17/05/2026
Hi everyone,
There comes a time for every beginning to meet its end. 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, with friends from all around globe, you know who you are.
Iron Maiden has been 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 1987, and ovb. THE ABYSS.
A fun facts, the logo created by Jonas Svensoon n myself, was blessed by Rob Halford, the Metalgod himself, 2 weeks before opening. I knew we were on the right path then and there!
June 17th, 2018, remains one of the happiest days of my life. I was incredibly proud of what we had created.
As metalheads, we travel the world chasing concerts, festivals, 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, listen to damn' Metal.
Through all my travels, I always felt something was missing in most if 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 — provaktive, unapologetic, powerful, emotional, extreme, vivid, beautiful and dark. It reflects every side of life itself.
That is what The Abyss became, over the top, unapologetically Heavy Metal place. It us how it looks and how it feels.
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, 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 tought trough. 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, out of necessity and later because we wanted it to continue!
How many friendships were born there? How many bands connected? How many people from different countries, cities, locally found each other through music and community?
All while keeping Heavy Metal alive and preserving the culture!
Now, at the end of this chapter, I simply want to say THANK YOU!
Thank you for all workers that made The Abyss run!
Thank you for attendance of the events and to everyone that spent time ir took 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 life.
The gratitude I feel cannot truly be expressed in words, as it's always tge case.
As for The Abyss — it will continue, and I sincerely hope you will continue supporting it and keeping the scene alive. All current workers satay 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.
That said, I am not disappearing from the Metal scene entirely. I will continue working through The Abyss Festival and through various events and projects in the future.A manic person as me can not silly disappear, for better or worse...😅🤣
Eternal gratitude. 10 years of very 'eavy!
Stay Heavy,
Maja Sofic
