiking.

What advice do you have for music critics and outlets out there? How can we all better serve the genre in the eyes of a hard-working musician?

I would just say to listen closely to the music and focus on the actual music and lyrics when writing reviews. I don’t have any reviews that I am aware of that bother me for this project; even when the writer has an opinion that I do not share, I appreciate the exposure and (sometimes) find amusement in what they write.

Any specific long term goal(s) in mind?

I would like to write a couple of EPs so that I can release music in a more timely manner. I would also like to return to playing live more regularly, touring in the US and abroad.

When you’re not obsessing over your own material, what are some of your favorite albums to listen to currently?

Over the last year I have been listening to the following albums in my car: Cold Cave “Passion Depression”, Profanatica “Profanatitas De Domonatia”, Autopsy “Ashes, Organs, Blood and Crypts”, Ghoul “Noxious Concoctions”, Shining “III Angst”, Shining “IV: The Eerie Cold”, Dismember “Like an Ever Flowing Stream”, Neurotic Fish “Gelb”, Coffins “Sinister Oath”.

What is the near future outlook for you or your band? Any specific events on the horizon that the masses should be aware of?

I want to play live more frequently and immediately start writing the next release, with a more aggressive release schedule.

Summarize your band in one word.

Tenacity.

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Many thanks to Rob and Shabti for the time!

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Haze, Cacophony, and White Light is out now through Contemn Light. For more on Shabti, head over to Facebook.