Dawn of Ashes was born in 2001 under the dark, artistic vision and reign of vocalist Kristof Bathory. Over the course of nine records with number 10 coming in 2019, they’ve changed, mixed and mutated genres, going through a revolving door of members and legal issues. At one point Bathory announced it was over only to eventually be reborn under the phoenix.
Bathory’s spent over 15 years mixing industrial, metal and darkened spiritual ingredients to create his own form of left hand path knowledge and blasphemy. Like a conniving, plotting Poe, scribing ceremonies and fantasy horror stories under candle light and the raven’s eye. As part of DOA’s next chapter he remastered debut album Sacred Fever to help longtime and news fans rediscover their roots. Along with a new album, an undisclosed video will be made in the summer. The first two live dates were announced, with the first played June 9 at the Stardust Club in Los Angeles. Billed as a special engagement with DOA playing music solely from the In the Acts of Violence and The Crypt Injection.
The core of DOA is still Bathory, Angel Dies and Bahemoth with live musicians as needed. A national tour is being planned with international dates in the works. Bathory talks about the return to the industrial-aggrotech sound. “We’re going back while staying in the new,” he says. “The new album I’m writing is called The Crypt Injection 2, so its gonna have that sound. We’re not gonna be alienating the metal sound either. We have the capability of doing both, so why not.”
Bathory resisted the idea of an industrial return but finally gave in, “For a long time I was really against the idea but I had a talk with our booking agent and just gave into the idea.”
DOA’s often been defined as aggrotech, “During the time DOA started, that genre came out,” he explains. “I only used it because that’s what we’re identified as. I consider all this industrial music. It’s like death core is to hardcore death metal. I would say it’s more of a modern version of industrial.”
More dates, including New York, are coming, “We have more dates being booked,” he assures. “We’re booking East Coast dates and there’s talk about Canada and other dates. I think the latest is we’re going to South America.”
The second vintage show will be August 4 in Mexico City. “They’re very exclusive shows because we haven’t done this material in a long time. I want to make these select dates very special. It’s a blend of the best songs from those two records.”
Expect evolution with every record and tour, “I think every stage of DOA is something new. The latest photo shoot, is the look we’re doing.”
A remastered version of Sacred Fever with one new track is now available, “As a producer I’ve evolved, and had different ideas,” he says. He choose to re-release it as a gift to fans. “It was years ago obviously and I’ve progressed as an artist, musician and producer. I can’t really stomp out the history of DOA. It started somewhere and now we’re here. I’ve told people, throughout the years, especially for a band that’s been around since 2001. We’re not gonna have the same sound. I don’t know one band that sticks to the same idea. It’s not like we’re gonna sound like that album the rest of our career. It’s good, it’s just old. It sounds as it would sound as a band first starting out.”
It’s the same music with better production. Bathory says, if he re-recorded it, it would be a different record.
The new record’s nearing completion, “It’s almost done. I have some little knick knacks to do. Right now I’m basically doing everything. I’m mixing, tracking all the guitars, the bass it’s a lot of work while writing the music. I’d say I’m 75% done.”
Bathory elaborates on lyrical content, “I can’t go into much detail but it’s the second chapter of The Crypt Injection. Obviously Crypt, meaning death. I used the ideology of the Qliphoth, Tree of Death, using my knowledge of that for this album. The original Crypt Injection was a very angry album. Same as the prior album, kinda releasing that energy again, that chaotic burst.”
Horror movie clips will add to the musical story, “I’m putting horror movie clips in but everything’s gonna be more symbolic. More Left-Hand Path knowledge. Instead of making fantasy horror, make real situations with society and humanity, breaking down the horror within human nature.”
Angel Dies live in Fairfield, Ohio.
Bathory explains his path, “The Right Side is where you basically submit to one external god,” he explains. “The Left-Hand Path is when you disconnect from an external god or the universe and basically put yourself on the throne of God. Your responsible for yourself and put yourself as your own god. A lot of people, in the mainstream culture and media identify it as Satanism. I’m not a Satanist. I practice Dark and Black Magick and there’s a whole philosophy behind it. The last Bornless Fire album and past two Dawn of Ashes albums I’ve been putting out the knowledge on all that.”
