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Dawn Of Ashes is an extreme metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 by Kristof Bathory. Having quite a few changes in their line-up and musical style, as well as some legal issues, Dawn Of Ashes seem to have settled down and are about to release this year on June 9th their seventh full-length album ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis’ via Metropolis Records. Before the release they tour in the US, with starting date April 27th.

Is Dawn Of Ashes reborn like the Phoenix? Do you feel that the current line-up is at last suitable for what you have visioned?

K.>  I do feel like we have a pretty solid lineup now. Everyone is very hardworking and we all seem to have the same vision for this band.

The band has gone through many difficulties. If I am correct, you almost called it quits some years back. Was it a matter of the musical industry or was it a matter of luck?

K.>  The reason why we called quits a few years ago is kind of a long story to get into. We were actually puppets to a source that put us in a situation where we got manipulated into calling quits. It was an awful situation. In general I think every band goes through hard times but that is the name of game. Regardless, we are on our feet and stronger than ever.

Musically you move between industrial and black metal. Would you say that Dawn Of Ashes have two genre eras, or are you trying to blend the two genres?

K.Dawn Of Ashes was always meant to be a metal act. Yes, there was a short lived era of pure industrial which helped us blossom within our career but we have a longer history of being an extreme metal band. We haven’t fully let go of that industrial side while we still incorporate it in our music. However, the era of pure industrial is dead and people need to accept that.

I had the luck to listen to your new album ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis‘ and I really liked that, compared to the previous album ‘Theophany‘, the black metal elements are more stressed. Somehow I got the feeling that it is a result of a more mature and concentrated work. Tell us a few things about the sound of the new album.

K.> I myself have always been a fan of black metal and symphonic black metal for many years and it’s been a huge inspiration, even during the pure industrial days. This album really hits that sound right on point and is exactly what I have been trying to achieve. Overall, the maturity of this band really shines in this album.

You are a supporter/propagandist of Left Hand Path. Judging from the track titles of ‘Daemonolatry Gnosis‘, I suppose the album refers to this kind of philosophy. Can you tell us about the lyrical theme and which Left Hand Path represents you?

K.> In a short description. The concept behind the album and the name is all about the connection with your psyche archetypes which we call our “daemons”. These daemons are very different from the Christianized term for an evil spirit. As a part of the LHP, we learn to connect with these daemons while utilizing Black Magick in order to transform the inner world/subjective universe.  The end result transforms the psyche into whatever strong icon the individual wants to become. Bringing the will out from the darkness and into the light. The whole purpose behind the LHP is to transform the self into self deification through extreme measures of ritual practice.

In addition, who is responsible for the cover artwork and what do we see on it?

K.Machine-Roomwho also did our 2010 album ‘Genocide Chapters‘ and other band’s albums such as My Dying Bride, and The Foreshadowing.

The cover is a representation of the Black Sorcerer in the center of the abyss surrounded by various pillars that have the daemon sigils from the “Goetia” which is a notorious occult book that contains various rituals. Again, everything that I explained about the concept of the album is perfectly matched with all of the artwork and music.

In the new album there is a cover of Mayhem’s ‘Freezing Moon’. Why did you choose the specific song?

K.> I am a huge Mayhem fan and every time I would hear that song, I kept telling myself how much of a killer cover it would be. It’s my favorite Mayhem song and I feel like we do an amazing job on this cover.

Lindsay Schoolcraft of Cradle of Filth has a guest vocal performance in the track ‘Magick For The New Aeon’. How did this collaboration occurred?

K.> Lindsay and I have been chatting on and off throughout the years and slowly became friends. It just happened and she did such a good job on this song. Hopefully, there will be more DOA and Cradle Of Filth integration in the future.

On April 27th you began a tour in the US. How long has it been since your last tour, and are you eager to be in front of your fans presenting your new work? Will it be a theatrical and spiritualistic kind of performance?

K.> We haven’t done a full tour since 2013. I feel like all of the power and strength of this new era of DOA is going to create pandemonium.  There is more meaning to this band now and every ritual on stage will have very deep, spiritual symbolism in the performances.

Thank you very much for your time! Close this interview as you will!

K.> Thank you and thank you to all of the fans. Make sure to preorder the new album that comes out on June 9th and check out all of our tour dates on our official Facebook page. Cheers.

Mary Kalaitzidou