Your Bandcamp page says: “DAMON SYSTEMA is a metal band from Athens, Greece, founded back in 2009 by the guitarist Akis Pastras. But due to other musical ‘obligations’ at that time (2010), it was put in the drawer.” You mean ‘obligations’ with Dexter Ward?
NICK: “Basically, it’s a question that Akis should answer. From what I know, there were other musical commitments for Akis besides Dexter Ward. Akis was also a member of On Thorns I Lay and participated in two of their albums (“Aegean Sorrow” and “Threnos”). After leaving On Thorns I Lay, he recently joined Nightfall, which didn’t leave much room for working on the DAMON SYSTEMA project. The process of composing and recording the album was long and all of us, due to increased obligations, were trying to steal some time in order to finish “Ate”. Of course, as Akis had said from the beginning, there should be no stress and we will do everything possible so that the album is done as it should be, no matter how much time it takes. Ruby and The Goat were also on tight schedules and we all had to find time that practically did not exist. But in the end, we managed to do it.”
In 2020, during the Covid-19 quarantine, Akis wrote the songs for your debut album “Ate” that was released on March 21. Why did you wait until 2025 to release this album?
RUBY: “This happened because we were all busy with various other projects. Specifically, I was busy with various projects such as a TV show on Ant1+ Channel here in Greece. Also, my daily work absorbs a huge amount of time and energy which does not leave room for many other activities. So, these take up most of everyday life and it was a little difficult to have a consistency regarding the recordings of the album. Let me note here that I also participated in other projects at the same time and that I was extensively involved in voice acting for gaming projects and in some audio books. In 2020 Akis began to compose the album by sorting the riffs and ideas he needed, so that they could become a single album that makes sense. Since this requires a lot of processing, it took a long time to be done. The pre-production process was also very important. The album was actually recorded twice. Once at a pre-production level and once at a professional recording level, because we had to confirm and see exactly that what we had in mind fits perfect for the album. Also, Akis had various projects that he had to cope with, such as his participation in Dexter Ward and Nightfall and some other obligations regarding productions and mixing projects. All of these took the whole process back.”
DAMON SYSTEMA is in fact you two on vocals and Akis on guitar and bass. Why isn’t drummer The Goat on the press photos?
NICK: “Because he doesn’t like the whole process of taking photos at all. He’s a complete anti-star and we had a hard time convincing him to play in the “Ate” video clip. And as you can see, he’s wearing a full-face mask. It’s a way of life for him and it’s completely respectable. Maybe he’ll change his mind in the future. We’ll see. However, I think he’s done a great job on the drums and his work in this area is one of the album highlights.”
“Ate” is a concept album about Hybris, Ate, Nemesis and Tisis, all from Ancient Greek mythology. In fact, they are the personification of arrogance, calamity, divine retribution and ultimate punishment. How did you translate this to the modern world?
RUBY: “Essentially, the album refers to timeless, universal and ecumenical values. The lyrical and conceptual development within the album does not constitute an antiquarian approach. On the contrary, it describes the inner struggle of man to fight the monster, which has destroyed even the strongest. The album essentially wants to highlight this inner struggle that still afflicts the modern man today. Perhaps more than ever, as conceit and arrogance are not characteristics of any specific era but are a scourge of humanity since its inception. Unfortunately, we have all been witnesses to such behaviors. So, Akis simply thought it would be beautiful to describe all these gradations of human behavior with the wonderful ancient Greek myth of the cycle of Hybris – Ate – Nemesis – Tisis. If someone focuses on the album artwork, he will be able to discern the results of these behaviors captured in an allegorical way. Within the artwork, there are all the stages of the myth. Arrogance, temptations, destruction, punishment, etc. So, I think that the album with its concept finds application even in our days and fits perfectly with our era, it’s just that everything is described allegorically and in a poetic way.”
Shall we go through the six songs and you give your comment on them?
“Moirae”. NICK: “It’s the first song I performed when we were doing the pre-production with Akis and it was the first song I heard when Akis approached me to participate in the album. It blew my mind from the first moment.”
“Lady Discordia”. RUBY: “It was the first song that stood out to me from the album when I first heard the demos. I was completely blown away. I think this is the song that, expressively and interpretively, I performed most easily during the recordings because it’s within the safest range of my vocal range and it suited the vocal background I had before the album recordings.”