“This album is going to be delving into more of the magical practices.”
The band’s been reborn with new chapters to come, while exploring the past, “As an individual I’ve already been reborn,” he proclaims. “It’s funny. There’s a period of my life when I stopped DOA for a while. I did a whole rebirth and brought back DOA with a whole different album. There’s more meaning behind it, more of a foundation with the band. The attempt of this new album is to bring back the history of DOA to what is current. So basically, that part I killed, we’re bringing it back.”
An esoteric video is coming soon, “We’re about to shoot a video with fans in it,” he reveals. “I haven’t got the information yet. The specific song I can’t go into detail but we’re shooting in the summer. It’s concept and performance. Let’s just say, you picture a Luciferian or satanic masquerade party while DOA is performing. With that I’ll let everybody kinda put the thought out there and let people delve into the mystery of it.”
Bathory says it’ll be interesting bringing this whole other style to the stage after doing metal. “There’s not a lot of bands that can do it. It’s hard to pull off two different genres.”
After the last DOA tour Bathory listened to a lot of industrial music, planting the idea for Bornless Fire. “Eventually we want to bring it all back and incorporate metal and industrial.”
Kristof Bathory, Angel Dies live in Fairfield, Ohio
Bathory was industrialized by Nine Inch Nails, Wumpscut, Leaether Strap, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, and Suicide Commando. “I’m more into death metal, black metal and hardcore. When I started DOA, I had the intention of bringing that sort of energy to the industrial scene. I like injecting hardcore into an industrial show.”
He feels a genuine disconnect with humanities use of technology, “I have a personal opinion on cell phones in general.” he says. “It goes with my Left-Hand Path knowledge. We’re in an era where, I feel like a lot of the technologies are kind of disconnecting everyone from reality. It’s like drinking alcohol, eating food, anything like that, once it’s being abused and start’s destroying you as an individual then it becomes bad. I feel its OK for people to take photos, do videos but when that’s your main focus, you’re disconnected from the reality of what’s going on. When your main focus is your phone, you’re not really watching the show. You’re waiting to post that moment to get validation from others. That’s where it’s a problem.”
Social media can be used for good and bad, “I utilize social media. I’m a musician I have to promote my band. Now I use it to show my magick development. There’s a lot of stupidity on the internet. There’s nothing really sacred online. Everyone needs validation. Instead of people feeding their insecurities or venting, I put out stuff that could maybe help them. Outside of that I try to stay away from my phone and social media and try and enjoy life.”
Their path is one less taken. ”Practicing what we practice, we’re the black sheep of the flock, the elk that’s separating itself from the herd,” he says. “We talk about dogmatic religions, that say you’re going to hell and crack the whip kinda stuff. The media puts out stuff about sacrificing animals and people, not me specifically but the whole genre in general. It’s just uneducated people.”
For those who choose the path Bathory gives the basics, “It’s about self-development and disconnecting from depending on something and being responsible for yourself. Find that perfect picture of who you wanna be and become that thing.”
That’s what it’s all about, “I’m consistently judged,” he admits. “I’m not here to push my beliefs on anyone else or tell anybody what to believe. If anybody wants to be a Christian or Catholic or follow Judaism, etc, if it makes them happy great. If not then, you can at least listen to what I have to offer. I’m not going door to door with what I’m about. Most people come to me about my path. You have to find your own.”
They’re shooting for a January 2019 release for The Crypt Injection 2 (Nom Serviam). “I wanna thank the fans that stuck around. It’s been a very confusing couple of years with DOA. The reality of things are very odd. I’ve made some bad mistakes but those mistakes brought new gateways for the band. It also opened new gateways showing we had the capability of being both genres. We can do an old school show and play industrial or do a metal show. Do the whole thing, that’s what this band is.”
Only the reaper will stop Bathory, “I don’t think I’ll stop till I’m six feet under. It’s hard to stop me from doing this. I’ve read things online about that band needs to stop, but I don’t think I can.” He hopes fans new and old will introduce more people to them.
Live images by Mike Ritchie
