Blackened Horde: How did the band get started?
János Juhász: I had ideas that did not fit onto my other band which plays mainly melodic black metal, so I decided to come up with another project where they can be used. My other project is still active, it is called only “P2” yet, and I’m teamed up with Péter Gáspár and Zoltány Kónya in it.
Péter Gáspár: The band was founded by János. There is a P2- Project 2 – format in which Zolcsi, who mixed and mastered the material, also plays. Damnation boiled himself out of this. Asked if I would play bass in this kind of band, I said yes 🙂
Blackened Horde: What kind of music do you play?
J.J.: I play death metal with black metal influences. In the new songs of our upcoming album there will be more black metal.
P.G.: What kind of music do I play? Well death metal 😀
Blackened Horde: How has the fan response been?
Ádám Forczek: It would be too early to say anything about the reception from the folks, but the early signs are definitely positive.
Blackened Horde: Where did the band name come from?
P.G.: The name of the band was invented by János.
J.J.: I saw it in a horror movie. Can’t remember its title though. 😀
Blackened Horde: Introduce the band members and what they do in the band.
P.G.: János plays guitar and brings the basic ideas at the same time. Adam sings who is responsible for the lyrics. Tamás writes the solos, Árpi sits behind the drums and I peel the bass guitar myself.
Blackened Horde: Tell me about some of the songs on the latest CD?
J.J.: The basic guitar riffs are made from the stressful situations of my everyday life. This is how I can get off the steam. Rather this, than an axe.
P.G.: This is our first creation. This is an EP and we also have an LP contract in our pocket. Each song has a little special story. For example, when practicing the bass of Nightmare Realm, my wrist also became inflamed. Lasting experience. 😀
Á. F.: The lyrics are mainly about fear, the nether realm, dying, nightmares, and madness. All are packed into a blend of various visions. Just like a painting but with words.
Blackened Horde: Who writes the music? Lyrics?
J.J.: The main riffs are written by me, but all the members put their honest parts into it.
P.G.: The music is basically composed by János, but then everyone flows in with their own instrument. Adam is fully responsible for the lyrics. There is creative freedom.
Blackened Horde: And where do the lyric ideas come from?
Á.F.: Mostly from other bands lyrics, movies, and daydreams from my everyday life. I also get inspiration from surrealist painters and concept artist. I imagine those worlds and start to feel, and come up with stories about them. I write down these visions into my lyrics.
Blackened Horde: What is your view in Satanism and Occultism? (If this applies)
J.J.: I don’t have any particular thoughts about it.
Á.F.: I really like the mythology and the philosophy behind it, as well as about every other imaginary stuff which came from human fantasizing, but nothing more.
Blackened Horde: Do you have any side projects?
J.J.: Yes, I have several side projects. As I mentioned earlier I have a project called “P2”, and I have another black death metal projects on my workbench. I have some melodic songs as well, where my fiancé would be the singer. These are dark folk ideas with clean female vocals. I also would like to re-record one of my old demos called ‘Namtar – Wake Me Up From My Storm”, and I have a bunch of other personal plans.
P.G.: Almost everyone has an extra project. I also play with Zolcsi (GIRE, GORT) and János in Project 2, and another band from Makó who are members of Shiva.
Blackened Horde: Who are some of your musical influences?
J.J.: I eat everything from Pink Floyd to Blooodbath, It mainly depends on my current mood.
G.P.: My big favorites are Morbid Angel, Hypocrisy, Slayer Death and I could even list the endless field. We grew up on these. Really, I don’t have such a very big favorite band, I’m omnivorous in music. What I like I listen to.
Blackened Horde: What is the band like when you play live?
P.G.: The band is a studio project for now, and then we’ll see what the future holds…
Blackened Horde: What do you think about the underground scene?
Á.F.: Basically the Hungarian underground is centered in our capital city Budapest, and we are from the countryside. We make our own path, but we are in good relationship with other bands we know.
Blackened Horde: What are some of your new favorite black metal/death metal bands?
Á.F.: I really dig a lot of from the newcomers. Ad Nauseam, Blood Incantation, Minenwerfer, and Spectral Wound, just to mention a few. They are all great.
Blackened Horde: Since the Covid Pandemic has that hurt the band in making music at all?
P.G.: This pandemic really screwed up the whole world unfortunately.
Blackened Horde: What advice would you as a musician give to a fellow musician just starting out?
J.J.: 42
P.G.: I learn a lot from myself. Perhaps a lot of perseverance and discipline, and suffering will bear its fruit.
Blackened Horde: When do you guys plan on writing any new material?
J.J.: We are writing new stuff continuously.
P.G.: We have already received the new materials from János and we have already started shaping the LP material. I have ideas for bass and I’m constantly thinking about how I could color the music.
Blackened Horde: What does the future hold for the band?
J.J.: Our debut LP is still in the making. It would be hard to say anything about the future, but I don’t want this death metal machine to stop.
G.P: No one sees the future except Yoda, but he is already dead. Hahahahaha. Seriously, we will hopefully be able to continue in this direction for a long time to come.
Contact them at:
https://www.facebook.com/damnationhun
https://pestrecords.bandcamp.com/album/damnation-majesty-in-degradation
