While most of us were just figuring out how to bake bread or survive another Zoom call during lockdown, Sven de Caluwé—vocalist of brutal death metal legends Aborted—was navigating global chaos, creating music, and sharing honest insights on everything from life in Belgium under lockdown to grindcore side projects, Suffocation worship, and being in a band that’s more like a marriage.
We caught up with Sven during one of the earlier pandemic lockdowns to get a glimpse into the world of a true death metal lifer.
Life in Lockdown
At the time of the interview, Belgium was entering its fifth week of lockdown. “They’re just pushing it back every couple of weeks,” Sven says, matter-of-factly. While essential stores like groceries were open, the easing of restrictions began slowly with hardware and garden shops.
Not everyone was taking things seriously. “We just had a fed up case over Easter weekend,” he recalls. “A kid died fleeing the cops and crashed into a police car. The next day, about 70 kids were throwing rocks and rioting. That’s just stupid people doing stupid s.”
But overall, Sven believes most people want to comply and “just get this s*** over with.”
Falling Into Metal
Sven’s dive into heavy music started early. “I think I was 15,” he reflects. “Maybe even younger. There were a lot of metalheads at school, and I just fell into it.”
Originally, he wrote vocal patterns and lyrics for a local band whose singer couldn’t. But it wasn’t long before he took the reins and started his own project: Aborted. “25 years later, here you are,” the interviewer says. Sven replies simply: “Exactly.”
The Evolution of Aborted
Sven’s creative path has taken many turns. He drummed in grindcore band Leng Tch’e until 2008 and still messes around on the kit occasionally. But it’s his voice that became his instrument of choice.
When discussing Aborted’s sound, he’s hesitant to nail it down with labels. While some draw comparisons to Behemoth, Sven sees their blackened elements as minor. He credits bands like Suffocation, Carcass, Napalm Death, and Cannibal Corpse as early inspirations: “Pierced From Within” by Suffocation was a record I obsessed over,” he says. “That one, and Symphonies of Sickness, changed everything for me.”
Surviving the Pandemic as a Band
The financial toll of a canceled tour was heavy. “We lost close to $60,000,” Sven says bluntly. From flights to visas, merch, and lost shows, the pandemic hit hard. Fans have stepped up, ordering merch and pre-order bundles, but delays from their merch company due to COVID restrictions have made fulfillment slow.
Still, Sven is humble: “We’re not in a place to beg for money. If people can support, it means a lot. But we also understand everyone’s struggling.”
The Creative Process and Working With Kohle
One of the band’s longtime collaborators is producer Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner, who’s been instrumental in shaping Aborted’s sound. “He gives structural advice, adds electronics, orchestration, and even tweaks vocal patterns,” Sven explains. “Sometimes it works, sometimes we stick to our guns. But he’s passionate and works super hard.”
Their workflow involves color-coded parts and structured breakdowns of songs before heading into the studio, combining European precision with raw death metal energy.
Brotherhood and Band Dynamics
Sven speaks highly of Ken Bedene, Aborted’s longtime drummer. “Ken’s like a brother to me,” he says. “Since he joined, it’s been nothing but good vibes. He’s much more of an extreme metal drummer than Dirk [Verbeuren], though Dirk was fantastic in his own right.”
Sven still talks regularly with Dirk, with whom he’s working on a grindcore side project called Bent Sea, alongside Shane Embury of Napalm Death. “Dirk writes everything—guitar and drums—and Shane and I add our parts. It’s fun and raw and spontaneous.”
Looking Forward
Despite the chaos of recent years, Aborted continues to push forward. There’s talk of future releases, possibly even an action figure. While some ambitious ideas (like a video game for Retrogore) didn’t pan out, Sven remains optimistic and focused.
“We’re working on a new record. Hopefully it’ll be out next year,” he says. “In the meantime, enjoy the EP. And stay safe.”
Final Thoughts
Sven’s outlook is as brutal as his music: honest, relentless, and grounded in community. Whether it’s the fans, his bandmates, or the global metal scene, his message is clear: “We just want everybody to be okay.”
Catch Aborted on tour and stream Terrorvision wherever you get your music.
Watch the full video interview below.
Interview by TheMightyZee | Editing by Capital Chaos TV
Categories: Aborted, Interviews
Capital Chaos TV 
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