Kai (K): Unfortunately, most of the albums you've released so far are… unfairly short. Why so? Didn't you have enough either time or $$$ to record few more compositions?

- Hi! I don't think that our albums are short. "Reborn..." was 37 minutes long, "Rebel Souls" 45 minutes and "Resist" 33 minutes. And it was never because lack of money or time. We have concept of the whole album, we work very hard before recording and we always put all the songs that we consider good enough for an album. To compare - check out DEICIDE or VADER albums, they have much more money but they record shorter albums. Personally I'm really bored when I listen to an album longer than 40 - 45 minutes, maybe I could name only few exceptions...

Silvanus (S): Why would you feel it necessary to discuss 'religious' matters in your music?

- Lyrical part is very important in our music, it is not only a background. We express our feelings, thoughts, so it's mostly about religious and human side. And this is not only anti-christian in meaning, we fight against all religions, all slavery...

K: Furthermore… Drummer who's responsible for the lyrical part??? Yuck! That's truly weird!

- Yeah, Varien - drummer - has written all the lyrics for "Resist", like Mike Browning in mighty NOCTURNUS!!!

S: You have three (full-length) albums behind you and at least six years of experience… Isn't it a time to glance into past and summarize all that you have done throughout these years?

- Yeah, soon we will reach 10 years existence (in 2001)! We started with demo "Everlasting Sickness", then was promo'94 "Forbidden Spaces" which brought interest of some labels in our band. The result - debut album "Reborn...", released in 1995 through Pagan Records. Then we got some offers for the second album and we decided to sign German Last Epitaph (Last Episode nowadays) for three recordings. Second album "Rebel Souls" was released in 1996, then to fulfill the deal with that label we released split CD with BEHEMOTH including our promo'94 and later on MCD "Coronation". We were not satisfied with the "work" of Last Episode for DAMNATION so in 1998 we recorded three songs promo and we started to look for another label. In 1999 we signed American DARK REALM for the third album and "Resist" was
released in North America in April '2000, in Europe in May, through CUDGEL (from Germany). In those years we played lots of shows, festivals, and some tours in Europe.

S: As I said above, DAMNATION have unleashed three CDs so far, and I therefore wonder if you'd like to compare them to each other?

- The first one was recorded in really small studio. Pagan Records haven't enough money for better studio, so the result is very poor sound on "Reborn...". But I do like this album and we still play live opening song "Pagan Prayer", as well as some others songs. For the second album we went to much better studio and "Rebel Souls" sounds really heavy and powerful. This album has also specific mood with lot of keyboards interludes. The third album was recorded in mostly the same studio as the second (I mean "mostly" because they moved to bigger place and bought some new equipment), and "Resist" is very readable album in my opinion. The production is really clean and you can hear every note! And I think this album is more in promo'98 and MCD "Coronation" way, I mean very brutal and aggressive but with more "melody". But I like all the albums and we play live songs from each of them.

K: I really miss those inimitable arcane pre-song introductions "Rebel Souls" did feature. Are you ever going to come up with anything like that?

- Yes, I think so. But we don't want to record similar albums. You can find two instrumental songs on "RESIST", track #4 - 'Voices...' was completely arranged and performed on keyboards by Wojtek Lisicki, and it's really dark. In the future, on the next album, probably will be more dark keyboards parts.

K: How did you contrive to invite LUCIFERION’s Wojtek Lisicki? If I’m
not mistaken, he resides in Sweden… or not? And when the hell will we
have a chance to endure yet one more depraved pleasure giving a listen to their newest work in the shape of CD?

- Wojtek lives in Goteborg, but he comes from Sopot (Poland). He moved to Sweden when he was young but every year he come to Poland for holidays or so. And I have just talked with him last week. We've met and Les' place for a "small" party... Wojtek brought his new release - debut album of HIGHLANDER, great heavy metal, and this album is going to be released through Music For Nations. I recommend this! Concerning LUCIFERION I think it's over, maybe some old (unreleased) songs will be released by Listenable, but not new album. Last year we invited Wojtek to come for recording session of RESIST and to perform one guitar solo and keyboards track. And it was great!

K: Who's that guy posing on the cover of "Resist"?

- He's friend of us. Truly dedicated to heavy metal! Big fan of MANOWAR and Conan the Barbarian!

K: How many years of musical experience and background do you have behind you? This question mainly goes for Varien, since his drumming appears as undoubtedly stunning.

- Each one of us started in other bands and ten years ago Les, Varien and Jeff formed DAMNATION. At that time I played in other band and I joined DAMNATION in 1993.

K: Besides your music, which is truly outstanding, I can’t ignore the
fact that apart from most of those who’re involved in either black or
so-called “true” death metal scene, you look rather athletic. What kind of sport allows you to keep yourselves in such a perfect shape?

- Raven lifts weights, Les practises kyokushin karate, Varien plays
football and I play football too (or basketball, volley-ball with friends). And I used to practise athletics for six years (run for 400m and 400m hurdles).

K: What prevents you from collaborating with the same label all the time? You see, if I'm not mistaken you've changed three (!) record companies so far.

- We signed Pagan for only one record. Then we signed Last Epitaph which seemed to be great deal but it wasn't so we started to look for new label. And for "Resist" we have 3 separate labels - Dark Realm for North America, Cudgel for Europe and Metal Mind for Poland. And those deals are also for only one record so maybe for the next release we will sign another label (or labels). We will see... We would really like to have a good deal for a long cooperation with a great label!

S: What do you think about all the shit that we get through TV? Soap operas and other crap fucks up the human mind and makes the person socially dependent.  TV puts across the ideas of what is worth attention and what is not, and it seems to destroy the individual... One becomes the slave to illusions… What do you think of it?

- Yes, it's very dangerous especially for people who are mentally poor and they could be depended on TV crap. You know for example MTV, Pepsi generation and so on. Indivudaulity could be then destroyed, and people start to believe in fake world (created by media). It also could be used for politics and social asffairs and this is very unfair. But nowadays we have a lot of TV stations, lots of TV programs, so we can choose what we want to see. But I'm afraid that in your country TV could be very dependent on government. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems that they are still  lying in many situations (I don't think that all other TV's from all over the world lie together...)

S: What is your opinion on primal fears and basic instincts - the unconscious side of human mind? What are your psychological beliefs on human nature?

- I think that our subconscious is one of the most interesting mysteries of our life. What inclines us to do some things and to avoid doing other things? What causes our sleeping dreams? What makes us feeling that we know a place but surely we shouldn't know? It's very difficult to talk about this side of human mind because we have no sufficient proofs. My answer could be great movie concerning this topic, titled "Altered State". I recommend it!

K: What do you know (and think) regarding Russia? Any metal bands coming from our lands that you've heard lately?

-You know, concerning Russian aggression on Poland in World War II, and then over 40 years in Communism and living in a fear of Big Brother from the East people from Poland haven't liked Russians. But I think it changed nowadays. We are all Slavonic people and I know that many people from your country are really cool and open minded! And we are the best in Europe in drinking!!! But there are some exceptions who Polish people don't like and what could cause opinion about Russia negative. I mean those dealers and traders on every market-place and some criminals. But enough about that. For now I don't know any Russian bands, but we've received lot of mails from magazines, distributions and bands in the past! And I heard that playing shows in your country is pretty cool!

K: The time has come to finish this interview, my friend… Thanx for the interview and all the best to you!

- Thanks a lot Kai for the interview and supporting DAMNATION! Hail to all Russians fans!!! We play for you! And remember - live your way!, no Masters, no Gods!

DAMNATION contact -
Email: Damnation@interia.pl