There comes a time for every beginning to meet its end, and now – 10 years from when it all began – our beloved bar will be under new ownership starting in June. I will not write a whole book about The Abyss and its humble existence, but I do want to share a few words from the heart.

The Abyss was a vision I carried in my mind for many years before it became reality in beautiful Gothenburg, Sweden. On June 17th 2016 – the very same day Iron Maiden played Ullevi on their “Book of Souls” tour – The Abyss opened its doors for the very first time on Andra Långgatan. That was no coincidence. It was carefully orchestrated, with many hours of overtime work and friends from all around the globe – you know who you are. Iron Maiden remains my favorite band of all time and has influenced many major decisions in my life, including my move from Australia to Europe (especially at a time when Maiden had not toured Australia since ’87), and obviously THE ABYSS.

A Home for Heavy Metal

As metalheads we travel the world chasing concerts, festivals, and wild adventures. And in every city we search for that one metal bar – a place where you can gather before and after shows, meet like-minded people and listen to damn Metal. Through all my travels, I always felt something was missing in most of those places. Sometimes it was the music, sometimes the atmosphere, the aesthetics, or simply the feeling of the place itself. Metal is exaggerated, larger than life, provocative, unapologetic, powerful, emotional, extreme, vivid, beautiful and dark. It reflects every side of life itself.

That is what The Abyss became: an over-the-top, unapologetically Heavy Metal place. That’s how it looks and how it feels. June 17th 2016 remains one of the happiest days of my life, and I was incredibly proud of what we had created.

A fun fact: the logo, created by Jonas Svensson and myself, was blessed by Rob Halford – the Metal God himself – two weeks before opening. I knew we were on the right path then and there!

Marco – my best friend and partner in crime – was the person who helped make all of this possible. Sebastian guided us through the early days in Gothenburg, as both Marco and I were completely new to Sweden, and everything evolved incredibly fast. Within three months of my arrival to Sweden – The Abyss was open.

In many ways, that was both a blessing and a challenge. There were many things we simply did not know at the time, and some decisions came from inexperience and pure passion, not well thought through. We went through incredible highs and difficult lows. Looking back, perhaps taking more time would have made some things easier – but honestly, I would not change the journey. Because despite every challenge, I have absolutely zero regrets.

I loved every single day at The Abyss. I faced every obstacle head-on and never once thought about giving up. Together – us and all of you – we created something truly unique in the heart of Gothenburg. Over 330 shows, DJ nights, parties, stand-up events, and countless unforgettable memories. A festival was born too – first out of necessity and later because we wanted it to continue.

How many friendships were born here? How many bands connected? How many people from different countries, cities, and local areas found each other through music and community? All while keeping Heavy Metal alive and preserving the culture.

The Next Chapter

Now, at the end of this chapter, I simply want to say THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the workers who made The Abyss run!
Thank you to everyone who attended the events and who took your time to visit The Abyss.
Thank you for your support.
Thank you for believing in us.
Thank you for being part of one of the greatest journeys of my life – our lives.

The gratitude I feel cannot truly be expressed in words, as is always the case. As for The Abyss in whole it will continue, and I sincerely hope you will continue supporting it and keeping the scene alive. All current workers stay on.

I send my love and gratitude to each and every one of you. I speak not only for myself, but also for my business partners.

With that said, I am not disappearing from the metal scene entirely. I will continue working on The Abyss Festival and through various events and projects in the future. A manic person like me cannot simply disappear, for better or worse… 😅🤣

The Abyss 10 years celebration

Before passing on the torch, I will of course be there and celebrate The Abyss’ 10th birthday with you all! Do not miss these great bands that mark – and define – the end of a decade.