1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
1.) Greetings to Occult Black Metal Zine and your readers. DoS is black/death metal project that came into existence in 2008 in Slovakia.
At the beginning it was a 2-piece project or band paying the tribute to old school black and death metal bands.
We have released “Served to the Worms” demo from 2011 and debut album “The Birth of Hateful Existence”, released this year as MC on Hexencave Productions, CD on Slovak Metal Army and LP edition that was released on Necroeucharist Productions.
Nowadays we are the studio project of people from Slovak and Swiss underground scene.
2.Recently you have released a new album musically how does it differ from your previous demo?
2.) The demo and debut album differ in a lot of things. Primarily it is the sound, but also the mood or atmosphere of the recording itself is different.
“Served to the Worms” was mainly in death metal course and its production is very dirty and raw.
During the writing process of “The Birth of Hateful Existence” we have implemented a lot more death metal elements.
We even dared to reach also for the keyboard intro and outro in “A Starborn Overlord” track. The whole sound and also visual production of the new album is on a better level.
After the release of demo there was a silence around us for almost 10 years, so we wanted to come with something not less than mediocre or unoriginal.
3.This is also your first release in 9 years, can you tell us a little bit more about what has been going on during that time span?
3.) The band was more or less hibernated since the year 2012. DoS was revived in 2013, but after the death of guitarrist Virgin Killer (+20.7.2013) the project returned to non-activity again for the several next years.
In these times I was a member of other bands. I was active in heavy metal band Thunderdeath, in black metal band Traumalice, or as live drummer in Asag.
I tried to renew DoS several times, but with no success.
4.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music and also how would you describe your progress as songwriters over the years?
4.) Comparing it to the demo, our lyrical face has totally changed. The lyrics on the demo were written by Martin Lukáč (ex-Nomenmortis) and dealt mainly with the topics of war and death. On our debut album various topics are hidden, like the arrival of torturer, death and carving for it, or the fall of Lucifer and his exile.
All the lyrics are written from the view of first person and in some moments are written a bit less concretely, like more abstract concepts, but in general, all the lyrics have one thing in common. I mean resistance and my attitude towards the world and the direction humanity has taken.
The process of composing the tracks is always the same at us, first we write the music and later we complete and adapt the lyrics.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Dominion Of Suffering'?
5.) At its very first beginnings Dominion of Suffering was unnamed project for a long time. It all has changed after reading the book “Imajica” from my favorite author Clive Barker.
There are five dominions in the book and the last dominion is the God. The Dead God, so the all world consists of dead, rotten flesh and pus. And there the inspiration for the name came from.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
6.) Lot of people see the connection between the artwork and Covid-19 pandemics nowadays, gut it really has nothing to do with this topic.
The cover art of the new album embodies the title of it, “The Birth of Hateful Existence”. I, as an artist, don’t like to explain the ideas of what I wanted to say with this or that.
The explanation of the lyrics or cover I leave upon the listener and his imagination. But basically it’s a birth of something evil, dark, and hateful. Something like prime and clear essence of evil, if you want.
Maybe it is the birth of the galaxy where the “Event Horizon” ship just came from. Who knows?
7.While the band is based in Slovakia you also have members living in Switzerland, can you tell us a little bit more about it?
7.) Yes, you’re right. DoS was founded in Slovakia, but since I live in Swiss for 8 years, I cooperate with the people of both “fronts” of metal underground.
We have very good friendly relationship. We have cooperated in Nomenmortis for years and he also played the solos on “Served to the Worms” demo as a guest.
It was always very good to work and cooperate together, so it was logic that even this time it won’t be different. With the guitarist Odia we worked together in Traumalice band. We are very good friends as well and I am very glad he accepted my invitation to play in DoS.
The last, but not least important member is the vocalist Quasar. We know each other for years and I like all his bands and projects. So for me he was the clear and definitive choice. Because of living in different countries, the studio works are divided between studios in Slovakia and Swiss.
8.Has the band had any opportunities to do live shows in the past?
8.) DoS always was a studio project. We have never performed live. There are various reasons behind this situation, but the main is lack of time because of work, or members active playing in other music projects.
9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black and death metal?
9.) Reactions on our new album are very good on our domestic (SK/CH) scene and abroad as well. We have quite a strong fan base in Czech Republic.
There are a MC edition in Phillipines in works, the release is planned for the end of September. The average rate of “The Birth of Hateful Existence” is 8/10.
People and reviewers all around the world write us, and it’s a surprise for us, of course.
10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
10.) Quasar, the vocalist, is active in Antiversum, Blakk Old Blood and DSKNT. With the firtst two mentioned he also plays live and in this very moment he is in studio with Antiversum working on the new album.
Dr.Channard, the guitarist, is active also in death/grind/metal bands Cruent and Zombiemoles.
The guitarist Odia plays in Punish and became also a member of totally new band called Morsch.
I (Neptun) play in DoS and also in another black metal project Herecia, which we founded with the guitarist from Antiversum and these days we are recording our first demo.
11.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
11.) As a founder of the band I’d be very glad if DoS would become a respected project in the future.
I rely on being a strictly underground band playing uncompromising, dynamic and kicking old school black/death metal with the element of thrash, which will crush your head and piss into it!!! :-D /,,/
12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
12.) I’ll speak for myself, but I’m sure the other members of DoS will agree with me, if I say that I was hit mostly by the second wave of black metal consisting of the bands like Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Mayhem, old works of Keep Of Kalessin, but also Dark Funeral and Marduk.
Of course the first wave and bands like Hellhammer, Venom or Bathory were shaping my psyche as well, but the second wave was that most significant one. Nowadays I enjoy the bands like Katharsis, Urgehal, Cultes Des Ghoules, 13th Moon, Celestial Bloodshed, One Tail, One Head, Clandestine Blaze, Holocausto Em Chamas or Nocturnal Blood.
I would like to highlight especially the works of the bands like Kult Ofenzivy and Triumf Genus, As wello as Malokarpatan, Krolok, Goatcraft and Infer. This is the stuff that I listen to most often.
13.Beforewe wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
13.) To end this interview, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to tell your readers something about DoS and its work. Thank you for the space and support.
Stay Metal!!! /,,
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