When I finally connected with Sal Abruscato—founder of A Pale Horse Named Death and former drummer of Type O Negative and Life of Agony—he was trying to find the perfect spot in his house to get a signal. “I’m standing here like a human antenna,” he laughed.

What followed was a candid, sometimes heavy, and often inspiring conversation with one of gothic metal’s most underrated voices.

Listen to the full conversation in the player near the end of this article.

Escaping the Chaos of NYC

Sal traded the concrete jungle of Brooklyn for the peaceful wilderness of upstate New York nearly a decade ago. These days, he’s surrounded by nature instead of noise.

“We’ve got black bears, coyotes, turkeys—all kinds of wild things,” he said. “It’s peaceful. You don’t have people breathing down your neck like in the city.”

Still, he admits winter is brutal: “Everything just shuts down. I can’t even go out and tinker with my cars. I hate it.”

He’s thought about relocating west—maybe California, maybe Arizona, maybe even Texas—but for now, home is where the family is.

A Musical Awakening

Sal’s love affair with heavy music started early. Really early.

“I was about 10 years old, at a summer camp, and the older kids were blasting Never Say Die by Black Sabbath. That same summer, Blizzard of Ozz dropped. I was hooked. I went home and begged my parents for the vinyl.”

By 11, he had a drum kit. At 13, he was gigging in bars. And by 17, he had already released an independent thrash album with his band Toximia.

Eventually, that path led him to the legendary Peter Steele and the formation of Type O Negative.

“I was taking lessons from Carnivore’s drummer, and one day Peter called asking if I wanted to join a new band. That was it.”

Over time, Sal taught himself guitar and bass, and his understanding of songwriting deepened from years of watching Peter work.

Becoming the Voice

Fast-forward to 2009: Sal had just left Life of Agony and was itching to create something personal. That itch became A Pale Horse Named Death.

“I started it as a studio project. I wasn’t even planning on singing,” he said. “But I wrote all these lyrics and melodies, and I couldn’t find a singer who fit. So I did it myself. It was terrifying, but it worked.”

What started as an experiment turned into a full-fledged band with multiple albums and tours alongside Monster Magnet, Danzig, and others.

Being a frontman was an adjustment. “It’s a totally different animal,” he said. “You’re not hiding behind a drum kit. You’re out front, completely exposed. But I got comfortable with it over time.”

A New Album After Years of Silence

This Friday, A Pale Horse Named Death returns with a long-awaited new album: When the World Becomes Undone.

“It’s been five years since our last record. I’ve had the concept and title since 2014,” Sal said. “There were times I thought maybe this chapter was closed. But now, it feels like a rebirth.”

Sal said the album reflects years of personal and global turmoil. He didn’t hold anything back.

“There was a period where I felt really low. Depressed, even. But the last few months? The energy shifted. I got new management, new agents. The response to the album has been amazing. It’s the best thing I’ve done in years.”

A Legacy in Sound

As a father of three daughters, Sal says his focus has shifted to legacy and longevity.

“I want to leave behind something they can be proud of. This band, this music—it’s not just a career. It’s my life’s work.”

He’s not done yet. There’s more music to come, more shows, and maybe a few surprises.

“I’ve got a few albums left in me. The story isn’t over.”

When the World Becomes Undone

The album title comes from a phrase that first struck him nearly a decade ago while watching global events spiral.

“The world’s been coming undone for a long time—politically, socially, environmentally. I just put it into music. It’s not about left or right, it’s about the human condition.”

He adds: “People forget how to treat each other with decency. Just because we don’t agree doesn’t mean we have to hate each other. That’s what’s really killing us.”

A Pale Horse Named Death’s When the World Becomes Undone drops this Friday. It’s not just a new record—it’s a raw, cathartic rebirth from an artist who’s lived through it all.

Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.

Want more? Follow A Pale Horse Named Death on [Facebook/Spotify] and catch them live this summer.

Categories: A Pale Horse Named Death, Interviews

Tags: A Pale Horse Named Death, Sal Abruscato