“Harvest Of Tears”. NICK: “It’s a very special song. When I first heard it and Akis told me what he had in mind by letting me listen to the vocal guides, I said to myself that I have never sung a song like in this style. It was a very nice challenge for me to bring it to my own standards but not to change its style at all. It reminded me of several bands like Gojira and Deftones, but from a different perspective that tied in perfectly with the rest of the album atmosphere. Killer track.”
“Ate”. RUBY: “Here I tried to show the multiple faces of Ate and that is why there are many diametrically opposed performances in the song. I consider it a song of great importance as it is also the title of the album and should be quite iconic. I also got extremely cold during the filming of the video clip!!!”
“Adrasteia”. NICK: “Perhaps Ruby’s most striking moment on the album. Quite an emotional song. How could it not be, as it talks about the divine punishment and the divine court. Many changes in tempo and style within this song that I think make it attractive to explore.”
“Poenas Dare”. RUBY: “First of all … I give you some news… it is a song that is a precursor to the next album. The next album will be a continuation of “Ate” and the second part of the trilogy that we intend to create. So, it’s easy for someone to understand the importance of this song. The middle part with the lullaby approach, I think is something that has haunted me as a singer henceforth. I love it.”
How would you describe the music of DAMON SYSTEMA? Is it melodic dark metal or modern metal?
RUBY: “I think it’s just metal. I think those many elements in the album can’t classify it into just one genre. It has many elements of a traditional sound, but also modern elements, so I think we can simply call it metal. A little darker and fresher than a traditional sound for sure, but it also tries to catch the feeling from the past.”
The beautiful front cover made by Okim Tulal is a real piece of art itself. Please tell us in your own words what we see.
NICK: “It’s very difficult to describe it simply. Akis had given a very simple and rough sketch to Okim of how he imagined the album cover. Let’s say that this sketch was the match with which Okim set fire to the forest. With this, the domino of ideas began. The central figure of the cover is the goddess Ate, who is depicted as a very beautiful woman. The nudity clearly refers to ancient Greek sculptures and especially those of the Hellenistic era. The goddess Ate is therefore depicted controlling people with threads, like an artist controls his puppets in a performance. Essentially, she controls their minds and no one can escape from her. Not even the cruel Spartan warrior who is so famous for his discipline and self-control. Next to him, another warrior kneels, waiting for divine punishment to be imposed on him. Behind Ate, we see the black-clad Fates (Moirai), both of whom wear the masks of ancient Greek tragedy, and on the left Eris, whom “Lady Discordia” speaks of. The golden apple she holds is characteristic. The woman with the dead baby in her arms is essentially the mother of the Spartan warrior, who mourns for her suffering son who still sees him as a baby. As you can see in the threads that Ate holds, there are all the symbols of the greatest religions that have appeared in the history of humanity. It is a symbolism for which someone needs to dig very deep. All religions essentially exploit these behaviors of people to control and direct them. The threat of divine punishment or divine reward is the lever of pressure exerted on people so that they remain obedient to the leaders of religions. The goddess Ate is the one who blurs the mind and leads people to act according to the dictates of religious doctrines and to fall into the abyss and then into destruction. In general, there are infinite symbolisms and allegories in the cover which holds a surprise that will have to do with our next album which will be the second part of the trilogy we want to make. I could write for hours about this cover. I think it’s a real piece of art as you mentioned.”
For each of you, what is your favourite track on “Ate” and why?
RUBY: “It would be hard for me to choose, but if I had to, I would definitely say “Moirae”. I think it is the most representative song in terms of the band’s musical style. After all, it is the song that I would play to anyone who didn’t know us when I had to explain to them what kind of music DAMON SYSTEMA plays. Also, in this song I have done things that I have never done before as a singer.”
NICK: “I don’t think I can choose one. I might disappoint you with this question. I’ll just say that when someone asks me what music DAMON SYSTEMA plays, I play them “Moirae” and “Ate”.” ■
Official lyric video “Harvest Of Tears”: https://youtu.be/JN77cpWyvD0
Official music video “Ate”:
https://youtu.be/jE-wtOnNgHk